How many seasons does Maine have? Two: winter and July. And North Dakota, how many does it have? Two too, but they are called winter and road construction. Luckily Switzerland has 4 seasons although road construction could possibly be used as a synonym for summer.
Now that we have the season question cleared up, let me ask you something else. How many men does it take to dig a hole? The correct answer is 5: one who digs and 4 who watch. Which takes me right back to road construction. I know, lots of safety regulations mean that some people look like they are just standing around when they aren’t. Often one person has to wait to do his job while someone else is doing their job. But it looks like they aren’t working efficiently. It really looks like 1 person is working while everyone else is watching.
I’m reminded of the above jokes every time we drive by road construction. Honestly, it’s always hot and it seems like the majority of construction workers are just standing around. It’s reality and not a joke.
Road construction in Switzerland
Once a bridge I had to cross to get to work was being renovated. Heavy vehicles like buses, trams and cars weren’t allowed to cross the bridge. So we had to either walk across or take an extremely long way around. I walked. Every time I passed the site, a group of men in hard hats were standing around, leaning on their shovels. They were watching a smaller group of construction workers actually work.
In addition to the workers, any time of day there was always a rather large group of spectators standing around. All older men. The only things that were missing were lawn chairs and beer and it could have passed for a sporting event.
What amazed me most was the early morning audience. What could possibly be the motive to get out of bed so early to watch others work? Or worse yet, watch others stand around watching others work. Were they a group of gloaters? “Ha, ha, we don’t have to work, but you do!” Somehow I don’t think so, Swiss aren’t like that.
At any rate I mentioned my observation to a male co-worker one day. He smiled and said he would love to watch too but he had to go to work. He couldn’t tell me what the fascination was but assured me it was mesmerizing.
Then, while walking home a couple of days later I saw some children in a playground. Two little boys were in a sandbox each with a little plastic bulldozer moving sand from one side to another. Two other little boys were standing close by, watching. Obviously these children were honing important male skills to be used later in life.
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