Just arrived in Bern from South Africa

Welcome and Introductions
1
Hi there, my name is Candice, I've just arrived in Bern from a very hot South Africa. My partner is Swiss, we met in Cape Town while he was on sabbatical and decided to come here with him when he started working again.

I've lived in the UK and the USA before so I know the drill of finding my feet in a new country, although this will be a little different because I don't speak German

Making new friends is also key which is why I decided to join this forum, so hi everybody, looking forward to this new adventure and meeting new people.

2
Hi Candice! :-)

Im Sara from South Africa and Im currently living in Bern. Welcome to Switzerland!

It is quite difficult fitting into any country....Im half German half African and despite having some knowledge of German, I have found it abit difficult. This is in relation to shopping and needing assistance but I have been lucky to come across store clerks who speak english.

Bern is a great city!

3
Hi Sara, thanks for thanks for the input - I actually had exactly the experience you wrote about here, today. I really thought my hand gestures and speaking clearly would work, I'm going to have to re-think my strategy

I'm looking forward to settling into the city, I'm sure it has a lot to offer.

Thanks again for getting in touch!

4
Hi Candice and Sara! There is a small group of EF folks that meets monthly for dinner in Bern. January's event is next week:

http://www.englishforum.ch/social-ev...rant-boky.html

Would love to meet you both, and chat SA stuff. Just spent 3 weeks there.

5
Awesome thanks for letting me know, I'll check to see what we have planned for next week and may see you there, otherwise Feb's dinner for sure!

6
Thanks!I just rsvped!I hardly ever go out and when I do, its normally alone...

7
Hi Candice

Welcome to CH. Your gonna have a blast here.

I relocated to Zurich with my Swiss wife and daughter in March 2012 and like you, we also came from CT, SA...

Making friends is key, so if you get an invite, go for it. I've made that mistake before because of my shyness and it didn't get me anywhere...

Over Xmas and New Year I met a lot of my wife's extended family and work mates and 95% of them could communicate with me in English.

Groete...

8
Hi Riaan, thanks for the reply - it is great to hear positive feedback

9
welkom - enjoy!

10
Hi,

We live on a farm outside Aubonne, about 1.5 hours drive away from you. You are always welcome to pop in for a chat when in the area. I visit Bern at least once a month to deliver boerewors, biltong and so on - will be happy to meet and introduce ourselves.

11
Hi Candice,

Another South African here, I live between Thun and Interlaken, nice to meet you, hope you settle in well.

Been in Switzerland for many years, I find that if the will to go forward is there the rest usually comes quite easily.

I found Afrikaans and Swiss german really similar.

This is how I started to get my German on -

I started out watching MTV, in those days was the only english channel, then I went on to watch TV series that I knew from home, and knew what they were on about so I could concentrate on the german, and then one morning I could speak Good luck, if you are ever this side of Berne, I would love to meet up.

X

Natalie

www.marigoldsloft.blogspot.com

12
Welcome to Switzerland! Great country that has everything, except for The sea. The Cheese and cholcolate is not a myth. Its actually fantastic!!

13
Welcome,

we arrived from CT a year ago, and yes, The Sea is missing!!! Looks like there are lots of Captonians scattered around...

Riaan, great to hear that you are still here, looks like you got sorted. Reon, now hearing that there is boerewors, biltong to be found made my mouth water. Could you get in touch, seen you are not far away?

14
With pleasure:-) PM me your e-mail address/telephone number and I will contact you. You just missed Saterday's apero here on the farm - about 50 Safricans for a lekker buttermilk rusk, boerewors and wine session:-)

15
Hi Reon, let me know when you are in town again and we can meet for a coffee.

16
Hi Natalie (Marigoldsloft), great to hear how you ended up speaking German I'd love to meet, let me know if you are in Bern and I'll let you know if I'm near you - I go to yoga in Thun every Friday night in Thun at River Yoga if you are into that kind of thing.

17
Hi, Will be in Bern Friday the 8th of February - a more detailed schedule will grow on https://www.facebook.com/BoereworsInSwitzerland?ref=hl during the next couple of days.

Please PM me with a tel number or address - maybe there are more Safricans that will want to join for the coffee?

18
Welcome to the EF and Switzerland!

I hope you enjoy the winter life in Switzerland.

All the best with the move.

19
Welcome! Will add you to the Saffa's group!

20
Yeah, still here, but NOT sorted.