Newbie Survival Guide

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
21
I thought I was moving to Switzerland, but it appears I have ended up in some sort of parallel universe...

Our landlord and neighbours are really friendly, cheerful and helpful.

I haven't been stared at, not even when doing my recycling at 7:15pm ( and it's only allowed until 7pm )

I was also surprised to find people cycling at night without lights and having loud parties past 10pm and making noise on Sundays (even doing their washing!) as it wasn't what I was led to expect before I arrived. I didn't think Swiss people broke rules, but it seems they do.

There's also lots of graffiti, but hardly any crime.

22
-If you want a TV or Radio (this includes a computer hooked up to the internet as of April 2012) be prepared to pay the Billag too: http://www.billag.ch/web.html

-You have three months from your date of entry to buy health insurance, otherwise the Swiss authorities will sign you up for a random plan. Your coverage is retroactive so delaying this will only increase the size of your first bill. Search the forum for "Jenny" and "insurance" to find an outstanding broker who will help you get insurance (and not charge you for it). When you get insurance, give proof to the local authorities (same place where you registered) or they will sign you up for another plan.

-Meat is expensive and other food too. In order of food affordability (from cheapest to most expensive): Germany/France --> Aldi (the discounted food) --> Denner --> Migros --> Coop --> bizarrely expensive places I've never set foot it --> restaurants.

-You can have an affordable meal out by buying doner or pizza at a takeaway place and then eating somewhere nice in public.

-Drinking in public is legal. Take a beer or wine to the takeaway dinner outside.

-Use Google translate.

-Buy pads for your furniture so you don't annoy your neighbors with scraping chair sounds.

-In Basel, if you're only going 3 stops or less on the tram you can get a discounted card.

23
I think I've learnt more about American's expectations from these lists than I have about anything Swiss. I've spent enough time in the US to notice some of the odd quirks, particularly wrt shopping, but I don't think I realised that Americans would think it odd to not have free plastic bags, packed by an unemployable student or OAP, in all supermarkets, for example.

It does serve to reinforce the view I've always had that there's more in common between Brits, frogs, swissies, krauts, austrians, serbs and turks than there is between any of them and our US cousins.

24
The opposite is much more common actually: since Thai and Vietnamese food became more fashionable most Chinese restaurants simply relabelled themselves as Thai but all their staff is Chinese and they continue to cook Thai curry Chinese style, which is... interesting.

Great thread though.

25
Also, get used to people spitting in public. It's something you could expect from the youth, but what surprised me the most is the majority of them are the elderly...they seem to suck that gob of spit from their gut and let it rip anywhere. I've had to duck 'n dive a few times. And normally it's the very same elderly that has an "argument" with themselves in public. Shame, bless their souls...

26
When driving, be prepared that there is a pedestrian crossing every 300 meters, mostly just at the exit of a rotary.

Watch out for cyclists with no lights in the dark.

27
Agree, great thread, especially for people moving from America who are shocked and appalled so easily.

Here's my list and I'm gearing it for true, true, just-off-the-tarmac, newbies:

1. You will not find Aleve. If this is your pain-killer of choice, bring a bunch.

2. If you are picky about your yard and your laundry, fair warning. Round-up and Clorox bleach are strictly forbidden. There are watered-down versions of these but they are not the same and they do not work. Here is how you smuggle them through customs: Every time you visit America, buy a bottle of white wine with a screw top. Drink the wine. REFILL the bottle with Round-up or Clorox. Bring back in suitcase. Works every time.

3. If you are going to be driving a vehicle, pay attention to the speed limits at all times. The first three months we were here my husband got 16 speeding tickets and all of them were for going either 4 or 5 kph over the limit. He once got 2 tickets in one day from THE SAME SPEED CAMERA which is on a residential street near our house.

4. If you have a dog or a child that is loud and misbehaves, you had better get that kid/dog in some kind of training program before you get here. An obnoxious dog or kid is just not tolerated and is, literally, SHOCKING to the Swiss. This is a land where ANY noise, any at all, is enough to attract attention.

5. If you are a larger-sized person, you are going to have a very, very difficult time finding any type of clothes, shoes or underwear. Better stock up before you come. My daughter, who lives in America, loves the clothes and shoes here but we can never find anything to fit her. She wears a US size 12. It's actually the cut of the clothes that is so different, not just the sizes.

6. When you see "1/2" on the train/metro/bus ticket machines, this has nothing to do with first class or second class, one-way or round-trip, or one person or two people. (Those things are all covered in subsequent screens.) This is the screen where you tell the machine that you have a demi-carte. If you push this by mistake and you DO NOT actually own a demi-carte, just buy another one of the exact same kind of ticket and the ticket guy will not fine you. He will think you are hilarious, but he will not fine you. (Trust me. I did this.)

7. If you are not of obvious Caucasian descent, you had better grow some really thick skin really quickly. There is no such thing here as political correctness. You will be treated differently and the Swiss are blatantly nonapologetic about this attitude. If you are black AND you have a noisy dog, well, I suggest you begin a regiment of recreational pharmaceuticals before you even get out of the Geneva airport.

8. And the number one most shocking thing to newly-arrived Americans? This is the land of Personal Responsibility and Common Sense. No guard rails on that mountain road? Tough. Don't drive too close to edge. Trains whip through a terminal at great speed only inches from the platform? Too bad. Don't stick your arm out. Your kid's school took your kid on a hiking field trip at 2,000 meters on a path 12 cm wide and never told you? Tough. If you would have bought him proper boots, he wouldn't have fallen to his death. You think I'm kidding. I'm not. There is no such thing here as punitive damages, ergo, there are no lawsuits, ergo, you need to be able to survive on your own recognizance.

28
That big border with the guys in blue you cross every night? Never noticed it?

You're in St. Louis.

It's the graffiti that gives it away.

29
Desert Rat, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.

30
Before moving here, try to spend at least a few months in Canada. That should lessen the impact of the culture shock

31
I actually got away with it I made the "ticket guy" feel so confused with my big eyes that he was trying hard to convince me that he was actually right no fine, just paid extra for the other half. (I was using the 1/2 ticket until I got caught... Didn`t want to buy the 1/2 card as I was getting my car delivered and I found the ticket prices CRAZY )

32
Not only do I appreciate the idea behind your post, I really like how you write. Thank you for sharing!

My husband (Canadian) and I (American) just came back from a week of "getting to know you" in Basel. We'll be moving there in January. I can say that most of what I've read in this thread is true.

33
Coincidentally, I lived in Kansas for 11 years earlier in my life. Dodge city (home of the gunfight at the O.K corral) was starting to have a problem with gang violence, and meth had become the problem drug of choice.

Even in Kansas, I wasn't in Kansas anymore

34
I just wanted to ask how you thought living in Canada would be helpful? As a Canadian I found most of these things true and difficult nonetheless, but maybe I have a blind spot about what it is like to live in Canada as a foreigner. I'd love to hear more if you are willing to share.

Oh, and I wanted to add one more thing I learned as a newbie:

-Don't count on doing things by email, whether it is applying for a job, getting info about a used car, or contacting an authority. This is a face to face or phonecall society (in my experience).

35
Disagree.

When I need a document from my wife's heimatort, I send them an email and it arrives the next day!

(with a bill attached, of course )

Tom

36
Depends on what you do for a living. We eat it pretty much daily.

Depends where you live, we certainly don't.

Tom

37
- you won't find a bidet in the bathroom ( I know this happens in many other countries as well)

38
They do in my village, and it drives my Swiss wife nuts, as it did on our trip to the US.

Indeed.

Tom

39
Only because most people remove them (as we did).

Tom

40
1) Absolutely great idea, providing nobody decides to take the bottle.

This is one of the more irresponsible things i have heard, one swig of either of the chemiclas and you're toast. Chemicals are not things to dick around with they need to be used properly and in clearly labeled bottles AT ALL TIMES, just supposing you lost your suitcase, soenmbody found it and wanted a drink...........interesting you mention punative damages in point 8

8) Personnal responsibilty is an important part of growing up and without it, nobody takes any responsibility and the results are clear to see.