I am very excited to re-introduce myself and even more excited to finally be able to say that I will soon call Switzerland my home! I lived in Fribourg, CH most of 2011 and was eagerly seeking a way to stay in Switzerland. Alas, my project ended and I left Switzerland on November 5th. Have been back in Fort Worth, TX ever since. But, after about 1 year of searching for a job, I received a job offer from one of the big pharmas in Basel! I start July 16!
I will be arriving on July 8th. I am so excited that sometimes I want to squeal like a 12 year old girl. But, that would be quite inappropriate for a 40 year old Texan, so I’ll refrain from expressing it verbally. But hold that image in your mind as I continue to squeal on the inside! LOL
Really, I am grateful to have the opportunities before me. I am really looking forward to finally settling in to this great country. I also look forward to meeting new and interesting people, forging new friendships, and exploring every corner of Switzerland and Europe that I can find time to.
This forum has been a great source of information over the last 1+ year and I am really grateful there is such a good group of people who keep this a helpful and fun place to visit. Wishing you all the very best!
Glad to hear you’ve found a job to bring you back. Hope the new job and life here is everything you want it to be. And to the rest of you newcomers to Switzerland.
I arrived from the UK today!! Completely understand the excitement! It's been a beautiful sunny day here in Basel and I feel so welcome already! Welcome back and look forward to hearing how things go as all of us newbies settle in!
Thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes! It makes me even more excited to know so many others are having the same experience soon. Would love to also hear about your adventures. Perhaps a face to face meet-up sometime in August for "us newbies!"
I wish I was there already. I hear the weather has been really nice and getting better. Selfishly, I want to get away from this 39-41C weather in Dallas, Texas! No thank you, ma'am!
As I was housed in corporate housing in Fribourg, I can't offer up much help for providing too many tips (although, avoid living on Rue l'Industrie - it is an acoustic nightmare with the windows open!) Send me a PM and let me know what sort of flat and other requirements you have. I still have several friends and work-associates living in Fribourg that could probaby provide some feedback.
Here's an easy decider... if you speak French, staying in the city area is going to be fine. Walking distances and busses are good (this is Switzerland, after all!). But, if you speak German and no French, I recommend crossing the river and going more towards direction Bern, if not all the way to Bern.
PM me... maybe I have more tips than I give myself credit for!