But, most of that (the past 22) has been in Ticino.
Tom
Well, I don't, and I've been hear nearly 27 (and first came here 30+ years ago).
Somerset and Wiltshire have 3 inches of snow (UK) cold, very cold
Never been so cold than in an English house (single bricks with Ye Olde Kritter leaded single windows) - with ice on the inside of those windows. Here we have 90cm thick stone walls, very effective double glazing and a belting wood burner - cosy always even in double figure below!
No worries, it's not too personal. You can ask me anything, and I'll respond either here or in a private message.
My father in law's father left our family's home town in Molise because there was no work there. That town is still poor to this day. He became a successful roofer and eventually moved back to Italy, but his sons stayed in Switzerland because they married Swiss girls. I always had the impression that he too longed to return to Italy, but his wife would never leave Luzern. There is apparently a little tension there.
But I have to say, he did right by himself and made a good living through hard work.
Not sure how old you are JD - but I remember very clearly when the majority of Italians arrived here, in the early 50s. There were earlier Italian immigrants, in smaller numbers- looking at my dad's school photo from around 1916- there were a few in his class- and my uncle married an Italian woman in the 20s.
First it was just the men, about 3 to a bed, on a shift system working for the battery factory here. On their own and often depressed, they could be a bit wild at times, drink too much and make a bit of noise- and cats disappeared a bit too often. Then the families arrived - no speaking a word of French, and often very poor. I remember being so angry at my school mates who often gave them hell - and I befriended many, inviting them home, and going to theirs. Happy days. When I started learning Italian a few years ago, I realised I could actually speak quite a bit, and that it had stuck in my little head from all those years ago.
We are now at fourth generation of Italians here - many married to Swiss. Many in the building trade, but so many successful in other fields now. One of our most succesful in the village came as a child of poor immigrants- did an apprenticeship in watchmaking, and now owns of the most prestigious Swiss watch making firm (Parmigiani).
But the elders till go to the Cercle Italien and still dream of home - with rose tinted glasses, having forgotten the hardships and the poverty. Those who do return often feel very sad and depressed, as 'back home' as changed a lot, and so have they - and just don't feel they belong any more. Hard.
And I
thought the "F" was for you know what .frost
Well, some Swiss might be a little bit reserved like in many other countries too, but they don't want to embarrass other people that was it why they didn't speak to you. Over the last 10 years the situation has improved a lot and it's more common people talking English
I'm not sure I count that as an improvement...
Well, it's certainly more aesthetically pleasing.
Yes, do so. Of course it depends on the place you live. Living in Züri oberland might be a bit more hectic whereas living in Berne may be fairly relaxed.
Well, the Swiss try to be polite, but I must admit that some people, for example u.s.citizens are ahead of us, although we (Swiss) make good progress
Clearly us tax paying foreigners are (not) welcomed. I witness it first hand every day . Typical passive aggressive Swiss behavior. Just look at how they drive!
Give us your money and get out is the message I hear loud and clear here after living 2 years in der Schwyz.
We are happy to contribute to society tax wise but it is a 2 way street. Not so sure any more that the Swiss life is as ideal as they like to project around the world. Take, take, take is all I see from an immigrants perspective.
Personally I'm really tired of hearing my Swiss friends complain about immigrants but qualifying it by saying it doesn't include you! Shockingly many of them are married to foreigners so they don't even think they are discriminating against us. Oh but "you're OK" is the wink wink nod nod I experience regularly.
Move to Glarus.
Seriously: you might find you have a completely different experience living somewhere with fewer rich foreigners than Zug or Wollerau and fewer criminal foreigners than Zurich or Geneva.
Of course, there's xenophobic arseholes everywhere, and countryfolk the world over are distrustful of newcomers, but by and large I've found that people outside the expat oases are much more chilled about people like us and, indeed, often positively welcome us (especially Americans!).
I didn't even realise shopkeepers could smile until I moved down to Glarnerland...
Around 22 % of the people living in Switzerland are foreigners, so we may be an open minded country. On the other this forum wouldn't exist if we hadn't any foreigners.
You mean 3% already left ,uhhh there is hope
Seriously, why do keep racist friends? It's entirely up to you to change that. There are a lot of people here who do not tolerate xenophobic rants. I always call people out when they start to rant about the oh-so evil "Jugos". It usually makes for interesting TGIF apéros because there is always one drunkard who thinks it's acceptable to go on a xenophobic rant after a couple of beers.
Shut them down. Hang out with us left-wingers
I've been here for 2 years, so a mere flash in the pan compared to you, OP, but I really don't think you can generalise a whole nation. I've tried it.
I'm British with an immigrant father, so I've always had the immigrant point of view into the British culture. Although he's married to English lady (my mother), I remember so many times laughing at British people and their silly habits, the awkward way they do things, the false politess, the face for show, the constantly talking about what class people are, hoping to be better than others.
.... I spent a lot of my time being wary of my compatriots, due to my father's perception. Believe me, he fitted in, but I only realised this was his perception when I moved out of home and made my own realisations on the world. There's open-minded British and there are the paranoid. There's the class-obssessed ones, and there are the 'people are people' ones.
It all depends when you go, who you talk to, what mood you're in, what mood they're in. Nothing is black and white.
In my own experience of Switzerland, I've always lived in pretty rural parts. I infact got very excited about visiting Vevey once, because I heard there were loads of English speakers, so I visited, and stayed next to a friend who had a market stand. Some idiot with his big backpack swung around and knocked all her hand-crafted jewellery down the drain... We chased after him as he ran off, of course he was an English man, who refused (I mean literally refused to face his actions). Which then started off everyone saying how rude and obnoxious the English were... and I felt shame for British people, shame for the people judging them and so the circle goes round and round.
Some people see all Swiss people as great people, other see them as cold and rigid, some people see some Swiss people as great people and some as cold and rigid. Some people see people as people. (This is just an example and can be applied to any nationality/any way to define people ).
On another note (a real ramble here) but I actually work with about 30% Swiss people, the rest are of foreign nature. There's a higher population of foreign people than of Swiss Romandes anyway...
Anyway, the Swiss-German origined people I've met have been really down-to-earth people, with a similar sense of humour as myself and don't take themselves too seriously.
Anyway just my tuppence-worth, might be back on this post in 18 years to reflect on the same thing - I hope not though...
Britain complains just as much about foreigners - All theses hard working foreigners from the EU that take all the jobs we are to damn lazy to bother doing!
This was an experimental thread to test our internet forum dynamics and herd mentality. The views in the opening post had some truth and some inaccuracies. I personally could not care less if the Swiss or rest of the world was warm or cold. My circle of friends both Swiss and non Swiss are warm and that is all I care about.
Either way all the people who groaned the opening post see me after class SOFORT! Bring your mum and dad with you cause I need to have a word with them. The people who thanked my opening post have big balls for going against burn the witch tide. People who stayed on the fence should immediately become politicians
You are all a great bunch and the world needs all sorts. Merci vilmal und Auf Wiedersehen.
Herr Anliker (The licker of cat bones)
Monday: back to school for you, eh??
Certainly better than in most countries, particularly the US!
Tom