I have been living in Switzerland for the last three years. I am married to a suisse farmer (cows!!) and we have three children. I miss all things kiwi and return home once every year. I didn't speak a word of french before coming here and am only starting to feel comfortable now. Yes, I agree that things are expensive here, but it is all relative. I find the people to be friendly, the food/wine good, the summer's incredibly short and the winters incredibly long (I did however enjoy my first white christmas). I have looked at this site numerous times and finally decided it was time to sign up...
Welcome aboard! Apart from the climate, what's it like living in your neck of the woods? I don't remember seeing anybody posting from the vallée de joux before.
Hi Nev... What's it like living here... I have been told that the people of the vallee are quite different, that is they are very very traditional and it takes some convincing to change/merge ideas. I know that I now live here, but I don't see the need to loose all of my traditions - in fact I have found that it helps me to be less homesick. I have had to learn very quickly how to cook 5-6 course meals for 30 people (by myself) - I so miss the kiwi way of pot-luck dinners . I have met two suisse people (other than my husband) that speak fluent english - but don't see them very often. When I first came here, it was strange to see the cows chained up and inside for most of their lives - I don't think anyone believed that my mum milked 600 cows and they stayed outside - all the time!!! I found the people to be quite blunt when I first came, that is they say it like it is - we kiwis are so politically correct!!! Now I am used to it and actually appreciate their honesty. The landscape is very similiar to NZ - in fact if no one spoke, I could convince myself that I was there . My only major problem is I get car sick and there is no easy way to leave the vallée Although I like it here, I do look forward to going home and seeing family and friends (next trip in November ).
Hi Nev... What's it like living here... I have been told that the people of the vallee are quite different, that is they are very very traditional and it takes some convincing to change/merge ideas. I know that I now live here, but I don't see the need to loose all of my traditions - in fact I have found that it helps me to be less homesick. I have had to learn very quickly how to cook 5-6 course meals for 30 people (by myself) - I so miss the kiwi way of pot-luck dinners . I have met two suisse people (other than my husband) that speak fluent english - but don't see them very often. When I first came here, it was strange to see the cows chained up and inside for most of their lives - I don't think anyone believed that my mum milked 600 cows and they stayed outside - all the time!!! I found the people to be quite blunt when I first came, that is they say it like it is - we kiwis are so politically correct!!! Now I am used to it and actually appreciate their honesty. The landscape is very similiar to NZ - in fact if no one spoke, I could convince myself that I was there . My only major problem is I get car sick and there is no easy way to leave the vallée Although I like it here, I do look forward to going home and seeing family and friends (next trip in November ).
Thanks for sharing your experiences of living in the Vallée de Joux. I often cycle through that valley, and knowing a bit more about life there will make it all the more enjoyable. The climate there is certainly different. Regardless of what it's like on this side of the passes, I often find it to be completely different once I get over the ridge and into the valley. Most of the time it's more cloudy or rainy, but occasionally it is much nicer.
Interesting experience. the Vallee de Joux is pretty unique. It is quite isolated but at the same time it is a remarkably industrious area. Many prestigious watchmakers are located there. The area got populated by Huguenots fleeing France and their strong work ethic subsists to this day.
During winters, the farmers would make a living by fabricating wheels and springs for watches and would then sell them to the many watch factories around the lake.
There is a pretty neat watch museum at Le Sentier.
I love the Vallee de Joux and spend several days a month there. It never fails to surprise me the industry that is present. Of course Jaeger Le Coultre are there in Le Sentier but I have been to so many houses to discover several watch industries & watchmakers based there. It really is a beautiful area and mostly undiscovered unless you are a cyclist or walker. I really suggest that when you have nothing to do one Sunday to take a picnic and discover this really lovely area - you will not be disappointed
I lived in the Vallee du Joux for 18 months and all I will say is that it's pretty hard to get a girlfriend there
It always feels to me like a different world in your valley and we've often wondered what it must be like to live there!! Nice to hear about your life up there.
I concur with that. It is a great area for cross country skiing also.
I would also recommend the local cheese Vacherin.
Locals started the Valtronic electronics company in 82. I am not sure what they do now but in the 80s they were a leading edge company selling electronics components to Daimler Benz and Renault (speech synthesizers etc...)
I agree, the cross-country skiing there is excellent in the winter. Also, the lake (Lac de Joux) is normally frozen for much of the winter, and you can walk around on it. Near the village of Le Pont, many vendors set up stands on the ice during the weekends; you can buy a vin chaud, hot chocolate, or something to eat right on the lake - good times
Oh, the Vallee is so beautiful, but I'm not sure I'd like to live there, as it is isolated.
Having said that, I live in the Oberaargau which is not so beautiful and can also seem isolated - small villages, not so easy to reach, etc.