These are a few observations I'd have after living here for almost three years, also from an Irish (Dublin) perspective.

To begin with the Swiss, regardless of language, share the Germanic tendency for order, and in my experience are often more extreme than other Germanic peoples. For example, in an Anglophone company people get stuck into a project pretty early on, and often through trial and error, and numerous changes in direction get the job done. The Germanic, and specifically Swiss, approach is that you have endless meetings to plan out a project then at a much more advanced stage execute it. First time and according to plan.

Of course, this sounds like a much better way of doing things, and it is most of the time, but the downside is that the rigidity that comes with it will often result in lack of flexibility when something happens that is not according to plan. I've been in meetings where a Swiss begins a carefully crafted presentation to an American client, only to be told to stop the presentation two slides in and just get to the point - the utter terror in his eyes was palpable.

As a result, it can be quite frustrating in that it can sometimes be nigh on impossible to get them to think 'out of the box'. Things are done a certain way, and that's that - it makes no difference if it makes no sense in a particular situation.

So once you get over the discovery that things like public transport work like clockwork and you realize you could never go back to using Dublin Bus, you do realize that there is a distopic price to be paid too - being ten or fifteen minutes late for work, which would probably go unoticed in Ireland or it would be assumed you'll make up the time at lunch, a few times, will likely get you fired here.

Another thing to consider in Switzerland is that it is in reality not very cosmopolitan. Population is far more defused here than in other countries, and it is not unusual for most Swiss to have been born and bred in some tiny little village is the arsehole of nowhere. This means that once you leave the bigger cities (that are already small by European standards) you will find mullet hairstyles being sported without any sense of irony.

Naturally, the impact is that you'll get a culture that is often very conservative, old fashioned and prone to hypocrisy. Sexism is rife too, and I've been in meetings where questions that should have been directed to a female colleague will instead be directed at me, simply because I'm male. Ireland is far, far more equal in this regard. As a result, and conversely, divorce laws are especially punitive towards men here, as the presumption that a man should support a woman (who should really be a Hausfrau) is still alive and well.

Additionally, I get the impression that many men here go, or have gone, to brothels - it's something that's hinted at in discussions, but seldom openly admitted.

There are parallels though between Swiss and Irish culture though, with hypocrisy being one of them. Coming from small towns and villages where a nod is as good as a wink and you can't afford to fall out with anyone, you'll see some of the same dynamics you'll see down the country in Ireland, with no one saying anything to your face unless they really know you and business often being decided over an Aperò (a few drinks) on a basis of personal contacts.

Of course these are general observations, and there are plenty of Swiss who don't fall into these categories, however you will find they're a lot more true than Ireland. The Swiss can be hard work as a result, which can lead one to return to the familiar and only befriend expats, however if you are able to adapt as well, and compensate for their idiosyncrasies, they're actually a grand and loyal bunch.