Mark,

Thanks for the candid comments. I spoke to our HR co-ordinator and they assured the company has some corporate housing (albeit slightly expensive for 4 months) if I can't find a place, so i think housing is the least of my worries now.

I still can't believe they dont let you own a car on an L permit!! Very weird. But most laws have a loophole, and it seems this one is no exception

Last week at work, we were discussing some stuff about my upcoming european vacation (err.. work reloc). So, as part of the discussion I brought up the idiocy of not able to own a car, but apparently the way to get around this is to buy a car in Germany as a tourist. Since I'm on a tourist visa for the rest of schengen, its apparently legal. I was actually planning on selling my current M3 and buying the new 911. It turns out Porsche has a european deliver and its basically designed for you to come to europe, stay for like 2-4 weeks and drive your car around. Then they ship it to US as a "used car", so you actually save a few grands off the total price in taxes! wicked! They even pay for the insurance, license plates to go around europe and complimentary tours of famous places I heard I can pay extra to extend the services if i want more than those 2-4 weeks, so i will have to plan that out.

I highly recommend this option to any US resident travelling for business/pleasure to Europe. Just order your car about 8-10 weeks prior to delivery date in a US dealership.

The link:
http://www.porsche.com/usa/eventsand...ngyourporsche/

Note: BMW also does this! who's getting an M5/6?? hit me up please!

Another thing is, I find it totally awkward that there is such discrimination in rights for foreigners based on their permits. May I ask why you guys still choose to work/live in the hell you describe? I mean, if it really is as bad as described, i don't feel its worth it. It doesn't sound like a very immigrant-friendly environment. I came to the US about 4 years ago (undergrad.) and none of these funny stories you guys describe exist here in such a scale that you see it on every tourist forum post. Sure some people get picked on, but there is definetely the level of respect you deserve based on your skills and knowledge and not just the color of your skin.

I should however admit, I have spent 2 weeks in Zurich area last year with some of my ETHZ friends. I got invited to dinner at one of their parents' and ofcourse I haven't found the slightest ill-feeling in their hospitality. The 2 weeks were just a blast. They were quite friendly folks, afaik. May be its quite different in the corporate environment.. I shall soon findout.. I'm thinking of keeping an open air ticket back to US.. just in case I feel like I had enough. Good thing no one is doing me a favor by letting me work in Swiss.