Hey all,

My name is George and I'm a student at the Basel university.This is my third semester here,before that i used to live in Fribourg.When i was there things were a bit more interesting and i had more friends and people i knew.Im here in Basel from like one year and 3 months and i just don't get the swiss people in basel.Now, i'm half american and half bulgarian but i lived in New York most of my life,still even the little european blood i have doesn't help me get the mentality and the people here.Im just 23 years old and i'm used to have a bit more fire and passion in my life but to be honest.....all i see around me are dead people... seriously....I haven't met anyone worth being a good friend and every time i go out with a bunch of swiss people or with someone that has picked up the swiss mentality i die of boredom.So i guess what I'm trying to say iiiisssss.....any young english speaking people interested in hanging out once in a while in this forum ?

Welcome to the forum.

Surf over to the Social Events subforums and join in.

Depending on your level of German, why not join a a local Verein ( club / association from over 100´s ) and devote a few hours a week and get to know the local lads a little better ? you might find it very rewarding and enriching.

I disagree, I think you have totally got it.

They are what they are.

You will find more interesting ones where they have left the utopia of theirs that is Switzerland. Those that are internationally schooled or travelled will share similar enjoyment and pleasures and humour. Those that haven't left the bubble will stare at you bemused when you are laughing and enjoying a meal with friends, or point at you when you are dancing in a pub to the music like you are an alien performing some kind of mating ritual.

If you happen to come to Zurich, you are welcome to join us where we go out and rub our ability to have fun and enjoy ourselves in their Swiss faces.

You're hanging out in the wrong places. You need to come to Zurich

(ducks for cover)

Seriously, you could join us for this for example, but I'm sure there's a lot of other stuff going on in Basel on the Social Calendar from now until then!

It's OK. I'm coming to Basel in January and it will be a hell of a lot livelier when I arrive

Maybe you're looking for something like this:-

Basel Santa Pub Crawl - December 2011!!!

It's a good idea to keep an eye on the social events calender. There's usually plenty going on, and you'll get to meet lots of cool people

Thanks guys will be keeping an eye on the calendar then but you're also right....basel is like the dark side of the moon....

Buddy, you have not lived in Berneck!

Dear George,

I am in Zurich and I don't think you are not getting it.

I don't like to generalize but it's sadly true that Swiss people are not very open. I have been working in a Company for 6 months and I can tell you that the Swiss girl sitting behind me never asked me my name or if I wanted a coffe, etc. Never experienced something similar in any country.

But look at the positive side: in CH there's an amazing international coomunity and hundreds of event happening all the time!!

I'm having so much fun with my German, French, Thai, Italian, Swedish etc friends!!

...still not getting it, heh?

Well, I must admit the red light district is certainly low key, but I've been told there are a couple of brothels in Klein Basel. Turn left at Pfister and head towards Kaserne.

HTH

Three and a half years here and I can not wait to graduate and just go somewhere else! Its true, swiss people live in their bubble, are narrow minded, stick to groups and make integration for people like us very difficult. I've lived in many countries, even though I'm just 22, and I miss the british and chinese lifestyle. I miss being crazy and laughing out load in the street and that's ok... I miss going to a club, meeting people and go out with them the next time. I miss being spontaneous. if you have swiss friends, you need to arrange something like 1-3 weeks in advance so you can actually do something together (sports, drinks, etc).

I know how you feel, but you are not alone! If you ever come to Zurich, give a shout. Will be nice to meet you

That's only true of Swiss north of the mountains.

It ain't at all like that around here.

Tom

If only the weather was as cold as the Swiss people here, than I could actually be snowboarding up in the alps instead of staring at brawn trails on google maps. 😁👊😜

Actually, don't even have to go as "far" as Klein Basel - I can think of two that are more-or-less between my place and Uni Basel. (One of them being an S&M dungeon at that)

I do exactly this and I'm swiss. So, what is wrong with me?

Your weird Swiss, so they don't mean you.

Interesting.......

Ok guys, I'm talking in general, and no I'm not stereotyping. Thats how I feel and I believe I have lived long enough in here to be able to have an opinion based on facts. I'm not judging, but I wish things were a bit easier for foreigners. Having said that, I do have few swiss friends and the rest are just...you know how you put in the swiss way "colleagues"

You are just a part of the minority, but yea, defo unusual

I've met some swiss that are ACTUALLY ! kinda cool but ..... yeah they are a minority...for the others all i can say is.....pickles.....just pickles....thats all...