That's why I like to limit my trips home to a week maximum! You start appreciating things here and in the West generally much more after that.. My Irish hubby was delighted to board an Aerlingus flight in Krakow after our trip to Russia and felt like home already

For me is was the cultural shock and my OMG moments came rather fast. I moved here from the Los Angeles area, the land of do anything at anytime of the day or night 24/7 to the land of "what the hell do you mean the shops close at 6pm and I can't flush the toilet after 10pm?"

My 2nd day I was in a Denner to buy basic supplies, looking at a shelf full of bottles that said dusch wondering why so much was needed here and where the hell do I find shower gell. I remember a shop clerk coming and asking me if I needed help, I actually looked that lost because I was flipping the tops open to smell the contents to try to figure out what it was, and my answer to say yes I need help but please give me a minute came out in a jumbled mixture of French, German and Spanish (none of which I was fluent in), she beat a retreat so fast you would have thought I had the plague.

My family was saying encouraging things about how proud they were of me for making such an adventurous change and how exciting it must be to be here. I was sitting in a flat at night with my only contacts being telemarketers that I wouldn't have minded talking to just for some company, and asking myself what the in world had I gotten myself into.

But eventually it got better, now I can actually have a chat with the telemarketers

After a night of spicy curry or a delicious fondue I can think of a few good reasons

when my wife had to call 117 and was scolded for 5 minutes for not speaking German (we'd been in the country just about 3 months). all it took was for me to call back and explain the situation in broken Swiss German with an obvious gringo accent and of course the attendant responded back in English, albeit with an obvious Swiss accent. I might have politely asked her whether or not she would have scolded my wife had she called and spoken in standard German.

I've been here more than 6 years. Honeymoon's ongoing, and I see no signs of it ending.

Now where are my skis at....

Mine hasn't started yet.

I'm still skint from all the moving/setup (and will be for some months) so no free cash to go exploring with, the wife is just about due for our 2nd, I've got Zero german (but start lessons in Feb), I can't ski (yet), and the weather means no outlet for my normal leasure activities - cycling and motorbiking. And I'm still in my probation period with the new job.

Psychologically, I'm not 'here' yet...

Last week! When I took the train to Zurich and then had to find my way to some obscure address, and I did not have a sleepless night over it!

And lately I find I don`t get lost in my village anymore either ..... I now know all the little ancient inherited pathways meandering between old houses.

On a more +ve note, the children start singing "Hopp Schwiiz" when they land back here after a trip to England.

They seem to be happier than their parents!

I think I am having one now...completely reverse experience than other posters!

In a nutshell, I came here for a temporary assignment, leaving a life I loved and I had built the way I wanted, because I missed being a daily (or almost daily) part of my family's life. I was absolutely sure that I would go back where I came from. I didn't even pick Switzerland for its own sake, it was just "a possibly interesting location" for me, so why not?

Having moved many times to different countries, moving once again was not a shock, but very shortly after I came, I thought that, while coming back to Europe had been a good decision, I had made a mistake in choosing Switzerland. Every day I would wake up and think what I could do to leave this country. I wasn't feeling lonely, I met lots of friends (Swiss and foreigners), I went out a lot, travelled, spent time with my family, learned new things in my profession, progressed a bit with German, had no problems with apartments, neighbors, landlords. From the outside, I looked happy and successful.

Still, nothing of this really gave me satisfaction, I felt like I was mutating into a depressed, weak person that I didn't recognize anymore. I started having health problems derived from my psychological struggle - we can cheat ourselves, but sooner or later our body reacts. I still was trying to do all I could to leave the country.

But guess what? Switzerland was "trying harder" - every single time a concrete opportunity to leave would pop up, something bigger and better would happen: a small, personal success with the language, a salary increase, a promotion, meeting a new friend with whom I have lots of things in common, meeting a special someone, finding a new coffee shop I liked, starting a new activity I enjoyed, etc. So I would say all the time: well, I can't really leave now, can I? I'll wait a little bit longer...

Almost two years later, "I need to leave this country" has turned into "Well, I'll be darned, but perhaps this is where I am meant to be after all, at least for the time being, not too shabby, perhaps I'll stay a little longer..."

I have the feeling that the goodness has just begun and there is lots and lots more to come - hence I think my honeymoon has just started, and I am quite enjoying the ride

We literally had our Honey moon 5 years back here and now we are doing great..we all have difference in opinions and fights but that does not stop us from loving our partners..I personally believe kids rekindles your love for family and is an essential glue after 4-5 years of marriage when life becomes too deterministic...
In one word we get great Honey in Switzerland and the moon, whenever visible really makes our heart dancing with joy.
So my honey moon is still going on with an interest earned on the principal.
A

Mine ended when I was told by a lovely 'auslander hating' local that I should get a job so I don't become a burden on Switzerland.....

For the record I do not and will not rely on the social support here, therefore not being a burden to the good folk of Switzerland.

My honeymoon ended when my German progressed to where I understood the insults.

My honeymoon period ended when I was no longer surprised to see permanent radar traps on the motorways painted to represent either black/white cowhide or Gruyère cheese. I then realised that Switzerland and I had settled into a comfy sharing relationship. But the magic was gone....

Came to CH over 2 years ago (nearly 3)....Honeymoon period started 6 months ago...I have never been physically fitter...love it...It will end when I have ran/biked/skied/climbed every inch of this country....

I came here 25 years ago, and the honeymoon period hasnt ended. I love it here as much as I did the day I arrived.

My Honey Moon period in this country and my marriage ended quite a while ago. I'm still enjoying getting to know both. I no longer frantically search for the high points, I no longer tick lists. I just cruise through both, enjoying the ebb and flow.

my honeymoon period in Lausanne ended after winding up in a job run by French people. I was like 'I left your country almost ten years ago to get away from you people and your crap ways'. I was so aggravated that I had spent so much time learning how to "be Swiss" and then had to re-learn how to deal with French people at work and their stupid bs. The whole situation made me feel like the whole city was taken over by French expats and losing its Swiss charm.