Just having a morning rant.
Im new here, only been a few weeks so not yet booked on my language course so my german skills are non existant.
I get on the bus this morning and get my ticket. 8.20 return, give the bus driver 50' who then gives me 31.80 change.
Now,i dont know about you but im missing 10cf here, so i try in my best broken, basic german and alot of pointing that the change is wrong to be huffed and spat alot of words at i dont understand. I tried to say i wanted my money back and to forget it which he wouldnt either as had issued the ticket (i think thats what he was saying anyways). Anyways in the end i didnt undertsand or have enough to say to argue the change issue so just left it, peed off.
On the bus there was one seat left, im there with a pushchair and a 4 year old, the one seat left had a load of bags on it from the women next to it who was looking the other way trying to ignore me as i tried to get the seat for my daughter so she wouldnt fly around the bus.
After actually having to make a scene, after saying excuse me 5 times, i just grabbed the womans stuff, put it on the floor to which she also spat what i assume to be swiss profanties at me and i put my daughter on the seat.
I have visited switzerland many a time, i know how rude, ignorant and selfish they can be, there are also some pleasant one out there im sure. But really, what is their problem?
Next time i shall adopt the swiss way, and stop being polite and just demand or take what i want, bump ahead of queues, not give up my seat and barge past them tutting loudly and muttering rude things under my breath, might help me feel better! Lol

Rant over....feel better now! Lol

buses are like Migros - they tend to bring out the worst in people.

Enjoyed that high quality, full octane rant. Hope you feel better now, bloody people! why does there have to be so many of them?

This should be fun.

How do you know it was 8.20 return? Could have been more?

I think the price is on the ticket and on the little display.

To the original poster. I feel your pain, not having the language to discuss/argue your point is so frustrating. With regards to getting a seat, I've been in similar situations with my kids, here and in the UK. If I have to move something so that I can make sure my kid can sit safely and the owner is ignoring me I've found "Darf ich?" and gesture to move the bags works better than Entschuldigung. Thankfully my two are now big enough to look after themselves. Sort of.

Hope your day got better.

Re stuff on seats: you had every right and the woman knows it. Tell her to "fçuk off" next time - it's international language so everyone will understand it. Something to thank US films for, heh?

Moral of the story: Learn a bit of the local language before moving to your new destination. It makes a life a bit easier in an already hectic world.

I know a little tiny bit, hence i could get alot of the story across, but my skills are basic. My husband and entire family speak fluently but not been in the situation to practice, learn or do any more with it, hence im sorting out a coirse first?
What do you suggest, i tell my husband when we have to move 'oh no, better get in some german lessons in the next few weeks amungst packing up, renting our uk pad and looking after three children, as i might might some swiss prats who need ranting at'?
I would rather make an effort to try, use what i do know, and make an effort to get on with life as much as i can until i can learn some more. I think theres more said for that than being totally ignorant, staying indoors and not trying anything to settle in?

I have been living in switzerland for 11years,i am still enjoying the life here.sure,there were some changes around,but in general the quility of life still being good. Most of the swiss poeple are very polite,and a lot of them speaks english,i may say today you are not so luky, tomorrow things will be better.

Never mind speaking German (or whatever language) when something really upsets you - just speak it out loud in English. The message will cross the language barrier, loud and clear.

Yes, you are learning - when in xxxxx, do as the xxxx`s do.

I had this once with a dog walker past my house - dog off lead (huge monster black dog) barged into my garden to chase our cats. In a rage I shouted at the owner in pure gentile English - and he got the message very loud and clear!

I find this comment a bit high handed. We all can try, and the OP was trying. It is also stressful to be in that situation with 2 kids in tow - I can sympathize.

To the OP - hope your day improves, the weather is lovely, no? I've had a bit of a crap/stressful morning myself - sending good vibes your way!

I've had situations like that too - you just want to burst into tears as you can't say what you need to say - hope its not going to get you down too much. My swiss friends have said just say what you want in english - they will get the gist of what you are saying even if they understand no english (voice / body language etc) and it will help you feel better - failing that a large glass of wine when you get home should help :-)

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with the bus driver; you could try contacting the bus company as if he issued the ticket on the bus and short-changed you his machine should show up the discrepancy.

I can understand your frustration about the person hogging a seat with her shopping, and rather surprised that no-one offered you a seat in a more suitable part of the bus, especially as there are areas reserved for pushchairs near the doors.
However, your daughter isn't automatically entitled to her own seat as she was travelling either free or on a reduced child's ticket. Normally the accompanying adult takes an avaliable seat and the child then sits on their lap.
If the child is already occupying a seat they are expected to give it up to an adult if there are no seats left.

Must say, re change, there are signs everywhere asking people to have the right change or as near as poss. Same would have happened in the UK if you'd wanted to pay for your fare, especially at busy times, with a 20 or 50. I think this rule is world wide - it would take too much time to give change on large notes to everybody- can you imagine it, really.

For the bags, I am absolutely and totally with you- some people are just so selfish. If the bus/train is not busy, fair enough to put a bag on the seat- but as soon as places are in short supply, bags have to go. If some haughty little madam does not comply, I'll soon make her understand what I mean, in 5 languages if if need be, sign language

Really gets to me on EasyJet when couples take the window and aisle seat, so that they have a free seat in between. Last time, I went and sat right in the middle of them - the dirty looks were hilarious! They then asked if they could swap - and I said not, I was perfectly comfortable, thanks. (I would of course always offer to move when families can't find seats together, etc).

I'm sorry about what happened to you. I'm sure things would get brighter soon.

Just a quick advise, when and if you get into a similar situation (hopefully you won't) try speaking English with them, it works most of the times.

I live here for over two years and I haven't found one single bus driver who can't speak or understand English. So don't be afraid and if your German let's you down at difficult times, use your English and I'm sure you will be fine.

Don't get under impressed about the swiss people by these situations, here, like everywhere else, are all sorts of people.

Good luck!

Well, you are pretty darn lucky. Most of the bus drivers I've met don't speak (or at least they pretend) English. This is one of the reasons I studied German. People can go on a power trip and pretend that they don't speak English. Happened to me a couple of times... and I'm even in Zurich for crying out loud..

If you deal with money a lot, you need to learn the numbers in the native language as one of your first language tasks here.

It initially looks very easy, and within one afternoon, you're thinking "That's it sussed".

But they don't pronounce the numbers the way they're written...and they talk so fast, it takes you time to process what they said.

But practise, and numbers become easier...and with it more chance of you "winning" an argument with bus drivers!

I can do numbers in german, i can also add and subtract. Very useful when looking at the ticket machine with the cost of the ticket and holding the change given and knowing what you have just handed over. But ta.

Day has got better, had a lovely time with my little people, weather been good and going to take my children out for dinner to enrage more swiss people ( who i have also notice dont think taking children out for dinner in public places appropraite ) - shame on me! Mwahaha

I can explain that. Dinner is a multiple hour event here and kids don't usually have the patience for it. Diners don't mind children as long as they are quiet.

Glad your day is getting better.