Howdy!
I am moving in 2 months to Switzerland, and will be working in Zumikon.My name is Macon, and I work in automotive engine management systems(racing/performance applications). I heard about this forum through my company.
Just reading the forum so far has been very informative, and I am sure that that it will help with daily life in this beautiful but different place. This sure aint Texas, y'all..... I thank you in advance for all your help. Please tell me there is good beer here...thanks, M

Welcome Macon, you'll find things are very different here, which is the main theme of this forum.

Are you big like the Texan film stars? Maybe you should save your boots for the parties, with those heels you'll be towering over the boss, and they don't like that at all! Definitely bring a real hat with you as well, then you should be all set for taming the Swiss wimmin.

I am certainly NOT an film star, but yes, I am 6'3" and 220#, or i had better get used to 1.95m and 100kilos +- a little bit. I do have a hat, and yes I like to wear it and my boots. Would people look at me like a space alien?

Yes they would, all Texans are seen as space aliens anywhere period!
When you get here could you show the CHians how to do a real Texas-style BBQ, come to think of it you could show me too.

By the way if people cough when you say where you are from, don't worry Houston sounds like "Husten" meaning cough.

(Little insider jokus there)

I plan to arrive wearing hat, boots and my silver "Houston LIvestock Show and Rodeo" belt buckle which weighs about the same as a small car. Maybe that will turn some heads, or maybe they'll just think I am a circus freak. I think I'll just stick to casual pants & loafers.
Question: I have a whole bunch of questions for y'all about driving, a place to stay after corporate housing runs out daily life etc...Do I just go to the related catagory of the query, or is there a place where someone who is being rushed out here with virtually the shortest amount of notice possible can just go and yell HELP?
thanks, M

Hi Macon, yep take a good look around this site, it covers nearly all the problems you will meet in the next 10 years or so!

The best advice I can give you is to buy what you need in Texas. Chocolate and wine are better here, but otherwise buy it now before you leave. Leave the boots, belt and hat in the closet unless you are partying. After the government of Mr Bush junior, Americans got a bad press here, so best to keep a low profile. Bring some passport size photos, you need around 10 or 12 for all the various IDs and applications.

You are going to work in Zumikon, http://map.search.ch/zumikon what is your industry and job? Did I read that your company is helping you out in the beginning with an apartment?

Don't mess with Switzerland!

CK

If you want helpful answers and don't want to get your ringers rapped, the best thing, even if it takes a bit of your time, is to do a search in the relevant area of the Forum and see if anything turns up to give you a few tips. Then ask specific questions, perhaps on the same Thread, or, if there's nothing which fills the bill, start a new Thread with a title, which should give more than a vague hint as to the contents, in the relevant Forum.

In your questions, try to be as specific as reasonably possible so that folk don't get fed up with having to ask questions back to get the basic Info. I know there is a lot of 'junk' in the Threads on here, but there are pearls of wisdom too.

There is nearly always someone here who can help when things get desperate. I think half the forum members (not to mention the Mods) are insomniacs!

All the best.

Howdy & welcome

I moved here in 2007 after 8 years in the Lone Star State ... and I still wear my Justin Ropers every now and then.

Welcome to the forum!!

I've vacationed in Texas many times and had a wonderful time there. This makes me think that people who can live there all the time must be incredibly lucky. Many probably don't realise how fortunate they are.

But lots of people vacation in Switzerland and when I look at the positives of being here I also consider myself lucky.

Hi Macon

you need a visa, and you need to register within 8 days at your town hall

Genauere Angaben über die Visumsvorschriften des Bundes finden Sie beim Bundesamt für Migration (BFM).
Wer aus einem EU- oder EFTA-Mitgliedstaat oder aus einem anderen nicht der Visumspflicht unterworfenem Staat einreisen möchten, braucht kein Visum zu beantragen. Diese Personen können jederzeit ohne besondere Bewilligung ein- und ausreisen.

Die Anmeldung und wie es weitergeht


Einmal in der Schweiz angekommen, darf sich die ausländische Person ohne Bewilligung bis zu drei Monaten im Land aufhalten. Sollte sie für längere Zeit hier bleiben wollen, muss sie sich bei der Fremdenkontrolle ihrer Wohngemeinde anmelden und eine Aufenthaltsbewilligung beantragen. Die Gemeinde ist übrigens für fast alle Fragen im Zusammenhang mit dem Aufenthalt in der Schweiz die erste Anlaufstelle.
Die Gemeinde reicht anschliessend den Antrag auf Aufenthaltsbewilligung an den Migrationsdienst weiter. Dieser entscheidet dann, ob dem Gesuch entsprochen werden kann.
Wer in die Schweiz einreist, um hier zu arbeiten, muss sich innert 8 Tagen bei der Wohnortgemeinde melden.

Macon, I wear my Frye's with my blue jeans every other day and nobody looks at me crazy. The only day they stared was when I wore them with a sundress. Don't think they had ever seen that look before!

While boots may be questionable, you'll have no problem with your guns...

Welcome to the forum...

Avoid using your boots after 10 if you leave above another tenant... specially if swiss...

Other than that it's all good....

Now go on and have some fun you crazy gringo

Really? I do this all the time in the spring and early autumn, and have seen the same style on many women in Zürich. Cowboy boots (or similar) with dresses and skirts seem to be all the rage right now. I always thought Lausanne and Geneva were more fashion forward.

Oh dear.

Come anyway, you'll like everything else.

In English, please -- this is englishforum.ch.

I dunno about your boots but you can leave your hat on.

I think you should go as the Texan you are, nothing nicer than the boots, the hat and the belt buckle! I love those

If you are stage fright, then go normal, but half the way through the week and after having proven that you are not an alien, dress as you like

Had a spare five minutes to practice my translation skills.

You can find exact information about the visa regulations of the Government by the Bundesamt für Migration (BFM).
Those who are from an EU or EFTA member state, or from another country that is not subject to visa requirements, and would like to travel to Switzerland, do not need to apply for a visa. These people can at any time travel to and from Switzerland without any special authorisation.

The application and how it proceeds.

Once in Switzerland the foreign person may remain for up 3 months without authorisation. Should they want to stay longer, then they must report to the foreign control of their local authority and apply for a residence permit. The local authority is, by the way, the first point of contact for almost all questions in connection with residence in Switzerland. The local authority subsequently hands the application to the immigration service. They then decide whether the application complies with the requirements. Those who travel to Switzerland in order to work must report to the local authority within 8 days