Howdy,

I stumbled on this forum a few weeks ago while sending some links to a colleague of a colleague who is moving to Zurich soon. Sure wish I'd found it when I moved to Zurich 2 years ago!

I'm from Minnesota/Oregon/California/New Hampshire, and I am here as a PhD student at ETH in climatology. I have one more year to go and, frankly, I am quite looking forward to moving back to a land where I can laugh out loud and not be stared at.

Andrea

Welcome Andrea.

I must admit that in my experience the Swiss are only too happy in join in laughing out loud with anyone that I've seen.

Not only that, they join in with everyone else as they point their fingers at me.

I must admit that they are courteous enough to try and muffle their laughs after I explain to them that it is not a mask but my actual face and hair

Hi. Fellow Oregonian/Californian here. Don't meet too many people abroad who've lived in Oregon.

I never thought about that, but you are right, I've never met one! Went to junior high and high school in Portland, and all my crap is waiting for me in my mom's basement there....