Have found a few things to share with all those in or around Fribourg - events, exhibitions, English-speaking things etc. Might help someone else looking to get to know more people.

Some things I am familiar with, others I've just found by googling, so I'd welcome any suggestions from those who know these organisations

http://www.livrechange.ch/index.html Seems like a sort of international library with events, looks chilled out, nominal one-off fee.

http://www2.unifr.ch/memento/ - University lectures open to the public. Free, I'm guessing, and you'll find some in English

http://fribangloswiss.blogspot.com/ - Anglo-Swiss club in Fribourg, various activities (helped me find the links above!)

http://www.fr.ch/bcuf/Dynamic.aspx?c=175& - main town library. Some English magazines and newspapers in the main building (through the entrance, turn to your right - you'll see a staircase, carry on, turn left and there's a room filled with magazines & newspapers.) Nice for a bit of relief and to catch up with what's happening elsewhere, in your language... You can also borrow films and CDs for free!

http://www.fribourgtourism.ch/en/event_calendar/ events list from the tourist board. Fairly good choice here - lots of things cheap ish, some free.

I'd also suggest getting the museum card (http://hosting.triboni.com/triboni/e...page/home.html) if you're in the town as there's quite a lot of galleries and museums around, which you can sometimes visit in English, and if not you can brush up on your French or German in a more interesting environment than a textbook. When you've paid the one-off fee you're much more likely to go because you'll want to make good use of the card!

http://www.fribourg-international.ch...n/mission.html -- this might be good if jobhunting/ for general networking though it looks a tad too business-y for me.

That's it for now. Feel free to add more.

Glad to see a constructive thread about Fribourg, rather than the negative comments from one or two members.

Coming from a big UK city and being used to a fair bit of time each year in London, I can understand that Fribourg can seem difficult/ small/ not lively enough... but I don't think anyone coming here expected a Swiss version of London.

What helps me very much is gradually adapting my expectations/ recognising the qualities of the city and the region which I didn't have where I was back home - e.g. less noise, people who say hello in the street, a surprising amount of trust once you start to get to know people (although getting to know people is perhaps more difficult initially), the chance to learn another language, the calm of the mountains, public transport which works and is cheaper than at home, a high concentration of art galleries in a small place, etc...

Are you in Fribourg Deep Purple, or moving here?

If I do manage to move over to Switzerland eventually, I doubt if it would be to Fribourg. I visited it once, a couple of months ago, and it looked a wonderful place. Of course this was based on history and heritage rather than its social activities.

You seem to be taking the time to find out ways to get involved in local activities. That is great. I have been a little frustrated at the occasional comments from one or two others who seem to consider it their right to be entertained. Fribourg seems to have been the target of many such comments.

Fribourg:

i agree, it may not be the liveliest city in Suisse, but then again,e who english-ish is right, those who go to Fribourg, they are there for the "e.g. less noise, people who say hello in the street, a surprising amount of trust once you start to get to know people (although getting to know people is perhaps more difficult initially, the chance to learn another language, the calm of the mountains, public transport which works and is cheaper than at home, a high concentration of art galleries in a small place, etc..." (enlglish-ish)

My boss has a house there, when i was there the first time, i was SHOCKED, not by how "unlively" the town is, but how amazingly pictureresque Fribourg is, or as a matter of fact, Suisse is...
I was told, over here, the hospitality really is different, and the trust u have for your neighbies is surprising ><
He also mentioned, he like it here because the quality of the air is just so much better, he feels calmer, as compared to staying in other cities, he also love it that because he's staying at the countryside, you de-stress your eyes with breathtaking landscape almost at every corner of your eyes.

It is indeed a beautiful town, but for me, i don't mind visitng or go for a hort getawat from "it all".....people who live here also tend to live longer and look younger, they have fresh produce of dairies, legumes and meat. Can't do it any fresher at other place i guess...

Kudos english-ish, for you have learnt to make peace instead of fighting it...