Whether he has ever been to Geneva in the first place is questionable. In the OP he says he's heard the night life is better but he's never been and later on in the thread he says he was there but got out as quickly as he could.

These trolls really need to get their stories straight before posting.

It is however quite an entertaining thread.

Really? Do you really, really think the French and the Germans are less racist/narrow-minded/judgemental/etc etc on average ?

Moaha hahahaha.

But yeah, the grass is always greener...so much truth in these words. If you would live there you'd see it for yourself, but hey...it's nice to have some illusions. Keep them intact, don't let reality alter any of them. It helps.

It doesn't matter if the OP is "right" or not about Switzerland, France, or Germany. His perception is greatly at odds with mine, which is not surprising, we are two different people, at two different stages of our lives, presumably with differing aims and desires.

In a similar manner, it doesn't matter if France, Germany, Iceland, or Canada are "better" - given how readily the OP seems to infer the general from the individual I don't think he is going to be happy anywhere.

What a shame.

Switzerland isn't perfect. Neither am I, nor any human I have ever met.

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If everyone you know agrees with you consistently, they are either not listening, or not capable of critical thought.

....and different backgrounds. One thing to be a Canadian lad in CH and totally different to be a Russian(or whatever else less "cool") one. I give the OP the credit for that...and it's hilarious to see that after all that jazz, EFers don't recognise there's a real problem here. Labels and huge misconceptions attached to some nationalities. Ignorance. Aggressive attitudes.
It doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen. I know that.

So... you think the Swiss can spot my being Canadian when I go to a club and on the basis of that react more positively? I think not. Until I open my mouth and tell them they haven't a clue, and even when I do tell them they often seem to think that this means that I am either American, or a member of a vast Hockey playing Bear Grylls tribe.

Not being Russian I wouldn't know. Not being Canadian, neither would you.

There is indeed both prejudice and zenophobia here in Switzerland, as there is in most places. Although the details are different, the main thing is how one reacts against, or with it, or at all.

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If everyone you know agrees with you consistently, they are either not listening, or not capable of critical thought.

It is very sad, as Swiss people are so miserable that I have not yet been able to find a similar forum to EF in German about Swiss matters. Even Swiss people post here to get info!

If this forum dies, I don't really know where else to look for advice on CH, despite bullies and snarky comments.

All Swiss people are miserable? Strange, will need to ask my Swiss friends what their real nationality is then......... Or maybe is it me who doesn´t get what misery is?

Never experienced this, to tell the truth. But it might be that, as I cannot yet grasp Swiss German, I smile and nod all the time. Perhaps I have just never noticed stares and lectures!

Indeed. I am glad we have threads like these, not really for the comedy central factor as others pointed out, nor because the overwhelming reactions of posters at the end here praise the life here in unisono, and it is a pretty good, fuzzy Tenerife hols feeling. But because it is democratic to provide a place where people can nag. If we were as pedantic as some posters here are - we would have to "send home" all the nags in the Complaint Corner, n'est pas.

I see some of truth in OP's gripe, loads of trolling, sure..but not enough dishonesty to justify some McCarthy-ian flack he got. Where the attitude he described hurts the most isn't dating or daily little jabs, it is in a professional setting. And I experienced it. Loads of different people do.

I say - be proud of your origines. I am just waiting to acumulate enough skirts to go to work like this

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"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

In my case (the female version of that)

Nice boots!

Tom

Totally agree with that, MC. That's where it hurts the most. And some other posters have also tried to synthesise these points, it was good to see some people chose to take a moment and make their point here, so often it reflects only one set of backgrounds, life experiences.
I don't expect any symphaty nor understanding from certain folks, it can't be, it's the way it is.
But maybe, just maybe, take a moment before snapping at the other, try to at least understand where they come from. It's not that difficult.

This. Initially I was annoyed a lot by people who, in a meeting, would say "Well, that may be how you do it in America", and I'll admit that more than once I responded "Canada asshole, learn some geography, and just what is your objection to getting it done?" With time the Swiss learned to be less racist... they said things like "That may be how you do it in the German part." or "That may be how you do it in the banking sector".

The key is to recognise that these people aren't national cultural icons, just idiots. I may be blindsided... I've sort of reached the status of "Swiss with a funny accent", but since my accent isn't German, or from a specific canton they can't quite figure out how to circle the wagons to protect themselves.

In daily life I don't encounter much rejection, in spite of the fact that I tend to ask odd questions in a way not normally practiced here (or most anywhere). A couple of weeks ago I stopped at a poulet wagon on my way home. I asked the guy if the smell gets to him. He just stared at me a bit then he started to explain that the chicken is all fresh etc. Then I said, No, the question is, after standing all day long in the smell of roasting chicken, do you go home and think "What I'd really like for dinner is some roast chicken!". He thought it was hilarious... in 20 years nobody had ever asked. In fact, he would prefer his wife's risotto, but she really likes his chicken. Two men exchanged knowing glances about the nature of women, and I went on my way.

Up the skirts!

I mean, you'd look good even without the skirts.

I mean... oh, never mind.

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If everyone you know agrees with you consistently, they are either not listening, or not capable of critical thought.

Nope, not difficult at all to understand that OP is clearly from under a bridge.

Tom

Yes.

Moaha hahahaha.

Good luck then........

Good for you then. Which languages do you already speak or are inclined to learn? That's very important. Also, have you looked for a job there? Does it look like you'll find something quickly? Start applying, if only for fun. Have some interviews, see how it goes.
Take some steps, slowly and smoothly, it's not worth living here if you can't find any motivation.

Interesting. I have been thinking about this lately. You always read that the Swiss are happy with their jobs and their lives but I really do wonder: Why do people on the bus everyday look so grumpy? Why do they throw a critical glance at anyone who seems to be having fun including the children?
I came to the conclusion that the people who answer these surveys probably think "money is good, we don't have a war going on, so yeah I guess I am happy". Also we should not forget that the Swiss think they do everything well, so surely their country must be the best.
After all, if you asked an average person if they are satisfied with their life, they will think about their job, their possessions, their environment and give an answer based on that. It is only a small percentage that want more from life and therefore are bound to be disappointed.
To further support my theory I would also add that the colder countries with less sunshine and more economic and politic stability tend to come higher in the happiness surveys. They also have higher suicide rates.

No idea, as we never take the bus!

Tom

Happiness means different things to different people. Maybe some don't even realise there's a difference in meaning between "content" and "happy".

PS- funnily enough my Swiss friend is neither happy nor content with her job. And she hates her boss. :-)