Just wanted to come back to you on this...

The second person I wanted to punch in Switzerland was a very tall American guy that I met last November. I was waiting to view an apartment just as he was helping his lady friend move out of the same building. He told me...
"You don't want to live here. It's full of effing foreigners. That's why my friend is moving out."
I told him that it was ok as I'm English (hence, a foreigner). His answer was...
"Oh well you'll be used to it then! England's been taken over by effing foreigners!"
My fists clenched. I wondered if I needed a run up as he was a good 13 inches taller than me. I asked what had made him come to this conclusion?
"My sister lives there and says all the street names are in English and Muslim."
Now...being pretty sure that Muslim is a religion and not a language, I asked where his sister lives in England?
"Cardiff!"

Also lived in Cardiff; 99% of the people who live there cannot pronounce the Welsh versions of the street names correctly despite two years compulsory Welsh language lessons in the schools

Why would you as most of the street names in Cardiff are wrote in English, If I remember correctly.

Omg.. the sticker holders (legends and veterans) are back again defending their "red-state"! Just when I thought the thread was showing some balanced views, they came back to spew out some irrelevant gibberish, thanking each others' posts.. to retain their stickers.

Just because there's xenophobia in other godforsaken places, doesn't mean it's justified here. There's absolutely no reason to stare or otherwise cause any discomfort or show discrimination towards foreigners, be it in apartment rentals or any other matters. Since this is a forum for Switzerland, people are sharing their experiences here. There's little reason to contest those or otherwise justify them, or tell them "it's you", or insinuate any punching.

Other country's expat forums - where things are bad - may have similar threads. If not, possibly the foreign community is too afraid to speak out (because the locals like to punch??) - in which case, clearly not a role model for any country wanting to attract talent from abroad to meet the shortage of skills in labor market.

What's really irrelevant is you digging out an unrelated post of mine from over a week ago to groan.

You appear to be obsessed with forum statuses which only indicate that some people have spent time sharing views, thoughts and ideas, and in most cases, actively helping people who are new to the country. There is more free help and advice on this forum than at any official body in the country.

If you look at the introductions section, many people spend months reading this forum before actually joining, because they benefit from the advice freely given here. That is something to be applauded. So if you see a member's status as derogatory, that's your problem. I see it as an indicator that a person has spent a lot of time and effort giving something of themselves. There are incredible threads on this forum that you will struggle to find anywhere else online without a fee being attached, the 'Ask a Scientist' thread being a very fine example.

The funny thing in all this is, you've made the effort to come to this forum to be critical of the country you chose to move to, and in turn, are being critical of the people who enjoy living here instead of perhaps learning from their experiences and making the experience better for yourself. That's incredibly counterproductive.

I find all opinions helpful and entertaining. We are all different in so many ways, which in turn adds to the diversity of the forum.

You take forums way too seriously.

I can agree with many elements of it. Although I have never lived in Switzerland I have visited many times as my daughter works in Zurich

There are lots of people in Ireland who have had 13 years of Irish and still can't speak the language! That said though what is taught in school is very academic. In my own case I only really learned to speak Irish after college when I joint an accounting company where the boss only spoke Irish to us. Mind you we had an English woman for Manchester join us and she was determined to learn the language so she took classes from the boss before work each morning and after about 3 years she was arguing tax cases in Irish before the Revenue Commissioners. Very impressive.

__________________
"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." - Nelson Mandela

ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz I thought I never will say this ! but I like to tell you, what I was told hundreds of times here in Canada "Why you f*** off where You f****** come from "

Oh no, that's a real surprise! lol

Cute.

'Nuff said.

Get out of the foggy lowlands, visit Helvetia Vera and pull that stick out of your arse.

HTH

It was in response to a post that street names in Cardiff are also written in Welsh as in this example for Hope street.

If I remember correctly this street was once in a Dr Who episode?

Please post a picture, so we can evaluate your paranoid claim in an unbiased manner.

Failing that, we will just have to assume that you are an ugly freak who deserves said disgust.

Tom

Oh come on, a rant is a rant, let him say his peace.

Ugly freaks? Like most internet warriors hiding behind the pc screens aren't

I agree. People rant. And then can't show a bit of sympathy with other ranters. Since those happen to rant about something else in that particular moment.

Has anybody noticed that even on super packed trains there are always certain seats free? Go and sit there. Imagine yourself in other people's skin.

That's because you walked through first class.

Yeah. My specks get foggy in winter.

As long as I don't accidentally plant myself on anyone's lap. First class or second.

With such a stupid attitude, it's no wonder everyone looks at you with disgust.

Tom

Give this guy a break, just because you feel content and well nestled in the celestial plains of the south, doesn't mean everybody has to like it. It's all part of culture shock, growing and learning and we can certainly agree, Switzerland is not for everybody.