I kind of like the OP's optimism but if you have such a plan, then please do it during summer. Then you can at least sleep outside

The word troll springs to mind...

Brave or simply crazy?.... I just can't figure this one out!

Daboy or Delboy?

And it's wonderful to know our tax money helps people out when they need it, which is what a good social safety net should do. I am sure when this person is working his tax money will go to help other unfortunate people in hard times.

Crazy and sort of proving the point that "a passport a citizen dost not make". Smells like troll to me too.

to the OP: don't listen to the grumpy old people on this forum. Do what you think is best for you, it'll be a big adventure and 10 yrs down the road you'll look back on it with fond memories. Good luck !

groaned at by someone who thinks going to the KFC in France is a big adventure

...and then what?! This has nothing to do with old people..this has something to do with logic. The simple 1 + 1 of life! How far do you think 150Chf willl last him in Switzerland..?

nets exist to help people who slip and fall when doing their best to stay on the rope. this guy is jumping out of an airplane with no parachute and hoping there's a huge fluffy pillow to break his fall.

Errr guys? Have you noticed that OP is gone? I ain't buying the BS...

Could have gone to bed ... around midnite now in some parts of the States.

EDIT: He just came back online ...

Since when does a college educated individual with a law degree NEED social support? What the the OP needs is to get a job, save up some money and make a rational plan and move to Switzerland.

Social safety nets should be used as a last resort, not out of convenience.

So a good option is to become a freegan (bin diving) in Zürich. Since you do not speak german, here is the most important sentence to know: "Wo ist der Müllcontainer?".

Since you have a valid degree, and a Swiss Passport, you can easily land a job in Zürich area. Try out the job sites. You could google them and find them. One of the popular one is www.jobscout24.ch

True, but this is likely to take a few MONTHS. Only jobs he will be able to do quickly as he needs given is flipping burgers, factory, etc, and even so the language would be an issue, right? And even so, finding one like this will take longer than 2 days (his budget). Anyway...

Kudos, my thoughts as well... Save a few 1000's in the US, talk to the consulate to find what additional support they can give him for repatriation, and then come. And in the interim, take a German course (or through the internet).

To the OP: Chase your dreams! Find more funds, 150 CHF are "nothing" over here. Good luck!

Agree.

There's a charity institution for people who have problems getting back on their feet called Sozialwerke Pfarrer Sieber. Contact their services and see what they can provide you before coming to Switzerland. They might be able to give you food, shelter and advice from the minute you land. http://www.swsieber.ch/

Your passport and education will help you find a job but you need to sell yourself too, just like any other applicant. Be prepared to work as a waiter or in the back kitchen for awhile in order to make quick money and learn the local language. Lots of Auslandschweizer started their careers in Switzerland this way without resorting social services.

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Faith isn't about everything turning out okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.

Unfortunately it's not a troll. I may just be the most audacious Swiss alive. I don't meant to be though. Lots of good responses to absorb. I appreciate the witty vitriol.

Others have covered the practicalities fairly comprehensively, so I'll spare you that but on a cultural level, are you sure you know what you're getting into?

You don't say what it is you dislike about the US, but depending what it is, you may find Switzerland better or you may find it even worse.

Having a grandmother from there, and visiting once, probably isn't enough to give you a reasonable picture of Swiss life. In fact, scratch "probably", it certainly isn't.

Given that you have fairly strong (negative) opinions on the other two places you've lived, I suspect you're the kind of person who can't bloom just anywhere, needs a particular environment in order to really thrive. (That's not a putdown, just an observation. Lots of people are wired that way, and a good thing too. How dull would the world be if everyone were just happy to stay wherever they found themselves?)

So my question for you is: on what basis do you believe Switzerland will be that special environment?

And question #2: if Switzerland turns out not to be what you're looking for, then what? What is Plan C and how will you fund it? As far as I can see you'd be stuck here until you could find a job (which, as others have hinted, may be quite difficult without local language or highly demanded skills) and save up enough money. If you decide Switzerland isn't for you after all, you could be in for a very frustrating couple of years.

Would you consider moving to another city or state in the US? Unless your objections to the country are quite fundamental, that could easily be enough to give you the change of scenery/culture you're looking for.

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