Dear all

I find myself living with my Swiss gf near Zug since last October. As I got a job and everything is alright, I struggle to make Swiss friends! I do speak german and understand much of Swiss german by now, but It seems that young people are either shy or too busy all the time...I understand most mates here have known each other since school times, and it kinda hard to enter in a group of already established friends. Any suggestions?

Guido

Pickwick Pub and pay a few rounds.

Or join the local Turnverein / Shooting Club / or any other club that might interest you.

That's just the way it is here. It happens to me and I'm Swiss.

True, that happens even to my Swiss gf, lots of acquaintances, and in order to meet up with someone they send invitations a week before....

Also to YOU then the questions :
- what hobbies do you have ?
- what clubs/Vereine have you been member of in the past ?
- how often do you go to EF meetings ?

I arrived in Zug a few weeks ago, leaving boyfriends and friends back in England. On my first night here I forced myself to go out and sat in a pub for 2 hours on my own (female in my 30s) before finally being able to strike up conversation. One thing led to another and I was able to make a handful of expat friends and have seen them on several occasions.
I assume the Swiss will be a harder nut to crack and I don't anticipate many if any friends originating from work.
But it's not impossible and there are a lot of non-Swiss in a similar position as you! Hang in there.. But you have to put yourself out there. Clubs, pubs, sports associations, get busy! Good luck..

Haha sorry that was one boyfriend back in England not boyfriends...oops

Wow.... I cant imagine why this Italian guy hasnt had as much luck as you?

Hahahahahahaha!! I don't quite look like that but close especially after a long week moving/starting work!

The pants and below pose might work to make a lot of guy friends but I must say I find it rather dificult to make some lady friends. And it is kind of strange when you are going out to a club or bar and start to talk to another woman without having any others intensions??!

Well, it seems it works pretty easy for you! I am boring in that I knead bread....when bored! otherwise I'm very sociable, I strike conversations with anyone everywhere...the point is...I'm not an expat, I am simply a guy who finds himself in this part of the world, and I don't see differences in what's written on a passport. I went twice to that dodgy pickwick pub, and I only stroke rushed conversations with either foreigners or drunks...I might try another time! True is that I ought to join some club, if that is the local culture, otherwise folks don't just gather if they haven't known each other for many years...Any interesting places to go in Zug?

Catch a train up Rigi and go for a hike....it is very good and perhaps you run into some nice folks.

there are EF meetings? where? how do you find out where they are?

Have a look at all the events listed in the "Events" page of this website.

New here too, but I'm guessing that you should have a look in the Events forum

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As for this convo - it's great! In fact I have heard similar things from French, Russian and German people that it's difficult to make friends in Switzerland.

However of course, I am (deluded?) going to break that model and make lots of Swiss friends! (cough)

Looking forward to meeting some of you in Basel for curry this week, just in case my prediction is wrong

Ive met lots of Swiss people through sports and at Church. But there is a trick, you have to force them to come over. You have to be like "NO WAY DUDE! BBQ this weekend. Youre coming..... If your mommy says no then youre a panzy"......

Normally does the trick. Most Swiss dont really go after having friends. I used to invite basketball teamates to go out on weekends to go shoot. They would all say the same thing: "uummm, I dont think I can do that because its not on the practice schedule".... "So what else are you going to do tomorrow morning? C'mon just show up at the park"...... "No no, I have plans in the evening. So it wont be a good idea."....

You have to some times force them to come over for food etc, but its normally worth it.

OK, how about going to the local bank, depositing a fortune and watch the locals come out of the woodwork to be your friend.

Or get a mountain bike and join the thousands of sweaty, adrenalin-high bikers enjoying a beer at some mountain restaurant.

I've been trying to make some English speaking friends but they all seem to think that I'm boring. They are probably right

Fukk! That Thomas guys on this thread. Guys so boring... Has a cactus for his avatar.... Probably from Texas.

Hääääää ? May be that you ARE boring ? But cheer up, nobody is boring by birth. When going to any meeting, try to be POSITIVE ! If you feel not too well and are asked "we gaats" reply not by "ääää, ja ganz guet" but more realistically "äs mag ie" . If meeting whomever try to memorize what similar meetings you have had and about the positive aspects of those meetings in the past. Overall, try to see things positively