I have lived all over USA for the past 11 years before moving to Switzerland. It was mainly due to my wife wanting to live somewhere in EU since she is from here. If I had the option to choose between Switzerland and US, I would definitely go back to USA. I could get a house like a mansion, a nice car or two and great paying job with 40 hrs (40 hours means 40 hours there) in many great states like Texas, Arizona, Colorado, MI, FL, CA and VA etc.

I don't accept your premise. I like many others, love city life: the buzz, being at the centre of anything new, the facilities, the culture, the variety, the opportunities. The fun.

That's not to say life as a carrot-cruncher doesn't have its attractions, but living in the boonies is duller than a swiss Apero for many people.

AYB

And I, like many others, have always loathed city life.

I used to live 30 minutes from NYC, went there perhaps 6 times in my life. Probably have been to Milano about the same number of times.

Tom

Really, I could have written this! Except for the fact that I do not have kids (yet). In the beginning, everything was new and fun, I worked in an international company, made lots of new friends as well as a lot of money , got a boyfriend (also a foreigner) and everything was great.

Gradually, most of my friends left the country again, my bf changed jobs within Switzerland and we had to move twice. I am now working in a Swiss company, there are about 40 Swiss, 2 Germans and me - the only non-native German speaker.

6 months ago we moved into our new apartment, its really nice and I just love being there, but the longer I am in Switzerland, the more I realize that I do not feel at home here. I like to think that we have integrated well, speaking the local language, good contact with neighbours and even some Swiss friends, but in general I miss humour, sponteanity, fun, creativity, inspirational people and just being myself. Sometimes I feel like I am in a golden cage.

However it will probably be max. 1-2 years before my partner is being sent abroad by his employer, so I am just looking forward to that and in the mean time we try to enjoy the good things about Switzerland, and travel a lot.

All in all I think Switzerland can be nice if you have the right character, otherwise you have to rely on the international (expat) community + travel out to the real world every now and again. If you get the opportunity to come here, I would take it, but I would not move heaven and earth to live in Switzerland.

I don't mind all the "difficulty" that is associated with living in Switzerland because I feel it serves a purpose & it does make your life better. The systems in place are not meant to be cheated & I am to proud to live in a country that expects more out of it's citizens/residents.

I have lived in switzerland ten years back..then i went back to canada(vancouver) where i grew up as a child.in my view has lost its charm for me and the lifestyle i think has deteriorated.canadian cities have swiss expenses but not swiss expenses.distances to say get out of town on a weekend can be tremendous.traveling from vancouver say to mexico is usually much higher than traveling from calgary or toronto...i guess it depends what your looking for...in my eyes..switzerland has so much to offer ..i have a four year old and the close proximity to her school and the safety here is comforting to me...in vancouver.you don't lose site of your children..hey..vancouver is a nice city..but to me it has lost its charm..many people migrate to canada thinking it is the promise land...well..it has some good qualities..but lots of negative....i will give you a place that i think is one of the best places..that is whitehorse in the yukon....great nature,small place,good salaries,but one big problem-affordable housing or available housing. I am happy to here..to me canada has loss alot of what once made me proud...thanks for letting me vent..

Sorry, i was in a hurry...didn't proofread...sorry for mistakes...no i am not in grade six...ha ha

I've only lived in Minnesota - but largely agree with your assessment. The work hours here suck (42-hour week on paper, 50-hour week in reality). Everything is insanely expensive.

However, what keeps me from moving back to the States for the foreseeable future:

- health-care sucks (with world-class facilities being present but only the filthy reach being able to afford them)
- high unemployment, with close to no benefits
- arbitrary legal system
- a political climate that's in such a shambles, it's hard to bear

Peter

Although I agree with dawiz about most of those things after having lived most of my life in the US, I have to disagree there. My son had major surgery at one of those world-class facilities - and neither we nor the many fellow patients we got to know while it was happening were anywhere near rich.

But mostly I see the advantages of living in Switzerland.

Strange, in 25 years I've almost never worked longer than a 42h week.

Tom

then you were among the roughly 85% of people who have access to health-insurance. For the rest, things look grim.

I received great healthcare in the US than here, and my
insurance costs were about the same.

Don't believe the canadian healthcare system is better than the states....big waits for sugery in canada...closing down hospitals....e.c.t.....got to go..have a great weekend everyone...don't hurt yourself..play safe

I was mainly talking about the relative large number of people who still don't have health-insurance. Those who dropped out when they retired, got sick, got fired etc. With medicare, access to top-notch facilities isn't always possible. Also, you only get 80% of your costs covered by medicare - for the rest, you either need a supplement plan (which you don't get if you were sick at the time you entered into medicare) or you have to pay for that out of your own pocket.

I agree to most of the points above. However, I believe that you have to be highly qualified and be in a good profession to get a decent job in Switzerland or in USA. Yes, the political climate is seriously in shambles.

I moved here from the UK for the salary and the sensible attitude to firearms. I make no apologies.

Last time I came back from DRC I had a severe strain of E.Coli..... The Swiss hospitals all begged me to return to the States because they had no clue what I had.

After two weeks of agony I flew to the US. Was diagnosed in less than 24 hrs and was better in 3 days. My Swiss bill was CHF3,700. My US Bill was $250......

So I dont think the Swiss system is good nor cheap.

I am pretty sure that most foreigners are here for the money and some other practicalities (healthcare, cleanliness, scenery, central location, firearms...) . Most dont seem to live in Switzerland because they actually like the country or its people...

(probably going to get groaned at for this, but this is my observation).

Not directed at any individual but all thiese moans and groans makes it sound like some people hate life. The good news that there is a clinic here in CH that can help you, well not help you just end you.

Different reasons for everyone.... To me, like others, sensible place to work, opportunity to earn a decent living, to try my 8th country in 10 years, and something else for a change. I would never consider living here permanently (or at least not until I am 75 or 80 and I have a few years to go until then) as I find it lacks cultural diversity and integration, fun, and humour that multiple Anglo-Saxon and Asian countries have (and yes, if I get groaned for saying this, it is fine). I can write a very long list of reasons why I keep going back to London, Chicago, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, but it is probably already clear based on this post. It is what it is. Has good sides, bad sides, as with all countries, easiest thing - take it for what it is and try to understand it. After all, many of us are only visitors here...