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14.09.2011, 14:58
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Geneva
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | Hey, i hope you wrote that sentence just for kidding or to be ironic. I'm in process to transfer me to Switzerland and you scared me :-P (also i LOVE red meat).
I think that possibility to feed yourself in a complete and healthy manner is the base of living, just 1 or 2 step up surviving.
If someone take decision to emigrate in another country i guess he/she is willing to do it because his/her living standard will improve a lot. Being in a condition of buy iron pill because you will not be able to buy enough red meat do not represent, in my humble opinion, an improvement on own quality of life (excepting if you are coming from some 4th world country).  | | | | | No he didn't. Just had a team barbeque at shores of Lac leman, and one of things that got grilled was marinated lamb steak from Coop. Price on package was 57 CHF/kg. Quality is good, but prices are not adequate. Or vice versa - for the price, quality is not good enough...
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14.09.2011, 15:13
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Home and native land
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | If someone take decision to emigrate in another country i guess he/she is willing to do it because his/her living standard will improve a lot. Being in a condition of buy iron pill because you will not be able to buy enough red meat do not represent, in my humble opinion, an improvement on own quality of life (excepting if you are coming from some 4th world country).  | | | | | I come from a country where for the most part we eat our cows, instead of using them to produce cheese. And I wasn't kidding. I only buy meat when it is on sale. I've been here for 8 months and I still can't accept the prices of meat based on value for money.
I also now eat a lot of cheese. | 
14.09.2011, 15:16
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Zürich
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | If I could travel back in time, I would tell myself the following: | | | | | I would add:
- beware of Swiss mobile phone contracts. Most require you to leave the country or die to cancel. Sunrise demand both...
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14.09.2011, 15:17
| Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Italy
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | I come from a country where for the most part we eat our cows, instead of using them to produce cheese. And I wasn't kidding. I only buy meat when it is on sale. I've been here for 8 months and I still can't accept the prices of meat based on value for money.
I also now eat a lot of cheese.  | | | | | I already know about high cost of meat but saying that you cannot afford something and saying that you don't agree to buy something that in your opinione is overpriced are 2 different things.
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14.09.2011, 15:23
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Home and native land
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | I already know about high cost of meat but saying that you cannot afford something and saying that you don't agree to buy something that in your opinione is overpriced are 2 different things. | | | | | That's fair, I can agree with that. There will always be a choice, in this case, the more meat I eat, the sooner I will have to go home. Right now I am choosing to stay longer (take iron pills) and enjoy the cheese.
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14.09.2011, 15:25
| Member | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | If I could travel back in time, I would tell myself the following: | | | | | I think you missed the obvious. Take back this weeks lottery numbers and put a ticket on.
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14.09.2011, 15:48
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Here
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here
- The dollar will lose half it's value against the Swiss Franc
- Buy gold
- Waste no time on Swiss women
- Shop in Germany
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14.09.2011, 16:21
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Live in BE, Work in FR
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | Adding my 2 rappen:
- Ausweis for trailing spouse may take a while (my case 11 weeks) | | | | | Somewhat similar situation.
- Try not to change cantons once you get here. My case: Lots and lots and lots of paperwork and needed 3 months.
Also:
- Your country's plug-to-Swiss plug converters are essential (assuming same voltage)
| This user would like to thank darwiniandemon for this useful post: | | 
14.09.2011, 16:30
| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | Somewhat similar situation.
- Try not to change cantons once you get here. My case: Lots and lots and lots of paperwork and needed 3 months.
Also:
- Your country's plug-to-Swiss plug converters are essential (assuming same voltage) | | | | | Na. Can get a Swiss plug for 1CHF from Migros. Just change them over.
| This user would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
14.09.2011, 16:46
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here
I would also add
- London prices become cheap | The following 2 users would like to thank Humblebee for this useful post: | | 
14.09.2011, 16:47
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | you were right to be suscipious (sic) at the interview | | | | | That right there is spot on.
I would also add:
Even though croissants every day for breakfast may seem fun at first, within 2 months you'll be so sick of them you'll never want to see another one again.
If things at home are really good (good life, good career, etc), then don't come to Switzerland, because it won't be better.
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14.09.2011, 16:58
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ZH
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | i like! mine:
...
- recycling are good for your pocket, but cool it, you can't get caught for cans in your zurisack!
... | | | | | I wouldn't be too sure - I've know people who've received fines for that, so somebody somewhere must have gone through the bag | 
14.09.2011, 17:05
| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here
I wished I'd known that our UK pension would be halved and more within 2 years of arrival due to exchange rate. But no regrets.
Must say the price of meat did make my eyes water for some time- and even more now if I allow myself to 'translate' into £ at current exchange rate- but actually I am sure that eating a lot less meat than previously is actually much better for us  Loads of fruit and veg- plenty of raspberries in the garden at the mo. Just love to try all sorts of new ways to cook veg in season- many much cheaper than in the UK (chard, fennel, chicory in winter, etc)- and fruit, plums are a-plenty now. The key is to learn to adapt to local and seasonal foods.
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14.09.2011, 17:06
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: ZH
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here
Never pee on an electric fence | The following 6 users would like to thank mojado for this useful post: | | 
14.09.2011, 17:25
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Edinburgh/ Basel
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | i like! mine:
- many of your very old friends will suddenly remember you and come for a visit in the swissôtel - say NO, guests are expensive even if you're home sick! | | | | | GOOD ADVICE!! ( too late for me)
We have been here less than a year and have had my niece for one week, now my parents are coming for 3 weeks, my niece is coming back for one week, friends of friends that i have never met in person are coming for a long weekend. We have a one bed flat and had to buy a sofa bed - now we need an extra wardrobe. We of course will travel around with them so lots of train tickets, car hire, eating out ...............
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14.09.2011, 17:33
| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here
Why put up with this- in the end it will make you resentful and might spoil your relationship. When we decided to come and live here, we told all our friends and family they'd all be welcome and we would love to see them- but made a joke about our '1-2-3- rule - they all accepted this without question and it works great. We always cook for them for the first day, then we go out the next (Dutch or take turns) then THEY COOK the next day, and repeat for as long as necessary. They always pay for petrol as we take them all over CH to visit- we've never had to ask I am happy to say they always offer. We have hosted a couple of younger friends who we know have financial problems and refused - and they actually did more cooking with simple ingredients. Don't let people use you as a cheap hotel - much better in the long run for all.
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14.09.2011, 17:48
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bern
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | 
14.09.2011, 17:50
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here | Quote: | |  | | | When you have been here for about 20 or so years you will - to your great surprise - discover the Swiss were right, and you were wrong!    | | | | | You have been assimilated into The Borg.
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14.09.2011, 18:16
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Winterthur
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here
I wish I’d known that Swiss bed design requires a crude square headboard… I would have brought a nice bed with a headboard in a streamlined shape from home.
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14.09.2011, 18:20
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wollerau
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| | Re: Things I wish I had known before moving here
- Beer costs 7 CHF. 
- Disco Dancing 25 CHF. 
- getting a job is easier than getting an apartment.
- easier to talk to cows than swiss girls.
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