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29.10.2007, 16:53
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | I often feel that people are trying to squeeze between me and an empty space. | | | | | At least they do go around if you stand your ground, which is more than I can say for some other places.
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29.10.2007, 16:56
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Thun, Berne
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland
They try to make it clear that they are NOT like the German but very often they behave very much the same.
| This user groans at Vanee for this post: | | 
29.10.2007, 16:57
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | When crossing a zebra, the person on your left will want to force you to the right, or vice versa. | | | | | See my last post. They will give way, they aren't as pedantic as the Germans. As I say* "How do you confuse a German? Walk on left."
* Along with "What's the difference between a German and a shopping trolley? A shopping trolley has a mind of it's own."
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29.10.2007, 18:37
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ex-Zurich now relieved
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | See my last post. They will give way, they aren't as pedantic as the Germans. | | | | | I disagree, on both counts. They will look away, but they won't give way.
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29.10.2007, 21:40
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Schwyz
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland
This thing called "swiss efficiency", I'm sorry, but it sure sounded much nicer before I came here.
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29.10.2007, 22:42
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | 24. "Handy" is a noun and means cell phone (mobile phone). Most Swiss have no idea that "handy" is an adjective and means practical. | | | | | they not only in Switzerland call their cell phone a "handy", but also in Germany (and, as far as I know, in Austria) as well -- and it's really annoying !!!
but you must admit, the modern cell phones are really handy - compared to the first models in the mid 90's
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30.10.2007, 15:53
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | I disagree, on both counts. They will look away, but they won't give way. | | | | | Really? Maybe I look rougher than you  Or maybe being so used to it in Germany I just take the brinkmanship to the point of physical contact and they don't. Anyway, I've never been jostled in Zurich.
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31.10.2007, 10:19
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: ZH Oberland
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | 24. "Handy" is a noun and means cell phone (mobile phone). Most Swiss have no idea that "handy" is an adjective and means practical. | | | | | You've been too long in Switzerland when...
You take offence at above, note that Germans call their portable "Handy", Swiss call it "Natel" and rant at length about the recent influx of Germans. | 
31.10.2007, 10:39
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland
For all those that were jostled - were you moving slowly or did you hear something sounding like a sneeze ("Äxgüsi!") being shouted and ignore it? In which case, I'd be jostling you too, I'm afraid.  I really hating slow-moving people (senior citizens and those with an impediment excepted) that don't budge when asked to. Particularly those five-in-a-row groups on a Saturday on the Bahnhofstrasse. | 
31.10.2007, 10:49
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | For all those that were jostled - were you moving slowly or did you hear something sounding like a sneeze ("Äxgüsi!") being shouted and ignore it? In which case, I'd be jostling you too, I'm afraid. I really hating slow-moving people (senior citizens and those with an impediment excepted) that don't budge when asked to. Particularly those five-in-a-row groups on a Saturday on the Bahnhofstrasse.  | | | | | In over 7 years of living in Switzerland, I've never had someone ask to get past me, let alone ask somewhat politely. Particularly on Bahnhofstrasse. People look at me like I'm an alien whenever I do it.
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31.10.2007, 11:25
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | they not only in Switzerland call their cell phone a "handy", but also in Germany (and, as far as I know, in Austria) as well -- and it's really annoying !!!
but you must admit, the modern cell phones are really handy - compared to the first models in the mid 90's | | | | | it's the same in english speaking Asia
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31.10.2007, 12:07
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland
Whooo, I thought that was just me. Nothing makes me crazier than a group of 5 people meandering down a side walk or promenade taking up the entire thing. Well, except people who decide they need to stop in a door way in a busy area. | Quote: | |  | | | For all those that were jostled - were you moving slowly or did you hear something sounding like a sneeze ("Äxgüsi!") being shouted and ignore it? In which case, I'd be jostling you too, I'm afraid. I really hating slow-moving people (senior citizens and those with an impediment excepted) that don't budge when asked to. Particularly those five-in-a-row groups on a Saturday on the Bahnhofstrasse.  | | | | | | 
31.10.2007, 12:42
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | Whooo, I thought that was just me. Nothing makes me crazier than a group of 5 people meandering down a side walk or promenade taking up the entire thing. Well, except people who decide they need to stop in a door way in a busy area. | | | | | Or those that stop at the end of an escalator...or walk right in front of the end of the escalator.
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31.10.2007, 12:47
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland
The fact that I get all my banking correspondance in English .... cannot think of any other banking system that would do that.
My local gemeinde is now providing English documentation too .. which is nice | 
31.10.2007, 13:10
| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | Or those that stop at the end of an escalator...or walk right in front of the end of the escalator. | | | | | That could sometimes be down to the fault of the shop; they put an attractive array of items on "Aktion" right in front of the escalator or, maddeningly, the pile of shopping baskets in the tight space immediately next to the escalator which is usually full of people fighting for a basket.
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31.10.2007, 16:04
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: |  | | | That could sometimes be down to the fault of the shop; they put an attractive array of items on "Aktion" right in front of the escalator or, maddeningly, the pile of shopping baskets in the tight space immediately next to the escalator which is usually full of people fighting for a basket. | | | | | Yes, this is sometimes the case, but not usually the case. Even so, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there might be people on the escalator who could bang into you in that situation.
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31.10.2007, 16:36
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland
27. That the Swiss think it is a good idea to divide the area at the checkout where you pack your bags, with a moveable divider that is moved regulalry in order to squash your groceries.
28. That the Swiss think it is acceptable to wear the same clothes on 2, 3, 4, 5 consecutive days.
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31.10.2007, 16:45
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | When crossing a zebra, the person on your left will want to force you to the right, or vice versa. | | | | | Never cross a zebra: they can hold a grudge for a very long time.
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31.10.2007, 16:50
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| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | 28. That the Swiss think it is acceptable to wear the same clothes on 2, 3, 4, 5 consecutive days. | | | | |  what's wrong with that? ok, 3, 4, 5 days is really stretching it but 2? Assuming we're not talking about underwear here | 
31.10.2007, 16:53
| | Re: Top-10 Things Foreigners find Remarkable about Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | what's wrong with that? ok, 3, 4, 5 days is really stretching it but 2? Assuming we're not talking about underwear here  | | | | | Hey, if it's not walking around on it's own...
Plus if you're a bit whiffy, you get your personal space back and probably plenty of room on the tram. |
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