Don’t you mean your Italian friend was 20 minutes late? Than goodness he is half-Swiss?

Over the last few years, we’ve accepted that Swiss punctuality is a myth! None of our Swiss friends are punctual - we’ve got the Aargauer, the Basler, the Zürcher, the Walliser, the Ticinese and the Romands, all arriving a good 10-20 mins late.

Time to get new Swiss friends, methinks.

Well, Swiss federalism and all that.



The document linked by Sandgrounder comes from Zürich canton. Strictly speaking, this is the Swiss government https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html

It may well be the older generations more. We've had lots of elderly neighbours around for lunch and dinner and whilst they are lovely company, they are sticklers for tradition.

Having said that, we visited some young Swiss friends a few years ago and they refused to give anyone a drink before the meal and until it was half-way through the main course of beef.
The host then announced, when he finally served the wine, that he didn't think wine would go with the first course.

Does the guide also say that you need to nod appreciatively and remain attentive when neighbours insist on showing you their house and you politely say yes but regret the decision after the tour has been going on for half-an-hour and you've only got through the sitting room and the downstairs loo?

Lovely people but it was a bit of an ordeal.

Sounds like you need new young Swiss friends, Tom1234!

Our above-mentioned friends are in their 40s; so yes maybe the young crowd are doing things differently.

I find having "a tour" in somebody's apartment a bit awkward, in general. In galleries - yes, museums, too. But an apartment? Unless it's Biltmore, that was fun.

So being fashionably late could be cool again?

Zurich is the centre of the Universe. Around Zurich lake we're all on time (meaning 1-2 minutes earlier) and polite. And we don't drink too much....

Therefore, I salute their initiative: foreigners should be punctual. And not overstay their welcome!

My friends without kids are usually early and can't wait for a drink. My friends with kids are usually late and can't wait for a drink, either.

Oh? I find this comment interesting. I've been shown around people's homes in many countries, as part of being made welcome. Exceptions: never, ever in Switzerland, nor in the UK, not even in the homes of people I got to know well.

maybe it's your drinks that are just too good.

Lol. Notoriously...and soups.

I am just now pondering how to spike those beauties, gently and festively, so guests still remember eating https://fooby.ch/fr/recettes/recette...0&filtersFeed1[treffertyp]=rezepte

Jesus, what have you all down to my town!

To me it makes a difference whether someone comes to my house (fine to be unpunctual, I live in the sticks, traffic will dictate things and actually the dates are usual something like "eightish") or meeting in a restaurant (hate it when people are late).

As to looking at flats: I LOVE looking at flats. Should I ever get bored at old age, I will spend my time looking at every flat advertised . Best when empty. Even better for sale so I can phantasize about all the things I could adapt. Well, actually phantasizing can be done about any, come to think of it.

__________________
never ever make assumptions

In the pamphlet quote for foreigners there seems to be this impression that Auslanders need some advice on how to adjust and fit into Swiss culture (i.e., take heed: start being on time, start being polite and start behaving yourselves in an orderly fashion).

What if newcomers have great cultural traits that Swiss society has been a little low on and we're actually bringing to them personality traits that are wonderfully new (other than just labor) that is badly needed and going to make the atmosphere of living in Switzerland better than before?

.... perhaps, things that they haven't even thought of that newcomers are much better at than them, that they badly need and they will end up being happy if/when they grow from learning from the "newly arrived foreigners"?

I think you are reading too much into it, to be fair. Nowhere does it give the impression that foreigners should modify their own behaviour when it comes to punctuality (although you might if you keep missing trains because you're perpetually late). It's just a wee note, at the end of a shedload of other useful info, giving a heads-up on what to expect.

If anything, Zurich is teeming with foreigners and their influence is everywhere around the city so perhaps the leaflet has been borne out of a continuing round of FAQs?

..... what about a little fun?



So, a great cultural gift from foreigners is the addition of brunch on the weekends.


This is a funny one. The brunch was invented by people who can't get out of bed on time. So now we have a bunch of people trying to be on time to something that was for being late by design.

Hmm, an acquaintance of mine has been told something along the line of "It doesn't matter where you come from, who or what you are and what you think of this matter, in Switzerland we do these things like this......". End of story. Maybe it's better to keep that in mind...

Anyways, there's a great deal of generalisations about the Swiss on this thread. I have Swiss friends who are much more open and friendlier than me, and I used to think I'm very sociable blah blah. And I mean genuinely friendly, not faking interest out of politeness or whatever.

The first time I had 'brunch' was many, many years ago in the U.K. -at a Swiss couple's house.

How can one reply to that?

You smile or laugh, nod, say "OK, I didn't know that" and move on with your life or with the conversation..

Frankly, I see these things less and less black and white. It's not a question of someone being right or wrong, I found some people's willingness to "warn" you or kindly remind you of potential cultural difference quite sincere, even though they may have a comic effect at times. It's the intention that counts.

If I moved to Paris and tried to make friends there, I'd probably have to adjust myself much more. Things I find totally irrelevant and superficial now would carry a different weight there. Of course, we all want to stay true to ourselves and only to ourselves, but it's only the small adjustments we can at least do, I think. I know nothing though.