Things that you like and dislike in Switzerland... - Page 7

mariekrislet · #**121** 16.08.2011, 12:45

Hmmm...reading all the posts..I wish I could see Switzerland and all its beauty someday...

Nadia77 · #**122** 16.08.2011, 12:50

	Quote:	darkhorsedrea
	Why is that??? Is ridiculously obvious

It's ridiculously obvious? Not to me.. Please enlighten me as to why? Never experienced anything like it before..

darkhorsedrea · #**123** 16.08.2011, 13:07

	Quote:	Nadia77
	It's ridiculously obvious? Not to me.. Please enlighten me as to why? Never experienced anything like it before..

Perhaps I have two heads then, as I experience it on every outing. The longing stare from people who are in cars and swive to miss the kurb or when you go into a local restaurant and everyone stops talking (you can hear a feather drop) and looks directly at you...just like in the movies.

You've never experienced that?

st2lemans · #**124** 16.08.2011, 13:39

	Quote:	darkhorsedrea
	Perhaps I have two heads then, as I experience it on every outing. The longing stare from people who are in cars and swive to miss the kurb or when you go into a local restaurant and everyone stops talking (you can hear a feather drop) and looks directly at you...just like in the movies. You've never experienced that?

Nope, never notice it.

Tom

lost_inbroad · #**125** 16.08.2011, 13:41

	Quote:	mariekrislet
	Hmmm...reading all the posts..I wish I could see Switzerland and all its beauty someday...

It's not all gold that shines.

#**126** 16.08.2011, 13:45

	Quote:	darkhorsedrea
	Perhaps I have two heads then, as I experience it on every outing. The longing stare from people who are in cars and swive to miss the kurb or when you go into a local restaurant and everyone stops talking (you can hear a feather drop) and looks directly at you...just like in the movies. You've never experienced that?

It must be your cute dog. Or your drop-dead good looks, sistah.

darkhorsedrea · #**127** 16.08.2011, 13:45

	Quote:	st2lemans
	Nope, never notice it. Tom

Ok going to get a complex now....

SunnAr · #**128** 16.08.2011, 14:14

The good
- Working, reliable, public transportation, which doesn't make you regret spending a fortune for it
- The value given (at least in principle) to honesty and hard work. Might then not always apply in practice, but it's still refreshing. Also people's impeccable treatment of other people's / public goods and places.
- The nature! And seeing the cows munching on grass while going to work everyday - man, even they have quite a comfy life!
- Buying eggs, milk and veggies from the farm outside of town, cycling to the supermarket for the rest, and enjoying a downsized, slower life.
- Smart solutions for a lot of annoying little issues, such as getting a book which your library doesn't have or getting around when you forget your halbtax or GA. Speedy and reliable bureaucracy.

The bad
- The weeks in which it never seems to stop raining.
- Frustrating supermarkets - little choice, high prices
- The fact that even with two salaries, dining out or even getting takeaways becomes a rare treat for couples

I love cooking, but sampling restaurants once a week or so used to be so relaxing - now it's a real luxury, especially in the cities. Also, the quality is normally far lower than one'd expect for the price.
- A certain small-country mentality, which is sometimes a bit irritating. But it's the other side of the medal, really.

Nadia77 · #**129** 16.08.2011, 14:16

	Quote:	darkhorsedrea
	Perhaps I have two heads then, as I experience it on every outing. The longing stare from people who are in cars and swive to miss the kurb or when you go into a local restaurant and everyone stops talking (you can hear a feather drop) and looks directly at you...just like in the movies. You've never experienced that?

Oh I can def relate.. people have stopped eating their food in restaurants in Zug to stare at me.. One would think i am the ONLY person of 'Colour' they ever saw in their lives... Either its that or my striking beauty that stops them in their tracks..

KeinFranzösisch · #**130** 16.08.2011, 14:22

	Quote:	darkhorsedrea
	Perhaps I have two heads then, as I experience it on every outing. The longing stare from people who are in cars and swive to miss the kurb or when you go into a local restaurant and everyone stops talking (you can hear a feather drop) and looks directly at you...just like in the movies. You've never experienced that?

You are not alone in that. They do stare. If I was green or purple, I would understand. But I'm not, and I don't. I have gotten used to it though. Now I even stare back. Especially if it's a hot guy.

Deep Purple · #**131** 16.08.2011, 14:46

	Quote:	darkhorsedrea
	Perhaps I have two heads then, as I experience it on every outing. The longing stare from people who are in cars and swive to miss the kurb or when you go into a local restaurant and everyone stops talking (you can hear a feather drop) and looks directly at you...just like in the movies. You've never experienced that?

I read somewhere that up to three seconds is 'people watching' and quite acceptable. Any longer is staring.

darkhorsedrea · #**132** 16.08.2011, 14:58

Ha ha no....I went to a very local restaurant the other week called Poo Alp....Yes Poo Alp.

When I walked through the door with my two Swiss family members the circular table in the corner full of famers just stopped mid flow, some with mouths open, and stared until we were seated lol.

Then my partner's father (Swiss local) explained that the circular table in the corner is where all the locals hangs out in restaurants. I must have foreign written on my head or its my fair English rose complexion lol

lost_inbroad · #**133** 16.08.2011, 15:01

	Quote:	darkhorsedrea
	Ha ha no....I went to a very local restaurant the other week called Poo Alp....Yes Poo Alp. When I walked through the door with my two Swiss family members the circular table in the corner full of famers just stopped mid flow, some with mouths open, and stared until we were seated lol. Then my partner's father (Swiss local) explained that the circular table in the corner is where all the locals hangs out in restaurants. I must have foreign written on my head or its my fair English rose complexion lol

Well, if your avatar is really you sitting next to a nice looking lady, then I can imagine why they would stare.

darkhorsedrea · #**134** 16.08.2011, 15:57

	Quote:	lost_inbroad
	Well, if your avatar is really you sitting next to a nice looking lady, then I can imagine why they would stare.

Woof....yeah I take her everywhere....now I get it

Boston2011 · #**135** 16.08.2011, 16:24

	Quote:	Swissky
	What do you love there and makes you think that life is good and what makes you think "life is not paradise at all"? I am thinking of moving there someday and I am just making a research to that. Please post your opinion based on your daily life experiences in CH. Do not bother with political opinions?

Great question! Thanks for posting this...

AhYesBut · #**136** 16.08.2011, 16:34

Like: Relative quiet, central location, low tax, some well defined systems

Dislike: Judgmental strangers, 20 years lag, inability of locals to show initiative or consider alternatives

AYB

Boston2011 · #**137** 16.08.2011, 16:44

	Quote:	Karl
	Like: The Alps / skiing / walking in the mountains The beautiful clean lakes Stunning scenery clean water and air excellent public transportation beautiful old towns and architecture (not including anything built in the last 50 years) clean environment, well maintained lots of holidays (as compared to the USA) proximity to France, Italy, Austria, Germany fusion of German, French and Italian cultures relatively low crime rate good public school systems, occupational schools, free Uni for those who qualify fantastic cheese, bread, produce, salads, fruit bike lanes green grass, abundant flowers excellent healthcare system, hospitals generous social benefits direct democracy (vs. indirect democracy in the USA where a crook like Bush can win without the popular vote) high quality meat well maintained infrastructure (roads, bridges, tunnels, ferry lines, libraries, public services) all the beautiful gardens and flowerboxes clean public toilets (though increasingly you have to pay for it) Dislikes: Cold,boring people (20 years long and the neighbors say nothing more than Grueze) Lack of spontaneity Dorky sense of humour Distrust of foreigners (like me) Quarky dialects that you can never learn unless you grew up here lousy service in restaurants ridiculously expensive prices for everything Cigarette smoke EVERYWHERE Street corner cigarette vending machines (WTF??) Rigid protocol for all social interaction Close minded society Everyone worried that others are having a better time than they are Inability to make small talk with strangers Rude drivers Any building constructed in the past 50 years Lack of anyone who has done anything really significant (no Mozart, Dali, Rembrandt, Picasso, etc...why has Switzerland not produced any world class artists?) No decent ethnic food: Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai, you name it YOU CANNOT FIND IT HERE no matter what you pay Bank secrecy (what honest country can keep this up as in institution for decades?) Swiss women who have nothing to say about anything Radar cameras everywhere Swiss people who are happy to hear about your life story, and tell you NOTHING about their lives in return So, I am not sure which wins, positives or negatives. I guess the positives do, as I am still here!

Thank you. This is very helpful!

Principia Discordia · #**138** 18.08.2011, 10:41

Like:
The outdoor sports/scenery is downright unbeatable
Amazing network of trails
Fountains
Bells (Cow, Sheep, Church, etc..)
Stores being closed on Sunday
Regional specialties (Capuns!)
Farmer's Markets everywhere, widespread availability of farm fresh eggs, meat, milk, vegetables, etc.
Work/Life balance (generous vacation in comparison with the US)
my job and salary compared with the US
great variety of culture/language within Switzerland
proximity to other parts of Europe
good friends, both international and local
large amount of child friendly activites
Swiss alpine club hut network
The continued existence of butcher shops and bakeries
quality of public education/cost of continued education
safety/organization
bike friendliness

Dislike:
Smokers
Being expected to buy bottled water when the tap water is great
Traffic
Tailgating
Population Density
Schizophrenic Car/Public Transport policy (SBB is too damn expensive)
"misery loves company" expats