its capped at 148kCHF or CHF12,350.CHF/month and then it's 80% or so ...(can't say for sure as I never needed to check it myself).

Thanks for explanation! I had to google what fortnight is

I knew that was going to come up. You're American, I assume?

"Fortnight" is British English, used also in most former British colonies. For some reason, it died out in the US, although of course "Fortnite" has taken hold now.

Fourteen (days and) nights: fortnight.

That's an interesting opinion, also given that you had already made a choice and lived here that long. Would you mind sharing more details regarding conclusions, observations you've come to?

No, I am from europe, but not native english speaker. I was aware that in some countries it is popular to base by weekly figure - pay check, rent etc, but I never heard of fortnight. I like when few words are joined together to make a cool expression !

Ah, then move to Australia. You'll spend the rest of your life learning thousands of these! (the meaning of most of them will have nothing to do with their literal translation.)

Conversely, there's also the Australian obsession with shortening every word we can... convo, arvo, barbie, bottlo, ciggy, Macca's, footy, bowlo, tradie... you get the idea.

A example of what you might hear:

"Ya wouldn't read about it! This arvo my car died in the a(r)se on the way to Maccas. Looks like the engine 's cactus. Not to mention I was bustin' for a slash. I was havin' a real Barry Crocker"

Translation:
"How unfortunate! This afternoon my car broke down on the way to McDonalds. Apparently the engine is broken. Not to mention I urgently needed to go to the toilet. I was having a really bad day"

I always thought slash was British Irish English. Would have thought you couldn't find the Dunny.

None of you have mentioned the climate in Australia?
Its incredibly hot and its only getting hotter by the year, with heat records being broken every year. And not to forget the increasing number of bush/forest fires every year.
How's it going to be in 5 years / 20 years? Would it really be inhabitable in 20/30 years?

I'm exactly in the same position as OP, and we have a few months left to decide and this climate part is a huge thing for me.
Am i overthinking? Your thoughts on this are really appreciated.

I think you're right to take the climate into consideration. It's also one of the factors preventing me from moving back to Australia (the other is my firmly-based European husband!). I have totally adjusted to the cooler temperatures here in Switzerland and already find it unbearable when the temps are merely in the 20's!

But, at the end of the day, I always arrive at the following: Although Switzerland is a great country to live in, do I want my children to grow up as Swiss? My answer is always a quick no.

I would rather my kids grow up to be Australian and be familiar with the Australian culture. Yeah, the Swiss are nice people but they are not open, warm and friendly like Australians are known to be.

Also, I think the school education is superior in Australia. Which means I only have a small window to convince my other half ...

So if you have kids, I think the decision to stay or leave is a big one, because where you raise your kids will shape their identity and behaviours forever. I shudder at the responsibility, but I also shudder at the thought that my kids might one day morph into my Swiss colleagues! So it's a decision I don't want to take lightly.

I kinda disagree with this. Although I think the Australian education system may edge out Swiss schools, I think there are some negative aspects of Australian culture I'd like my kids to avoid. Plus I can give my kids greater exposure to other languages and cultures that I think will be key to a more diverse upbringing. I see Australia is becoming way too much like the US.



But hey, each to their own.

Yes, you're overthinking. You're also underthinking. Saying that Australia is incredibly hot is like saying that Europe is incredibly cold. Australia is huge and has climates to suit most tastes. Apart from that, I'm old enough to remember horrendous bushfire seasons decades ago, with much milder summers between then and now. The climate is changing; not simply getting hotter, but changing in complex ways.

That said, if Australian summers aren't for you, then sure, stay here.

With you all the way, although Switzerland ain't Switzerland (to borrow that old as off the TV); the German part is the bit that breeds those Swiss colleagues of yours. Romandie and Ticino have different approaches tö life.

Yes, there is some truth to that. Most of my Swiss colleagues are from the German-speaking part. But I do also work regularly in Romandie and my colleagues there are similarly reserved, although they are easier to socialise with. I once toyed with the idea of moving to Romandie but I had already invested so many years in learning German!

Obviously, I won't be devastated if we end up living in Switzerland for many more years (which is likely), but it would mean more efforts on my part to help my kids feel more Australian, while at the same time making sure they are well integrated here.

This is my plan A, especially as my other half has a large extended and closely knit family in NL (including cousins near their age). My family in Oz is pretty dysfunctional.


I also like that metropolis and wilderness are so close here, even marbled. In Sydney you have to fight for 2 hours to get to nature, and then you are in the middle of nowhere.

My daughter and her husband moved to Melbourne Dec. 2019, and still speak Italian at home, and she speaks Swiss-German at work.

Tom

There are subtle differences that I find 'revealing' (for want of a better word).

Here, the children appear to be taught to get up from the table after eating and take their plate back to the kitchen. "Super!" cry their proud parents, glad they have brought them up the 'right' way.


The first time I saw this, I thought "Aren't those children selfish. Just taking their own plates and not those of others". Who brought them up like that?

Meanwhile, my daughter and her husband moved to Australia a year ago, I hope they retain their Swissness compared the Australian savagery!

Tom

Must be a German thing.

Tom