Glimpse - Your Stories from Abroad

1. Home
2. Countries
3. Topics
4. People
5. The Correspondents Program

Books

Bring them from Home

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_books.png

/tips/topic/books/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

At first glance, it appears that almost every other book you’ll find in Switzerland is written in English. Even after living in Switzerland for three years, I still fall for these English-titled, yet German-translated books. But that’s ok. Since the average paperback book costs about $20 and a hardcover $40, your best bet is to bring all your reading materials from home.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_books.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Getting Around

Take Public Transport

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_transportation_.png

/tips/topic/getting-around/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Don’t even think about driving a car around Switzerland. There’s no need. The tram will take to you the train that takes you to the bus that takes you to the chair lift that takes you to the glacier. All of this efficiency comes at a price though. Switzerland has the second highest public transportation costs in Europe after the UK. But public transport is still a better deal than a car. And this way, you’ll never be late (not to mention lost) for that hot date you’ve got in the middle of nowhere.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_transportation_.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Festivals & Events

Carnival in Basel

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_events.png

/tips/topic/festivals-events/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

To see Switzerland at its least Swiss (or most Swiss, depending on how you look at it) don’t miss Carnival in Basel, held every winter. Creative costumes and masks. All night music. And a lantern show that’s part political statement, part art exhibition. And then there’s the carpet of confetti that covers the usual spotless Swiss streets. But you’ll have to hurry. The party only lasts 72 hours. And the street sweepers are just waiting to pounce.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_events.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Culture Shock

Stop that Smiling

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_cultureshock.png

/tips/topic/culture-shock/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

If you go around smiling at people and being overly friendly, the Swiss will think you have mental problems. I have had to train myself not to look directly at people and smile when I pass them. It's nothing personal, but people here keep to themselves and don't show much emotion in public. For a good example of this, visit a Swiss casino. The bells will be ringing and money will be pouring out of a slot machine, but you won't hear one human exclamation of victory.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_cultureshock.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Must Do

Swim at the Spa

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_mustdo.png

/tips/topic/must-do/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Visit a Swiss spa. For about $20, you can relax in a bubbling swimming pool filled with hot mineral water. Some spas have jets for body massages, bubbling lounge chairs, lazy rivers, and even pools filled with rose petals. Try the spas in Baden, Bad Schinznach, Bad Ragaz, Bad Zurzach, or Vals.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_mustdo.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Etiquette

Enjoy your meal

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_etiquette.png

/tips/topic/etiquette/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

When you sit down to eat in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, do not start eating your food until you have said, "En Guete" to everyone you’re sitting with (even if you don’t know them—table sharing is common in tiny Switzerland). “En Guete” means "Bon Appétit" in Swiss German. Even if you are eating a picnic by yourself in the middle of a meadow, chances are someone will bike by and yell an "en guete" at you. They are just wishing you a nice meal. And if you're passing someone who's eating, you should return the favor.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_etiquette.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Food

Nothing is Free

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_food.png

/tips/topic/food/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Don't expect extras. Bread doesn't come with butter. Fries don't come with ketchup. A ham sandwich doesn't come with lettuce and a tomato. A Coke doesn't come with ice. All of these things you can certainly ask for, but don't be surprised if you are charged extra for them.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_food.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Film

The Original

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_film.png

/tips/topic/film/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Most films are shown in their original language in Swiss movie theaters since the population speaks so many languages themselves. If the film is shown in English with German and French subtitles for example, it will be listed as E/d/f. Whatever letter is capitalized is the language the film will be shown in. Luckily for English speakers, very few Hollywood films are dubbed in Switzerland, with the exception of children's movies.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_film.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Packing

Come for one season. Pack for them all.

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_packing.png

/tips/topic/packing/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Umbrellas. Sweaters. Hiking Shoes. Don't end up like one of those tourists in shorts standing on the top of a snowy mountain in July wondering why they're cold. The weather is unpredictable in Switzerland, even in the summers. It's like the month of March just keeps repeating itself all year round. Best bet in the summers is to invest in a pair of pants that can double as pants and shorts. Zipping off half your pants mid-hike is a popular activity in Switzerland, and you won’t want to miss out.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_packing.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Religion

Don't Declare

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_religion.png

/tips/topic/religion/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Declare a religion when you register to live in Switzerland and you've just set yourself up to pay extra taxes. After all, nothing is free in Switzerland. Not even belief. That's why many people keep their religion to themselves. Although you wouldn't know it from the loud church bells.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_religion.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Politics

Watch Your Borders

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_politics.png

/tips/topic/politics/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Switzerland has very few national laws; most things are determined by state. And Switzerland, a third of the size of Illinois, has 26 of them. This means that within a 10-mile radius, everything from educational systems to smoking laws can be very different. So while you could be fined hundreds of Swiss Francs for smoking in Geneva, in Baden, you can smoke without penalty just about anywhere.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_politics.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Music

Listen for Stress

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_music.png

/tips/topic/music/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Radio Stations. Restaurants. The Singing Christmas Tree at the Zurich Christmas Market. They all have one thing in common--American music. Unfortunately, it's hard to find much Swiss influence in today's popular music, but it's there if you look for it. A good example is the Swiss Rapper Stress. He raps in French about everything from dating to politics, and his albums cross the language divide in Switzerland; the French lyrics are even translated into German on his website.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_music.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Sports

Wrestle for a Cow

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_sports.png

/tips/topic/sports/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Don't miss a Schwingen match. Schwingen is a popular form of Swiss Wrestling. While hiking the Alps, you just might come upon a couple of men wearing burlap diapers and grabbing at each other on a mound of sawdust. Forget the WWF; entertainment just doesn't get much better than this. Especially when the prize is a cow. For a list of upcoming Schwingen events, visit http://www.schwingerverband.ch/index.asp?menuid=1&sid=15

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_sports.png

Comments [ 0 ]

TV

One Show. Four languages.

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_tv.png

/tips/topic/tv/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Switzerland does a lot of low-budget rip-offs of German and American TV shows. One fun example to look for is the Swiss show, Supermodel, where a bunch of girls compete to be the “next top model” in Switzerland by going through different challenges every week. But the most interesting part of this show isn't the girls practicing the catwalk in their stilettos on Zurich's cobblestone streets; it's watching them interacting in various languages all at once and still somehow understanding each other.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_tv.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Fashion

Bring your black

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_fashion.png

/tips/topic/fashion/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

To me, Switzerland often looks like an endless funeral procession--at least in Zurich. Black coats. Black boots. Black skinny jeans. To fit in, wear your black and wear it tight. And leave those white socks and baseball hats at home.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_fashion.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Dating

Go Online

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_dating.png

/tips/topic/dating/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Nothing like a first date activity of milking a cow. But then again, this is nothing out of the ordinary--at least in rural areas of Switzerland. To find your future Swiss farmer (or lawyer or banker), check out the most popular online dating sites in Switzerland, which include swissflirt, friendscout24, meetic, and match.com.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_dating.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Health

The Big Desk

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_health.png

/tips/topic/health/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

The best part about going to a doctor in Switzerland is the "Big Desk." While still in your street clothes, you will talk with the doctor at their desk and discuss your medical problems. For an American, talking to an actual doctor before being in some state of undress is a novelty and a practice that should be adapted worldwide. I think if more doctors took time to listen, there'd be a lot fewer medical bills.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_health.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Slang

It is shitting on me

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_slang.png

/tips/topic/slang/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

“Es scheisst mich an”, literally means, “it is shitting on me” in German. But don’t worry, it’s really just an angry way of saying “I’ve had enough.” I learned it while working in a Swiss office, but it’s also the perfect phrase to use to use with Mother Nature, who can’t seem to do anything but cover Switzerland with a constant fog cloud from October until March.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_slang.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Nightlife

Lollipop, Lollipop

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_nightlife.png

/tips/topic/nightlife/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

If you want to try something a little different, try going to a Swiss Lollipop Party. Besides lollipops hanging from the ceiling of the club, you'll be treated to a DJ who plays German oldies all night long. And all the young people will be singing and dancing along with music that was before their time. Parties usually start around 10 p.m. with a cover charge of about SFr 20.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_nightlife.png

Comments [ 0 ]

Being an American

Obama Mania

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

http://media.glimpse.org/images/flags/gifs/ch.gif

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_title_american.png

/tips/topic/being-an-american/

/tips/country/CH/

/accounts/38/profile/

Before Obama was elected, I used to whisper a lot. I didn't want people to hear my American English and not like me because of it. But after Obama was elected, I started speaking English in a normal voice again. Somehow, I went from being ashamed to being proud overnight. It was a strange transformation.

http://media.glimpse.org/images/tip_american.png

Comments [ 0 ]