I'm moving to Switzerland at the end of this month, what should i know about Switzerland in general?

Question

I'm going there for the first time and staying there for good, my german isnt that good.

i'm going to Bern.
i can use any info. of any kind, please help.

Answer 1

No one writes cheques/checks.
Speeding is very expensive.
Train is only slightly less expensive, but do get a 1/2-price card (Or a Generalabonnement).
You have to recycle paper, cardboard, glass and PET plastic. You probably have to compost.
You probably have to pay to throw anything else out.
Don't worry about the German, no one speaks "good" German and they won't expect you to know Swiss-German.
Don't lose your keys.
Sign up now for all the laundry you plan to do in 2007, or your neighbours won't give you the chance.
Say "Greuzi" when you pass anyone on the street, "Greuzi mitenand" for a group. (Well, that's in Zurich, I mean that's how it's said in Zurich, it's not normally said on the streets of Zurich, but in the small towns yes and in shops. In Bern it might be Grussi but I'm not sure.)
That yellow eye sticker on the train means you'll have to pay big bucks if you don't have a pass or ticket. (If the train doesn't have a yellow eye you can buy a ticket on the train.)
If there's a sign in the park that you think says it closes at lunchtime, you're not reading it wrong, it really does.
I'm not sure, but it might be illegal not to go to the mountains every Sunday.

Answer 2

I currently live in switzerland, i live in the french speaking part so i might have different views to everyone but yeh

Trains are Expensive, avoid them at all costs if u dont have a 1/2 tariff card 156 CHF or a general amondoment 2000CHF if you are under 25 you can get a Voie 7 that allows you to travel on trains after 7 for free. Never get onto public transport without a ticket

Trains stop about midnight and start up again about 6, so u either plan an early one or a late one.

Everyone here is quite, dont be too loud and you will fit in

Everything is shut on Sundays, even supermarkets! You will eventually find things to do.

4 Languages..

i didnt really like it here because i am an australian and a bit of a larikin but if your open to differences (and lots of them) you should be fine!

Answer 3

I suggest you get a Linguaphone course on German before setting out. Things you should know are that the Swiss will accept Euros but change will begiven in Swiss Francs, so make sure you know the exchange rate and only carry enough Euros to get by with. Most Swiss speak english very well so initially you should not have any problems but learning their language is a help. If you make the effort they are more likely to correct any mistakes than to laugh at your attempts. Good luck in your future.

Answer 4

There is a lot of info..... most of the travel related info u can find on http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/home so am not going to mention much abt it...

The currency part is a good info u got in the above answer. Apart from that I think u shud know abt the shopping here....There are mainly 3-4 supermkts here namely .. Migros,Coop,Manor and Denner ..All are good but I wud say Denner is the cheapest and then wud be Migros which has lot of variety ......

U cud buy second hand furniture here which is generally very good.... for first hand stuff IKEA wud b best......also for all utensils n household stuff, home decor go to IKEA....

Travel is easy....public transport is awesome.....

wat else do u need to know?? if u wanna ask any specific thing mention that as well...wud b pleased to answer

Answer 5

You can use this site: http://www.xpatxchange.ch. Lots of useful information.
You can also read any of the books under the "Ticking Along With the Swiss" series for anecdotal advice on living here or the excellent book "Living and Working in Switzerland" by Survival Books for more practical advice on everything you would possibly need to know. Good luck!

Answer 6

don't worry. even if your german is not that good, you'll be fine.
A lot of people in the city of Bern (if that the place you are moving, and not anywhere in the Canton of Bern), speak either French and some English, since it is the place of the Swiss governement, you may hear also Italian.
Make sure to get a dictionary (English/German) with you..
Also purchases are not made with checks, like in the US. Cash or Credit Card only (except big item like automobile).

Swiss love ice hockey and soccer (good teams in Bern, first division) Basketball not that big there.

If you get cable on TV, you will find some English channels.

You won't find many fast food restaurants, yes McD and other are there but not in every corners.

Above answers are good advice too.

Answer 7

Well you can't play music or make any loud noise after 10 pm,
most things are closed on Sundays, and you will probably
have assigned laundry-room days. (Mine were Thurs-Fri. every other week.) Don't even ASK to do it on a day that isn't assigned to you! And a lot of questions you want to ask, like
"why is it that way?" will just be answered with a simple, "don't ask why. It's just the way it is." Your German
doesn't have to be great, most people in bigger cities will
be happy to "practice" their English (which is excellent).
Just don't expect to do everything the way you do it at home,
in other words, be flexible, and you'll be fine.

Answer 8

4 languages