Comments on: Life in Switzerland

By: Jill (Nissen) Hetherington

Jill (Nissen) Hetherington — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:16:10 +0000

David, You are still brilliant and hillarious! I really enjoyed reading that. I am on facebook now if you want to reach me.I hope I hear from you soon!!!

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:11:06 +0000

I could not finish reading it all. I laugh so hard it hurt. I still have a hard time believing all this is actually true. Wow. … I always wanted to visit Switzerland for it’s natural beauty i.e.: postcard-like landscape and it’s people. Now, thanks to you I might want to go to visit for totally a different reason. Why is it that the free people of Switzerland will adapt and put-up with a nonsense system? I wonder what the root cause is where the citizens themselves will tie-up their own hands. How is that – these systems make their life easier and enjoyable? Why aren’t they changing it? Unbelievable!

~ Alex

By: JC

JC — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:28:49 +0000

On my way back to Zürich next month having been away for about 3 1/2 years.
Last time I lived in Zürich, didn’t find it so bad – maybe due to having just failed badly at emigrating to Canada. Anything seems better than not having work.
I noticed Candida toothpaste, and used to get another one for painful gums, which I don’t have, but at least it isn’t called after a yeast infection. Parking came with the flat (for a few Francs a month extra).
Everyone thought I was silly worrying about peeing standing up – I suggest you just aim a bit to the side so as to not hit the water!
-jc

By: Margo Hill

Margo Hill — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:09:49 +0000

A friend who lives in Switzerland wrote a humorous piece on Swiss garbage for NPR while she was living in the US. She claims you can only dispose of dead pets on set dates which leads most people to store pet bodies in their freezer until the approved dead pet garbage day. Recnetly, our beloved Rottweillor died and, although I mourn her passing, I am extremely grateful that she went now before the fall when we leave to spend two years in Zurich. My friend also relayed that she and her children have made several stealthy middle of the night trips to the edge of their garden to bury hamsters and other small deceased petts.
I’m looking forward to living with the Swiss with all their quirks! (And hope that they will also appreciate my own quirks.)

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:09:23 +0000

Thanks Dave! Just caught that. This is my total “go to” website for folks who have been here for about 3 months (before that they just don’t get it). Can’t wait to share with one of the newbies.

By: The_Celt

The_Celt — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:24:33 +0000

You just hit the nail on the head! I’ve been living here 4 months so far and have seen all of these points (had a cheese and pickle sandwich this morning).
You put a big smile on my face and thanks
Cheers,
C

By: DMcQ

DMcQ — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:15:36 +0000

hi pamela – hah, glad you liked it. hope you’re not crying anymore. i posted the swissandwich story in the life in switzerland section now – hope you enjoy it!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:53:05 +0000

David
you are hysterical. I laughed so hard that I cried. Going back through the website I notice that I can’t find the sandwich story–the one with the little pickle surprise. Where is that post??? You MUST bring it back!
Please, keep posting this stuff. It’s terrific.

By: The token Swiss

The token Swiss — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:33:40 +0000

Ok. This site is officially Swiss approved! Dave, you just got yourself a Swiss website-permission (WHAT you didn’t know you needed that??).

I just laughed my head off!!

And most is amazingly true. With a few minor corrections amongst which the fact that one gets a bicycle permit as a kid in school – all kids are reqired to do the test (I don’t know why not all Ausländers have to do the test too!!?? Maybe I shold alert the SVP) And the silly sticker (the one for your bike, not the one for your garbage) is an insurance in case you decide to knock one of the very expensive garbage cans also called Haifisch (Shark) over with your bike – or car. Because someone has to finance the very expensive Güsel-Polizei (yes, that is no joke, they exist), who don’t generate enough revenue, because there are not enough people who “missplace” their garbage and consequently receive a CHF 200.-/fine. Unlike a fellow countrywoman of yours who went trough the effort of stuffing her garbage she forgot to drop off before heading to the airport, into one of the bins at the airport, instead of leaving it in her car for two weeks (yes, the bag did contain diapers – full ones that is)during her trip to the US.

As a reward, for your new website-permission I’ll tell you what you can do with your garbage that you don’t dare throwing out. There is a trick to it…

My absolute favourite is the sandwich story. And here’s what happens to a Swiss person abroad: she’s amazed how much people can stuff between two pieces of bread without being punished by the Sandwich-Polizei.

By: Conor Ogle

Conor Ogle — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:37:17 +0000

Very impressive and hugely entertaining.
Came across your name/site today and have spent much of the afternoon reading your ideas and exploring some issues you raise – very interesting indeed.