Living in Switzerland: It Changes Your Respect for Your Personality

One of the first things The Frau noticed upon moving to Switzerland was how quiet the Swiss were. They were quiet on public transport. In the office. And even on the streets.

Once, The Frau and an American friend even got yelled at for being “too loud” while talking with one another at a tram stop in Zurich—even though they were only talking in normal American voices.

Quiet, peaceful Switzerland.
A great place for American introverts.

It took awhile for The Frau to realize this, but a quiet and reserved culture like Switzerland does something really amazing for quiet and reserved people: it allows them to be themselves—especially in the workplace.

Those who live or have lived in “loud” America might understand this to a larger degree. Because if you’re an introvert in America, you are told from a young age that something is wrong with you. Never mind that about 50% of the population is just like you. Quiet is taught to be loud in America. Because in the U.S., loud is rewarded in both work and life.

So at any time, there are a lot of introverts pretending to be extroverts in America. The Frau used to be one of them. But after moving back to the U.S. after living in Switzerland, The Frau learned that her personality should be respected too. So now, as she recently wrote about for Salon.com, she is an unapologetic introvert.

Has living in Switzerland (or another culture) made you realize something good about your personality?

Trying to Rationalize Emotional Questions

Many people casually ask The Frau: So are you going back to Switzerland?

They ask it in a tone you would use to ask someone what they are having for dinner.

But the answer is not as simple as dinner.

The Frau wants to say yes. Rationally, it makes sense to live in a functional democracy, rather than the broken American version, which is headed towards plutocracy.

But the truth is, The Frau doesn’t know yet.

There are still family issues to deal with as well as emotions and futures to consider.

And there are days when The Frau’s parents come over and they go to lunch together. Those days are nice. You don’t get those days overseas.

But, look, Yodelers. Let’s be honest: America is a disaster right now. Most people with an option to go back and live in a functional industrialized country should probably do it, right? There are even articles out there telling us where to move should Trump become president. (Switzerland is number one on the list.)

Here are some of the issues The Frau is struggling with:

The very American healthcare system that saves lives robs people with its greed. In fact, among Americans with health insurance, twenty percent still go bankrupt due to medical bills.

The Frau finds these statistics horrifying. She thinks the richest country in the world should be ashamed of itself.

Instead, some lawmakers push to repeal any progress that’s been made. Instead, the American government refuses to control the prices of healthcare. And prices aren’t reasonable. They’re stratospheric. They’re ridiculous. Even Americans making good salaries worry about financial ruin from health insurance plans that include ever-higher deductibles. Most plans pay 80% but leave you with 20% payments from hospitals whose bills can run in the hundred thousand to million-dollar range. To think The Frau once spent five days in a Swiss hospital and the cost was only $3,000. And Swiss insurance paid it in full. It does make one consider moving back.

Even Vice President Joe Biden worried about paying bills from his son’s bout with cancer. President Obama offered to loan him money. Yes. If our country’s leaders are struggling, what about the average American?

Healthcare is just one issue. There are many others.

The U.S. leads the world in mass shootings.

American politics is broken—even President Obama admitted this Tuesday night.

Only five corporations own the media, distorting information and therefore democracy.

The list goes on.

Look. While the Frau isn’t personally struggling, she knows that in America, it doesn’t take much to create a disaster when you’re part of a system that offers few safety nets and considers healthcare a commodity given to the highest bidder instead of a human right.

But then she looks at her daughter. And her parents. And how they play together every week. And then she cries when she thinks about moving far away again.

So. Back to that question: Are you going back to Switzerland?

Sorry, mitenand, but it’s not black and white.

It’s not rational. It’s emotional.

And it’s not a yes or no answer.

At least, not until a certain looming deadline forces it to be.

Eight Things to Love about Switzerland, Part II

The Frau celebrated eight years in Switzerland two weeks ago. In honor of that milestone, she’s put together a list of eight things she loves about Switzerland. Today she’ll conclude with the last four. To read the first four, click here.

Baden, Switzerland
Photo by Brian Opyd

Five: Health insurance is not tied to employment. And it’s mandatory.

What happens when health insurance is tied to employment? Well, apparently if you’re in the US and work for a company like Hobby Lobby, they can deny you your legal right to contraception in their health policy because of their personal religious beliefs. Would this ever happen in Switzerland? No way. Health insurance is private; it has nothing to do with your employer, and everyone is required to have it whether they like it or not. This does a lot for costs savings and equality, since unlike in America, the people who pay for health insurance aren’t also paying for those who forgo it even though everyone has health issues. And it also means you don’t have job stress. Swiss people often quit their jobs to travel or reevaluate their lives or start a business. All while keeping their health insurance. Which brings The Frau back to point one: Freedom.

Six: Punctuality is valued.

You never have to wonder whether someone will come on time or not in Switzerland. Ten seconds late is late. Why is this great? When time is valued, you don’t tend to waste it. The Swiss are a productive country for a reason.

Seven: It’s clean. No really, it’s clean.

Switzerland is the only country The Frau knows of where she’d actually take a shower in a parking garage. Or let Toddler M continue to eat the apple she dropped on the floor of a bus. Or find a sparkling clean bathroom in the middle of nowhere. Clean is nice. And also too easy to take for granted sometimes, especially after you’ve been living here awhile.

Eight: Towns and cities are built for walkers.

Cars are required by law to stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings. Lights are timed to make driving suck as much as possible in Swiss cities. And parking costs are high. Why? Switzerland isn’t a driving country; it’s a walking one. If the laws and hiking signs aren’t proof, then the example set by The Frau is. 

The Frau walks to buy groceries. The Frau walks to buy clothes. The Frau walks to buy electronics. The Frau walks to the train. To the bus. To the library. To the post office. To the pool. There’s almost nothing she needs that is not within walking distance. Not only are all of these walkable Swiss cities and towns pleasant to live in, but when a city is walkable, it cuts down on car pollution, congestion, and noise too.

What else do you love about Switzerland?

Oh, by the way, if you love reading about Switzerland you might also like The Frau’s book, Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I’d Known. Just a totally unsubtle hint.

Eight Things to Love about Switzerland, Part I

The Frau is celebrating eight years in Switzerland today. In honor of that milestone, she’s put together a list of eight things she loves about Switzerland. Today she’ll begin with the first four.

 

One: Freedom

This may sound strange coming from someone who hails from a country that bills itself as “The Land of the Free,” but the Swiss people are much freer on many accounts than Americans. As one of the world's oldest democracies, Switzerland can teach the rest of the world a bit about how to do democracy well. Number one tip? Don't allow only money to talk. The Swiss people have power no matter how much or little they earn because they have the freedom to propose a law themselves and force a national vote on it, as long as they can collect 100,000 signatures. 

Number two tip? Don't let lawyers rule the world. When this happens, as sadly is the case in the United States, it has huge implications for freedom on all levels of society. But when lawsuits aren't allowed to run rampant, it means healthcare costs are controlled (because doctors don’t need expensive insurance for sue-happy people), it means children learn personal responsibility young (two-year olds carry candles in parades in Switzerland and it’s no big deal), it means dogs can hang out in restaurants and public transport, and it means people can decide for themselves whether to dive into a swimming pool or walk into a construction site. When a society takes responsibility for its own actions instead of being allowed to blame someone else for them, true freedom reigns.

Two: Public Transport

The train connects to the bus that connects to the cable car that brings you to the middle of nowhere in time for lunch. But the broader result of a transport system that works is a less-stressed society. When you are 99% certain that your transport will be reliable, dependable, and hassle-free every day–even on days you need to work late–then you have less stress in your overall life. An easy, traffic-free commute has huge implications on quality of life.

Three: Vacation Time

Time off is sacred in Switzerland. You do not mess with someone’s vacation time here. You do not expect someone to work on Christmas Day. Or the week after Christmas, for that matter. And employers are required by law to provide a minimum of four weeks off for everyone. Crazy? Actually it’s more sane. Because here’s what The Frau has learned: A society that can relax and recharge properly is a more productive and happy one.

Four: Cities and Nature Together

You’re never far from a hiking trail, a lake to swim in, or a bike path in Switzerland, even in the center of Zurich. Cities and nature are not separate concepts in Switzerland. There are no such things as forest preserves. Just forests. And that is something else to love.

What do you love about Switzerland?

Achtung. Shameless self-promotion part. Do you enjoy reading about Swiss life? Then you might like The Frau’s new book, Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I’d Known. Available at fine online retailers and on Zurich’s most famous shopping street too (Bahnhofstrasse 70).

9 Questions About Switzerland

The Frau has been living in Switzerland for seven years, but that doesn't mean she has all the answers. In fact, she still has viele Fragen. Here they are, in no particular order:

What should The Frau say when she sees a former co-worker bathing topless during her lunch hour? Say hello? Say nothing?

Why does The Frau always end up walking behind someone with a cigarette?

Can a person ever say En Guete too much?

Why do people who hate noise and/or kids sit in the family car on the train?

If The Frau leaves Switzerland but eats the same amount of chocolate, will she finally gain weight?

Why is it that the more German The Frau knows, the less she wants to talk?

Why do people always ask if Baby M is a girl when she is wearing pink? Is it because European boys and men wear pink too?

Why do the Swiss French learn German and the Swiss Germans learn French and then they speak to each other in English?

Is it really necessary to always go to lunch exactly at 12?

The Frau welcomes answers in the comments.

Why are you still here?

The Frau read an interesting statistic: After most expatriates have lived in Switzerland for 10 years, 80% of them typically leave. But this statistic is holding up no longer, because more and more high-earning expatriates from countries like the United States, Australia, and Canada are staying beyond 10 years. Why is this changing?

Is Switzerland becoming friendlier towards expatriates? Is the rest of the world becoming less attractive? The Frau believes both to be a bit true.

The Frau will celebrate seven years in June even though she only planned to spend three years here. So why is she still here? Below are 10 (okay, 11) reasons The Frau is still living in Switzerland.

–She loves the great outdoors. She loves living in the center of her village. And in Switzerland, she can enjoy both. Within five minutes from her front door she can be shopping at a major department store, hiking in the woods, or getting on a train that will connect her to almost anywhere in Europe.

–She loves not having a car. And with Switzerland’s amazing public transport system, she doesn’t need one.

Baden, Switzerland

–She loves her work/life balance. Funny how you enjoy your career even more when it doesn’t consume your entire life.

–Her daughter is learning another language effortlessly. (The Frau is jealous of course).

–Another country is just 20 minutes away. Three more are just an hour away.

­–She loves writing about Switzerland. It’s become a niche. She feels creative here.

–Switzerland is doing well while the rest of the world struggles: Switzerland has low unemployment and employees are protected by an unemployment system that works (70% of your salary for 18 months).

–She loves all the swimming and ice skating facilities and how surprisingly affordable they are (typically 200 CHF for a yearly pass). It seems every Swiss village has their own indoor pool, outdoor pool, and ice rink. She has become a year-round swimmer because of them.

–She loves how close Zurich Airport is and the ease of getting there. Where even more countries are just a two-hour flight away. (Can you tell The Frau loves travel?)

–Things just work. Everything is on a schedule and rarely goes off of it—even your baggage at the airport.

–Things close down. Stores close for the evening. Stores close on Sunday. Why is this good? Because it forces you to do something most Americans like The Frau could never do before they moved here: relax. It also supports the work/life balance concept that is absent in American society today.

But enough about The Frau. Why are you still here?