Posts Tagged ‘Switzerland’

Saving money can be tough in Switzerland

By Chantal Panozzo

You think I’d be over the shock by now. Just past my fourth anniversary of living in Switzerland, you think I’d just fork over the $50 for two take-out pizzas without blinking. Sadly, I still blink. And not just for pizza. $15 to watch a street festival? $25 for a few blank DVDs? $6 for water? Water?

I’ve written about saving money in Switzerland before, but I’m always learning new tricks the longer I live here. So here are a few more ways that you can save money in Switzerland:

One: Invest in a Sigg bottle. Ever since I bought my Sigg bottle back in December, I’ve cut way back on my beverage costs. I simply fill it up with tap water before leaving home and then avoid buying bottled drinks when I’m at festivals, eating at department store buffets like Manor, and hiking. My bottle is now over six months old and still as good as new. And besides saving money, you’re also doing something good for the environment.

Two: Get those REKA checks. Many international companies in Switzerland offer you the opportunity to purchase REKA checks at a discount of 20% (if your company doesn’t, you can also buy them at COOP, but only at a discount of 3%). I had never tried them until this year, being skeptical about actually using them. Now I’m regretting having waited so long. Here’s the deal: I got CHF 1000 worth of REKA checks for CHF 800. The checks, which look like monopoly money, can be used at the SBB/CFF/FFS to buy international tickets and tickets within Switzerland (they even work in ticket machines). They can also be used at restaurants like Manor and Wagamama, for many Swiss museums, and at hotels. For more info visit the REKA website or my blog about life in Switzerland.

Three: January and July. These are the two sale months in Switzerland and July is almost upon us. So wait to buy big items and be rewarded with sales as high at 80%. Some stores have started putting out the sale stuff already. My husband just got three pairs of hiking pants for the price of one at the Sport Outlet in Wettingen.

How do you save money in Switzerland?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

By Kristi Remick

“Osmosis” is the process by which water molecules move across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration in order to achieve equilibrium.  ”Reverse Osmosis” is the same process, but well… in reverse – water molecules leave an area of high concentration and go to an area of low concentration to achieve equilibrium.  I think these two processes pretty much sum up my social life as an Expat.

When I first got here I had few connections and it seemed as if people sort of just flowed right into my life.  Living in an international city where 30% of the inhabitants are Expats means you have a pretty big pool of potential friends who are just as motivated as you to make connections.   While it is fairly easy make connections, there is always this niggling feeling and knowledge in the back of the Expat brain that knows people can flow out of your life just as easily as they have flown in.

My “Expat Molecule” had gotten pretty full over the past 9 months so  it was no surprise to learn of our first set of friends planning to leave and go back home.  I wish I could say I was out of equilibrium and I needed these people to leave my life, but we all know that isn’t how the human heart works.  While it is easy to draw a comparison between osmosis and making friends as an Expat, it doesn’t quite take into account that feelings are involved.

Meeting people as an Expat is exhilarating and saying goodbye to them is deflating.  It is one of the sad, hard truths that one must accept and deal with if they choose this lifestyle.  How have I done?  Logically, I know I just have to deal with it and for the most part I do.  I have my days though where I crave consistency.  When you think about how quickly people can come in and out of your life, you then start thinking about things like – “If the people I am meeting are mostly temporary, how do I know they are really investing in me?  Am I truly investing and giving myself to other people?  Are these friendships real?”.  They are crazy questions but legitimate at the same time.

All the crazy questions aside, I have decided the friendships I have made here are real and my only hope is one day I will be good at saying goodbye to the people I made them with.

When I am not busy stuffing my face with chocolate, you can find me over at From A to Z blogging about my life in Zurich Switzerland.

Jump in Lake Zurich. People do that.

By Chantal Panozzo

I’m not complaining about the heat. I’ve been dying for summer ever since, oh, last fall, but when it actually gets hot in Switzerland, it can be hard to deal with for one reason: no air conditioning.

Whether I’m sweating in a conference room, on a train, or in a store, I always look around at the other people and wonder what’s wrong with them.

The Swiss don’t seem to sweat. They shut the window on the train when I open it, they wear stiletto boots in the summer, and then they all sit there in long pants watching me sweat in my tank top.

Ok. Maybe I am complaining about the heat.

I don’t know if I can’t deal with hot because I grew up with A/C and my body is now in denial, but it’s a strange phenomenon. Anyhow. The point is that some of us expats in Switzerland may need a little cooling off. So here are a few suggestions of where to go and what to do:

One: The local swimming pool. Most communities in Switzerland have fantastic facilities—clean, inexpensive (yes), and in beautiful settings—next to lakes, on hilltops, or beside rivers. Check your local city’s website to locate yours.

Two: Drink a local beer. Many towns in Switzerland have their own breweries and distribute their beer only locally. For example, in Baden, they produce Müller beer and it’s hard to find outside the city. But you can enjoy a glass at the beer garden, right next to the Müller Brewery.

Three: Float down the river. In Zurich, Baden, Bern and other Swiss cities, there are banks on their respective rivers that are used as “beaches” and there are also designated sections of each river on which you can float on a raft along with the current.

Four: Water-ski. Only the Swiss would combine a ski lift with a lake so you can water-ski on Lake Neuchatel while a rope tow pulls you along at 18 miles an hour. I haven’t tried it since I can’t even ski on snow, but for those of you that can, have fun.

Where do you go to cool off in Switzerland?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

The Five Lakes Hike near Pizol

By Chantal Panozzo

Summer, I know you’re out there. As I write this, it is June 2, and I haven’t seen the sun for about a month. While gray and fog are typical for Switzerland, this has been a rather unfortunate spring.

That’s why this post is dedicated to get you into the mountains (i.e. at an altitude above the gray and fog). Just like during the Swiss winter, sometimes in the summer you also have to ascend a few thousand feet to get your dose of Vitamin D.

Here are a few suggestions for hikers (and sunbathers) in Switzerland:

Mt. Rigi

The great thing about Mt. Rigi is not only its proximity to Zurich, but also the way that you can hike (or not hike) parts of the main trail due to the efficient railway that makes scheduled stops along the mountain. And if you just want to sunbathe, that’s ok too, there are several restaurants with fantastic terraces at the top of the mountain, which is directly reachable by train. Bonus: the Rigi railway now accepts the GA travel card.

The Five Lakes Hike (5-Seen Wanderung)

This is a tough hike. You are not just walking around five lakes. You are climbing up and descending from a lake and then starting the process all over again. The turquoise lakes and camera-worthy scenery make the blisters worth it though. But keep in mind, if you do the whole hike, it will most likely take you all day. And the chair lift that brings you back down the mountain closes exactly at 5 p.m. So start early.

The Bürgenstock Felsenweg Hike

This is an easy and scenic hike along the side of a ridge overlooking Lake Lucerne. The highlight is the option to take a short cut and ride the Hammetschwand-Lift, a crazy elevator that the Swiss built into the mountain in 1905 for the novelty of proving they could do it.

What hikes do you recommend in Switzerland?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

Ok, so, this isn't me in Canada (obviously) - but this is me saying "Hi world, it's me Kristi. I want to hug and embrace you"

By Kristi Remick

Sitting in my college dorm room in Plattsburgh NY, sometime between 1992 and 1996, I was likely dressed in some ratty flannel shirt while humming to a Smashing Pumpkins tune and wondering where my next beer would come from.  You see, I had a horrible fake ID so beer was sometimes hard to come by.  I went to a school 20 some odd minutes south of the Canadian border and I could quickly cross the border  in an effort to score higher alcohol percentage beer legally.  Sadly, it never once occurred to me while there to visit Montreal, a very French inspired, cute and cobbly city only 30 minutes north of the border.

Before you all start thinking I had a drinking problem, let’s fast forward to 2008 where I either had a crisis, meltdown or a combination of the two. Instead of wishing for a “midlife crisis mobile” from the latest pages of Popular Mechanics, I was wondering what in the world I was going to do with this life I was given. It was through this crisis-meltdown that I found my REASON.

Back up again to 1999 when I met my husband in Atlanta.  He was shockingly well traveled in my “Canada-crossing-the-border-to-get-beer” opinion.  He went to the Bahamas during a high school band field trip and even studied abroad in Europe while in college!  This world traveler was about to introduce me to…well, the World.  Our first trip was to the Cayman Islands, a good starting point for a girl like me who didn’t yet have a passport and could just barely point out the Caribbean on a map.  Not only was the water unlike any I had ever seen, it was there I realized I was going to marry this man and see the world with him.  A traveling spirit was beginning to form in my belly, one I never knew I existed.

Throughout the next decade we saw more beautiful blue waters, crackly old buildings in Europe and packs of wild animals grazing on the sunset painted lands of Africa.  Even though I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life in Atlanta, I knew I wanted to see more of the world.  My meltdown-crisis commenced with the realization that it was time to do just that.

My husband, who is well “acroynmed”, began the search for a global rotation with his company.  Our search became a reality and here we are today in Zurich, Switzerland.  There was a lot in between that search and subsequent landing, some of it sweet and some of it not so much, but it never would have happened if I visited Montreal back when I was in college.

Because, I am convinced that my traveling spirit was always there and just needed to be inspired.  Had I been inspired too early, I may not have met my husband or moved to Atlanta or landed in Zurich.  I am in no way condoning waiting to see the world, in fact I still physically shudder while telling people the story that I never once saw Montreal as a college student…but it gave me my reason and for that, I will always hold “never seeing Montreal Canada”, close to my heart.

Thanks Canada

By Kristi Remick

There are so many reasons to become an Expat: ability to travel, interest in other cultures,  following a spouse or partner, career advancement, philanthropy…the list goes on.  What makes these reasons stick?  No matter the reason for your Expat journey, you will undoubtedly experience a wide range of emotions including excitement, curiosity, fear and confusion.

Excitement is always a short lived emotion and one I like to call the new car smell emotion.  It is the best emotion while it lasts because it keeps you energized and propels you towards something that is perhaps scary or difficult to accomplish.  Eventually excitement fades much like a car’s new smell.  You try to duplicate it, even going so far as getting the new car smell freshener when you get your car washed, but you soon learn you can’t quite recapture it in its original form.

Curiosity is likely the catalyst that leads to excitement.  It is that emotion that triggers the common human conditions of  ”grass is greener-itis” or “the what ifs?”.  I think it is the emotion that keeps humans trying new things and prompts invention.  Just like excitement, it is temporary and can sometimes lead to bad decision making.  Any emotion that can kill a fuzzy kitten needs to be handled with care, unless of course you are a dog person who seeks to eradicate the entire feline population.

Fear and confusion are popular Expat emotions as well but ones that can be reconciled fairly quickly with a map, translation dictionary and glass of Prosecco.  It may seem I am downplaying them and while I do think they can be easily squashed, I know their power lies in their ability to resurface when you least expect them to making them particularly dangerous to an Expat.

So if Expat emotions are volatile and/or short lived, what emotion helps you stay the course?  It wasn’t until I thought back on my move from Upstate New York to Atlanta that it clicked.  For the longest time I talked about how the culture shock from my earlier move was more intense for me than our move from Atlanta to Zurich.  I received a lot of quizzical looks after I made this statement and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why it was harder to move within my own country.  What I never took into account was the fact that my move from New York to Atlanta lacked love.

My Mother lived in Atlanta and I certainly loved her.  She made the move feel safer than say moving to New York City but her love wasn’t the glue that kept me in Atlanta.  I was miserable for 2 years and was about to purchase a one way ticket back north when I met my future husband.  Suddenly Atlanta didn’t feel so foreign or scary.  It actually started to feel like home because I suddenly had a reason to be there and one that I loved.

So what does this have to do with the Expat experience?  A lot really as any reason why you choose to become an Expat is lined with a great deal of love.  Travel, learning about other cultures, career, partner, and philanthropy all  include an element of love and yes, you can even love your career.  It is true that love evolves over time, it can wax and wane and even sometimes disappear. Your Expat experience will likely be dictated by your reason and the progression of love you have for it.

I think the most popular question asked by people considering a move abroad is “how do I know if the Expat experience is right for me?”.  There is no right answer but if you have a reason to go, one that you are in love with, then I say go for it. It is the emotion that will protect you from all the other temporary and scary emotions:

Love- “Hey Fear, what’s up?”

Fear- “Meh, not so much…just holding back this human.”

Love- “Huh, sounds like a lot of fun but I am more in the business of setting people free.”

Fear- “Wow, that sounds really Lionel Ritchie of you.  You do know he thinks he can dance on a ceiling.”

Love- “Yeah, I know…but at least the people who rely on me do stuff… so take that Fear Schmear.”

by Chantal Panozzo

So you’ve lived abroad for a good amount of time. Maybe for a year, maybe for three, maybe for ten. But how do you know when you’ve reached the point of no return? In other words, when do you know you’ve become addicted to expatriate life?

Actually, it’s not that hard to tell. Here are 10 Ways You Know You’re a Perpetual Expat:

-People ask where you’re from and you finally have an answer. You say, “It’s complicated.” And you like it that way.

-The thought of moving back to your home country makes you cringe because that would be boring.

-You no longer talk about what’s bad about your adopted country, you focus on what’s bad about your home country.

-The thought of going on a “permanent contract” no longer scares you. It just means you’ll have to find another place to live.

-You think it would be great to have multi-cultural and multi-lingual children.

-You enjoy the challenge of figuring things out and feel that you would be bored otherwise. A country with four official languages and many more dialects, bring it on!

-You enjoy your status of being different. It makes you feel special.

-You feel like you are leading an exciting life even if the reality is lots of packing and unpacking.

-You are addicted to travel. You travel more in one year than most of your friends back home do in a lifetime.

-You feel a thrill thinking about where you could go next. And it never includes the place you came from before.

-You want to read more about this topic. Andrea Martins, co-founder of ExpatWomen, wrote an article for the Telegraph about why some of us become addicted to the overseas lifestyle. Enjoy.

Are you addicted to living abroad? Why or why not?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

Language confusion in Switzerland is nothing new

By Chantal Panozzo

Language can be a tricky thing in a country like Switzerland. After all, the tiny country with a population of 7 million has four official languages and many more unofficial dialects. In case you find it confusing, here’s a little guide to help you understand what region you’re in:

Here’s how you know you’re in the German-speaking region:

-People from Germany are as confused as you.

-They write in one language and talk in another.

-There is a lot of fog.

-People don’t understand the people from the next town over because the dialects are that different. But this is on purpose. Secrecy is big in Switzerland—not just in banks.

-How you say “hello” is analyzed to determine what town you’re from.

-If you are not on time you are not worthy.

-Everyone’s eating either wurst or wurst.

Here’s how you know you’re in the French-speaking region:

-The written language is exactly like the spoken one.

-The French-speaking Swiss don’t understand Swiss German and this frustrates them. The Swiss Germans like it this way.

-Everyone speaks French or French.

-Almost every town is on a lake.

-The French Swiss make the watches. The German Swiss obey them.

Here’s how you know you’re in the Italian-speaking region:

-People talk with their hands.

-The buildings are colors like pink, yellow, and orange.

-People eat pizza or pizza.

-Many speak German as a second language. The German that the actual Germans can understand.

-You can actually see the sun.

Here’s how you know you’re in the Romansh-speaking region:

-You think you hear Italian. You think you hear German. You think you hear Latin. But you don’t understand anything.

-There are no young people around.

-You are in the Alps.

-There are a lot of cows.

-Everyone speaks at least one other language.

How about you? How do you determine what section of Switzerland you’re in?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

by Chantal Panozzo

Why move abroad? Why Europe? Why Switzerland? Why ask why?

In today’s world, there is no better way to advance a career than by living abroad. Those who take the risk and go global will understand the world better than anyone else and be rewarded for it in their careers—and in their personal lives.

But if you need specific reasons, here are a few to consider:

-Career Advancement/Career Reinvention

As an expat, you will bring unique skills to your new country by virtue of being different. In Switzerland, well-educated native English speakers are in high demand at international companies and you may find a challenging opportunity that wouldn’t exist in your home country—even if you first arrive as the trailing spouse like I did. And if you don’t, you many find yourself reinventing your career. That’s not a bad thing, either.

-Travel

To live in a new part of the world means it is right there for you to explore. And if you live in a country like Switzerland, which borders five other countries, travel is easy. Instead of seeing things as a tourist, you learn about them as a local and you also learn to travel as a local would. In Europe, this means traveling longer, at a more relaxed pace, and by taking public transportation. Americans that go abroad will likely enjoy more vacation time (up to double or triple the time) than they’ve ever known.

-Language

There is no better way to learn a language than become immersed in it. Granted, learning a language in Switzerland (with four official ones and many more dialects) has its own unique challenges, but for those who are up to them, it’s possible to become fluent with enough time and effort.

-No “what ifs”

This is probably the biggest reason I moved abroad. I never wanted to think, “what if?” Because when given the opportunity, I knew that if I didn’t take it I would always think, “what if?” And that’s not something I wanted to always have to ask myself.

Did you go global? If so, what were your reasons for going abroad?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

by Chantal Panozzo

Loneliness. Even the most outgoing expat is going to have their moments. One of the hardest things about living abroad is being far from former support groups like family and friends. Here are five ways to help you fight isolation abroad:

-Write a blog. I’ve written about the benefits of blogging before, but writing a blog can make you feel like you’re part of a larger community and can also lead to making friends.If you live in Switzerland, Swiss Expat Bloggers is an organization of over 100 expats that blog. All you have to do to join is start a blog.

-Join a club. Maybe you don’t speak the local language so joining a local club, music group, or sports team may be difficult. But there are plenty of expat organizations that welcome new members. For a good list of clubs in Switzerland, visit the the Swiss News listing on their website.

-Invite your neighbor over. Many Swiss people will wait until you come to them first. They might be secretly hoping to meet you, but you’ll never know until you go knock. And don’t worry about your language skills. When my neighbor and I get together, we keep the German-English dictionary close by. Getting to know the people you live near is key to feeling more at home.

-Take a language class. There are many ways to learn a language without spending money on a class. But if you take a class you’ll meet a group of people and feel a sense of belonging. This can help with fighting isolation while also allowing you to gain the skills necessary to make you feel less foreign in the long run.

-Get a job or volunteer. Getting a job—even a part-time one—can help you become part of the community in a way many of the above just can’t. Most likely, you’ll meet international people as well as locals and gain insights into a culture that only a foreign office can provide.

How do you fight isolation abroad?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.