Posts Tagged ‘Zurich’

By Chantal Panozzo

Last night I was walking to a movie theater in Zurich when I heard a group of three Americans talking loudly. Ok, loud wasn’t a surprise, but American English was. I’m always amazed how many languages I hear in Switzerland that aren’t even one of the four “official” ones. But when you’ve got a foreign population of around 20%, I guess it’s only natural to hear non-official tongues.

Sometimes I wonder why Switzerland has such a high percentage of foreigners and I’ve come up with the following conclusions:

-Good Pay. Compared to neighboring countries like France, Italy, and Germany, Swiss salaries are higher. Of course, the cost of living in Switzerland is also higher, but nevertheless, it pays to live in Switzerland.

-No Need for a Car. While public transportation is sufficient in most European cities, in Switzerland, it’s good enough even for villages. The Swiss transportation network covers the entire country, from the mountain restaurant in the middle of nowhere to the farm village twenty miles from the nearest city.

-Work/Life Balance. At least compared to the way people work in the United States, there is a much better work/life balance in Switzerland. Family time is respected and valued, and stores and businesses all close down on Sundays and for a week over Christmas.

-Accessibility of Nature. In the U.S., I had to drive to get to the closest hiking trail. But in Switzerland, there are hundreds of paths right outside my door. The Swiss know how to build cities around nature, and so the nearest outdoor adventure is always just a walk away.

-Many Neighbors. Switzerland is bordered by five countries: Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Lichtenstein. All of these countries share an official language with Switzerland, making it easier for people speaking French, German, or Italian to work and live in Switzerland.

Why do you think there are so many foreigners in Switzerland?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer and blogger in Zurich, Switzerland. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland, and Writer Abroad. She also blogs for Affordable Calling Cards, a new expat community blog. This blog offers affordable calling cards in Switzerland as well as information about living abroad in Switzerland and in many other countries.

by Chantal Panozzo

1. It’s expensive.  Prepare to spend CHF 16-30 for a lunch entrée and CHF 25-40 for a dinner entrée.

2. You usually will not be seated. To look less like a deer in headlights, walk into a restaurant like you own the place and sit wherever you want.

3. Most places are still not smoke-free. If you hate smoke, eat in cantons like Geneva, where smoking is now banned in restaurants.

4. You might have to share a table. Don’t be surprised if someone asks if the seat next to you is “frei.” (And it is “frei”. Unless someone is really sitting there.)

5. Someone might see you eating and wish you “En Guete.” This means “Bon Appetit.” You can just answer, “Danke.” Or if the person that said it to you is also eating, return the favor by saying “En Guete.” The Swiss are kind of obsessed about their “En Guetes”, even if you’re a complete stranger. I’ve even had it said to me when eating a sandwich on a mountain trail.

6. You might have to pay for bread. If you are brought a basket of sliced bread, no worries. But if there’s a basket with rolls in it on the table, don’t be surprised if you are charged later by the number of rolls you have eaten.

7. There are no free refills. If you ask for another Coke or another coffee, you will be paying for another. And the average cost for a drink is about CHF 5.

8. Tipping is not necessary. There’s a reason the prices are high to begin with—tips and tax are already included. The local custom is to round up to the nearest Franc. Other tips are nice gestures, but not essential.

Any other dining tips you could give an expat or tourist in Switzerland?

For more on expat life, visit my Swiss expat blog One Big Yodel. Or check out other great expat blogs about life in Switzerland like Swisstory, From A to Z, Peterthals in Zurich, or TwoFools in Zurich.

by Chantal Panozzo

It allures you with its title. It makes you pick it up to admire it. As you hold it in your hands, you feel a slight rush like you can’t believe your luck.

It’s the English-titled book.

But then you open it. And all your hopes are dashed when you see the German text. Time and time again you fall for this.

Books by Brian Opyd

Unfortunately, in Switzerland, you literally can’t judge a book by its cover. Because you’ll only end up disappointed.

That’s where this post comes in. Part Two of a two-part series on where to borrow and buy English books in Zurich. Click here to read Part One.

5. Buecher Brocky Bederstrasse 4, 8002 Zürich. This is a huge second-hand bookstore near Bahnhof Enge with over 100,000 books. Most are used, some are antique, and some are brand new. There’s an entire aisle of English books here. Most used books are priced between CHF 1.50-4.50. For those living outside of Zurich, there are also branches of this store in Luzern, Basel, and Aarau.

6. The Pestalozzi Library  Zähringerstrasse 17,
8001 Zürich. This library has 16 branches in Zurich, but the best selection of English titles is found in the branch in the old town, the address of which is listed above. It costs CHF 45 a year to be a full-fledged adult member here (where you can borrow up to 25 items at a time) but there are other options too, like paying by the month, which costs CHF 10, to borrow a maximum of 5 items.

7. The Bürkliplatz Flea Market  Bürkliplatz, 8001 Zürich. While the flea market can be hit or miss, there are always some people selling English books here and when you do find something you’ll be rewarded with low prices—usually an English paperback will cost CHF 1-2. Plus, it’s just fun to see what you can find—even if your book search leads you into bringing home a cute gnome instead.

8. Travel Book Shop  Rindermarkt 20, 8001 Zurich. This delightful little shop in Niederdorf has travel books in English and German. There’s no “English section”, rather the books are organized by category and not language. So explore the store to find everything from Lonely Planet guidebooks to detailed maps of Spain.

For more great places to find English Books in Zurich, go to Part One of this series over on One Big Yodel. Where do you buy or borrow your English books in Switzerland?