OMG! Kindersurprise is turning into a TOBLERONE!! Moving to Switzerland in August. HELP! Anyone in Geneva?

[Kindersurprise]

DH was offered a new job today and will start 1st October.

I am seriously considering moving with the kids in August so that they can start school with the other kids. DD is 6yo and not in school yet. DS is 4yo. They don't speak French, neither do DH and I.

Can anyone tell me a bit about the schools in Geneva? International schools? Swiss schools?

My gut feeling is to put them in a normal school so that they learn French quickly. Anyone got any experience of this?

The company has some flats in Geneva, anyone know which areas are good?

I am sure that I will come up with a thousand and one questions once it has sunk in.

[taipo]

That was quick Ks, I thought you wouldn't know for a couple of weeks. Congratulations! I take it you are pleased about the move?

I don't know anything about Swiss schools or anything about Switzerland really. So just bumping this for you and shamelessly hanging around for some of that prosecco.

Definitely a good time to go now though, before the dc start school.

[Kindersurprise]

Yes, it was quick. He went into his boss's office. His boss said, "Ok, lets not beat about the bush, we can go straight up to K in Personell and get your new contract signed. Your new boss would like you there ASAP. August too soon for you?"

DH was a bit .

We are pleased, but also a bit sad to leave this area. I really love it here and we have some good friends.

It is a great opportunity for DH, and of course for the DCs to learn a 3rd language.

I have started making lists

[taipo]

As long as you come back to the German thread from time to time!

I think I would go for a local school so they learn to speak French quickly but I guess that depends on how much help they would get at the beginning. It's not exactly comparable but dd is learning French at school here and very quickly caught up with the rest of her class who had been learning a year and a half longer. I think already being bilingual helped.

[dizzydixies]

@ Geneva

is this all because Germany is a biscuit wasteland?!?

do they have jaffas in Geneva?

[Kindersurprise]

Bloody hell, DDixie. I did not check if you can get jaffas in Geneva.

Hmm, wonder if I can have it written into DH's contract.

[Kindersurprise]

Yes, that is how I see it Taipo.

According to the Easyexpat site, children moving to Geneva get French lessons in a seperate class first then move into their proper school class when their French is good enough.

I don't know how I am going to break the news to the DCs. DD is really excited about going to school and DS loves his kita.

[dizzydixies]

I hope he hasn't actually accepted the job offer without checking?!?!?

sheesh - men they just don't think things through sometimes do they

[Kindersurprise]

I know, that should have been the first question really.

Saying that, there is all the lovely Swiss chocolate.

[dizzydixies]

I can just see it

interviewer: well MrKinder - why is it exactly you wish to come and work with us here in Geneva?

Mr Kinder: my wife started an AIBU thread on Mumsnet over the lack of Jaffacakes in Germany and told me find a country where they were readily available or she would leave me

interviewer: we completely understand, here, have a lovely new job with £20k relocation package and year long supply of Jaffacakes, lovely to have you on board



now if that WASN'T how it went get yourself off to the AIBU threads for a general opinion to see if this DOES infact merit grounds for a divorce

[Kindersurprise]

[googgly]

I used to live there - it was lovely. The town is pretty but dead boring, but the lifestyle is fabulous and the weekends in the mountains are the best, summer and winter. Best to live out of town - there's not much traffic so it's easy to get into work. Coppet, Celigny and all that side are really nice, esp if dh is working at UN or other such. Swiss school is a bit weird as you have to pick them up and take them home for lunch, then take them back again for the afternoon. But definitely best to put them straight in French-speaking school - they'll pick it up quickly and have a better time while they're there.

You can be on the ski slopes in less than an hour wherever you live. The medical care is just brilliant, for both kids and adults.

Oh, and one of my fave things was that every single swiss restaurant has high chairs and kids menus and other clients with dogs for the dcs to play with!

Lucky you!

[Kindersurprise]

Oh, Googgly, bless you. I am feeling really happy now after reading your post.

DH's company is in the Frontenex area, as far as I can google, that seems a good bit away from the areas you recommended. I could get him a row boat I suppose.

How long is the school day then? Here in Germany it is till 11.45am.

We don`t ski yet, or rather the DCs and I don't but I am thinking about taking them to the Skihalle near here to give them a shot before we go. I need some good bribes.

[Kindersurprise]

Just thought of another question, do you know if I can get British TV in Geneva?

[dizzydixies]

good god did he ask NO decent/relevant questions at the interview

what kind of caveman did you marry KS??!?!?

am off to tesco to buy you some healing jaffas right this minute

{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

[Kindersurprise]

Thanks Ddixie. You are a life saver.

Another question if anyone with Swiss experience is around.

DS is 4yo. I have read that school is compulsory from 6yo and recomended for 4 - 6yo DCs. Do most 4yo go to school then? Or is there also kindergarten for this age group.

[Gipfeli]

I live in Basel and many things in CH are Kanton-specific so may not be able to answer many things but you can ask.

However British TV (BBC - proper Beeb, not just Prime!, ITV, not yet C4 or Five I think) available via bluewin tv or cablecom

[Gipfeli]

As an example of Kanton differences, here obligatory schooling starts at 4 with two years of Kindergarten (ds starts in August). I think what you say about Geneva is right though.

[Gipfeli]

Also found this link in my favourites which may be of interest

Jim's

[laundrylover]

Cadmum is in Geneva with her tribe and having education stresses at the mo so you need to find her! Will post a link on a thread she visits for you....

[Kindersurprise]

Thanks everyone for your help.

I have heard that the differences are quite big between the Kantons.

DH's company may have a house for us, one of the employees is moving on and his house might be available. Which means that the school is also determined, as they have catchment areas.

Yay for the BBC, now all we need to do is sell our sat dish! Perhaps our nachmieter will buy it off us. It is only 6 months old. Quite possible that the house already has something installed as the current resident is from Spain.

[Kindersurprise]

I have just found out that the house is in Vessy. Anyone know the area? I had a look on google maps and it seems like Vessy is rather rural.

[Cadmum]

Hello...

It is beautiful here! Paradise really. Vessy is far from where I live but my kids played baseball there and I know a few parents who sent their children to the local schools.

As LL mentioned I am having school nightmares but that is not because of the local schools.
Every fibre of my being is resisting the urge to tell you that you should NEVER EVER send your children to an International School but I must be in the minority since they are oversubscribed... I should say that unless your husband's company has purchased spots at the International School on the Vessy side of the lake that it is unlikely that you would ever get a spot for your six year old.

You may want to bring that dish with you--SKY TV is legal here.

In Geneva, children don't go to school on Wednesday. I love this concept! Here in Vaud, they do go in the morning.

Sorry to post and run but I have a house full of a stomach bug and I can barely see the monitor.

I shall be here to answer any questions you might have.

Do try to join the Ex-Pat-Mom's in Switzerland Yahoo group. Having never belonged to one before, I have found in invaluable... There is also one for expats that send their children to local school but I don't remember the name.

Congratulations on the upcoming move!

[Kindersurprise]

Cadmum
Thankyou for your help. We are really looking forward to moving, even more so now that everyone keeps telling me how lovely Geneva is.

The company have said that they will organise International school if we want it but we would like the DCs to go to a local school. They are already bilingual and it would be fab for them to learn French too. Everyone I have talked to has said that the local schools are very good.

I read somewhere that schools are closed on Wednesdays, how nice. We can have a discovery days on Wednesdays.

Have a good rest, hope that all the sore tummies are better soon.

[Sanctuary]

Hi I live in Geneva

How old are your kids ?

I live not far froM Vessy its nice there

We did swiss school with Ds for a year when he was 4 it worked out well for his french.

We then moved him to International school which was better for him as he has SNeeds
DD also goes now there

There is a great support network here for expats

Get the KNOW IT ALL PARENTS book it is good for all those unanswered queations for kids

Any questions contact me

I celebrated 4 years here yesterday

[Sanctuary]

P.S its hot here into the low 30`s
And you can get British t.v