First time as "The foreigner!" tips for getting along please......

[Molton]

So it's finally happening and the Molton family are moving to Zurich in six weeks.....So excited - It occurred to me that this will be the first time I've ever been the "new person" anywhere really and would love your tips on how to get along in a new culture. I've heard that the Swiss are quite reserved and that it's best to meet people at clubs / sports activities etc. I'm keen to make the most of living there so need ideas on how to get on with the natives!

Thanks

Hello Molton! I live just outside Zurich. there are several MNetters around that live in Switzerland.

Where are you going to be living? Zurich is a very international city and you will probably find that most of the people you end up meeting and the friends you make are not Swiss. The Swiss are reserved in their way, take time to get to know but are very loyal as friends when you do get to know them. generally love children and are very friendly. My dh is Swiss !

Switzerland is a beautiful country and you are arriving just in time for the ski season. Zurich is a bit foggy in Autumn and winter so essential to get to the mountains and into the sunshine.

If you like you can email me and I'll send you some websites, information etc. ldgldg at bluewin dot ch.

Molton, are you still around?

I've recently relocated to Switzerland; how do I find out about other MNetters living in Switzerland?

Angela

There are a couple of really really useful yahoo groups, not sureif you have come across them yet...expats in switzerland and expat moms in switzerland. There are also specific ones for Zurich. Email me if you want the links- historywitch at hotmail.com

I am in Fribourg, so there arent so many expats/groups etc here so it has been quite difficult,but I am really loving it now...the food, the scenery, the general lifestyle (though the whole recycling aspect has taken a while to get used too...and the constant cigarette smoking...only the Manora chain of restaurants in Fribourg is non smoking!!)

Where are you AngeK?

I'm in St Gallen, it's a beautiful town. I have found the Expat Moms in Switzerland group, however all the social events seem to be happening in the bigger cities! I also love the scenery and the way everything is so clean. I know what you mean about the cigarette smoking. I've taken to going to Starbucks, which I never did at home, just for some clean air to breathe while I have my cup of tea!

Ange

I know there are a couple of expat moms in St Gallen, I emailed one of them a couple of months back when she put out an appeal for cloth nappy advice(she was too far away to collect some of my spares). It might be worth posting a message asking for other expats there!

All of our aquaintances and friends have been made through my husbands work, and through the Xpat exchange (I think that was a one off). The people I met through expat moms have moved out of Fribourg have moved on again recently sadly.

How are you getting on with the language? My husband travels a lot at short notice so I havent been able to attend any courses and classes and have no one to speak to so my spoken french is appalling, but I can read it quite well now. Fribourg is on the border between the German and French sides (literally one side is French and one side is German, so I am trying to pick some German up too but Swiss German is incomprehensible at the mo!!

The language - now there's an issue! My German is almost non-existant and I'm planning on taking classes next year. I figure the only way I will start to feel a bit more at home here is if I can speak the language (well, enough to get by anyway).

I think my DD knows more Swiss German than I do at the moment! She goes once a fortnight to a Swiss German lady for the afternoon (and I get her little boy in return the next week) and she only has swiss german spoken to her. She has started calling her nose her 'nasy' (sorry no idea of spelling) which is sweet.I struggle with the accent!
My French has got much much better over the last year but I still get frozen with fear if I get asked something unexpectedly and by the time I come up with something to say, the moment has passed! I definitely feel more comfortable here than I did when we first arrived.

Hi, sorry for not responding before now, have been away (and running round like headless chicken arranging house move - it's amazing what is lurking under the spare bed when you try to tidy it up )

It sounds like there are some really good things about living in Switzerland - can't wait for the clean air - London is pretty smelly at the best of times! Leogaela I will email you - thanks very much.

I was hoping to have work as an opportunity to meet people but now found out I will be based at home for the first 3 months - and we don't have kids so don't have that reason to meet people with that in common. I was thinking of joining an expat club ? or a gym with lunchtime classes - otherwise DH and I will drive each other round the bend in the evening.....

hello all - urgent adice needed please. I have just discovered that I will be moving to Zurich in Switzerland within a month or so with my toddler and husband. I would be really grateful on any advice that you could all give on what sorts of groups there are and what there is to do for mums and tots. Thanks!