top tips for Brits in Switzerland

[choosyfloosy]

I have a friend living in Switzerland at the moment (canton St Gall I think - does that sound right?). Any top tips for her? She's only just got there and it could be a tough row to hoe! I'm going to recommend MN to her but it may not be her thing. She has a dd of 3 and a ds of 6 mo. Thanks!

bump - prob too late, will bump again tomorrow

bump

[determined bump]

I'll bump this for you. No tips unfortunately.

St Gallen perhaps ? Join this group. She may well find someone who is been living in the same area who can give her some pointers to local facilities and toddler groups or find out general info about life in CH. Also she would be close to Germany/Austria so it is worth checking out shopping over the border (needs to watch customs limits) to access cheaper food/nappy stores like Aldi, Lidl and Walmart and there is a great nursery shop in Konstanz apparently. hth

Wonderful lizs, thank you so much.

My Dad lived in St Gallen for five years. It is a lovely city. I've no experience of stuff for little children as I was 18 when he moved there. The only relevant thing I can remember is that there was a free entry wildlife park on a hill.

check out www.thestork.ch/

Also useful are Mothering Matters magazine] and Xpat Xchange website

I live in St Gallen! There are quite a few English-speaking mums here actually. There aren't many organised activities though, like Gymboree and playgroups, though I do belong to a small 'unofficial' playgroup. I've been here just over a year so know a little about the area and struggling with Swiss-German. I'd be keen to meet up if she wanted. Apart from that the forementioned Expat-Moms-in-Switzerland group and The Stork magazine are very useful.

Angela