Moving to Geneva - lots of questions!

[yodelayeeoooo]

It looks like we will be moving to Geneva in a few months time with DS1 (nearly 4) and DS 2 (10 months). I'm very excited about the prospect of moving but have lots of worries since I started my research because everything seems so expensive!My main concerns are about housing and DS1's education.

Ideally, I'd like DS to go to one of the international schools but the cost might be prohibitive. I know that school isn't compulsory until the age of 6 but they encourage children to attend from age 4 - what do they do for the first 2 years? Are they learning similar stuff to UK children (reading, writing, numeracy etc.) or do is it more like preschool? I know they catch up at 6 but if we move back to the UK before he has caught up I worry that his education will suffer (IYSWIM).

Where can I find a reasonable sized place to live without spending mega francs?!

5 & 3 years plus new baby due in May

EldonAve
Don't worry about the language barrier, as Yodel said there are so many people who speak English it is difficult to find someone to practice my (very bad) French on.

It really is expat light here in Geneva.

Thanks, DH's office are still undecided so we are just waiting to see what is proposed if anything

Hi Mystic. Why are you hating it?! Has your DD started school yet?

DH starts work in Geneva at the end of March. I will follow with the kids at the end of April. I will fly out without the kids for a day or two after Easter to try and find somewhere to live.

Have so much to do it makes my head spin thinking about it but at the same time there are things we can't do yet!

Not that long before we move out now!

Should I bulk buy anything in the UK that is either difficult to get or v.expensive in Geneva?

Also is it normal to get a panicky feeling every time you walk past a travel agent displaying the fact they have Swiss Francs in stock!

Stock up on tea bags, they are very expensive here.

You can buy most UK specialities here but they are expensive in comparison. Have a look at Migros online shop for an idea of prices. Don't be fooled by the Tetley tea bags on sale here, they are not the same as proper British tea.

I have found a supermarket in France that sells SR flour and lots of British foodstuff a lot cheaper than the specialist British/American stores.

And yes, it is normal to get a panicky feeling.

Let us know when you arrive, we can have a special MN meet up. Have you noticed the local Switzerland pages?

Was baking today and realised that I had run out of SR flour which reminded me to tell you that if you bake you should bring cream of tartar with you. It is possible to buy it in chemists, but a bit awkward.

Thanks for the info MmeLindt. I will have to stock up with my favourite tea bags because I do like a nice cup of tea! I like to bake every now and then (have to limit my baking because I have a tendency to eat too much of it myself!) so I will stock up on baking stuff too.

We will have regular visitors from the UK so if we run out of marmite etc they can bring emergency supplies.

I'll use mainly cloth nappies for DS2 but I like to use disposables at night and when travelling -are nappies expensive? Is it possible to get hold of Nature Babycare nappies?

ooooooh, I have (thankfully) no idea about the price of nappies in Switzerland. Or availability of particular brands.

You need MysticM for that, she has a wee lass.

Migros seems to sell a naturals brand for 19.90 CHF - cheaper than Pampers at an amazing 29.90 CHF!

Will stock up on nappies and pain killers! I've just remembered that our relocation lady told us that there is no such thing as a poor pharmacy owner in Switzerland!

Why are they trying to put a condom on a rubber duck on the LeShop website!

TMM - I'm glad you are liking it more now. I'm looking forward to seeing Geneva in the sunshine as it was pretty grey and cold last time I came out!

DH starts in just over a week - I'll come out for a couple of days after Easter to try and find a house!

Hello, I'm hoping some of the mums in this original post might still be reading. We are moving to Geneva in january with my parter's job and just making final decision about schools - likely to take Geneva English School for our 4 year old (had one term UK reception). I wondered if your kids did go to the school and how you find it? Or anyone in the local system? (Our two year old will do a couple of mornings in a local nursery). We are likley to be living in Collex Bossy so very close to GES.

Thank you

How long are you going to be living there and if it is not permanent, where would you end up next? It's just your children are so young, they would pick up French relatively quickly and with ease, it would be a shame to miss out on this opportunity, I could only see it as a bit pointless if you're only going to be in Geneva for 2 years and going back to an English environment, meaning they would probably lose what French they had learned in that time without reinforcement.

I notice you are also going to be very close to the French border in Collex-Bossy? Have you done your Maths as for some people, living in France can be significantly cheaper, especially with the current strength of the Swiss Franc?

What about a bilingual school? I know of a family who went to a bilingual French-English school in Geneva and their French is pretty impressive.

PS also the French schools in France start maternelle (enfantine in Switzerland) at age 3, a year earlier than in Switzerland, as I understand it. It might be a consideration for your younger child. Also Swiss local schools don't have full days of school every day I believe, whereas French schools are open longer, at least I think they are.

A question for those who live in the Geneva area, if you live right by the border, are Swiss residents allowed to send there children to local schools in France an vice-versa?

I've just joined mumsnet and this is my first ever posting so apologies for any breach in etiquette. I've joined because we've just moved to the Pays de Gex, dd (age 7) just started at international school on the Swiss side and I'd appreciate some local advice. Too many questions to put them all here at once so I'll just ask the most pressing ones for now:
School. It's very early days but so far, have to say we've been a bit disappointed. Highly rated and expensive school doesn't seem that great and not particularly friendly either. DD adored her old school in UK and says the work here is too easy. Class teacher doesn't want her to read books of the year above (even though she's capable) "because the content might not be suitable"!! I've now spoken to the very friendly school librarian and sorted that out. We'll see how it goes and await her school report.

We chose the school on reputation and a friend's recommendation. We did visit but the move was quite rushed and in retrospect we should have done more research. We won't change school lightly and without having fully checked out all the alternatives. But she's a sensible child and very bookish and we don't want her to slip behind or lose her love of school.

Any recommendations for schools around here which: have a happy and friendly atmosphere, provide a good level of English education (either UK or international system) and will help her reach French fluency? She has very little French at the moment and we're not keen on dropping her in the French state system.

Also, Wednesdays. Half days are not a problem at the moment but are likely to be next year. Any recommendations for activities (not school based) for Wednesdays?

Hi, we moved to Geneva two weeks ago and are still finding our feet. The expat websites are very helpful and if you're thinking of enrolling your LO in nursery at some point in the next century, it would be an idea to do so fairly soon after arriving as it can take a while for a place to come up. There's a central office for state run nurseries and I'll be happy to pass on those details if you like.

I second what others say about living in France or at least doing your shopping in France. We have found Carrefour much cheaper than Geneva supermarkets, though there is a meat allowance.

Still, only been here a couple of weeks and like anything it does take some getting used to. I was a bit flabbergasted by the prices as well, so it's just as well I'm pregnant and have a toddler and don't have the option to go out all that much!

My LO is too little for school but if you need a Swiss newbie perspective, happy to help!

Ooo and about nappies. You can definitely get Pampers out here but they are pricey. Most places do an own brand version which are ok.

Thanks for the quick reply sos. I hope you're settling in OK. I probably should have started a new thread but I'm such a newbie I wasn't sure how. We live in France (Pays de Gex) and I wanted advice on primary school education for dd who is 7. She currently attends international school in Switzerland which is why I went into this thread which talks about it quite a lot. I guess the topic should be "Recommendations of primary schools on French/Swiss border", not sure how to change to that.

Hi Anglo and smells,

We're in Pays de Gex as well. Second time around in Geneva for us, we were here 2003-2009 previously.

Anglo - you'll have to PM me with the school your DD is at so I can recommend alternatives. There are some v good int schools which are more academic than others!

Perhaps we should organize a Geneva meet up!

Stik, love it. Great idea. We'll take over the world (starting with Geneva)...

Hi Stik

That sounds good. I'm still working out this website but will try to send you a PM. I'd definitely appreciate your advice.