What are the Swiss really like?
Wow. This is a real complicated question and I'm not quite sure I'm the best person to even begin to answer it but let's give it a go shall we? Here is an outside-in opinion of what are the Swiss like.
1) They value privacy and personal space
Similar to the infamous Swiss banking secrecy laws, the Swiss truly value their privacy and have utmost respect to the privacy of others. Neighbours are polite but discreet, people get on with their own lives wanting very little to interfere with that of others... until they feel something infringes on their privacy. One incident really stood out to me when I was queuing to use the ATM one day. The lady in front of me using the ATM turned around and told me to stop using my phone behind her despite me being a good 5 feet away. She says "we don't do that in Switzerland" and it "is a violation of privacy and sensitive information." So yes. Privacy.
2) Socially conscious
Switzerland is clean. So clean even when snow melts, you don't get the usual gross mushy mess on sidewalks. Yes, I know, Singapore is clean too but how much of that is cause we have a million cleaners, mostly foreign making sure we win "cleanest HDB" awards? It is very different here in Switzerland where people are truly socially conscious and very aware of how they conduct themselves in public. Despite the absence of "No eating or drinking" laws on public transportation, trams, trains and buses are almost always impeccably clean no matter when you start your journey. And yes. Of course they are a society obsessed with recycling. I used to joke that you need a PhD to recycle stuff correctly here but it is such an ingrained part of Swiss life that driving 30 minutes to a centralized recycling plant on a weekend to drop off cardboard boxes has become just a part of normal routine.
3) Proud to be Swiss but also very conscious of their place in Europe and the world
The Swiss are proud people. Proud of their country, their heritage, their neutrality and their way of life. And rightly so! But they also understand that they are a small country landlocked and squashed between major European powers. They know others envision Switzerland as a sort of Utopian vision of high standard of living and beautiful mountains but are smart enough to realize that the only way to stay this way is to keep making sharp choices (e.g. the recent rejection of a referendum of a universal base income for everyone) and keep adapting and responding proactively to the rest of the world.
4) Protectionist
This probably is one of the most homogeneous countries I've ever lived in, even in the most supposedly cosmopolitan city of Zurich, 9 of 10 people are white, Caucasians. They aren't and probably never will be overtly rude to foreigners but do not expect them to welcome you with open arms. They are fiercely protective of their "Swiss-ness" and even as a foreigner here, I ask, with all that is going on in Europe, can you actually fault them?
5) Practical and low-key
Switzerland is a rich country. Not everyone is a gazillionaire but there definitely are substantial numbers of extremely wealthy people. However, something I truly admire is this sense of practicality and the lack of desperate desire to show off their wealth. Yes, there are some amazing houses by lake Zurich, but nothing ostentatious. For sue, there are super car enthusiasts, but they don't speed down the main shopping street blasting music. Even the way they dress is a low-key affair. I work in the heart of Zurich city but I swear the number of Chanel purses and Louboutin heels pales greatly in comparison to what you'll see in a random suburb mall in Singapore. I kinda like how it is - there is no need to buy things you do not need, with money you do not have, to impress people you do not like.
Now on to the next question... do you face discrimination in Switzerland?
I have not faced overt discrimination in my almost 2 years here. Shopkeepers may not be the friendliest, customs may seem to racially profile you to check for unpaid taxes in goods at the airport but really there hasn't been any overt discrimination. And my honest, no filter reasoning behind this is because:
1) There are not a lot of East Asian faces here to give us a truly bad name yet. ;) Interpret this however you want.
2) They have other groups of people to direct their displeasure upon. Again, interpret this however you want.
So, be prepared for a higher level of nonchalance, but don't read too much into this - it maybe just a lack of familiarity with the English language, or just them being Swiss.
Hopefully it will not be another 11 months before I write another blog post - but I really want to talk about how my perspective on things has changed since moving here and how I find being back home in Singapore, even for short holidays a little overwhelming. Anyone else feels the same? Leave me a comment!
The Swiss are proud people. Proud of their country, their heritage, their neutrality and their way of life. And rightly so! But they also understand that they are a small country landlocked and squashed between major European powers. They know others envision Switzerland as a sort of Utopian vision of high standard of living and beautiful mountains but are smart enough to realize that the only way to stay this way is to keep making sharp choices (e.g. the recent rejection of a referendum of a universal base income for everyone) and keep adapting and responding proactively to the rest of the world.
4) Protectionist
This probably is one of the most homogeneous countries I've ever lived in, even in the most supposedly cosmopolitan city of Zurich, 9 of 10 people are white, Caucasians. They aren't and probably never will be overtly rude to foreigners but do not expect them to welcome you with open arms. They are fiercely protective of their "Swiss-ness" and even as a foreigner here, I ask, with all that is going on in Europe, can you actually fault them?
5) Practical and low-key
Switzerland is a rich country. Not everyone is a gazillionaire but there definitely are substantial numbers of extremely wealthy people. However, something I truly admire is this sense of practicality and the lack of desperate desire to show off their wealth. Yes, there are some amazing houses by lake Zurich, but nothing ostentatious. For sue, there are super car enthusiasts, but they don't speed down the main shopping street blasting music. Even the way they dress is a low-key affair. I work in the heart of Zurich city but I swear the number of Chanel purses and Louboutin heels pales greatly in comparison to what you'll see in a random suburb mall in Singapore. I kinda like how it is - there is no need to buy things you do not need, with money you do not have, to impress people you do not like.
Now on to the next question... do you face discrimination in Switzerland?
I have not faced overt discrimination in my almost 2 years here. Shopkeepers may not be the friendliest, customs may seem to racially profile you to check for unpaid taxes in goods at the airport but really there hasn't been any overt discrimination. And my honest, no filter reasoning behind this is because:
1) There are not a lot of East Asian faces here to give us a truly bad name yet. ;) Interpret this however you want.
2) They have other groups of people to direct their displeasure upon. Again, interpret this however you want.
So, be prepared for a higher level of nonchalance, but don't read too much into this - it maybe just a lack of familiarity with the English language, or just them being Swiss.
Hopefully it will not be another 11 months before I write another blog post - but I really want to talk about how my perspective on things has changed since moving here and how I find being back home in Singapore, even for short holidays a little overwhelming. Anyone else feels the same? Leave me a comment!
Hi, hope it doesnt take you another year to post. :) Maybe in the next post talk about the working culture and hours/ benefits in Switzerland (as compared to Singapore)
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