Have you decided to leave Prague and the Czech Republic behind and move to a country full of mountains, fresh air and cosy villages? Then you must be relocating to Switzerland, a country full of expats who move there not only for its captivating landscape but also for its high standards of living. Yet despite all these advantages, the fears associated with moving to a new country can always make us a little bit uneasy, especially just before our move.
To help you prepare for your settling in, we have gathered the most common tips for enjoying your new life in Switzerland as soon as you land!
Switzerland is famous for its clocks…
Indeed, Swiss master time matters, not only in the production of high-quality clocks and watches but in more so in practical terms. By this, we basically mean that the Swiss are reliable and on time. Try to consider this, and act the same way, especially during the first meetings.
Establishing friendships
On their arrival in Switzerland, some expats struggle to meet people. This is due to the fact that the Swiss like to make a clear distinction between personal and working life. In addition to this, “after-work activities” might not be as popular as in other countries. So, how can you get to know other people – either local or foreigners?
The best way is to join a club. It can be a sports club – remember that Switzerland is the perfect place for practising a wide range of sports such as hiking, skiing or sailing, art club or just an international club.
Commit to recycling
Recycling is something important in Switzerland and something to start doing as soon as you arrive. At the beginning, you might think it is time-consuming, demanding and complicated, but once you get used to the system, you will feel proud of preserving the environment.
When you arrive, try to check with your landlord, neighbours and local authorities about the closet recycling containers – or if you should have some in your home - the collecting schedule and the recycling system in your town.
Shop at the right time!
When it comes to going to The supermarket there is one thing to bear in mind: timing is important, in two ways. On one hand, if you go shopping towards the end of the day, you will find that fresh products – and all those products about to expire – have substantial discounts. On the other hand, if you wait too long to buy your groceries, you might run out of food, as shops close quite early on Saturdays and many supermarkets do not open on Sundays.
Don’t expect to have friends right from the first meeting. Compared with other countries, the Swiss can sometimes be considered as cold and not very friendly. This is due to their concept of friendship, which may involve a lack of openness at the beginning. However, once a good friendship has been created, it is deep, reliable and it can last a lifetime.