Swiss Life and Culture

Life in Switzerland

Switzerland is a natural themepark showcasing three of Europe’s most distinct cultures. To the north is the beer-drinking, sausage-eating stepchild of Germany; to the south-west the wine drinking and shopping spills effortlessly into France; in the south-east the sun warms cappuccino-sippers loitering in Italian-style plazas. And binding it all together is a distinct, and sometimes bizarre, Swiss mentality.

No one in the world is more proud of their stereotype. The Swiss are punctual, practical, traditional, and can sometimes appear aloof. Outsiders who visit are welcome to take-it-or-leave-it on Swiss terms and most people who visit the stunning pocket of Alpine mountains, valleys, and lakes, even for a day or two, are eager to take it. We’re sure you’ll love it too!

According to Oertig-Davidson (Beyond Chocolate: understanding Swiss culture), the Swiss have the characteristics of coconuts, hard shell exteriors but soft and sweet on the inside. “Once you get beneath the hard shell of the Swiss you find a friend for life,” she says.

Meeting People

In Geneva, pubs and coffee places (Cafés) are the central meeting points and hub of neighborhood life. They are not simply a place to grab a pint. Swiss will often head to a pub or Café on a Sunday afternoon and spend all day there with friends having a cup of coffee, reading the paper and eating lunch.

You never have to drink at a pub. Buying a coffee or a soda is not socially frowned upon.

Be aware though, that Swiss can buy in rounds, meaning they will head to the bar and buy a drink for everyone. If a round is bought for you, you will generally be expected to reciprocate and buy a round for everyone else.

If you are only going to have one drink, simply let the person who is buying the round know, and offer to buy your own drink.

Some pubs in Switzerland still allow smoking, so simply be aware. If you’re looking for a smoke free environment, try to sit outside.

Food and Dining

Geneva has some of the best restaurants in the world, with some of the widest variety of foods. There is no type or style of food that you can’t find in Geneva, it just may take some time and effort to actually find it.

The service industry in Switzerland is very different than in the US. Servers do not rely on tips alone to survive—they are paid much better wages. Prices are calculated to include taxes and service. A tip, therefore, is not indispensable, but justified for excellent service. Consequently, they will not ask you every two minutes if you need anything else. Oftentimes you will have to gesture for their attention in order to get a drink refill, the bill, etc.

Shopping

Geneva has a lot of shopping centers and stores down-town.

Most goods purchased in the US can be found in Switzerland. It may simply be called something different or made by a different brand and sometime be more expensive such as hairdryers. However, clothes are pretty cheap except if you buy your clothes at Louis Vuitton or Chanel of course.

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