Actually, this video brought back a lot of good memories of America "back in the day". I am 71-years-old, and I grew up in a simpler, carefree environment just as this lady describes. We were healthy and safe. Our communities were close and neighbors watched out for each other. And yes, the stores closed early every evening, no shopping or liquor sales on Sundays. Now, today's America is open 24-7, our senses are being constantly bombarded by media news, sales ads, competition to have more and better than your neighbor, it is just crazy. I just wish we could return to those days again.
As a 21 year old this is exactly what I’ve observed living here in the US. The sense of high stimulation, being motivated by meaningless things in life, and constant competition. It’s just not a healthy and happy way to live. Definitely not afraid to visit a few more places abroad and settle where I feel most comfortable.
So you were born around 1948. In the 1950's in America there were race riots, bombings, and such a huge problem with organized crime that Robert F. Kennedy got himself killed in the 60's trying to dismantle the Mafia. So you were not exposed through the media that we have today to all of the rampant crime going on in all major u.s. cities that has always existed. Speaking of RFK: He was devastated by the poverty he saw in the American South. Sure, times were simpler, with less pollution, drugs and crime. But this country had these problems on a large scale by the turn of the 20th century. What I'm saying is you had no view of the larger picture. If you lived in Appalachia for any period of time you would see how it has always been, and still is, full of millions of desperately poor individuals, racked with the problems that come along with that condition.
Just moved back to the US from Basel after 5 years. It did take sometime to get over the culture shock when we first arrived in Suisse but after a time things just became 2nd nature. We loved having family time in Sunday's. Everything is so laid back but yes do not forget to get all your Sunday meal needs before 6 on Saturdays. The food is so much BETTER. No hormones in the milk, no preservatives and is seasonal. You are required to learn one of the national languages and the language depends on where you live. My daughter went to a bi-li goal school and now at 7 speaks High German fluently and is not afraid to try new foods. Great experience
I was there for 3 weeks in the summer of 2017. Pretty much everything you said I also noticed and I absolutely loved it. A beautiful, clean, well organized society full of nice people who all seemed relatively "normal". By normal I mean, I didn't see anyone slovenly, didn't see any homelessness, didn't see any kids walking around with their boxer shorts hanging out of their pants etc. Didn't see people walking around talking to themselves, didn't see people misbehaving in public etc. Loved it, loved every minute of it. Can't wait to go back, seriously considering spending some of my retirement there. #16 was particularly inciteful. I really noticed how independent the kids were and friendly too. Me and the misses did a lot of walking around Hinwil and Zurich and ran across many small children playing with each other and no parents in sight and they all smiled and said hello. That's how it should be!
See why we love it so much! I'm about to make a video on the difference between schools in America vs. Switzerland. This should be an interesting one. :)
VeroMithril Just so you know, anything the state is involved in, it turns out to be a disaster. I spent a few months working in a mental health hospital in the 1990s as a student nurse. It was better than what we have now, but is worse than when families used to take care of each other.
People always seem to notice that they rarely - if ever - see people in these generally homogeneous European countries who are in wheelchairs, walking around muttering to themselves, mentally retarded, etc. The entire continent is all but devoid of the sort of ADA standards we have in the U.S. to better accommodate people in those situations. But do any of them ever wonder what happened to all those people, or do they choose assume they're all in some top-notch state-funded facility?
Wow, such a wonderful place to experience, I’m 58 yrs old, I still say “hello” or “how are you” when I talk to places of business, sometimes those people look at me as if I’m a idiot, 😂. I would love to live the rest of my life in a place like this. I can still remember nothing being open on Sunday and walking everywhere with my mom in our little town in TX.
I'm in Southern Ohio USA and I like to say Hi to people I pass on the sidewalk or wherever. Buy I noticed only a rare few people were also doing it and most don't answer me back.
Grandma P Your complaining about TX ? If it have money ( not like any opress deprive ur any to not have more then enough ) I suggest u travel to places like . South of usa now days E Coast. Spend a few weeks upon your return tell us,how it went
I am happy that you were able to report your experience in Switzerland and sharing the contrast. I have a Swiss friend who goes through depression whenever he returns to the US from Switzerland. The level of noise, rush, trash, rudeness, obesity etc just knocks him out. Thanks for sharing.
I'm American and watching this with my wife, who's Swiss. This list is hilarious and so true! By the way, we love your videos! My wife grew up in Nyon and your videos bring back good memories for her. Keep up the great work!
+Gregory Melanson Thanks! Hopefully she won't get too homesick. I'm so happy you liked watching it. I may have to do a "part 2" since I've thought of even more. 😂😂😂
We'll be there next summer, actually! It'll be my first time, so thank you for the preview of some of the places we're going to visit. I'm most excited about visiting Gruyère and the Cailler factory! By the way, your story is really inspiring because we're starting a similar adventure next year. Would it be ok to PM you with some questions on Facebook?
Yes, I too wish to thank you for the video. I'm American, my husband is Swiss, and we will be moving to Switzerland from CA, USA this Fall with our 3yo daughter, so I'm watching every video I can about difference/tips/etc. Cheers!
That's great Tambia! Welcome to Switzerland! I hope you find yourself at home when you arrive. If you have any questions or need any help feel free to reach out to us.
The Swiss are firm believers in the rubbish bag tax, you have to pay for each bag of rubbish you put out. It encourages recycling (the more you recycle, the less rubbish you have to pay for). The rubbish tax depends on which canton of Switzerland you live at, some don't have it, but where I am in the canton of Vaud, it costs 1chf for the 17litre bag, 1.95chf for the 35litre bag, 3.80chf for the 60litre bag, 6chf for the 110litre bag. They can investigate and try to find and fine any culprit who tries to throw trash bag out in a non-conformed special colored pre-paid trash bag. This makes Switzerland one of the countries that do most recycling and where people don't generate too much trash.
I’m Swiss and I was interested what differences you‘ve prepared. I like that you didn‘t bring those „mainstream“ differences like „oh Switzerland is so much more expensive“ or „Swiss people earn a lot more money“ ect. But something I found strange: no take-away and you have to bring your own shopping bag?? Literally every coffee or smoothie shop I know offers cups to go. Even biodegradable cups or ones made out of recycled stuff. Additionally, I honestly don‘t know one single shop, which doesn‘t provide shopping bags. It might be common that people bring their own bags, as you have to pay for them but this doesn‘t mean the shops don‘t provide them... If the bags aren‘t apparent at the first sight, just ask for them. Often they‘re stored beneath the counter ;-)
Thanks for the kind words. Well, for the to go cups, I meant in most sit down restaurant type of places, they typically don't offer to go cups. You're right though most little cafes and the all the Coops at the train stations etc.. all offer to go/take away. In most of the US unless you go to a Whole Foods type of grocery store, the cashiers all automatically start filling up your stuff with plastic bags. If you bring your own bags, it's almost a nuisance to them. So people when coming to Europe aren't used to bringing their own bags or paying for them. Canada is a little different. Almost in between Europe and the US. I'm always shocked at how much plastic I have when visiting a US grocery store. It's crazy...
I travelled across Switzerland in April 2019 and you had to bring your own shopping bag or buy one at the grocery store (Migros, etc). Coffee to go may exist now in Europe but they should never have introduced that. Leave that for Americans. European cafés are the best thing there are in the world. Switzerland is my favourite country too by the way.
I spent a lot of time in Geneva with my parents when I was a student in the US. The first thing that happened when I arrived is that I started to lose weight. My mother told me simply that everybody had lost weight because there was no crap in the food. I lost 30 lbs by the time I left. The city was clean and beautiful and there were lots of police and it was very safe.Luckily I speak French and German but the most surprising thing was I met American kids who also spoke French and German and who switched seamlessly between three languages. The most surprising thing was the instant coffee. My mother had always been a coffee gourmet but she stopped brewing coffee in Geneva and only used their instant. It was the best coffee I have ever had and still is. You can't get it now. One thing I love about the Swiss is that they refused to share their fountain tech (Jet d'Eau) with the US. The Swiss are conservative and quiet. It is a country for the rich and capable and if you don't have those things go somewhere else.
Awesome! Sounds like you really enjoyed your time there. You're right about the weight too. We had an opposite effect happen when we lived in FL, we ate pretty much the same foods we ate in Canada but we started to put on weight. That's when I started researching why this was. The food in the US is crap unless you specifically and intently plan your meals and avoid all fast foods. It's so hard because there are no laws in place for all the hormones and GMO's.
" Having lots of police " is considered a great thing in some communities in the US. Some Communities in the US want no police at all. Lots of diversity in the US... in just about everything. More diversity in the US than in most of Europe, imo... including Switzerland.
@@ngamashaka4894 I have no clue what you are talking about ( maybe you don't either ? ). I fully support the police, have family that are retired police, and believe in diversity, and own firearms. 'Have a nice day for yourself nevertheless
@Raoul Bădărău ? switzerland is the best country. I have visited most of Europe and America, my friend lived in Asia for 3 years traveling around Thailand and Indonesia mostly. Switzerland is one of if not the best place to live
Omg, what's wrong with you people? So much hate. You need to chill a bit more, take a deep breath and think twice before you spill stupidity and depression through the keyboard.
No-one died because shops are closed on Sunday, it’s nice to have one peaceful day in the week without a shop open and traffic noise etc i love it. It’s more civilised to eat somewhere other than a car. Takeaway coffee etc is available in cafes and takeaways much more now. Our streets are narrow because it’s Europe, old world. They didn’t have cars back in the old days, lol. We don’t have a lot of air conditioning because it doesn’t get as hot as in Florida. I use my Maestro card to pay for small amounts too, i don’t use so much cash to pay for stuff. Migros & Coop used to give you plastic bags at the supermarket but now if you want one you have to pay 5 cents or 30 cents for a paper bag. We don’t have a gun culture like the US. Not all public toilets cost money to use. There is nothing more annoying than noisy people on a train. We have a lot of bio- organic food here. Just a few points. I always think every country has good and bad things. Thanks for your video, it’s always interesting to hear what other people think about your country.
From what I have read the Swiss have just as much if not more of a gun culture as we do.That's one of the things that interested me about Switzerland.I'm a believer in the rights of a citizen to bear arms.And that don't make us violent either.
I've always read that Switzerland has the highest per capita gun ownership rate than any other country.If they have gone the gun ban/grab route I will be very disappointed.The 3 main things that I found interesting about Switzerland was scenery,gun ownership and chocolate.
Did you miss what Edie said about gun control? Just because a country like Switzerland has a rate of high ownership of guns doesn't mean they have carte blanche to use them without proper training, licences for carrying and ownership of guns, theoretical and practical exams, psychological vetting and more before someone is allowed own a gun and automatic weapons are banned. There are also many exemptions on who can own a gun- anyone with a criminal record, history of drug addiction or alcoholism, anyone who "expresses a violent or dangerous attitude". You can't just walk into a gun shop and buy one there. Also after a rise in crime in the 1990s more provisions in law have been added to keep the country on par with restrictive EU gun laws, and gun deaths, including suicides, have continued to drop since then as have gun ownership. In Switzerland guns are kept for mostly peaceful purposes (aside from criminals who own them of course). There is no guns ho, -'shoot first ask questions later' trigger happy culture as in the US where they are fetishised as part of a society that loves violence and warfare, and school kids use them to kill their school mates and teachers. That culture we do NOT want here in Europe.
Haha, I can assure you I am of sound mind. I couldn't have the job I do if I had any mental health problems. But thank's for the ad hominem, it seems a popular response to anything you disagree with in the US. Playing the man instead of the ball, as we say. I know you have some regulations in some states of the US on gun ownership and use, my point was the regulations are WAY stricter in Switzerland, as I pointed out. But you don't have to believe me. Here are official facts and figures:www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/switzerland And it's carte blanche. ;)
I really enjoyed this, thanks! I came to Switzerland from South Africa thirty years ago and experienced a similar sort of culture shock. I do enjoy living here even though there are things I miss and the odd little thing that irks me. Our quality of life is really excellent in Switzerland!
So happy you are enjoying Switzerland! I am Swiss and in a long-distance relationship with a South African. He would like to move here, I hope he‘ll like it, too 😁
I'm born in SA, my grandfather left Switzerland and moved to SA (better oppertunities he said) when he was around 22, now I'm moving to Switzerland at 23. Funny how the world has changed, now Switzerland holds much better oppertunities... The book “Swiss Watching“ (parody on bird watching) is brillant for tips like this, about a brit who moved there. I can recommend it 😉
The blacks are killing the S.African white farmers now. They want them all our with out compensation. You may want to do some research before you trip into S. Africa.
Gosh I Remember when everything was closed on Sunday's here in Texas. I was a child. I remember my grandmother cried. She said ...now everyday will be the same.
It was the same way in Nebraska back in the 1950s. Stores were closed on Sundays, and closed around 6:00 every weeknight except Thursday. That was the big shopping night. Yes, your Grandmother was right. Everything is the same. No one has to plan purchases. We can be as air-headed as we like.
Very true. And, during the week, every business and shop closed by about 6 p.m. It was not that long ago. 7-11's started the revolution toward the 24-7 business cycle.
And it was the same in New York State (NOT "the city") where I grew up back then. While I don't like the fact that it was a manifestation of some people's religious dogma being forced on everybody, it was nice to live in a less-frenetic time as opposed to now, when business profit decides everything.
Lol I am from Texas too. I was thinking the same thing. Cash (not card), no free refills, closed at 6 and on Sundays...oh, like the US 40 years ago. Haha that would be nice again. Holidays, nights and Sundays for families. What a concept. Coincidentally, around the same time the divorce rates went up.
This was fascinating to watch for me as a Swiss person 😀 You're spot on with all your points in my opinion, except #15 I find a bit odd (_You're supposed to say hello first to store clerks before asking them for help_): There's obviously a so many nuances to social norms like that. But while it's customary to use some sort of opener for the conversation (like "Hello"), just "Excuse me" is absolutely fine for that, and shouldn't come across as rude at all (as long as you wait for their response after "Excuse me"). I think it might possibly have been the fact that they were a bit startled / taken aback if you opened with English right away (not sure whether or not that was the case). It takes us a second to switch our brains to expect and parse English. So sometimes it can happen that native English speakers flood locals with English in their native tempo, because they've made the experience that people usually speak English quite well. Which they do. But it still takes a second to switch, so a "Excuse me, do you speak English?" goes a long way in terms of "proper protocol" 😏 Even though it's mostly a rhetorical question nowadays, it does show that you're not presuming everybody knows English, which sometimes can be perceived as rude. But your experience will vary wildly between a touristy spot in Zürich and a small village in the country side 😏
Thanks Luke for your comment. I guess it's because in the US, you can simply walk up to someone and say: Hey, do you know where such and such is? Where as in Switzerland, you should probably say: Hello or excuse me, can you... like you mentioned.
+Growing Up Without Borders Loved watching you describe the "differences" between the US and Switzerland today. Though the reason I typed " is as someone who spent his idyllic formative years growing up in the southern Maine countryside (Lakes Region/Sebago Lake area), some of the customs and habits you described in Switzerland were once very similar in Maine. For example, while riding in our own car, it was VERY common to wave to (and waved back from) an approaching car/total stranger, as it was considered being neighborly then. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen much at all nowadays :( Additionally, as most of my friends lived about 5+/- miles from where I lived (in the town center), on the days I wasn't riding my bike, it was a given that a child could hitchhike and not have a concern in the world that any danger might be in that car. Again, TOTALLY different situation now, as 99.99% of parents/children in the US make it a point NOT TO hitchhike, what with all the mass media highlighting all the horrific stories of child abduction, rape, etc. Not saying that there aren't still pockets in the US where common courtesy and a wholesome environment still exist--America is still a HUGE country, geographically-speaking, and many friendly ppl still live here--but while it's nice to see the "old school" customs still exist in Switzerland, it gives me a bit of melancholy to know that in many parts of the US, this is no longer the case :( Sign of the times, I guess.
Hi Mike S, like wise in my youth growing up in Vermont in the 1940's some customs were the same as in Switzerland. This was probably due to the wide variety of the various ethnic backgrounds that made up our small communities. It would be a welcome change (in my view) if the USA would adopt Switzerland's culture. What a remarkable turnaround that would be. I sure would've liked no homework on the weekends. LOL
I think I like both countries. What I like about the US as Swiss, a large house with pool is much more affordable depending on the area, because you have so much space :) Thats also something!
It's so true. You can live like a king in the US and enjoy large spaces, large homes, large fridges large everything. :) Something I realized is how blessed the people in the US and in Canada are compared to so many other countries in that the lifestyle they have as the middle class is like living like the upper classes. To have a large home with a pool and land in Switzerland, well, you'd need to be very wealthy.
I spent 3 years in Germany in the USAF Hahn AFB . We had an American Express Office on base and the first brochure i picked was Switzerland 3 days and nights meals inc. for 39.95 what a bargain of course this was 1965 . I was able to visit Bern , Lucerne, and Zurich . It was a grand time for me and a dream come true and i enjoyed every minute of it . Thanks for the video i really enjoyed it .
Haha, so true! I'm Swiss and when I worked in the US, I had a real culture shock! And it was so difficult to explain the differences of our "ways of life" to my colleagues who haven't been to Europe or Switzerland before. You should read the books of Bill Bryson! - I have visited many different countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and America, but I still haven't found a better place to live than Zurich! :) :)
You nailed every observation I made in my week and a half there. Very clean. No trash anywhere. The country side literally looks landscaped. No A/C. I was there in the middle of one of Europe’s worst heat waves and it was brutal. I was taking 3-4 showers a day trying to keep cool. No ice. Because it was so hot, I wanted anything cold to drink. Only thing was room temperature bottled water. There was a McDonalds next to my hotel. I asked for a large soda, but with just ice. I received a blank stare. I told her Id pay for the drink, but I just wanted ice. The girl called her manager, who gave a frustrated scoff and then just gave me the cup of ice.....that was my first day there. Public restrooms cost money, but are incredibly clean. Expect a restaurant visit to last a couple of hours. Also, one I might add is theyre not sugar crazy like Americans. At some point, I tired of drinking water and wanted a soda. Was either a Dr Pepper or Sprite and first thing I noticed was it tasted funny. I goggled and sure enough, their sodas have half as much sugar as their American counterparts.
Hey! This was a really funny comment to read and we can totally relate to your experience: "I received a blank stare. I told her Id pay for the drink, but I just wanted ice. The girl called her manager..." 😂😂😂
Your last point (#20) if one of the main reasons I am looking to move out of the US. I travel abroad frequently and everytime I come home I feel the difference of eating fresh vs American processed. Thank you for this video!
Thanks for this nice post. An important info: Switzerland lives federalism. The store opening times, for example, are regionally regulated. Much is regulated regionally. We also have direct democracy. We have 7 Federal Councilors, who alternate each year in the function of the Federal President. We can launch an initiative on everything the constitutional state allows and thus shape the constitution. This is used intensively. That is why the people have a huge influence in politics. Thus, individual responsibility is always promoted and maintained by all of us. I am happy to be Swiss and do not want to live in any other country than in Switzerland! :-)
In Zürich the big grocery stores are open until 9pm. Narrower streets and higher speeds is one reason why you don't eat and drink in your car. When you're at the wheel you drive and pay attention at all times 100%. One major dietary difference is we don't add huge amounts of sugar to almost everything we cook and portions are not super sized like in the US. It's great so see how positively you have embraced and accepted all these differences and talk about them in the way you do. Iv'e seen some similar videos where Americans seemed to be having difficulties adjusting and reported about the same topics as you have here but in a rather negative manner.
Loool the candle dipping story!! Yeah, we do those as soon as we can walk, also my parents taught me to use a knife by age 5 and I never cut myself ever..same principle: learn to do it right and don't get hurt.
Gee I wish somebody would've taught me about not sticking your finger into an electrical light bulb socket when I was around 5 or 6 years old. But since I'm still here to mention it, it's a lesson I learned early in life about respecting electricity.
RAY in Slovenia kids are taught to use knives with 3 in Kindergarten, a pair per day has a duty - slicing apples and bananas for the whole group, another pair has to clean up the table after meal...
I love your video - It is to the point, concise, full of substance, and very informative, you speak just right, not too fast not too slow. This video has kept me glued to it, Not only was I attentive to every second of it, but I enjoyed watching like no other. Compared to most videos this one has to be one of the best videos I have ever seen made by an individual. It is frustrating at time to watch so many videos on the Internet that are poorly made, full of fluff, and very little substance. It is refreshing and enjoyable to watch a lean video which told me so much about Switzerland in a very short time. I am curious what you do for living? I commend you for your work and thank you for sharing your experiences in this video
Wow! That’s the nicest comment I’ve ever received. Thank you so much! I do Internet marketing for a living and help companies with their online presence. What other things would you be interested in learning and I’ll create more videos like this one. Have you seen any of our family travel videos yet?
No I have not seen any of your other videos, this is the only video I have watched, but now you have peaked my curiosity to watch some of your other videos - And I will respond further to your e-mail.
You are very kind... - I am sure I will find some very interesting things ... - I will watch more of them when i get some Free time ... And perhaps comment or send feed back - FYI: I did sent you an email to your email address (AT) Growing up without borders
@@dreadxlegionx058 we have 25% foreigners and have an open culture for people from any countries. So you might have a problem with that. And social benefits like unemployment support, healthcare for everyone and support for the poor are given.
I was in Switzerland in 1980 and hearing you speak about this country I remember how clean the country is and how respectful the people are. I have been living in Thailand and like it except for the heat and rainy season. I remember Switzerland, its people and the good time I had and want to go back. Thank You for your sharing your ideas and beautiful smile.
I love #15 and having to be polite and say, 'hello' before interacting with folks. I live in the US and do this all the time at any retailer I'm at and say hello more often than not before the person at the register/door/etc will acknowledge me. Just a little bit of kindness brings us together. Great video!
I say hello/ goodbye faster than anyone I know in the US when I get my daily scammers on my cell phone. Its neither kind, nor polite, I know, but to me its as efficient as any swiss watch.
Switzerland sounds like an amazing country. They seem to have a good mish mash of old school mentality, mixed with good progressive policies. No Nanny state, but also make sure they take care of the less fortunate. I love the idea of the politeness, and everyone looking out for each other. If I could I would leave Canada in a minute and move there. An ex girlfriend of mine went there for school, oh way back almost 20 years. And she said it was so amazing. Plus I really don't like the path Canada is on. It's becoming to polarized. And I hate the nanny state mentality of our government. The Swiss did it right.
I'm a Canadian and happy that we no longer have S.Harper as P. Minister. You do understand that most of Europe functions under a Social Democracy, right ?
I've been living in Switzerland for just over a year now and came across this video. I love hearing other people's experiences. I found it incredibly relatable!
The waiters and waitresses aren't as "cordial" (read servile) and take their time (for you to enjoy your meal) for a good reason: they earn a living wage. We don't push people into tips-driven semi-servitude ;)
Nobody in the US is pushed into waiting tables either. Tipping works well to an extent, America has the best service in the world- so yeah, it's annoying to travel and wait for an unnecessarily long time for your food because the server is salaried and not working for a tip.
+Freedom Lovin' In Europe waiters earn a living wage. But they get a tip for exceptionally good service and/or hospitality. A bonus. That's a difference.
"Best service in the world" -people forced to be servile and ingratiating because otherwise they don't take home a wage from tips...yeah great. And what other array of countries have you been to to compare the US with, or is it the usual 'America is da best HOOHAA!!' ignorance because you've been indoctrinated to believe that? I'll take service in any country where wait staff are paid a living wage over the American way any day.
Yeah, but as "Freedumb-lovin" says - nobody HAS to be a waiter - they can "choose" to starve to death in the most predatory right-wing-extremist country in the developed world, where sociopaths have the "freedom" to abuse the working people who produce the sociopath's income stream, with abandon!
nice video you got most of it correct,the only thing is we dont turn off our cars at tthe stoplights just most newer cars have stop and go option it turns the car off automatic.i think in USA you still not used to saving money on fuel cause its really cheap.and its much better for enviroment then sitting in a v8 at a stoplight tosing extra fuel out of exaust.dont get me wrong i love your oldtimer muscle cars but times are changing :D
Yeah no. It's time to change your thinking. Majority of Americans don't drive the big V8 cars a lot anymore. A lot of people have an everday car V4 or V6 and than the V8 for pulling heavy things. When the gas prices went over $5 a gallon people started to buy small vehicles. A lot of people have converted their cars to use used vegetable oil from restaurants. All of the city buses in Ft Lauderdale run on vegetable oil rather than diesel. I think the fire trucks and ambulances use vegetable oil also. A lot of Americans are buying Tesla also.
Recently return to the U.S. after living seven years in Europe, primarily in Bavarian Germany. Mowing my lawn one Thursday afternoon, my neighbors came over to tell me that this is not done during quite hours and by the way "today is a holiday" and loud noise and this work was a definite no, no! Oops! Didn't know it was a holiday. There are some different rules and customs, and I like them. Having traveled throughout Europe, I also believe the cultures of Germany, Austria and Switzerland tend to expect a little more of their citizens in the way of personal responsibility and good behavior. It's so evident when traveling from one country to another. Like Switzerland; Germany is incredibly clean and beautiful. Little or no gates or fences around the farmland and orchards. And how about the cash honor system along the roadside stops for picking fall harvests and spring flowers? We trust you will do the right thing. You'd better :) Love it! Miss it!
The first time we visited a little farm and simply calculated what veggies we bought and left the monies in the envelope I just couldn't believe it. You're right about holidays. I recently found out you're not suppose to do recycling on a Sunday. I'm sure I've done this before without even realizing.
We just moved back to America after 4 years in Switzerland, Zurich lake area. The no air conditioning was one of the hardest things for us plus the church bells. We picked an apartment close to the church. We had a gorgeous view but the bells rang all night long...
Ah we hear you. Our bells ring a lot too but we’re a little further away from the church so it’s actually nice when we hear them. The last few summers have been quite hot so yes it’s been a little hard with no AC. Thanks for the comment!
i am swiss and i left the country for this reason church bells are pure mayhem in this country but most swiss people even love them religious brainwash in my opinion
I experienced similar lifestyle differences when I lived in Italy. As you said, it was frustrating at first but then I absolutely loved it. So much so, that I miss it every single day I'm back in the US. Friends and family see me as a complainer about many things. I am making serious plans to return to that healthy lifestyle in the spring of 2019. I can hardly wait!
I’m American and visited Switzerland for two weeks last September. My ancestors came from there, so it was a dream trip. I loved every minute of it, and pretty much every single thing you said, is something I wrote in my diary while I was there. I was so astounded by the children- for instance when we were in Appenzell, as soon as the shops closed at 6 and the tourists went home, the children all came out to play and ride bikes on the streets of the old town. No adults were watching them that I could see. It felt like 1950’s America and I love it so much. If you know of a good job for a single woman there, please let me know. I’m ready to move. Thank you :)
I bet you are ready to move. It’s a very special country and has kept in a way quite preserved. I’m not sure of the job opportunities though. I hope you can go back again one day whether it’s to visit or live.
Yeah but it's different. For example if you go up to someone in the US and say: "Excuse me, can you tell me where the bananas are?" They won't look at you and say: "You can say hello first". It leaves you a bit dumbfounded and feels a bit awkward.
I see. It must be like in some places in the USA, where people have conversations with complete strangers in public, while, say in New York City, if you talk to a stranger they treat you like you're about to rob them.
I'm an American hillbilly, and I didn't have that experience in NYC at all. I visited with much trepidation - I'm big-city phobic - but was delighted at the constant conversations with all kinds of strangers, from demographics unlike mine. I had an unexpected GREAT time! Sounds to me like YOU are the problem there. Or maybe you're just an "opinionated" bigot who's never been there?!?!
@@clockguy2 Have you ever visited NYC? I'm not from there, but I've spent many summers in the city with my grandparents to know the place well enough. I think the truth is opposite to what you said. If you ask politely for help they have no reason to be rude to you, they know you're a tourist and they are very much used to it. Manhattan is not to be confused with some quiet little suburbia where people are going to offer milk and cookies to the newcomer and are going to want to speak to you incessantly. They'll stop and listen to what you have to say, and assist where they can, but if you waste their time then you'll discover what rude means. This is true for anyone from a big city: New York, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, etc. Too many places to be and not enough hours in a day, hun. That's urban life.
@@bananaborz1 yes, I went to NYC and that was my experience on the street at least. They were very friendly at our destination where we had business with the people.
Very telling that the first "difference" you highlighted was the attitude towards shopping. Take away shopping (and theme parks) from American "culture" and there would be quite the void to fill. You are lucky to have the opportunity to live outside of the U.S. Too bad that most U.S. citizens will never be so fortunate. We all need to know more about other cultures to keep from believing that "ours" is always the "best". Nice video. Cheers.
Thanks! We have learnt so much by visiting other countries. It's taken a while to realize though that one way isn't always better than the other. I think this only comes after you've been away for a long time or if you're open minded.
For me, born and rised in the Countryside of Zürich, watching this video makes me smile :-) and i already watched some videos like that. And the main thing they have in comon is pointing out how clean the whole country is, how safe it is and the high quallity standards in foods especially when you want to live healthy. But no one questions why it is this way. It's because we love what we have, we care a lot for it, we want it to stay the way it is and we don't need much more.
Update winter 2022: I was just in Switzerland for the holidays. Thanks to Covid-19, most restaurants are now offering take-away. And cashless payments are everywhere: set up Android or Apple Pay on your phone before you go. Getting a coffee to go from a cafe might still be a challenge, but Starbucks is everywhere, and there are lots of self-service and vending machine options for go-coffees, especially near the train stations. Also, some grocery stores take great pride in being open as late as 10pm during the week. Cheers!
Regarding the traffic lights, the yellow phase before green was added if I remember correctly in the late 80ies or early 90ies. You were supposed to stop your engine at the traffic light then and the yellow phase was supposed to allow you to start your engine. You're not actually allowed to cross at yellow already ;)
That’s what I thought too because I was here in the early 90’s before cars auto-stopped and they used to turn off their car engines at red lights. You’re not suppose to go on the yellow though. You’re right about this....Someone also commented about it on an earlier comment.
This great! Thank you for this! Very helpful and informative. Right now I'm open to live anywhere in the world, and this was a great first snapshot of possibly living in Switzerland
Thank you for your answer. Now that I'm 62 and retired, I have to ask about healthcare. This pandemic has exposed ours as inadequate and weak, so I am curious.
The woman doing the on-camera presentation did it very well, where I wonder if she is a TV professional. Using notes and not a teleprompter, very impressive. Remarkable how little has changed in Switzerland since I was there nearly 50 years ago. The civility of the people, where they spoke in hushed tones is something I vividly recall. I've had friends visit Switzerland over the years, and they've all remarked about the foods being expensive in that country; that could be a contributing factor with the lack of an obesity problem in that country.
I lived in Switzerland for 4 years. It was hard to make the change but I got use to it. I love Switzerland. When I got back to the USA it was hard recomforming back into the US way of things. I prefer the Swiss way. Hahaha. So chill. Relaxing. Less stress for me in Switzerland. It's was a slower pace for me in Switzerland.
Hey cool Video I just wanted to point out to the point of the fee for the street usage In Swizerland a lot of things are payed by the state. Its called Service public and it pays money to companys to safe the infrastructure. For example SBB wouldnt be that big without the money it gets from the state and thats why everything in swizerland is connected. Same goes for the Streets and the Cleaners they are all fiannced by the state or the canton or the city. And to the point with the hello In swizerland we are tought from beginning to be polite quiet and not to disturb someone It is integrated in our language and without even realising in swiss german you always say " Can i have a bread please" and not " i want a bread" but thats not so common in Germany but in Swizerland
No disrespect or put down intended, we were taught to ask "may I have a piece of bread" and youngsters would always address an adult by Mr. or Mrs. and their last name unless instructed by that individual that you may call me Bill or Mary etc., and as a youngster in relation to an adult you didn't speak unless you were spoken to, but your point is well taken
Yup. I once heard comparisons between the tax systems of us and the USA and at the end of the day, factoring in everything that is tax-paid or privately paid, we are not so very different.
Well, it's a bit misleading to say that the government pays companies to maintain the infrastructure, especially while bringing the SBB up as the sole example. The SBB - the Swiss Federal Railway - is still a public, governmental affair, even though its run like a company. It's the tax payers who own the railway network as it was their money that paid for its creation.
I used to spend alot of my time hanging in the fast lane on the way to work.But that was because alot of times the other lanes ere going slower than I wanted to go.So alot of times I was passing.Now that I work closer to home I don't worry about that much anymore.
The freeways in the U.S have signs posted : "left lane for passing only " but no one pays attention as they clog the roads . We now have roundabouts empty with cars parked on the edges waiting for no reason . Mexico is a developing nation but their driving flows much better than the U.S. They also don't use the left lane for cruising and the roundabouts can handle three times the amount of traffic .
Like very much your videos :-) The opening times of the shops are not quite right and probably apply more to the region Montreux/Vevey or the french speaking part of Switzerland. In Zurich and the region, the shops (for example Coop/Migros) are open daily and also on Saturdays until 8pm or 9pm in each case. In zurich city you can shop on saturday till 8pm. So no problem to go shopping after work during the week or on Saturdays. Again, like all your videos a lot !
Thanks for your comment! Yeah, stores are probably more available and open near the bigger city centers but still not open 24 hours like in America. 😂😂😂 In the next coming days I’ll be posting my thoughts on the differences of school systems in America vs Switzerland. This one will be interesting. 😀
I went to Switzerland for five days with two friends who lived there as teens. They told me how wonderful it was, and they were correct! We were in three other countries during our trip and Switzerland was the most fantastic for people, culture, scenery, food, and atmosphere. I cannot tell you one thing I disliked even a little. Thank you for sharing this video!
Loved this ;) as I try to tell people the differences of being in other countries (lived in Australia for 3 yrs., and have been there many times as well) and Europe and people always question it. Love the things like quiet out in public places/hallways as that fits into my natural nature. Also having to greet people as a natural part of getting service, when you come back to the US, places like the grocery store look at you funny with your cheerful "hello!" Have only been to Switzerland twice, for shorter periods of time, but have stayed in Ireland and Norway for awhile, and love different aspects to the cultures. One thing I Do Not Like! is paying for restrooms, as remembering change for that is a hassle sometimes!, but everything else..makes for a better quality of life, and while people don't believe me when I tell them that, you've pointed it out well.
Of all the considerable number of places Ive lived in life, Lugano Switzerland and Frankfurt suburbs are by FAR the best for human beings who want to work, explore, have a reasonable amount of time off, dont NEED a car (the biggest difference to me BTW) If people drove like they do in America, no American could retain his/her license. You stay the hell out of the left lane, unless you dont want to drive. They dont pull you over, they mail you a ticket and you surrender your license if you do it enough. If you speed in town, where people live, you WILL be mailed a ticket. The quality of experiences from dining, tp shopping to sightseeing. Access to visiting other interesting Countries is nice.
Your video is also nice to watch for Europeans as it is quite telling as to what Americans actually feel. I particularly liked the part about being quiet and speaking softly in public places. Many Europeans actually resent American tourists being so loud, like they own the place, the world is their playground, make room for the new world leaders, etc. It never occurred to me that Americans found us strange to, but of course!
In October 2007 on my western Europe tour I was staying in Aqui Termi west of Turino. I went to Switzerland on a one day shopping trip. I had to stop in at the local McDonalds to go to the toilet.
@@danielmeyer5535 Actually they didnt atempt to make an atomic bomb, but they tried to build their own nuclear reactor. Thats something completely different. But yea they failed and and had a mini chernobyl. At least they had the reactor in a mountain and none of the radiation got out.
Just discovered your channel, and had to comment about some of the things you mentioned in this video. Growing up in Louisiana during the 60's and 70's, our schools didn't have fences around them, and kids roamed pretty much everywhere without any adult supervision. As long as we were back in our yards by a certain time...things were good. My friends and I rode bicycles all over the place, ranging up to five miles or so away from home. Hearing this stuff about Switzerland reminds me of a lot of memories of my younger days. Thank you for this informative video of the differences between the cultures. I'm currently planning on a vacation, and was thinking of possibly visiting Switzerland. This information will help if I do decide to go there for a short stay.
Nicely done! I'm Swiss living in the US - the biggest difference for me is, that the Americans I met were so friendly and show so much love for their country!
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders Haha true! I learnt that there is a huge difference in friendliness between the east coast (where I live) and the middle/west coast of the states. Well just as you said - Switzerland is easy to beat right.
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders But how is it then that you live in Switzerland, even though you don't make a living by working at a job in Switzerland? Wouldn't that be the prerequisite for US citizens to be able to stay in Switzerland?
Rylan Joran I’m in a different situation because I have dual citizenship and I work and make most of my income in Canadian $$. You’re right though. If you move to Switzerland, you would need to have employment from a Swiss company in order to get proper visas.
The 'hello' part was hilarious and I bursted out laughing as I face the same often. Last week while in tbilisi everytime after beginning the talk I just abruptly stop after 2 or 3 words, say 'ah hello' and then begin again. Indians are actually used to being natural. 'Hello' is acceptable and fine but when a person begins with greetings like 'how are you' 'good day' 'good morning' indians see them as artificial people with hidden agenda and thats how it has been. During my first Europe trip 30 yrs ago while sitting in Brussels metro station coffee shop early morning a customer who gets in said 'good mrng' to me. I was like 'whattt.. I don't even know him. Is he a scammer'. Later when I encountered too many good mornings I relaxed. Funniest was when a pakistani lady working in a UAE bank said 'good morning' to me. Am a typical indian who hates artificial talks so I just started with what I wanted in full speed. She said in a firm and commanding voice 'FIRST GOOD MORNING'. I smiled and said good morning. I was wearing mask but luckily she figured I was smiling by seeing my shrinking eyes and then got cool. Her 'good mrng' was with plans of portraying she is civilized. This is nothing but a soft hidden agenda. Greetings other than 'hello' is always with a hidden agenda. It could be for a business target, for deception or even for getting the routine things done smoothly. In UAE my ex landlord a pakistani national who always begins the whatsapp msg with 'good day' messed the entire year by not returning my advance. This is why I say beware of ppl who begin with greetings. Anyways HAVE A GREAT DAY.
These are more daily/minor differences. The differences I think of when thinking of Switzerland would be things like mandatory military service, voting, or crime/safety concerns.
The shopping probably depends a lot on where you are. In Zurich and other bigger cities, supermarkets close between 8 and 9pm. A few select ones are open 'till 10 or 11pm. Supermarkets at train stations are open 365 days a year and often also until late. And unless it's a small small store or in a small village, no one bats an eye if you pay by card. But usually Maestro (EC) is preferred over credit cards. Shop owners have also come to realize that handling cash comes with an overhead that takes time and carrying bags of money to the bank is a risk. Getting coffee to go has also become very common. I know a coffee shop that only sells coffee to go and doesn't even take cash. The last time I've seen a store with a minimum purchase to pay by card was like 15 years ago.
Yeah things had rapidly changed. Now you can buy Starbucks to go at a gas station. The place that didn’t accept cards was back in 2013 so I’m sure it’s common now. In our small town stores still close early but it’s kind of nice that way too.
you can buy shopping bags for 30 cents at all stores...but your right they are not free, except for the cheap little plastic bags.. p.s. I like your video, and am not being a critic :-) just joining in on the dialog. the polizei are very polite, and never brutal. all in all I am in total agreement that Swizerland is a great place to live, if not one of the greatest. Hop Schwiez!
Now cost 10 cent or 20? Depend on the stores.and you have to pact your stuff faster otherwise people's will loons at you like wth.. 🙄 Except if you very old lol
I like your video. I must say, I like how people are considerate with manners and respect the family unite. I love the freedom of drinking openly if one chooses and not having safety things up, like signs everywhere and just sign up for a boat ride and go. BUT, the expensive speed radar and on A/C would kill me. Everything else I could learn to adapt to easily. 😊
As I recall from my 2 years there, the 45 CHF for driving was for driving on the "Interstate" highways. They're considered toll roads. You didn't need to buy the vignette otherwise. Avoiding the "Interstates" wasn't too difficult. No 12 - you're responsible for yourself. I loved this.
Such a pleasant expressive voice that flows along unlike fast monotones with irrelevant asides. Your descriptions are clear, making the interruptions of photos unnecessary. I look forward to looking at your other videos.
I agree with Cheryl. It was an incredibly respectful explanation of cultural differences that passed no judgement on either Swiss culture or US culture. Your comment is, however, judgemental.
@@paulhunt1560 I agree that her explanation avoided judging good or bad, but as an older American, I think it is obvious that our priorities have gone to hell. There was not one difference she mentioned that was not a difference when I was growing up - even the driving issues, except the traffic lights. My point is not good old days nostalgia, the evidence of physical, mental, and economic health has become overwhelming that we headed the wrong direction. We have celebrated convenience, rudeness, and stupidity which has harmed not only us but the world. It is interesting that she does not note the connections among those differences.
Most Americans though dont complain about Europe. Most dont even think about Europeans. The obsession tends to be more from Europeans thinking too much about what Americans think and do. Thsts my sense from my travels between the US and Europe. South Americans think more about the Caribbeans and such too. Europeans ?... Not on their radar screen for most South Americans..
I think it's good that the stores are closed after 6. People need to take a break from buying and selling stuff. Life isn't about buying and selling stuff.
You're absolutely right except for when you're not a good planner or if you've been away and come home on a Sunday or late at night. 😂😂 Thank God for freezers. Most people live in flats and the kitchens aren't like the big mega kitchens we see have in the US so the fridge and freezer space is super small which makes stocking up on groceries hard as well. But yes, it's nice when people have time for family, fun and relaxation.
I liked your video very much..but I must ad some views, re: take away..food, there are Mcdonalds with drive thrus, also burger kings...now Subway does give free refills..at the gas stations also you can hace coffee to go. no big deal...ice, when you ask..is not such a big deal..well, o.k. some places like Bern, they are sometimes thick...all these differences are good, oh, about buying, my wife uses here card alot shopping, and in restaraunts..this is also mostly o.k.the EC karte. well, I been here 22 years, the longer your here the more you learn..keep going and enjoying Switzerland.
An aspect that most impressed me about my stay in Switzerland, from nearly 50 years ago, was the Cold medications they had there, without a prescription! I came down with a nasty Cold while there, where a host family member took me to an "Apotheke." While there, the family member, in "Schwiizerdütsch" explained to the proprietor my medical problem. The proprietor sold me two medications for the Cold: a liquid inhalant for my clogged sinuses, and large sized wafer tablets, in white, to deal with the other Cold symptoms. I don't know what the ingredients were in those two medications, but they were the MOST effective Cold medications I've ever taken in my life! It was amazing, in all that cool dampness of that country, how I managed to rid myself of that ailment so quickly, with a complete recovery in a short time. I carried those medications with me throughout the rest of my travels in Europe. But, when returning to the U.S., suspecting the Cold medications could have drug contents illegal in America, I tossed them away in the trash prior to boarding my flight home.
One way I look at the eating habits of both continents is that mostly in North America, when people go to restaurants (fast food or fine dining) it's to eat. They simply want to have good food and service and then leave, whereas people in Europe go to socialise. People tend to go to restaurants for 2-3 hours, to relax, eat good food, chat to friends etc. Even if they picked up fast food they would tend to sit in with friends to eat it or take it home to eat with family. You would never see a European pick up fast food and eat it by themselves in a car. Food in general is more of a social event rather than just eating.
The Japanese are very much like this as well, with some variations! There is silence in the subway and the train and you will get frowned at if you answer your cellphone! It too is a very very clean country, and although it has a number of fast food places, like McDonald's and KFC, they are essentially failing. Japanese food is so healthy and delicious and so fresh ...why would anyone eat at those places? I would love to live in Switzerland! Can you make a video about what the cost of living is there?
Sure, maybe I’ll do a video on the cost of groceries, different stores and overall expenses. I’ll get to this in a few months since we’re just traveling right now.
these tidy organized cohesive and clean countries like Switzerland and Japan have one thing in common: tightly controlled immigration. The USA has imported the world’s least desirable people for 53 years. There is a toll in doing this.
Thanks for sharing. Glad to hear your family is acclimated and thriving in Switzerland. We’re moving to Portugal for retirement in 2022. So looking forward to living a new life. Yes, there will be some challenges and adjustments, but it will all be worth it.
As it is sometimes different in Europe, and travelers used to carry adapters, I thought it was about electrical things when you said : "There's no AC." But when you advised that carrying a sweater is a good solution, I knew I had it wrong. I guess that dates me to be thinking of Alternating Current ....... This is one of the BEST comparative culture online videos by anyone in the English-speaking world that I have ever watched. So refreshing to hear from an American in acceptance mode. Observing and reporting without judging is not easy to do. And you've done it with that famous American smile ... not a country in the world that can top that. I'll bet you and your family are welcome wherever they go, at home or overseas. We can learn a lot from the Swiss and from Western Europe in general. This video seemed to touch on every single important category: child rearing, healthy eating, wastefulness and courtesy. Many thanks and keep up the good work!
"and you've done it with that famous American smile ... not a country in the world that can top that. I'll bet you and your family are welcome wherever they go, at home or overseas. " Well said! Spot on. Well observed.
Swiss are less patient than Americans. It only restaurants that we don't like to wait. When we want to leave we want to leave. Swiss in the US ALWAYS cut in line. They are pushy when getting on a train, streetcar/trolly (tram), among other things.
