Typical Switzerland

For every country you travel to, there are the so-called “do’s and don’ts”. So what you are allowed to do in the country concerned and what you should rather leave. Of course, this also applies to Switzerland. If you inquire on the Internet, you will come across many points that really apply, others that may need to be explained differently. I take the liberty here to convey the – “can / should” and the “please don’t” points from my point of view as a Swiss.

Laundry room – strictly observe the rules

If the washing machine and / or dryer is not already in the apartment, there is definitely a washing machine in the basement and all tenants of the house share this (there may be several machines, depending on the number of residents). Most of the time there is also a dryer and there is still a room where you can hang the cloths (maybe everything is in one room). There is often a usage plan for this. I.e. the washing days are allocated to the respective apartments. So maybe you can wash every Thursday, for example. All day long. Which of course is of little use if you work and only come home in the evening. If you can’t wash on your washing day, you missed it. If you are lucky, you have neighbors who can be asked if you can exchange the washing day. But this is certainly not ideal.

In my case, I only have one washing day every two weeks. I can choose the day, but I have to enter myself in the list. I could also wash two days in a row, but only once a month. I can use the laundry room the night before from 6:00 p.m. until the next day at 6:00 p.m. Since I am working, I try to get started at 6 p.m. on this day and wash as long as possible (usually it would be allowed until 10 p.m., but sometimes it will be later). I have to have the laundry dry until the next morning because I would not be able to be home by 6:00 p.m again. But then the laundry room must be free. Yes, the laundry room is always a sensitive issue. Since my bathroom is big enough, I finally bought a washing machine and dryer after years and I am glad that I have been freed from laundry schedules.

Fortunately, in many places there is a list, and you only need to put your name in it if you wan to be sure that the laundry room is free on the desired washing day. Strangely, this always goes very well and there is no stress around washing.

Swiss punctuality

Basically, you are really punctual in Switzerland. If you have an appointment at 10 a.m., all participants expect that the appointment can start at 10 a.m. Therefore it is always advisable to appear a little earlier. To be late in a job interview, for example, can greatly reduce the prospect of being accepted. If you are invited privately, you shouldn’t arrive much too early, but – after calling and informing the hosts – you could come 15 or 30 minutes later. But please not later than annouced. !

Sunday – please relax!

On Sunday you should make as little noise as possible. Anytime. It is considered a day of rest. Of course you can go about your activities as normal. But not – as told and done by a customer – not drilling holes in the walls on a Sunday. Way too loud. In many places, you shouldn’t do laundry in the laundry room, although no one can hear it. You shouldn’t play instruments (unless your neighbors don’t hear it). Do not use the lawn mower that day. Take advantage of Sundays and relax !

Eating fondue in summer

A cheese fondue is also a treat for the Swiss who are used to it. Some prefer a raclette. But there’s nothing like a freshly made cheese fondue. As a rule, this is eaten from October. Or: with the first snow. And maybe until around March. This corresponds to my observations. Eating a fondue in August is stunned: “Really? At this time of year? ”commented. It doesn’t matter if it’s pretty cool that day. In German-speaking Switzerland, the fondue is NOT eaten in the spring and summer months (except in the tourist restaurants, where you can eat this on the terrace). I am from the french part of Switzerland. A fondue is not only legitimate, but completely normal, even in midsummer – mainly in the mountains. I love it!!

Hello ! We greet each other !!

If you go for a walk on a secluded lake, stay high in the mountains in a lonely place or go somewhere where there are hardly any people, you have to know one thing: if someone crosses your path, you will be greeted !! You don’t stop for that, but it would be very unusual to walk past each other without saying anything.

Crossing the street when traffic light is red! Don’t!

There are road crossings all over the world. The traffic light regulates the crossing. That means: with green you can walk, with red you stop. I found that this is rarely perceived as such. But please stop in Switzerland when the light is red! We live here according to these rules and that’s why walking when it is red is a very dangerous thing. Cars don’t assume people ignore this. The children learn it in kindergarten and we adults lead by example! At least almost always!!