A close-up and personal look at Switzerland
Ben and I have been to a lot of wedding ceremonies. Still, I can count the number of times we have been invited to a Swiss wedding party on two hands. They are small, only family and the very best… Read moreSwiss Wedding Bells
Not even counting Roger Federer and the first Bond-girl Ursula Andress, Switzerland has had a large number of impressive inventions and exports throughout history. Some of which you may not be aware of. Here are four from a long list… Read moreAmazing Swiss Inventions
The obligatory school is only 9 years in Switzerland but in reality only very few are truly done with schooling after that. The curriculum in the school is different in each canton. For example, each canton dictates which second language… Read moreSchooldays and Teachers
We do it. Many of our friends do it, in fact, I know of very few people who have never played the lottery. The Swiss have a national lottery, the funds go to sponsoring sports I believe. If you are… Read morePlaying and Winning the Lottery
All my knowledge about the Swiss military service is secondhand but I have heard a lot of stories. It’s a topic that all Swiss men can relate to and have an opinion about. At dinner parties when the men start… Read moreThese (Military) Boots Were Made for Walkin’
The Swiss have a work ethic that is second to none. There is next to no traffic on Sunday evenings not because there is soccer game or a ice hockey game on TV but because the majority of people are… Read moreWork Ethics
I think I’m a nice sort of person. I smile and sometimes nod as a greeting when passing someone on the street to acknowledge them. I learned that in Switzerland you actually say ‘Gruessech’ too. Before we were married, Ben… Read morePure Gold
Sundays in Switzerland are quiet, lazy days typically spent with friends or relatives. On nice days hiking in the mountains or just visiting other parts of the country are often on the agenda. When I first came here I was… Read moreSundays and Quiet Rules
The Swiss telephone company once had a monopoly and could and did charge anything they wanted for a phone call. Long, long ago, when I was still in America and Ben would call me, you could hear a light, steady… Read moreRing, Ring, Telephone!
Every year in July and August there are a number of open air festivals in Switzerland. As far as I know I attended one of the very first ones, if not the first one in Berne many years ago. It’s… Read moreOpen Air Festivals
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