Language barrier in Switzerland
#1
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Language barrier in Switzerland
what are the best cities to live in for english-speaking expats? zurich/geneva/interlochen?
#4
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Re: Language barrier in Switzerland
I went to Interlaken once and was overwhelmed by the mountains. Beautiful, but to live there all year round...?
Geneva, with its international organizations, is very cosmopolitan. You hear more (American) English on the streets than French.
#5
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Re: Language barrier in Switzerland
Yupp : Schwytzerduutsch ! Endearingly referred to by the others as
" eine HalsKrankheit"...
Living in a French-speaking canton ( Geneve , Vaud , Valais...) and not speaking French wouldn't be that much fun , in the longer run ;
something akin to going to Ticino , no parla Italiano , disliking Italian food and without a single fur coat or a Fendi bag , tsk , tsk , tsk...
" eine HalsKrankheit"...
Living in a French-speaking canton ( Geneve , Vaud , Valais...) and not speaking French wouldn't be that much fun , in the longer run ;
something akin to going to Ticino , no parla Italiano , disliking Italian food and without a single fur coat or a Fendi bag , tsk , tsk , tsk...
#6
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Location: Left Auckland Oct 07, now Switzerland
Posts: 33
Re: Language barrier in Switzerland
I live in Zurich, from england and my german is very poor.
zurich is very international and full of expats, you can easily get by not speaking the language, not ideal but most people do speak English.
i have even managed to get a job in an english speaking company and its a really good company to work for. It was hard initially but the jobs do exist out there.
Hope this helps!
zurich is very international and full of expats, you can easily get by not speaking the language, not ideal but most people do speak English.
i have even managed to get a job in an english speaking company and its a really good company to work for. It was hard initially but the jobs do exist out there.
Hope this helps!
#7
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Re: Language barrier in Switzerland
And Zuerich consistently makes it into the Top 5 European cities to live in , on "quality of life" basis ( google : Mercer ) ,
however : beaten this year by Vienna as The Best city in Europe to live in ;
...
London came 51st , ot of 215 , brilliant , n'est ce pas ? ( But we all knew such truths already , anyway ...)
however : beaten this year by Vienna as The Best city in Europe to live in ;
...
London came 51st , ot of 215 , brilliant , n'est ce pas ? ( But we all knew such truths already , anyway ...)
#8
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 57
Re: Language barrier in Switzerland
Having traveled to many cosmopolitan places around the world, including cities within the US, Canada, UK, Asia and Europe - I cannot say that Geneva falls into the 'cosmos' category. The only cosmo part of it is the central area around the station and that street where Starbucks is located, by the station (sorry, forgot the name of the actual street!) There is no variety on where to shop, eat or drink and I got so bored after my second day of being there, that I spent the rest of my time twiddling my thumbs! It is the headquarters of International Organizations such as the UN, however if i could help it, I wouldn't live there. There just isn't anything to do!