Pros and Cons of Living in Switzerland

"The air is clean, we can ski on weekends in winter. You see the mountains. But that's about it. I personally appreciate Asia much more," remarked one in Zurich.

"Expats in Switzerland appreciate the high quality of life and the well-maintained infrastructure. They also appreciate the high level of safety, politeness and respect for privacy. Additionally, the variety of cultures and languages and the tradition of neutrality is appreciated by many expats. Furthermore, expats enjoy the abundant opportunities to explore nature and experience the joy of living in the beautiful Swiss Alps. Finally, they may even appreciate the strong social welfare system and the access to high-quality educational institutions," explained one expat.

"The lack of local language skills is at the top of the list. It isolates you and forms a barrier in what in your own country would be friendly, every day, people to people contact situations: such as pleasantries exchanged with a check out clerk or a neighbor while walking the dog. I also feel out of it with regards to the news: what is going on in the arts, politics. I used to be well informed, now I am not at all. I have been too busy getting my kids settled, hooking up utilities, figuring out our mail forwarding, our taxes, etc," remarked one in Geneva.

"One of the most challenging aspects of living in Switzerland for expats is the fact that most social interactions are understandably conducted in the local language. Even in highly populated areas with many expats, it can be hard to communicate if one’s knowledge of the language is limited. Additionally, the rigid hierarchy in Swiss culture may seem quite daunting to those who are used to more egalitarian nations. Respect for authority and decorum are particularly important in the workplace and other formal settings, making it difficult to relax and feel comfortable among their peers. Lastly, the high expectations of punctuality can be frustrating for newcomers who have a different view on the importance of timekeeping," explained one expat.