Hello Switzerland Issue 4/2015

issue 4 / 2015

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS GIFTS WINTER WONDERLAND IN ENGADIN

A SWISS KITCHEN TWIST

e er on b m nd nu The ledge a rce ­know tion sou d’s n ira insp witzerla al for S rnation inte munity com

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4 IN THIS ISSUE

38

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

14 FROM BUCKEYES TO NEWLY SWISSED

UNEARTHING WINTER BREWS AND MULLED WINE

HIDDEN GEM OF ENGADIN

42

45

WELCOME TO SWITZERLAND Letter from the editor Community wall Creative loafing The last word with Rania Fakih

DISCOVER SWITZERLAND 6 8 53

42 45

SETTLING IN

54

November calendar December calendar January calendar Up, up and away

16 18 20 22

FEATURES Shopping season Shopper’s delight Potting around Santa's sleigh Seasonal kitchen A twist on the Swiss kitchen Unearthing winter brews and mulled wine

Happy integration for solo expats

50

FEATURED PARTNERS

WHAT'S ON Front cover: © Helen Gilroy Photos: (top left) © Zurich Tourism/Bruno Macor; (top right) © Dollar Photo Club/Olaf Speier; (bottom left) © Newly Swissed; (bottom right) © Marina Moeller

From buckeyes to Newly Swissed Hidden gem of Engadin

10 12 14

34 38

Banking on the go

24 Navigating the Swiss pension system 26 Securing holiday plans

27 Identifying moving priorities

28 Individual healthcare

30 5-star home furnishings to your door 31 Television goes mobile 32

Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur

www.randstad.ch

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Are you ambitious, entrepreneurial and interested in people and business?

Do you want to work in an open, informal, connected company with a global footprint?

Do you want to work at a company which, according to surveys, is highly regarded by its clients across Switzerland and that offers a full range of innovative HR solutions?

Backed by the global Randstad Group, the world‘s second largest provider of flexible work and specialized HR services, we are a stable, trustworthy partner to our growing portfolio of Swiss and international clients.

Today we have enthusiastic employees in offices in Lausanne, Geneva, Basel, Zurich, Bern and almost 50 other locations in Switzerland. And we‘re eager to grow. Over the next two years we have very ambitious growth plans. To help more companies find the right people. And to help more people to find the kind of work and careers that will take them further.

About Randstad Randstad Switzerland is one of the country‘s most innovative and varied staffing and recruitment specialists. We specialize in four HR fields: Professionals (search & selection and permanent & temporary placements for specialists & management positions), Staffing (temporary & permanent placements), Inhouse Services (working at a client’s office or factory) and HR Solutions.

Job description As a Professionals Consultant at Randstad Switzerland you are responsible for the running, sales, financial results and the management of your activities in the areas of recruitment and consulting in Life Sciences, IT, Engineering, Banking or Finance. It‘s like running a business within a business. You will be backed by the resources, training, support and career development offered by Randstad in Switzerland and globally. In this role, you manage and develop your own clients / accounts and candidates /contractors. You learn your clients‘ requirements to gain a detailed understanding of their specific needs and build strong and sustainable relationships.

Within these we have dedicated teams to meet the general and specific needs of Switzerland‘s leading business and industry sectors.

Find out more Get more information about this great position by contacting adrien.marchitelli @ ch.randstad.com + 41 58 201 59 53

Do you want to work in a team that shares your commitment and drive and has a pleasant working atmosphere?

6 LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Readers, Streets are filling up with the sweet scent of roasting chestnuts as twinkle lights dance above. The holiday season is always mixed for me. Memories of mojo soaked Cuban pork roasted outside under Florida palm trees has been replaced with Winzer fondue (thinly sliced meat cooked in a wine broth) and precariously placed candles clipped to Christmas trees.

Replacing old traditions and scents with new ones has made the season more enjoyable, though I still cling to my weekend strictly devoted to baking cookies from my past. This issue of Hello Switzerland is devoted to helping you make the most out of the colder months and the festive season.

For a twist on the Swiss kitchen, Chef Sue Style joins us to share some seasonal recipes while Meghan Howard chats about her pottery studio and lovely handmade gifts.

If you’re itching to get out of the house and explore, discover the secrets of Engadin with Marina Moeller’s advice on the outdoor wonderland of Sils Maria. Or, spend a weekend at the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Château d'Oex. Seeking expert advice? As always, our Featured Partners have practical tips on everything from mobile banking to international moving. They are experienced working with the international community, so please contact them with any questions you may have.

Without further ado, cozy up and enjoy this festive issue.

Ashley Roque Editor-in-Chief ashley.roque@helloswitzerland.ch

Publisher, COO Mike Tomsett Editor-in-chief Ashley Roque Production manager Marita Fuhrer Graphic designer Randall Barriga Project officer Elias Poletti Community and account manager Lukas Hayoz Contributors Emma Baumhofer, Indira Atluri Born, Samantha Chapman, Tatjana Galizia, Marina Moeller, Danielle Satya Parla, Rashida Santiago-Rahim, Karen Rudin, Sue Style, Girlfriend Guide to Zurich

CONTACT Advertising and sales Lukas Hayoz +41 58 356 16 27 partners@helloswitzerland.ch Distribution 20,000 copies throughout Switzerland

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS www.helloswitzerland.ch/hello-switzerlandmagazine Telephone +41 58 356 17 77 Web www.helloswitzerland.ch Email info@helloswitzerland.ch Twitter @helloswitzmag facebook.com/HelloSwitzerland Writer contribution enquiries to ashley.roque@helloswitzerland.ch Disclaimer Content published by Hello Switzerland Ltd may not be copied or reproduced in any form without prior permission of Hello Switzerland Ltd or the author. Hello Switzerland Ltd accepts no responsibility for the views or opinions expressed by its writers.

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8 COMMUNIT Y WALL

THE INDIAN CONNECTION

BY INDIRA ATLURI BORN

It’s been an exciting time for me. Firstly, I had a chance to contribute my first article to Hello Switzerland, and secondly, the topic I was assigned to cover was on expat Indians living here in Switzerland.

And man, what I got to learn about them! To these guys, being an expat did not just mean earning the buck and going home, but to integrate all Indians and celebrate being Indian in a foreign land. Initially, some of them found it difficult to find support in a country where language and culture are totally different. However, instead of resigning to circumstances, they steered and grew Indian associations to help other expats integrate into life in Switzerland. I met four such individuals who had stories to tell.

Singaravelan Thangavelu

Reshma Srinivasan at an Indian

Singaravelan Thangavelu – President, Indian Association Lausanne

Independence Day celebration in Bern.

Singaravelan, better know as Velan, moved to Basel, Switzerland in 2002 and then to Lausanne in 2005. He fell in love with the way of life here and has never looked back. He shared with me, “Initially, language and cultural differences were a deterrent, so we were looking for familiar faces to help us. But there was not much information available at that time so it was rather difficult to find fellow Indians. Hence, we always felt the need for a strong Indian association for better integration. The Indian Association Lausanne, started in the year 1995, did exist but was marked by a period of dormancy.”

Independence Day celebration in Bern.

All this recently changed when new members with a renewed vigor, and ambition came together to form a new executive team to kickoff initiatives and activities like never before.

Velan is one such proud member of the executive team.

The association strives to bring harmony amongst all Indians in the region. According to Velan, the aim is not just to bring together Indians to have fun but also to communicate information for better integration with the Swiss and their way of living.

groupspaces.com/IALAUSANNE

Photos: Compiled by Indira Atluri Born

Swiss dancers perform at the Indian

COMMUNIT Y WALL 9

issue 4 / 2015

Sunita Saxena – President, Bharatiya Association Berne Sunita Saxena is 55-years-old and has been living in Switzerland for the last 35 years. She and her husband own a restaurant and a catering service in Biel. They have been honored with the Bhartiya Pravasi Excellence Award in 2005 for fusion kitchen abroad.

Sunita Saxena

About her life in Switzerland, Sunita says, “Being in the gastronomy industry, socializing played a major role in our lives. I have always wanted to make sure that my children were familiar with Indian culture and language, and (I) found that platform in the Bhartiya Association Berne (BAB).” From an initial membership of 20-30 members, the BAB today has grown manifold since. “We were always very much engaged in organizing joint celebrations of Holi and Diwali festivals, and my whole family has been actively taking up various tasks at BAB events ever since. The members of the BAB have now become an extended family of ours. We share memories of wonderful get-togethers and love watching each other’s kids grow up as confident multicultural personalities,” she explains.

www.india-bab.ch Akhilesh Mathur – Founder President, Bharatiya Association Berne Reshma Srinivasan

Reshma Srinivasan – Founder, IndoSwissClub Reshma has been living in Switzerland for more than a decade now. All wasn’t rosy in the beginning for her as she did not find a platform to interact with her country fellowmen. This gap was what paved the way for the creation of the IndoSwissClub. The club is an online platform for connecting Indians and Indophiles — a term used for non-Indians who love all things Indian. The IndoSwissClub first started as a website and later converted to an online platform where it became easier for members to connect with each other, post comments on forums or ask questions.

The club has a membership of 85 families who come from all over Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It also regularly provides information on upcoming events in Switzerland. The information is communicated to the members via a newsletter, Facebook posts or through Twitter.

The club, in partnership with other Indian associations, also conducts various cultural and sports events. Every month, the ladies of the group meet for a potluck, and the men play cricket and badminton together. For all the gourmet freaks, the club also organizes food stalls in which the members have the opportunity to cook and sell their food. To add to the exciting portfolio, the club is working to provide an additional service of delivering Indian/Asian groceries via post. Reshma summed up the motto in one line, “The more the merrier, hence we look forward to having more people joining us and interacting through this online platform.”

indoswissclub.ch

Akhilesh has been living in Switzerland since 1989, and has seen and experienced the amazing side of Switzerland like very few have. His time with the Bharatiya Association Berne also goes many years back when it was founded by a group of 18 members in 1996. He was elected by this group to become Akhilesh Mathur the club’s first president and his allegiance with the association has only grown stronger since then.

About his experience being part of the association, he says he feels very happy with the growth the association has made. He shared with me, “Socializing is an integral part of our lifestyle.

Despite our hectic lifestyle, there is plenty of opportunity for us to meet and exchange experiences.”

Akhilesh finds Switzerland to be an ideal place for those seeking a relaxed lifestyle. “Switzerland is one of the very few countries I have seen where people are very trusting and have a high level of integrity. Once you get to know the Swiss, you can be restassured you have forged a sincere friendship.”

For the younger generation who come to live in Switzerland, Akhilesh shares his tips, “Language is key to integration. The younger generation can assimilate well into the Swiss life by being able to speak their language. I am fluent in French, and my wife and I recently passed the B1 level in German. Travel a lot, read books and take a general interest in sports and politics here — just take advantage of what the country has to offer.”

www.india-bab.ch

10 SHOPPING SEASON

SHOPPER'S DELIGHT With the sweet smell of roasting chestnuts wafting through the air and mulled wine stands popping up, the Christmas season is here. For those new to Switzerland or simply looking to discover hidden gems, we have some shopping tips to help you find the perfect gifts. From Zurich’s high-end boutiques to taking a break in Geneva’s cozy restaurants, get ready to explore Switzerland’s vast shopping scene.

ZURICH’S SHOPPING PARADISE

By Girlfriend Guide to Zurich Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s 5th Avenue Swiss department stores — Jelmoli, Globus and Manor stand next to global and Swiss luxury brands like Grieder and Trois Pommes.

Franc Savvy shoppers find deals at H&M, Mango and Zara.

Seefeld

A boutique boulevard with personalized service — We love Stereo Fashion, N°2, and Swiss handmade men’s and women’s laptop cases at Atelier Boule Rouge, as well as pregnancy bumps made fashionable at 9Months.

Kries District 4&5 The “in” place — With young designers, local artists and trendy clubs, fill your shopping

bag with trendsetting designs from Changemakers, Little Black Dress, the flagship Freitag Shop and Saus & Braus.

Old Town/Niederdorf Charming & cheerful — With the university close by and zigzagging cobblestone streets, don’t miss formal dress shopping at Phase Eight or yoga apparel at Lululemon.

Markets & pop up shops (Most) Saturdays at Bürkliplatz and Helvetiaplatz Girlfriend Guide Tip: In January & July, all shops (yes, even Gucci!) slash their prices for a big, blowout sale! If you can’t wait until then, try Trois Pommes Luxury Vintage Outlet in Wollishofen for year-round, highend luxury outlet shopping.

www.myGirlfriendGuide.com

Bahnhofstrasse Lululemon

www.lululemon.ch Kries 4&5

www.kreislauf4und5.ch Freitag

www.freitag.ch

Photos: (bottom left) © Freitag/ Roland Tännler; (top left and bottom right )© Zurich Tourism/Martin Rütschi

www.bahnhofstrasse-zuerich.ch

SHOPPING SEASON 11

issue 4 / 2015

A MAZE OF SHOPPING IN BERN

By Marita Fuhrer Down Bern’s cobblestoned streets, there’s an array of colorful and quirky shops waiting for you.

Located just around the corner from Bern’s train station is Aarbergergasse — populated with funky clothes, shoes and gift shops for you to explore.

A STROLL THROUGH GENEVA For the latest trends, check out Kitchener. It has a large selection of men and women’s fashion plus some gorgeous outfits for kids.

Find original gift ideas, stylish bags and backpacks, big brand shoes and everyday accessories.

Photos: (From left to right) © Johann Wanner; © swiss-image.ch/ Christof Schuerpf

Just across from Kitchener on Ryffligässchen, there’s an old wooden door which leads up to the eclectic Fizzen. Bursting with cool gear, here you’ll find vintage clothes and accessories for guys and girls, plus new fashion, gifts and a colorful selection for the young ones.

By Samantha Chapman

FINDING THE PERFECT GIFT IN BASEL

By Tatjana Galizia From local stores to international brands, Basel is much more than than its famous “Basler Läckerli” and Christmas market.

In the old town, the center of Basel, you will smell and feel the city’s vibe. If you’re looking for luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Apple, take a stroll through Freiestrasse. Make sure to stop at the Läckerli Huus to sample a sweet pastry before lingering at Marktplatz to enjoy the colors of the daily local market.

Recently arriving in Geneva for a short-term work assignment was sheer luck. Geneva comes alive in the summer months and most of the social life revolves around Lake Geneva. As the city heads into colder months, I am looking forward to sipping mulled wine while checking out the abundant shops around town.

If you’re also new to Geneva and in search of holiday gifts, check out Rue du Rhône, Rue de la Confédération, Rue du Marché and Rue de la Croixd'Or in this sophisticated city with deluxe taste.

However, don't miss the hidden gems on the back streets so grab a bike.

While you are out, check out a few of my favourite spots to catch your breath.

Looking for that perfect gift but need some inspiration? Head back down the street and on your left hand side you’ll find Yamatuti, a heaven for unique gift ideas.

It’s jam packed with retro kitchenware, vintage frames and kid’s toys — there’s something for everyone.

For mostly local brand shops and the widest selection of vinyl records, follow the multicultural streets from Kaserne towards Feldbergstrasse.

To end your busy shopping day, unwind with a drink or tasty meal at one of the many restaurants situated down the street.

Beautiful year-round Christmas store

Kitchener

Shopping guide Basel

Les Enfants Terribles

kitchener.ch

www.basel.com/shopping

www.les-enfants-terribles.ch

Fizzen

Shopping and bar in Kleinbasel

Café du Soleil

www.fizzen.ch

reh4.ch

www.cafedusoleil.ch/site/fr

Yamatuti

Vinylstore in Kleinbasel

Cottage Café

yamatuti.ch

www.plattfon.ch

www.cottagecafe.ch

If you still have energy, head over to Kleinbasel to find the oldest department store Manor, as well as various smaller bars and restaurants.

www.johannwanner.ch/en Basler Läckerli

www.laeckerli-huus.ch/pages-0/05-BaselGerbergasse

Les Enfants Terribles: You’ll find this gorgeous boutique cafe in a back street south of the river.

Sip an espresso and pick up something lovely for your home.

Cafe du Soleil: Enjoy the trout tartare fresh from the Jura and the meringue with double cream from picturesque Gruyère.

Cottage Cafe: Tired of shopping? Stop by this quaint cottage and warm up with a glass of red wine and enjoy a wide selection of tapas.

12 SHOPPING SEASON

POTTING AROUND As shopping season kicks into high gear, Danielle Satya Parla visits Meghan Howard’s pottery studio for some inspiration.

ROAD TO SWITZERLAND I met Meghan Howard when we both landed in Basel in November 2014. I was making the short leap from life in Zurich and she was moving to Switzerland with her husband and daughter from Columbus, Ohio. I was instantly intrigued by this born and raised North Carolinian woman who holds a master's degree in architectural engineering and courageously left an established career in engineering to open a pottery studio in Ohio — only to move to Switzerland five years later with her husband’s job and do it all over again in new country. For Meghan the decision was pretty straightforward, “pottery started out as a hobby but after working for a number of years, I realized that I liked pottery a lot more than engineering.”

It is clear that her background in architectural engineering, studies in architectural history and design, and work in "new product development" for a Fortune 500 company have contributed to both vast knowledge and endless inspiration for her pottery.

Meghan creatively fuses architectural design elements with her talent at the potter’s wheel. The results are mugs, platters, vases,

and bowls each illustrated by hand with a pattern inspired by architectural details from cities throughout the world as illustrated by the Prague, Savannah and Venice collections.

Meghan created the name TRö for the Basel-based studio from the first two letters of her studio in the US — Tulane Road Pottery — and added the "ö" to make it Swiss’ish. When asked what she loves about pottery, Meghan smiles, “I love making something to be used — your favorite coffee mug.” As I peruse her collections I can relate to the clean forms and practical shapes Meghan creates at studio TRö. The pieces are solid but not heavy, and feel good in the hand. I’m visualising a delicious chai tea when she shares the design inspiration for a mug I am holding “this is part of the new Basel collection — it’s from the window at the entrance” of the main train station.

It must be fun to know your pottery is used in so many homes, I drool. Nodding in agreement Meghan says “a customer stopped me at the grocery store once and shared that her husband has a bowl that he bought at my holiday show. He uses it every morning

Photos: (From top to bottom) © Catherine Murray; © Meghan Howard

I love autumn time. Nature’s crisp embrace and colourful transition from green to warm yellow, orange and red — not to mention cozying up with a good book and cup of tea. At this time of year we can hear the distant knock of winter and the wonderful festivities that await us during the holiday season. I credit four years in Switzerland to my ability to get organised for holiday shopping earlier than I used to, and when it comes to gifts I have a deep appreciation for unique handicrafts, local artists and craftspeople. We have become so addicted to cheap and disposable stuff that I, for one, would forgo all of it for a few quality handmade items that truly celebrate the inspiration, energy and passion of an artist.

SHOPPING SEASON 13

issue 4/ 2015

for breakfast — to the point where if it is dirty, he'll go get it out of the dishwasher and wash it himself. She also added that this is the only time he ever washes dishes.”

German language to practice. Clay is the basis for all potters, and finding the right clay was critical to the process and took a few months of testing before she found her "studio clay" — white stoneware from Spain.

OPENING UP SHOP When the opportunity to move to Switzerland came up, Meghan’s original plan was to wait a few years before jumping in and setting up her pottery studio in Basel. She had hoped to find a part-time job to balance with her young daughter’s schedule and work for a little while before reopening her studio. However, after speaking with local career counsellors she decided it made more sense to get going with the ceramics because the job market is limited without level B2 German and ceramics was really what she wanted to do here.

The challenge in setting up an atelier space was more than she expected and she spent over four months searching and applying for a studio space.

“Making ceramics is a pretty messy process and requires a special electrical hookup for the kiln and this is not something most landlords want to deal with,” she explains.

Fortunately for her, she found the University of Basel's online Marktplatz which had lots of ads for shared atelier space. She now shares an atelier in Münchenstein with a jeweler, a photographer and a printmaker.

Coming from a city in the US that had poor public transportation, Meghan has enjoyed making use of Basel's (and Switzerland’s) fantastic network.

However, she confesses that not having a car to get materials and pick up packages is now her biggest challenge since settling into her studio. Clay is heavy and not a lot of fun to transport by tram so, after finding out the hard way that her "little wheelie bag doesn't support very much weight," Meghan signed up with Mobility, a car sharing service, for times when she needs to run to a distributor or the shipping company.

Meghan offers suggestions to expat artists and craftspeople who wish to sell their work in Switzerland, and honestly the advice can be heeded by everyone who lives in a foreign country.

1

Stay flexible — In terms of where you work, where and how you sell, my assumption is still that what worked (in terms of product line, online sales, art shows, etc.) for my ceramics studio in Ohio doesn't mean that the same will hold true here. So, I'm trying lots of different things and seeing where there is interest.

2 Don't be afraid to ask questions, especially about the language —

My A2 German course has not covered that a Tonabscheider is a sink trap or that Drehschiene is a throwing rib. Now, when I'm at the clay distributor, if I don't know what something is called in German, I ask.

FINISHING GL AZE

Photos: © Meghan Howard

Pottery is clearly not a clean, light or simple business to transport and Meghan acknowledges there was definitely a bit of a learning curve in moving to Europe. After finding a space, she set out to learn the subtle differences in how ceramics are done in Europe versus the US, as well as repurchasing a kiln and the other essential materials she had sold when moving from the US. Meghan admits that understanding the industry here was no easy task and it meant finding a common language and being forced to put her

ABOUT MEGHAN'S COLLECTIONS Visit TRö online to peruse Meghan’s collections, commission her work, and register for fun ceramics classes for kids and adults in Basel (no experience necessary).

www.designedbytro.com

14 SHOPPING SEASON

SANTA'S SLEIGH

Our favorite five Christmas markets in Switzerland

BY ELIAS POLETTI

19 Nov to 24 Dec

28 Nov to 24 Dec

Christkindlimarkt

Christmas markets

Zurich, Main Station

Bern

Sunday-Wednesday 11:00 to 21:00, Thursday–Saturday 11:00 to 22:00, closing day 11:00 to 16:00

Waisenhausplatz: Monday-Saturday 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday 10:00 to 18:00

Among the various Christmas markets in Zurich, this is the most central. Inside the train station hall, it is one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe. The scent of mulled wine and cinnamon make travelers skip their connecting trains to stroll around the stalls under the spectacular Christmas tree decorated with thousands of Swarovski crystals. It’s a feast for the eyes.

Münsterplatz: Monday-Wednesday & Friday 11:00 to 18:30, Thursday 11:00 to 21:00, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 to 18:00, closing day 10:00 to 16:00

www.zuerich.com/en/visit/christmas-markets

Bordered with a fence made of fir tree branches, the traditional Christmas market at Waisenhausplatz offers a wide range of Christmassy and everyday goods, as well as plenty of stands with snacks and meals. In front of the Cathedral of Bern — Switzerland’s largest ecclesiastical building — the Münsterplatz market is devoted to arts and crafts on everyone’s wish list.

bit.ly/helloBCM

20 Nov to 24 Dec

03 Dec to 06 Dec

Montreux Noël

Christchindli-märt

Montreux

Bremgarten AG

Monday-Friday 17:00 to 24:00, Saturday & Sunday 11:00 to 24:00

Thursday 13:30 to 20:00, Friday & Saturday 11:00 to 22:00, Sunday 11:00 to 19:00

Over 150 decorated and illuminated chalets on the quays of Lake Geneva make for one of the most beautiful and innovative Christmas markets in Switzerland. But it’s not just the regional culinary specialties, thousands of gift ideas and musical entertainment options that make Montreux Noël special. A big Ferris wheel, children’s workshops, the additional site in the town of Caux above Montreux and Santa’s house atop the Rochers de Naye mountain make it the perfect Christmas destination.

With good reason, many international travel organizations offer bus trips to the Christ Child market. Along with over 320 stands, there are colorful events and a diverse cultural program. Big Christmas trees, culinary delights and romantic rides in a white horse-drawn carriage, as well as pony rides and a petting zoo make everyone’s eyes gleam with joy.

www.weihnachtsmarkt.ch

www.montreuxnoel.com

26 Nov to 23 Dec Christmas market

Basel Open daily from 11:00 to 20:30 This large market stretches over two squares in the city center and is considered to be one of the prettiest in Switzerland. Over 190 traders and artisans set up in small wooden chalets. Between culinary delights and various events, the official opening ceremony stands out with seasonal music and the illumination of Christmas lights at Münsterplatz.

bit.ly/HelloCMB

CHRISTMAS MARKETS For more information on Christmas markets around Switzerland, visit our holiday wonderland page at

www.helloswitzerland.ch/winter

15

DESIGNTOUR LANGENTHAL

Swiss design highlights in a pretty Bernese town PROVIDED BY BERN TOURISM

The DESIGNTOUR LANGENTHAL offers exciting insights into the development of the unique design products and their production, mastered in this pretty town in the Bern region for over 120 years.

Join us at five company locations to experience first-hand the high standards demanded of these products. Discover how these demands are met with great passion and craftsmanship.

Photo: © designtour

From the idea to the finished object: On the tour, you will experience — with all your senses — the fascinating power of creativity and craftsmanship as you explore an amazing array of products in the showrooms.

The designtour can be booked as a day trip or in combination with overnight stays in a local design hotel. Related activities can be booked as extras.

TO BOOK, VISIT www.designtour.ch/booking

READER EVENT — Friday, 20 November 2015, 8:30 till 16:30 Individuals and small groups are invited to join the guided FACTORY TOUR in English. We will visit the world-famous design companies Création Baumann, Hector Egger Woodwork and Girsberger.

FACTORY TOUR — CHF 79 per person Day tour includes transfers in Langenthal + lunch (excl. drinks).

EXCLUSIVE READER OFFER — CHF 225 per person Discover beautiful Langenthal with this unique offer. Enjoy the FACTORY TOUR on 20 November followed by an overnight stay in the 3-star Superior Hotel Bären Langenthal.

The tour includes transfers in Langenthal + lunch (excl. drinks).

The overnight stay includes a 3-course dinner (excl. drinks), a night in a design double room, and a buffet breakfast.

Winter magic on the banks of the Aare Bern – a winter paradise for romantics and bons vivants Atmospheric, dreamy and eclectic: Three words to best describe the two Christmas Markets being held in Cathedral Square (Münsterplatz) and Orphanage Square (Waisenhausplatz) from 28 November to 24 December 2015.

Be enchanted and enjoy the Christmas spirit in Bern, far away from the hustle and bustle.

Tip

9 CHF 26rson per pe

Combined RailAway “Bern Christmas Markets” offer, valid from 28 November to 24 December 2015.

The reduced price includes a return train fare (20%) to Bern; one mulled wine including a Christmas market mug (30%) to be redeemed at “Märitbeizli,” the place to be in Orphanage Square (Waisenhausplatz); a voucher for CHF 5 (30%) to be redeemed at any market stall (excluding mulled wine) in Cathedral Square (Münsterplatz). Available to book from 11.1.2015 at the train station or online: sbb.ch/en/christmas-markets-bern Readers’ exclusive Christmas offer One night in the 4-star Belle Epoque Bern hotel**** } 1 night’s stay for 2 people in the Gustav Klimt Junior Suite } Buffet breakfast } Romantic 3-course evening meal in the Enoteca Verdi restaurant } Bern Ticket for free travel on public transport } CHF 269 per person } To book, email: info@belle-epoque.ch or call: +41 (0)31 311 43 36 } Offer valid from 28 November to 24 December 2015 Bern Tourism Tourist Information | Bahnhofplatz 10a | CH-3011 Bern, Switzerland | info@bern.com | Bern.com

Stim 24.

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16 WHAT’S ON WWW.HELLOSWITZERL AND.CH /EVENTS

NOVEMBER 2015 Carrots, lanterns and blues 24 Oct to 08 Nov 30 Oct to 01 Nov 05 Nov to 14 Feb 07 Nov Autumn fair

Funny Film Festival

Murten on Ice

Night of the religions

Basel

Vevey VD

Murten FR

Bern

Join 1 million international and local people visiting the oldest annual fair.

This festival is sure to make you laugh with humorous films from around the globe.

Visit the mobile ice rink at the entrance of the old town.

Perfect for all ages.

This night, doors open to the mosque, temple, synagogue, churches and more.

bit.ly/HelloAFB

www.vifff.ch

bit.ly/HelloMOI

www.nacht-der-religionen.ch

28 Oct to 01 Nov 31 Oct to 01 Nov 06 to 07 Nov

07 to 08 Nov

Asian culture festival

Peking Opera

Blues festival

Wanderlust festival

Pfäffikon SZ

Geneva

Vully FR

Bern

Come and experience culinary diversity and unforgettable shows from the Far East.

Enjoy one of the few opportunities to see this form of musical theatre.

Get ready for a dozen international blues bands playing in the wine cellars.

Have a case of wanderlust?

Then join this festival with travel reports and advice.

bit.ly/HelloAFB

bit.ly/HelloPO

bit.ly/HelloVBF

www.fernwehfestival.ch

29 Oct to 01 Nov 01 Nov

07 Nov

08 Nov

Kunst 15 art fair

Swiss Watchmaking Fair

Chéserex Jazz

Deep Purple concert

Zurich

La Chaux de Fonds NE

Chéserex VD

Geneva

Enjoy photography, industrial design and classic expression paintings.

Join watchmaking enthusiasts and collectors during this event.

Enjoy traditional jazz musicians as they perform at this longstanding event.

After more than 45 years of music-making, the rock/metal pioneers are still on tour.

www.kunstzuerich.ch

bit.ly/HelloSWMF

www.jazz-cheserex.com

www.geneva-arena.ch

29 Oct to 01 Nov 03 to 08 Nov Fine food fair

Short film festival

Basel

Winterthur

For lovers of gourmet food, this fair offers a cornucopia of delights.

Winterthur plays host to Switzerland’s most important short film festival.

www.feinmesse.ch

www.kurzfilmtage.ch

29 Oct to 01 Nov 04 Nov SEAT Music Session

Zurich

Lugano

Enjoy the biggest car show in the German part of Switzerland.

See national and international music stars rock the 360-degree stage.

Lake Joux

www.auto-zuerich.ch

www.seatmusicsession.ch

Jura

29 Oct to 12 Nov 04 Nov Expovina

Carrot market (Rüeblimärt)

Zurich

Aarau

Head to the wine ships and taste varietals from all over the world.

Aarau’s answer to the famous onion market in Bern is all about carrots.

www.expovina.ch

www.rueblimaert.ch

CRITICS'CHOICE

In winter its relatively high altitude (1,004m) means the lake often freezes over, becoming the largest natural outdooor ice skating rink in Europe. Skating on the vast expanse of ice is a truly freeing experience, even if the lack of barriers and ungrooomed ice mean novices are likely to wobble and fall.

www.timeout.com/switzerland

Photo: © Claude Jaccard

Auto Zurich car show

WHAT’S ON 17

issue 4/ 2015

08 Nov

14 Nov

33rd Swiss Cup

Gourd Lantern Parade

Zurich

Richterswil ZH

Watch as gymnastics stars meet at this exciting major sporting events.

Watch as lighted gourds create a magical world during the lights procession.

www.swiss-cup.ch

bit.ly/HelloGLP

10 Nov

20 Nov

Boy concert

Ten Years After concert

Bern

Schaffhausen

After two sold out tours, the two (female) musicians are back with a new album.

Get ready for a night of blues with this UK band, highlight of Woodstock.

bit.ly/HelloBoy

www.kammgarn.ch/programm

13 to 14 Nov

20 Nov to 31 Dec

Bob Dylan concert

Festival of Lights

Lucerne

Basel

Lausanne

This exceptional artist needs no introduction, he is already a legend.

Lausanne lights up with new light creations that convert the city into a museum.

This year’s edition features top class musicians for the 21st time. Grab a ticket for this great event and enjoy the festival.

www.ticketcorner.ch

bit.ly/HelloFOL

07 to 15 Nov

RECOMMENDED

Lucerne Blues Festival

www.bluesfestival.ch

Photo: © Blues Festival/Paul Natkin

20 Nov to 03 Jan 27 Nov to 06 Jan Conelli Circus

Locarno on Ice

Zurich

Locarno

Acrobats and clowns from a dozen different circuses perform a Christmas show.

Grab your ice skates and head to the Piazza Grande for some winter fun.

www.circus-conelli.ch

www.locarnoonice.ch

21 to 22 Nov

28 Nov

Truffle market

City run

Murten FR

Basel

Taste test and buy fresh truffles, as well as truffle products.

Lace up your running shoes with 10,000 other local and international runners.

bit.ly/HelloTM

www.stadtlauf.ch

21 to 22 Nov

28 Nov

Toy market

Texas concert

Bern

Zurich

Grab your kids to shop for model railways, vintage dolls and other rarities.

The Scottish pop/rock band performs in Zurich on its 25th anniversary tour.

www.spielzeugboerse-bern.ch

www.x-tra.ch

18 WHAT’S ON WWW.HELLOSWITZERL AND.CH /EVENTS

DECEMBER 2015 01 to 13 Dec

04 Dec

05 Dec

06 Dec

Beauty and the Beast

Claus procession

Santa Claus Cruise

Santa Claus Swim

Basel

Küssnacht SZ

Zurich

Zurich

Let the performers take you to a world of dreaming and laughing. In German.

A unique, traditional St. Nicholas event featuring 1,000 “Claus chasers.”

Bring the kids to meet Samichlaus (St. Nick) on this lake cruise.

Join 300 bold swimmers (many of them costumed) for this chilly Limmat River excursion.

bit.ly/HelloTBATB

www.klausjagen.ch

bit.ly/HelloSCC

bit.ly/HelloSCS

03 Dec

04 to 05 Dec

05 Dec

10 to 13 Dec

Uriah Heep concert

Supercross

Reel Rock Film Tour

Holiday on Ice

Zug

Geneva

Lausanne

Basel

Listen to one of the most successful and seasoned hard rock bands live on stage.

Watch some of the world’s best motorcycle riders during this spectacle.

Enjoy the best climbing and outdoor films of the year at Casino de Montbenon.

The “Passion” showcases the true-life stories of the ice skaters.

www.chollerhalle.ch

www.supercross-geneve.com

bit.ly/HelloRRT

bit.ly/HelloHOI

03 to 07 Dec

04 to 05 Dec

05 Dec

10 to 13 Dec

Montreux Comedy Festival

Escalade race

Christmas at the Movies

Concours Hippique International

Montreux

Geneva

Lucerne

Geneva

Laugh over five nights at this festival with events in French and English.

Grab your sneakers for a race from Geneva’s old town to the Parc des Bastions.

Get ready for a Christmas concert with music from “The Polar Express.”

Experience the world’s most prestigious equestrian competition.

bit.ly/HelloMCF

bit.ly/HelloERG

bit.ly/HelloCATM

www.chi-geneve.ch

05 to 20 Dec

11 to 13 Dec

Medieval Enchantment

FIS Cross Country World Cup

Veytaux VD

Davos GR

Join storytellers, musicians and craftspeople for a medieval Christmas.

Witness the world’s elite cross-country skiers racing each other.

bit.ly/HelloME

www.davosnordic.ch

06 Dec

12 Dec

Brunch ride in the Red Arrow

Arts & craft market

Zurich

Zug

Start your Sunday with an amazing brunch in a classic train.

Join hobby-craftsmen and artists as they offer their homemade products.

bit.ly/HelloBR

www.hwm-zug.ch

06 Dec

12 Dec

Fairytale Sunday

Madonna concert

Zug

Zurich

Different storytellers and attractions turn the old town into a fairytale land.

The Queen of Pop honors Zurich with a visit on her “Rebel Heart” tour.

bit.ly/HelloFS

www.hallenstadion.ch

12 Dec Midnight Run

RECOMMENDED

Lausanne With categories ranging from 1.5 to 7.5 km and a heated tent, this is a party for everybody. Grab the kids and your Santa hat for this race.

www.midnightrun.ch

Photo: © Midgnight Run

Madonna, racing and ice

WHAT’S ON 19

issue 4/ 2015

Kunstmuseum Bern

Bern

CRITICS'CHOICE

Recently the subject of some controversy over whether or not it would accept a bequest of some 1,000 artworks from the German collector Cornelius Gurlitt that include many stolen by the Nazis from Jewish families, Bern’s Kunstmuseum houses Switzerland’s oldest permanent collection. Its mission is twofold – both to represent art’s global evolution and to champion local responses to that journey over the years.

Works spanning eight centuries can be seen here, most rewardingly from the medieval Italian masters like Fra Angelico and Botticelli onwards up to modern painters including Manet, Picasso, Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock.

Swiss art meanwhile can be traced from 15th-century painters such as Niklaus Manuel Deutsch and Ferdinand Hodler to Paul Klee, whose modest selection here is preferred by many to the vast portfolio at the shiny showstopper Zentrum Paul Klee up the road.

Impressionism, cubism, expressionism, blaue reiter and surrealism all make their marks among the museum’s 3,000 paintings and sculptures,

Photo: © Kunstmuseum Bern

www.timeout.com/switzerland

17 to 20 Dec

19 to 20 Dec

Christmas forum

FIS Ski Jumping World Cup

Lucerne

Engelberg OW

Experience different Christmas traditions from around the world.

See Switzerland’s only Ski Jumping World Cup event on this natural jump.

www.venite.ch

www.weltcup-engelberg.ch

18 Dec

19 to 20 Dec

Sophie Hunger concert

Famiglia Dimitri

Fribourg

Schaffhausen

The Swiss singer who delights critics is back with her new album “Supermoon.”

Witness three generations of the famous clown dynasty perform on the same stage.

www.sophiehunger.com

www.stadttheater-sh.ch

18 Dec

19 Dec to 27 Feb

Akhenaton / IAM concert

Top of Europe Ice Magic

Lausanne

Interlaken BE

At age 40, Akhenaton and his crew are still a benchmark in French hip hop music.

Grab the kids for a unique ice skating experience on four interconnected rinks.

bit.ly/HelloIAM

www.icemagic.ch

18 to 28 Dec

23 Dec to 21 Feb

Magic forest

Ice rink

Lenzerheide GR

Bern

Enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of light art and a Christmas market.

The Bundesplatz becomes a playground for young and old alike. Free of charge.

bit.ly/HelloMF

bit.ly/HelloIRB

18 Dec to 01 Mar 26 Dec Art trail

Full moon ride

Pontresina GR

Schwägalp/Säntis AR

Get ready to be amazed by spectacular snow sculptures.

Perfect for kids.

Enjoy a romantic evening with a special buffet and live music on top of the mountain.

www.kunstwege-pontresina.ch

www.saentisbahn.ch

13 Dec

16 to 20 Dec

19 Dec

26 to 31 Dec

New Year’s run (Silvesterlauf)

Slava’s Snow Show

Florence & the Machine

Spengler Cup

Zurich

Zurich

Zurich

Davos GR

Up to 20,000 running enthusiasts meet in Zurich for the 39th time.

Slava, a Cirque-du-Soleil clown, wins everybody’s heart with his acclaimed show.

With powerful vocals and her multi-faceted stage presence, Florence thrills everyone.

World-class ice hockey teams meet in Davos at the oldest team sports event in Europe.

www.silvesterlauf.ch

www.slavasnowshow.ch

www.hallenstadion.ch

www.spenglercup.ch

20 WHAT’S ON WWW.HELLOSWITZERL AND.CH /EVENTS

JANUARY 2016 Figure skating, ballet and motorcross 01 Jan

14 Jan

Touch the Mountains

The Little Prince musical

Interlaken BE

Basel

Welcome 2016 with fireworks, folklore and free open-air concerts.

Grab your kids for one of the most read books in the world interpreted as a musical.

www.touchthemountains.ch

www.musicaltheaterbasel.ch

01 to 03 Jan

14 to 17 Jan

Tour de Ski

Holiday and travel fair

Lenzerheide GR

Bern

Watch the kickoff of the prestigious cross-country skiing stage race.

Get out of the cold and gather some inspiration for your next holiday trip.

bit.ly/HelloTDS

www.ferienmesse.ch

07 to 10 Jan

15 to 17 Jan

Longines CSI

Lauberhorn Races

Basel

Wengen BE

Watch this international horse riding show and jumping tournament.

Button your jacket for one of the top winter sports events with a demanding course.

www.csi-basel.ch

www.lauberhorn.ch

08 to 09 Jan

15 to 17 Jan

National Ballet Moscow

Disney on Ice

Basel

Geneva

Relive your days as a dancer with this renowned ensemble of “Swan Lake.”

See all your favorite characters at this Disney & Friends’ musical comedy…on ice!

www.musicaltheaterbasel.ch

bit.ly/HelloDOI

09 to 10 Jan

16 Jan

Ski World Cup

Gymotion

Adelboden BE

Zurich

Grab a seat as the best skiers in men’s slalom and giant slalom compete.

Watch 400 gymnasts present a symbiosis of live music, glamour and motion.

www.weltcup-adelboden.ch

www.gymotion.ch

09 to 16 Jan

16 Jan

16 to 17 Jan

18 to 23 Jan

Witches’ Week

Museums Night

Wedding fair

World Snow Festival

Belalp VS

Basel

Chur GR

Grindelwald BE

Ready for a fright? Enjoy ski races in flashy costumes and scary masks.

Up to 40 museums and cultural institutions invite you on a discovery.

Obtain expert wedding advice at the “Ja, ich will” (yes, I will) fair.

International sculptors create wonderful art from snow.

Bring a jacket.

www.belalphexe.com

www.museumsnacht.ch

www.jaichwill-chur.ch

www.worldsnowfestival.ch

Art and history museum (Musée d’Art et d’Histoire)

CRITICS'CHOICE

Geneva

A collection Sechseläuten, of more Zurichthan half a million exhibits spans four floors and 15,000 years of history, inviting visitors to explore archaeology, applied arts and fine arts.

Signposting could be better, especially for non-Frenchspeakers, although limited audio guides and suggestions for themed tours are available on the way in. These are a handy way to ensure you catch the vast collection’s real highlights, representing everyone from Picasso to Monet to Rubens to homegrown master Giacometti, and the museum’s acknowledged centrepiece, Konrad Witz’ 1444 altar painting "The Miraculous Draught of Fishes."

www.timeout.com/switzerland

Photo: © Musée d'art et d'histoire/Rémy Gindroz

The Paul Amlehn statues above the entrance of Marc Camoletti’s palatial neo-classical pile of 1910 depicting painting, drawing, sculpture and architecture are barely half the story. In Geneva’s largest art museum, you’ll find everything from Mesopotamian artefacts to modernist masterpieces by way of ancient suits of armour, ornamental musical instruments, Coptic wall hangings and a colossal statue of Pharaoh Ramses II.

WHAT’S ON 21

issue 4/ 2015

19 to 24 Jan

21 to 28 Jan

Ballet Revolucion

Film days

Basel

Solothurn

Here ballet meets street dance in this hot international show.

Get ready for the most important Swiss cinema festival.

www.balletrevolucion.ch

www.solothurnerfilmtage.ch

20 to 23 Jan

23 Jan

Inferno Race

Sledding by full moon

Mürren BE

Gstaad BE

Come out for the largest amateur ski race with 1,800 skiers.

All you can eat Raclette and live music make this a romantic downhill sledding event.

www.inferno-muerren.ch

bit.ly/HelloSBF

13 Jan

RECOMMENDED

Old New Year's Eve

Urnäsch AR Witness this important custom in Appenzell hinterland, likely based on a demon cult. Make sure to bring your camera.

Photo: © Appenzellerland Tourismus AR

bit.ly/HelloONY

23 to 31 Jan

27 Jan

Hot air balloon festival

Bäckermöhli children’s day

Château-d’Oex VD

Zug

Bring your camera to capture some fantastic shots of the colorful balloons (see p22).

Guild members throw pastries, oranges and sausages from the balcony to children below.

www.festivaldeballons.ch

bit.ly/HelloBMCD

24 Jan

28 to 31 Jan

SnowUp Interjurassien

Artgenève

Saignelégier JU

Geneva

Experience various forms of gentle mobility like snowshoeing and sledding.

International galleries, collectors, and curators exhibit contemporary and modern art.

www.snowup-interjurassien.ch

www.artgeneve.ch

26 to 29 Jan

29 to 30 Jan

Agrovina

Night of the Jumps

Martigny VS

Basel

This is a trade fair for anyone excited about the winegrowing experience.

International freestyle motocross riders battle for the World Champion title.

bit.ly/HelloAV

www.nightofthejumps.com

22 WHAT'S ON

WHAT'S ON 23

issue 4/ 2015

UP, UP AND AWAY Winter blues getting you down? Then Rashida Santiago Rahim is here with the International Hot Air Balloon Festival to help you rise above the clouds.

Winter in Switzerland is not a place for hibernation, but a hive of activity. With activities from skiing to snowshoeing, tobogganing to ice-skating on frozen lakes, high altitude music festivals (like Crans Montana's Caprices) and more, the options are endless.

However, if there's one event not to be missed for families, amateur photographers, mountain lovers and adventurers — it's the Fleurier “If your taste is to Parmigiani International Hot Air Balloon watch hypnotic Festival in Château d'Oex.

contraptions rise up and defy gravity — like graceful aeronautic elephants of the sky — there's a compelling air show.”

It all began back in the 1970s when Hans Bücker and CharlesAndré Ramseier, a former director of the Château d'Oex tourist office, offered visitors winter balloon flights to take in the grandeur of the snowcovered peaks of the Pays d'Enhaut. From there the attraction grew into this can’t miss event with the first international meeting held in 1979.

Asked why they return to the festival every year, Loïc from Ballons du Leman in Rolle (a long-time participant of the event) replies, “It's a unique venue, and one of the few international events taking place in winter in the mountains. It's technically challenging, as you have to understand the thermals linked to the ranges.” It's also an opportunity for him and his fellow aerostiers from around the world to catch up during this wintertime spectacular.

And it's not just a spectator sport either. If you have children, a whole afternoon is dedicated to the discovery of the wondrous world of ballooning with a variety of shows and activities. Your kids can even take a tethered flight to whet their appetites for the sport. Meanwhile, grown-up adrenaline-seekers can sign up for an actual balloon or helicopter flight.

But if your taste is to watch hypnotic contraptions rise up and defy gravity — like graceful aeronautic elephants of the sky — there's a compelling air show. This includes aerobatic flying, airships, paragliders, air chariots and wingsuits. Or you can watch the spectacular Night-Glow Show. This magical presentation (weather permitting) has hundreds of performers, dozens of balloon crews, skiers, skydivers, pyrotechnic experts and sound engineers. They all come together to offer a breathtaking musical show surrounded by the omnipresent mountains at dusk.

Nowadays hundreds of takeoffs — brightening the skies with their colorful and shapely balloons — and their pilots compete in a variety of competitions.

Some of these are skill-based competitions, focusing around targets.

Photos: © Hot Air Ballon Festival

In the Don Quichotte Race, for example, each team has a spear attached to the basket. The aim is to fly as close as possible to several helium-filled balloons, in order to burst them.

For cheese lovers, there are two races named after varietals. During “The two Gruyères,” participants fly from Château d’Oex to the village of Gruyères along the Sarine River. There is also a newer race dubbed “the cheese fondue.” During this event, teams are tasked with stopping at four different spots to gather the necessary ingredients to make cheese fondue — the fondue pot, the forks, the cheese and the white wine.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL The 2016 festival runs from 23 to 31 January. For more information on specific dates and times please visit

www.festivaldeballons.ch/en

Commute to work

Online payment

Coffee break

Credit Suisse Private Banking Switzerland App. Always one step ahead.

Simplify your payment transactions: With our app, you can take care of your payments even more quickly and more conveniently – anytime, anywhere.

Making payment transactions has never been so easy.

credit-suisse.com/mobilebanking

Private Banking Switzerland App

issue 4 / 2015

FINANCIAL ADVICE 25

Online & Mobile Banking – Keep track of your finances wherever you go.

The digital world is now an indispensable part of our daily lives. Train tickets, books and designer clothes – more and more things can be purchased easily and, conveniently on the go. This also applies to financial transactions which, thanks to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, can be performed anytime, anywhere.

The trend is clear. More and more people carry out their banking business regardless of opening hours, at home or on the road. The success of digital banking will continue in future, says Urs Rohner, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Credit Suisse: "Digitalization broadens the scope, accelerates the pace, and adds to the range of our services. We are thus able to provide our clients with direct access to extensive portfolio analysis and risk tests, intelligent trend analysis, or private investment clubs."

also includes additional analyses by currency, economic sector, and asset class. Find out about market data and process sales and purchases in just a few steps. To save time, use the various Quick Payment options for convenient payment transactions.

Thanks to these and many other functions, you have an overview of your finances at all times.

ONLINE & MOBILE BANKING –IDEAL FOR NEWCOMERS

DOWNLOAD THE APP TODAY

Digital and mobile banking is also especially suitable for you as a newcomer to help you manage your daily finances flexibly, affordably, and quickly. Ideally, you should rely on a long-standing partner bank such as Credit Suisse that is both familiar with the conditions in Switzerland and has the expertise of a global financial services provider.

1. Download the App Download the free Private Banking Switzerland app for tablets and smartphones from the Apple App Store or Google Play. The relevant links can be found at

Online Banking at Credit Suisse stands out with its intuitive user interface, a wide range of products and services, as well as compliance with the highest security standards.

PRIVATE BANKING SWITZERL AND – ONE APP FOR EVERYTHING

credit-suisse.com/mobilebanking 2. Use the App You can log on directly with your Online Banking user ID and password.

Not an Online Banking client yet? Register today for 24/7 access to all of the functions of Credit Suisse's Online & Mobile Banking, which is updated on a regular basis.

The new, multi-functional Private Banking Switzerland app for iPads, iPhones, Android tablets, and smartphones offers you a wide range of mobile services – whenever and wherever you wish to handle your financial matters.

The performance check provides you with a permanent insight into your portfolio so that you can react at the right time. This

Learn more about the Private Banking Switzerland App from Credit Suisse at: www.credit-suisse.com/mobilebanking

Legal Notice: The reader acknowledges that the information provided in this publication is only intended for distribution and use by persons who are residents of Switzerland. In particular, it is not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by or for the offer or solicitation of any products or services directed to, any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of or located in any jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability, use, offer or solicitation would be contrary to applicable law or regulation or which would subject Credit Suisse to any registration or licensing requirement within such jurisdiction. Credit Suisse will not treat readers of this publication as its clients by virtue of them accessing it. Readers of this publication should seek the advice of their independent financial advisor prior to taking any investment decision on the basis of any information contained herein and no information herein constitutes general or specific investment, legal, tax or accounting advice of any kind.

FEATURED PARTNER: BANKING SERVICES

MOBILE BANKING CONVENIENCE FOR NEWCOMERS

FEATURED PARTNER: TAX CONSULTING

26 FINANCIAL ADVICE

PENSION PLANNING Navigating the Swiss pension system Many people regard pension cover as too complicated to deal with, especially in their younger years. But your pension is worth planning, not only for peace of mind but also for tax benefits.

SET UP OF THE SWISS PENSION SYSTEM Mandatory pension cover in Switzerland is organised in two pillars.

The first pillar, the “old age survivors and disability insurance” (AVS in French / AHV in German), is the basic insurance. It is mandatory for everyone who lives or works in Switzerland. The second pillar is an occupational insurance set up by the employer. It is compulsory for all those working in Switzerland and earning at least CHF 21,150 a year. As a consequence, employed people earning a salary above this threshold are covered by both pillars. However, in most cases occupational insurance plans are much more important when it comes to pension. Although pension foundations are closely related to the employer, they are legally and financially separate. Many pension foundations choose insurance companies as partners.

Semi-autonomous pension foundations engage a reinsurer to cover risks such as disability and death. Only the very biggest companies run autonomous pension foundations.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A PENSION FUND Most of the contributions are compulsory savings and in general finance a person’s own savings account. Contributions are not combined with other people’s savings in the form of mutual insurance. A smaller portion is used to finance coverage for the risks of death and disability, as well as to cover the running costs of the pension fund. The law requires employers to pay at least as much in contributions as employees do.

Also, various kinds of contribution patterns are possible. The socalled “third contributor” are gains from the financial markets. The pension foundation’s assets are invested and managed, for example, by an external Investment Committee.

Vested benefits are the amounts that will be transferred from one pension fund to another, when a person changes jobs. Pension gaps are the difference between the actual vested benefits and the maximum amount that could have been reached according to wage and savings contributions in a given point in time. Gaps may be closed by making voluntary payments and, thus, increasing future benefits.

savings at the age of retirement by a factor known as the conversion rate. Early retirement would involve managing with lower pension benefits. Many pension funds permit the option of additional payments to finance early retirement in addition to buy-ins covering past contribution gaps.

TAXES Pension foundations are exempt from direct federal, cantonal and municipal taxes, and from taxes on succession and donations.

However, they are required to pay property tax, VAT and stamp taxes. Contributions from insured members are deductible from taxable income, whereas contributions from employers are deductible from taxable gain. Buy-ins for past years, as well as for financing early retirement, are also deductible within tax and legal limits. Pensions are taxed together with other income at the ordinary income tax rate. Lump sum payments are taxed separately from other income at a favorable tax rate. For persons relocating abroad after retirement, special rules apply. Usually persons without a domicile in Switzerland are taxed at source. Switzerland has signed double taxation agreements with a wide range of countries. In many cases retirement benefits would be taxed in the country of residence and depending on the double taxation agreement, if any, taxes at source may be claimed back in Switzerland.

CONCLUSION Pension planning during one’s professional life should focus on setting up a tax optimized contributions plan, including buy-ins to cover past years and buy-ins for reducing the reduction in benefits in the case of early retirement. At a later stage, but well before retirement (not later than five years before retirement age) pension planning helps to decide on the date of retirement (early or regular), on the kind of benefits (pension, lump sum or combination) and on tax optimization, not restricted to but especially in cases when leaving Switzerland before or after retirement.

For more information, simply get in touch:

RETIREMENT BENEFITS Retirement credits or savings contributions increase the amount in the individual savings account year by year. Furthermore, based on the result of the asset management, the Foundation Board grants interest on the individual savings account. Retirement benefits are paid out either as a pension or a lump-sum payment.

Capital is converted into a pension by multiplying the accumulated

Nicole Bregy Tax & Legal Services 058 792 40 24 nicole.bregy@ch.pwc.com

www.pwc.ch

FINANCIAL ADVICE 27

issue 4 / 2015

Photo: © Helvetia

The way in which Swiss people and expats plan their holidays differs in some aspects. In all cases, it's essential to be prepared for the event that your holidays don't go as planned.

When planning holidays, there are both differences and similarities between Swiss people and expats. In the summer months, their plans are often similar: For sun and warm temperatures, many Swiss and expats are happy to take a lengthy flight or — if they have to — queue for hours in their cars to drive through the Gotthard Tunnel.

The benefits provided by an insurance policy are also slightly different in each country. Something that is common practice in your home country may be treated differently under Swiss law. For this reason it is worthwhile checking with your insurance advisor — ensuring that you can relax and enjoy this wonderful time of the year.

But in winter, and over the Christmas period in particular, their holiday plans often differ. The Swiss like to spend their holidays at winter sports resorts either in Switzerland or in neighbouring countries. It's quite different for most expats. Like the Swiss, their focus during this period is spending time with their families, but this usually involves a more complicated trip to their home country. The preparations begin as early as October when the first presents are chosen and flights booked. And since holidays don't always go to plan, the question of insurance arises. Is it necessary to pay for optional luggage insurance or is this risk already included in another policy? Should you take out cancellation insurance when booking your flight? And what if the presents already bought go missing during the journey?

By the way: Lost luggage is usually already covered by household contents insurance.

Luckily, these questions are relatively easy to answer. People who travel often for personal reasons certainly won't go wrong by taking out assistance insurance. As a rule, assistance insurance policies are available for individuals or for the whole family. The policy contains several service packages such as cancellation costs or motor vehicle assistance which can be taken out individually or combined. Most all-in-one assistance packages for a family cost less than CHF 20 per month which, in the case of several trips a year, soon becomes more costeffective than taking out a temporary policy for each trip.

Find your nearest Helvetia agency online:

www.helvetia.ch

FEATURED PARTNER: INSURANCE

DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES IN HOLIDAY PLANNING BETWEEN THE SWISS AND EXPATS

www.packimpex.ch

My move priorities Relocating to a new country is never stress free. But examining your priorities and determining the non-negotiables is a key step to a seamless transition abroad. Is convenience a top priority? Cost? Or maybe transport time?

No matter which relocation package you purchase, ultimately you need to ensure that the service meets your needs and expectations.

If you do not have experience with international moves, here is a quick assessment to help determine you and your family’s priorities.

GLOBAL MOBILIT Y 29

issue 4 / 2015

MOVING TO AND FROM SWITZERLAND

MY PRIORITY IS DEPENDABILITY

MY PRIORITY IS PRICE

MY PRIORITY IS TRANSIT TIME

This priority is a “must” for…

• Career relocation • People who like to approach a task or assignment in a structured, pragmatic and systematic way • People who have had bad experiences in the past

This priority is a “must” for…

• A limited financial budget • People for whom time is not an important factor and for whom the longer transit time does not result in additional expenses

This priority is a “must” for…

• Career relocation (time is limited, planning is crucial, there are other projects ongoing) • Moves where the budget is not the single deciding factor • Advanced age or disability

MY EXPECTATIONS INCLUDE:

•

•

• • •

My chosen moving company and their worldwide partners are known for their dependability; High importance is placed on the pre-move consultation; The planning should be realistic and feasible; and I hate tardiness and expect my moving company to adhere to the agreed upon appointments

MY EXPECTATIONS INCLUDE:

•

•

MY PRIORITY IS CONVENIENCE

The cost of this move can under no circumstance exceed my budgeted amount; I am willing to reduce the volume of my move if that is what it takes to get a quality move at my budgeted price; If need be, I am willing to lower certain quality and convenience requirements.In particular, I can do a part of the packing (e.g., clothing, books, toys, etc.) or furniture disassembly myself; and I do not expect the quickest routes and best modes of transportation for a cheap price

This priority is a “must” for…

• Career relocation • Moves where the budget is not the single deciding factor • Advanced age or disability

•

MY EXPECTATIONS INCLUDE:

This priority is a “must” for…

• Every move

• •

•

I would like to make the actual move as simple as possible; My family is already distressed by this relocation. I want to spare them the stress of packing and moving as much as possible; and I have the innate ability to turn an inconvenience into something positive.Therefore I will hand over my house key to the moving company and let the professionals deliver my household goods to our new home

MY PRIORITY IS THE PRICE/ SERVICE RATIO

MY EXPECTATIONS INCLUDE: • • •

• .

I am aware that every service has its price; I know that the price also depends on my expectations and requirements; When I compare various offers, I make sure that I am dealing with the same volume, the same level of service and the same extra charges; and Needless to say I want the most for my money

MY EXPECTATIONS INCLUDE: •

•

•

It is important to me that my household goods are available as soon as possible; It is clear to me that the longer the transit time, the longer I have to stay in temporary accommodation; and I am aware that it is difficult to pinpoint the exact delivery date of overseas moves. There are many influencing factors that are beyond control

ASSESSING AND SELECTING YOUR MOVE PROVIDER Now that you have determined your priorities, it’s time to assess and select your move provider.

GET A QUOTE We offer tailor made solutions to suit your requirements. Contact us today for a competitive quote.

Packimpex Ltd. Kyle Schut Business Development Manager +41 58 356 17 15 kyle.schut@packimpex.ch

www.packimpex.ch

FEATURED PARTNER: RELOCATION

You've made the big decision, but what’s important to you in a move? It’s time to identify your priorities and expectations because no move is the same.

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HOME ENTERTAINMENT 33

issue 4 / 2015

Get your TV on the go Television is still the most popular entertainment medium in Switzerland.

But the way consumers watch their favorite shows has greatly changed in recent years. Time-shift television and watching TV on the go are becoming increasingly popular. On 1 November 2015, Sunrise TV will completely update its packages in response to the changing needs of consumers.

It’s a familiar situation for every TV viewer — the phone always rings with an important call exactly when the TV movie is at its climax. But while we used to just have to miss finding out who the murderer was or miss the exciting car chase, digital television gives today’s TV viewers totally new options. Thanks to today's technology, viewers can simply pause a movie, rewind or watch it later when they have time.

The latest surveys show that time-shift television is increasingly popular in Switzerland. According to the Mediapulse Foundation, which monitors radio and TV usage, people were already watching time-shift television for 20 minutes per day in 2014, accounting for 7% of total TV consumption. This was a 30% increase compared to the previous year. Incidentally, more than 80% of time-shift TV usage took place within 48 hours of the original broadcast.

television’s screen size measured 35 mm. The device, including battery, weighed almost a kilogram.

However, the attempt to transform analog television with antenna reception into a mobile device only resulted in a niche product.

But with the advent of digital television, the situation has fundamentally changed. Nearly every consumer now always has the right hardware on hand — a smartphone or tablet. What’s more, the speed of mobile data networks has steadily increased in recent years. Meanwhile, an LTE network's data transfer rates can reach as high as 150 Mbit/s — sufficient for broadcasting a mobile stream in HD quality.

Sunrise is keeping up with this new type of TV consumption. With the new Sunrise Smart TV package, mobile streaming can run on up to five devices (see box). There are no more obstacles stopping mobile television’s ultimate breakthrough.

TELEVISION ANYTIME AND EVERYWHERE — THE NEW TV PACKAGE FROM SUNRISE Effective 1 November 2015, Sunrise Smart TV will offer timeshift television for over 250 channels. Plus, you will now be able to record an unlimited number of shows simultaneously.

A new search function specially developed for Sunrise Smart TV gives viewers customized program tips so they can quickly and easily find their favorite programs.

WATCH TV ANYWHERE, ANYTIME

Photos: © Sunrise

While time-shift usage is increasingly popular, the next TV revolution is already waiting in the wings — television is going mobile. Watching TV is no longer just a couch-time home event, but can happen in a train, in the yard or at the pool.

The idea to make television programs portable is not entirely new.

As early as 1970, the Japanese company Matsushita launched the first production-ready portable TV onto the market — the Panasonic TR-001 also known as Mica 1. The black-and-white

Customers can also enjoy their favorite shows on their smartphones or tablets everywhere, anytime. Streaming will be enabled by WiFi and via the mobile network, without debiting any data volumes from the Sunrise customer’s mobile subscription. Even on vacation, Sunrise customers will no longer have to miss their favorite shows since Sunrise Smart TV can also be viewed in foreign countries on a WiFi network.

www.sunrise.ch

FEATURED PARTNER: TV, TELECOM & INTERNET

TELEVISION GOES MOBILE

34 SEASONAL KITCHEN

A TWIST ON THE SWISS KITCHEN Looking for some seasonal recipes with local ingredients? Chef Sue Style is here with some ideas to spruce up your autumn and winter menu. Bon appetit !

KOHLRABI SAL AD WITH SHAVED SBRINZ AND BUENDNERFLEISCH The earthy crunch of kohlrabi goes well with sharp Sbrinz and pungent Bündnerfleisch (air-dried beef) in this salad, nice in autumn or winter.

Serves 4

700g kohlrabi (about 3, tennis ball-size) Salt 50g chunk of Sbrinz cheese 50g thinly sliced Bündnerfleisch (air-dried beef), cut in strips Handful of shelled walnuts

DRESSING: 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp Dijon mustard ½ tsp salt Lots of freshly ground pepper 6 Tbsp olive oil or sunflower oil

Trim and peel the kohlrabi, discarding any hard, woody bits Cut them in half, slice thinly and cut the slices in matchstick strips

Put in a colander, sprinkle with salt and leave in the sink for 2-3 hours to release some of their juice Cut the Bündnerfleisch in thin strips Take shavings of Sbrinz off the cheese using a potato peeler Put the kohlrabi on a serving plate or in a bowl, mix with the Bündnerfleisch Shake together all the ingredients for the dressing in a jam jar until emulsified and thick, pour it over the salad and toss all the ingredients together Scatter Sbrinz and walnuts on top and serve with crusty bread

issue 3 4 / 2015 / 2015

SEASONAL KITCHEN 35

SINCRONIZADAS (FLOUR TORTILL AS WITH MELTED CHEESE) A super-fast snack consisting of a pair of tortillas sandwiched with cheese (and sometimes ham), heated on a griddle or ungreased frying pan till the tortillas are piping hot and the cheese melted.

Serve with tomato salsa

For each person you need: 2 flour tortillas or wraps Slices of Raclette, Tilsiter or Appenzeller cheese, rinds removed, enough to cover the surface of a tortilla Optional: a slice of ham the size of the tortilla Additional ingredients: 1 shallot or spring onion Handful of coriander leaves 1 fresh green chili, seeds removed, chopped 2-3 tomatoes 2 Tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper Juice of 1 lime

For the salsa, put quartered shallot or spring onion, coriander leaves and seeded, chopped chili in a food processor, and blitz using the pulse button until finely chopped Add quartered tomatoes and blitz again till roughly chopped but still with some texture Add olive oil, seasonings and lime juice, and process briefly till mixed

Turn salsa into a small bowl For the sincronizadas, heat a griddle or ungreased heavy frying pan over moderate heat Sandwich together 2 tortillas with cheese (and ham, if wished) and place on griddle/frying pan Press down with a spatula until you feel the cheese is beginning to melt Flip the sincronizada over and cook till the cheese is completely melted and beginning to ooze out the sides – reduce the heat if necessary (be careful the tortillas don’t burn) Serve straight from the griddle/pan, cut, with salsa

POTIMARRON (OR BUT TERNUT SQUASH), PARSNIP, AND POTATO WEDGES WITH SAGE AND RACLET TE CHEESE A gutsy autumn dish of veggie wedges with sage and melted cheese – serve as a main dish, or to accompany grilled or roasted meat or fish.

Serves 4 as a vegetarian main course, 6 as a side dish

Photos: © Nikos Kapelis

500g each potimarron or butternut squash, parsnips and waxy potatoes 2 Tbsp vegetable oil Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper 6-8 sage leaves 150g raclette cheese, coarsely grated

Discard any seeds from potimarron/butternut, cut flesh (no need to peel) in wedges Peel the parsnips and cut in similar-sized chunks Quarter the potatoes lengthwise (no need to peel) Put them all in a large roasting pan, sprinkle with oil, salt and pepper, and scatter the sage leaves around Bake at 200oC for 45-60 minutes or until vegetables are lightly

golden and crispy at the edges Remove from oven, sprinkle with grated cheese and return veggies to the oven for another 10 minutes or until the cheese melts

36 SEASONAL KITCHEN

CHEESE PASTIES (TURNOVERS) WITH BACON AND POTATOES

200g lardons (bacon bits), or streaky bacon diced small 400g firm, waxy potatoes (or new potatoes) Salt and pepper 200g semi-hard, melting cheese 600g puff pastry 1 egg to glaze Caraway seeds

Sweat the lardons or diced bacon in a small heavy pan without extra fat until the fat runs – don’t let them to get more than lightly golden, or they will be hard. Discard the fat Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for about 15 minutes or until barely tender. Peel and dice them Cut the rinds off the cheese and cut in 12 slices

Cut the pastry into 6 equal-sized pieces, roll out each piece to a roughly circular shape Using a 20cm-diameter plate, trim each piece to a 20cm circle Put a slice of cheese on one half of the pastry disc, add some bacon pieces and potatoes, top with another slice of cheese Wet a border around half the circumference of the pastry, close up and press the edges together to make a pasty, or turnover Crimp the edges together or press them with a fork to give a decorative finish Put them on a baking sheet lined with non-stick paper, brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with caraway seeds Chill until needed When ready, heat the oven to 200oC and bake the pasties for about 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown

ABOUT SUE ST YLE Sue Style is the author of nine books on food and wine, including "Cheese: Slices of Swiss Culture." To find more tasty recipes please visit her website:

suestyle.com

Photos: © Nikos Kapelis

These are a Swiss take on Cornish pasties. Instead of meat and vegetables, the filling is of slices of melting cheese (Raclette, Tilsiter, Appenzeller), diced bacon and potatoes. Serve with a sharply dressed salad.

Makes 6 pasties

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38 SEASONAL KITCHEN

UNEARTHING WINTER BREWS AND MULLED WINE Winter beers are released every year, but do you know the story behind the tradition?

Emma Baumhofer uncovers some tips for enjoying the frothy beverage and options for making mulled wine.

Hello Switzerland contacted Philippe Corbat, a "beer hunter" and beer lover from Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, to learn more about the yummy seasonal beers released around Christmas. Philippe, known as “Bov” by his friends, realized his passion for beer while visiting Belgium in 1987. Since then he has sampled more than 10,800 beers from around the world and Bov has a wealth of knowledge about his favourite beverage. He filled Hello Switzerland in on the history of Christmas and winter beers.

What is Christmas beer?

Firstly, Bov emphasizes the fact that "Christmas beers" are not actually a style of beer. Rather, they are part of a seasonal tradition that has its roots in northern Europe, most notably Belgium. At the end of each year, breweries customarily needed to use up their remaining raw materials in order to make room in their stores for the next year's supply. The special “winter” or “Christmas” beers they made with these supplies were generally reserved for regular customers and employees.

What do Christmas beers taste like?

Christmas beers are often dark, with strong flavour. They occasionally include clove, coriander, honey, bitter orange, cinnamon or ginger. But these days, even Tripel, IPA (Indian Pale Ale) or Weissbier can be found among the winter and Christmas beers.

WHERE TO FIND CHRISTMAS BEERS IN SWITZERL AND Drinks of the World beerworld.ch Amstein www.amstein.ch Large COOP locations Au Grain d'Orge www.augraindorge.ch Bier/Bienne biershop.bierbienne.ch Bier-Laden Schwarzenburg www.bier-laden.ch Wittich www.biershop-wittich.ch Mise en Bière www.lamiseenbiere.ch

BOV THE BEER HUNTER Discover the ultimate Switzerland beer guide and nearly 11,000 beer reviews on Bov's website bov.ch

SWITZERL AND

BELGIUM

GERMANY

UK

FRANCE

Feldschlösschen Winterbier Cardinal Xmas Schützengarten Festbier Ueli Festbier Falken Festbier Baarer Festbier

Gouden Carolous Noël Affligem de Noël Bush de Noël St-Feuillien Delirium de Noël N'Ice Chouffe

Astra Arschkalt Erdinger Schneeweisse Rothaus Eiszäpfle Störtebeker Glühbier Tucher Christ kindlesmarkt

Brewdog Hoppy Christmas Brewdog Santa Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale Rothaus Eiszäpfle Shepherd Neame Vintage Christmas St. Peter's Christmas Ale

Ch'ti Noël Pietra de Noël Photos: © Dollar Club/Olaf Speier

BOV’S LIST OF BEST KNOWN EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS BEERS

issue 4 / 2015

SEASONAL KITCHEN 39

SOME LIKE IT HOT! A hot mug of mulled wine (Glühwein in German or vin chaud in French) is the perfect thing to warm you up at a Christmas market. But it is also simple to make at home and a festive way to entertain friends.

There are many variations and secret family recipes for making mulled wine. Have fun experimenting with the ingredients to find a combination that perfectly suits your tastes.

Hello Switzerland’s Mulled Wine Recipe 1 bottle red wine ½ orange, cut into slices ½ lemon, cut into slices Fresh orange and lemon juice (about 50-100 ml) squeezed from remaining unsliced fruit 4 Tbsp sugar 6 cloves — you can also add allspice, star anise, nutmeg cardamom or fresh ginger 2 cinnamon sticks Orange or lemon slices to decorate the mugs Optional: If you want to kick it up a notch, add a splash (or two) of kirsch, brandy, rum or triple sec

Step 1 Add juice, fruit, sugar and spices to a large saucepan. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved.

Step 2 Pour in the wine and optional extra alcohol, and heat at medium temperature. Be careful not to let it boil.

Step 3 Strain the wine into a bowl. Serve hot, decorated with slices of lemon or orange.

Grab some friends and enjoy!

40 CAREER

FIT FOR THE MARKET Preparing for a successful job search

New to Switzerland? Peter Anderegg discusses how Mercuri Urval's unique one-on-one professional coaching program gives newcomers a competitive edge to find a job.

PROVIDED BY MERCURI URVAL

Currently, what does the job market for expats look like?

What are some of your CV preparation tips?

Switzerland’s job market has grown over the last few years but recently many expats have lost their positions for a variety of reasons including company restructuring initiatives. Faced with the possibility of uprooting their families, many of the expats I work with say they have made Switzerland their home and are searching for new positions within the country.

A Swiss CV may look very different from one in your home country. In the CV here, you should include a professional headshot and personal information such as date of birth, marriage status, children’s ages and type of residency permit.

Where do you see the biggest differences between Swiss jobseekers and expat jobseekers?

The most glaring difference is a lack of network for expats in Switzerland. Mercuri Urval coaches on how to network in Switzerland and how to identify worthwhile networking groups. We also coach on how to utilise and prioritise essential social media networks, such as Xing and LinkedIn. Candidates need to learn to sell themselves in Switzerland.

Also, make sure you attach a motivation letter, letters of recommendation, and all associated certificates including university degrees and additional training.

An extra tip for German speakers, visit Mercuri Urval’s personal career planner (www.personal-career-planner.ch) to upload your CV and tell us what industries and positions you’re looking for.

When an opening becomes available, you will be the first to know.

How is an expat better off after this training?

We help expats portray their experience in a way that will be well received in Switzerland. Strategic adaptations, such as how to present your CV or when to negotiate salary, make a significant difference. Expats who complete our training are competitive applicants in their fields and have a clear advantage over other foreigners entering the job market.

Do you act as a job platform or offer expats job-search services?

No, we connect employers with candidates from our database.

You can submit your CV to our database for free, so please do so. Candidates who have been coached by us have an added “Fit for the market” quality stamp on their file. That's the advantage.

Why is Mercuri Urval the leader in coaching expats?

Mercuri Urval coaches are experts on the Swiss labor market.

Our program is uniquely tailored to the skillset, Swiss region and language abilities of our clients. Starting a job search with our program means doors stay open.

For professional coaching in Switzerland please contact: Mercuri Urval Switzerland Peter Anderegg +41 41 228 80 90 peter.anderegg@mercuriurval.com

www.mercuriurval.com/en/Countries/Switzerland

HEALTHCARE 41

issue 4 / 2015

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Our success lies in ensuring high customer satisfaction. With our prompt, reliable service, expert one-stop advice and lean administrative structures, you can count on us in the event of a claim. Whatever life brings, GALENOS is a trusted partner for basic and supplementary health insurance.

…TRUST With us at your side, you and your family can look to the future with peace of mind.

You can rely on our expert one stop advice and prompt service. Our customers have given us the highest rating of 5.4 in the HELP AWARD 2014, making us the industry leader for customer satisfaction in 2014.

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US For a no-obligation consultation, Mrs Claudia Moreno will be glad to advise you.

Tel: +41 44 245 88 88 Email: claudia.moreno@galenos.ch GALENOS Health and Personal Accident Insurance Militärstrasse 36, Postfach 8021 Zurich Web: www.galenos.ch

42 DISCOVER SWITZERL AND

FROM BUCKEYES TO NEWLY SWISSED What's it like returning home? Ashley Roque sits down with Newly Swissed Founder Dimitri Burkhard to share a pizza and learn about his inspiration for covering the quirky aspects of Switzerland.

“It’s one of his most enduring qualities,” Newly Swissed’s Community Manager Christian Langenegger told me.

And so on a warm afternoon in Zurich West, I had the opportunity to grab a bite to eat with the man behind the myth — Dimitri Burkhard, the founder of Newly Swissed. Over a shared pizza and reminiscing about some of the easier aspects of United States culture (like walking into a bar alone and leaving with new friends) we dovetailed into the inspiration behind his online, Englishlanguage magazine covering Swiss trends and local quirks.

Since 2010, Dimitri has been building a pool of volunteer writers covering a breadth of topics from videos capturing “When Americans try Rivella for the first time” to articles “I saw my home country on the “10 most annoying Swiss problems.” Born, in from the perspective of part, as a bid to readjust a tourist.” to daily life in Switzerland after nearly a decade abroad, Dimitri’s project is helping tourists and expats alike find the lighter side of life under the white cross.

RED, WHITE (AND BLUE) Growing up in Canton Aargau, Dimitri’s path to expat life began when he was still in school and decided to spend a year as a foreign exchange student in the US. Placed with a host family in rural Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Dimitri recalls his first glimpse of his life abroad arriving in the mail — a photo of a black bear crossing a driveway in front of his host family’s log cabin.

Back in Switzerland after a taste of life in the States, Dimitri decided to join his parents on a permanent move to Columbus, Ohio, where he enrolled in the communications program at Ohio State University — home of the high profile US football team dubbed the Buckeyes, a type of brown nut.

“I made lots of friends from all over the world, learned about American corporate culture and created a second home base,” he says.

But in addition to earning his degree, creating a second home and launching a career, during his stint in the US he also met Japanese-native Mamiko while giving German lessons.

“She was in my mom's English class and one day decided to learn German,” he recalls. “Our running joke is that I never completed the first lesson with her, but that she never paid her tuition, either.”

After saying ‘I do’ and building a life together in the US, the economic recession ripped through the States and Switzerland’s appeal began to grow. In 2009, Dimitri returned to his homeland with Mamiko ready to practice her German.

Photos: © Newly Swissed

When rumors swirl about someone’s demeanor, positive attributes are rarely on the tongue. This is not that type of story. From writers to those who have heard the fabled tale through the rumor mill, all repeated a simple phase, “He’s the nicest guy you’ll meet.”

issue 4 / 2015

DISCOVER SWITZERL AND 43

HOME SWEET HOME US writer Thomas Wolfe’s ‘You Can’t Go Home Again’ rings true for many who have ever left the city they grew up in, especially for those who have set up home abroad. For many expats, the longing for home and its familiar rhythm is strong. I miss boozy weekend brunches with friends, permissibility to wear yoga pants to a Sunday morning farmer’s market and amazing Cuban food.

“It’s important that Newly Swissed content provides a look of Switzerland from the outside in,” Dimitri explains. “We often get feedback from Swiss readers that they had learned about an interesting tradition or a new place to visit. This shows that our writers share an open mind to discovering ever new details and quirks about Switzerland.”

But the occasional visit ‘home’ always reveals a stark reality — in my absence time has moved on, or maybe I have. Sundays are now for hiking, and my black beans and rice now taste better than many Cuban restaurants.

Many of his writers are looking to build a career in journalism, while others simply enjoy the freedom of writing about topics close to their heart for a broad audience.

Dimitri’s return to Switzerland, now as a working adult, also brought with it a fresh perspective. Nearly a decade of US life had left its mark and “things that once seemed commonplace suddenly stood out,” he recalls.

“I saw my home country from the perspective of a tourist,” he adds. Grappling with the realities of his new life, Dimitri turned to writing and exploring Zurich through the eyes of a newbie.

“Call it a creative process, call it therapy: One day in February 2010, I published my very first blog…and I’ve never stopped since,” Dimitri explains.

As for the name, he laughs, that was Mamiko’s influence. “One night at dinner when she told me, ‘your train was late three minutes? You are so Newly Swissed!’”

Christian, who now owns a bar in Zurich, recalls that he contacted Dimitri nearly five years ago when Newly Swissed was getting off the ground.

“I was impressed with the quality,” he recalls. Dimitri is “tirelessly committed to Newly Swissed and creating quality content.”

This is clear from the website's content and for anyone who has the opportunity to chat with him about the project. And while he enjoys spending his lunch breaks walking through Zurich in search of inspiration and devoting his weekends to exploring the country with Mamiko, he says turning the online magazine into a full-time gig is not a top priority right now.

However, he cautions that “we have some exciting projects in the pipeline, but we cannot disclose any details yet.” So keep an eye out for new and exciting projects by this former expat as he continues to lift the veil on daily life in Switzerland.

THROUGH A TOURIST’S EYES Nearly six years into the online magazine, Dimitri is splitting his time between his career in the marketing world and churning out quality content on Newly Swissed that is garnering nearly 60,000 hits each month.

Now, if Dimitri could round up a list of Cuban or Mexican restaurants throughout the country, I would be forever indebted.

While many members of Switzerland’s international community turn to the website to read about events around the country, articles devoted to top-10 lists and quirky facts are also garnering a group of readers abroad.

So why English? Dimitri says the “English language comes natural to me.”

“It felt right to share my updates in English,” he explains.

“Little did I know that Newly Swissed was filling a niche market.

Fairly quickly, the project has grown greater than myself and I find much satisfaction in providing a platform for other writers,” he adds.

As with many ventures, especially those with strong leadership, Dimitri credits success to his team of more than a dozen international contributors, as well as Mamiko.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION To check out Newly Swissed, visit www.newlyswissed.com

44 DISCOVER SWITZERL AND

TWICE THE FUN ON THE BERNINA EXPRESS

Head south with unbeatable views — a Bernina Express winter offer lets two people travel from Chur to Tirano and back for just CHF 129 including lunch PROVIDED BY THE BERNINA EXPRESS

From glaciers to palms: the highest railway line through the Alps is sure to take your breath away and is only CHF 129 when travelling with a partner or friend. You can travel from Chur to Tirano and back at this special price until 31 March 2016. The extra-large panoramic windows on the Bernina Express turn the mountain landscape of Graubünden into a cinematic experience.

This feast for the eyes is followed by a treat for the palate in Poschiavo, Le Prese or Tirano where a fine meal of pizzocheri – a pasta speciality – awaits.

Italy. One highlight quickly follows another along the route with disorienting helical tunnels and dizzying viaducts in the Albula Valley, then the glaciers on the Bernina Pass. The Bernina Express travels along 122 kilometres of the RhB UNESCO World Heritage route and takes around four hours.

IMPRESSIVE ROUTE L AYOUT No other railway line links north and south in such a spectacular fashion – the modern panoramic cars of the Bernina Express pass through 55 tunnels, across 196 bridges and master gradients of up to 7 percent with ease. The trip takes you from Chur through the wild Albula Valley to the Upper Engadin and on up to Ospizio Bernina before winding its way through Val Poschiavo to Tirano,

BOOK TODAY AT www.rhb.ch/129

issue 3 / 2015

DISCOVER SWITZERL AND 45

HIDDEN GEM OF ENGADIN

Photo: © swiss-image.ch/Max Weiss

A winter paradise waits in Sils Maria. From cross-country skiing to snowshoeing, Marina Moeller discovers that Sils Maria is a winter playground for all ages.

46 DISCOVER SWITZERL AND

“There is no place that I like better than Sils Maria,” said legendary German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who retreated for eight summers to this sleepy chocolate-box village. “The nature here is amazingly mild and solemn and mysterious, all at once.” Indeed, Sils im Engadin in German or Segl in Romansh, is set against a poetic landscape of glorious lakes and soaring mountains, and is otherworldly beautiful any season.

While international tourists flock to nearby St. Moritz, Swiss in the know head to Sils just away from its famously glitzy neighbor but a world apart in its pristine tranquility. Sils Maria in winter resembles an enchanting snow kingdom with houses peeking out from under white blankets, skiers and walkers disappearing in whirling snowflakes, fresh snow crunching under horse-drawn carriages, frozen lakes adorned with ski trails, thick forests resting under fluffy pillows and majestic snow-clad peaks towering on the background. Sils is a winter paradise dream come true!

Those sublime surroundings have it all for nature enthusiasts, sport buffs, active travelers, romantics or anyone in search of tranquility. Among popular season activities are alpine and crosscountry skiing, snowboarding, walking and snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding and horse-drawn sleigh riding.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING My personal favorite is Sils’ spectacular cross-country skiing. The area offers 180 km of picture-perfect classic and skater crosscountry routes extending around neighboring forests and valleys, and stretching across three frozen lakes all the way to St. Moritz and Maloja. There are multiple trail-making machines and local authorities work to keep everything in top-notch condition. The trails leading across the lakes of Sils, Silvaplana and Champfer belong to the famous Engadin Ski Marathon. With almost 13,000 participants annually, it is one of the world’s largest cross-country skiing events. Mark your calendars since the next one takes place on 13 March 2016.

ALPINE-SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING The Furtschellas/Corvatsch ski area near Sils has 120 km of scenic ski and snowboard runs for all levels, including one of the largest snow parks in Switzerland with a halfpipe.

Corvatsch, the highest mountain station in the eastern Alps soars at 3303 m above sea level. Moonlight ski aficionados get a special treat on Friday nights when the station boasts Switzerland’s longest floodlit run (4.2 km). The Furtschellas' section is more suited for families and intermediate skiers, and provides

DISCOVER SWITZERL AND 47

issue 4 / 2015

breathtaking views of the Engadin lakes. The area’s ultimate ski piste is the legendary 9 km run from Giand'Alva on the Corvatsch all the way to St. Moritz Bad. Afterwards, a regular shuttle bus brings you back to the Corvatsch cable car station. If you combine both Cor vatsch/ Furtschellas and Corviglia (St. Moritz) ski resorts, you could spend the whole day on skis or on a snowboard without repeating a single run.

HIKING & NORDIC WALKING There are well prepared walking trails and clearly marked winter hiking paths stretching as far as your feet will carry you on frozen Lake Sils to Maloja, Lake Silvaplana in the direction of St. Moritz or through the forest up to Fex Valley. And snowshoe trekking begins where the trails end. You can rent or buy snowshoes locally and brave snow-covered landscapes nearly anywhere.

THE NIETZSCHE-HAUS A permanent exhibition of original texts, letters and first editions, a library and various temporary exhibitions of modern art are on display at the house where philosopher and poet Friedrich Nietzsche spent his holidays. The Nietzsche House also lodges creative artists visiting Sils Maria.

If you aren’t an artist, don’t worry, you can still find a place to stay in one of Sils’ numerous hotels, B&Bs or residencies. You can browse through accommodation options in Sils and reserve directly on the Engadin tourist office website (see box below).

Most visitors I met in the area come back regularly. I also hope to return to this magical snow kingdom again. Winter in Sils Maria is the stuff of dreams!

Photos: © Marina Moeller

FEX VALLEY This remote, car-free valley (only the residents are allowed to drive here) is tucked away south of Sils, in the upper Engadin. Reaching Fex Valley either on foot or by horse-driven carriage (under an hour from Sils Maria) is an experience.

Nestled between ragged, glacier-capped peaks and forests, its two tiny hamlets of Fex-Platta and Fex-Crasta seem to be lost in time and space. Fex Valley inspired the likes of Nietzsche, Thomas Mann and Marc Chagall, and is not to be missed.

GET TING THERE AND AWAY Sils Maria is located in Canton Graubünden. By public transportation, take the train to the St. Moritz train station and take bus 4 to the Sils/Segl Maria, Posta stop.

For more information on accommodations visit:

www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/winter/en/hotels/city.sils

48 EDUCATION 48 RUBRIKTITEL

"We all rejoice to see our collective work finally coming to fruition.”

ONE BIG STEP FOR ISBERNE The International School of Berne breaks ground for new campus PROVIDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BERNE

On 21 August 2015, a glorious end-of-summer day, the International School of Berne held its official Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new ISBerne Campus, scheduled for completion in December 2016. This was a momentous occasion as this project has been in development from anywhere between 5 -12 years, depending on whom you ask. The excitement to see this long-envisioned project finally come to fruition could be felt in the air and seen in the sea of smiling faces.

Talks with the communal and cantonal authorities regarding a new campus, which had started long prior to its sale to K12, resumed, only to be halted again last year when K12 announced the sale of select international assets to Pansophic Learning.

ISBerne, once again, found itself under social and political scrutiny over the transfer. However, once again, all the angst was for naught because ISBerne now finds itself stronger than ever and breaking ground for a beautiful new campus.

It has been a somewhat tumultuous road, getting to this place, where ISBerne finds itself today. The school was founded as a collectively-owned and operated English speaking private school.

It maintained that owner-operated structure for approximately 45 years, until it couldn’t any longer. With mixed emotions, the school was sold to K12, an American education company, in order to keep it running. The sale was a wise move. It gave the school the financial stability and professional support it needed in order to run more efficiently and focus on what it does best — academics. In just a few years the school found itself thriving once again.

The Ground Breaking Ceremony followed the Swiss tradition of laying the foundation stone, complete with the customary box filled with mementos of the day and well wishes for the future of ISBerne. Mr Andreas Rickenbacher, Minister of Economic Affairs for the Canton of Bern, presided over the ceremony.

Mr Rickenbacher was the school’s most prominent champion, playing a key role in campaigning for cantonal financial assistance for the construction of a new campus.

Though the school’s excellent test scores and reputation for academics have kept the school strong, the campus was starting

issue 3 / 2015

RUBRIKTITEL 49

ISBerne Student Body President and Vice President don hardhats and prepare to dig.

“The new campus will rightly be a point of pride for the community and canton.”

Below: ISBerne Business Manager, Margrit Schuerch celebrates with Thomas Frutiger and Oliver Schmidt of Burckhardt Partner AG, Architect.

Bottom left to right: Neil Wallace, squash/tennis coach, and Hello Switzerland’s Elias Poletti and Michael Tomsett were among the invitees.

Left to right: Thomas Frutiger of Frutiger AG; Andreas Rickenbacher, Minister of Economic Affairs for the Canton of Bern; Markus Wyss, Head of Real Estate for Mobiliar Asset Management AG; Richard Swart, Director of ISBerne; Rolf Dahler, President of the Burgergemeinde; Ron Packard, CEO Pansophic Learning; Bruce Davis, CIO Pansophic Learning & Chairman of the ISBerne AG Board of Directors

Photos: © Daniel Rihs (www.danielrihs.ch)

to show its age and also couldn’t support growth. For economic development, the Canton of Bern needs a presentable, modern, campus with room for growth in the asset portfolio it presents to prospective incoming foreign enterprises. In the end, the Parliament vote supported this argument. However, the school still faces fundraising requirements of CHF 1 million. This is not a small sum, but for a school that has proven its worth time and time again, comparatively, this requirement is far less daunting!

The school is thankful to the community of Muri-Gümligen and the Canton of Bern for their support in this project, which has been so long in the planning.

ISBerne is also grateful to their investor Mobiliar Asset Management, BurckhardtPartner AG Architectural Firm and the Burgergemeinde Bern, who all showed unrelenting faith in the project over the years.

50  SET TLING IN

HAPPY INTEGRATION FOR SOLO EXPATS Setting up a new home abroad is never easy, especially when you are flying solo. Marina Moeller sits down with Positive Psychologist Kristen Truempy to discuss how to make the lone adventure more enjoyable.

You landed this attractive job, brimming with expectations of professional advancement, business expense accounts and a whole new life in Switzerland. However, after arrival you’re discovering the not-so-glamorous aspects of being an expat. You have to handle all the details of relocation, adjust to local life and a new work environment, learn the language and build a social network. Plus, you are left to manage those daunting tasks on your own without emotional and logistical support of a partner, family or local friends. Together with Kristen Truempy, a Zurich-based positive psychologist, we discuss how to make your solo adventure in Switzerland enjoyable.

Kristen, positive psychology is the science of living well. How could single newcomers apply positive psychology to brave the nitty-gritty of relocation?

One of the backbones of positive psychology is the concept of strengths. It was empirically shown that working with strengths can increase happiness, self-esteem and resilience. Many newcomers to Switzerland tend to focus on challenges but there is never a better time to get in touch with yourself, with your values, skills and competencies as in a new country, especially with all the freedom and independence of being here on your own.

How can we identify our strengths and use them to ease the adjustment?

You can either determine your strengths through a scientific questionnaire or you can do it by asking yourself a series of questions. What have people always complimented me on? What have been my best experiences at work? What have been my top achievements in life? What excites me? When you explore these points in depth, you start thinking about yourself in a new light.

By noticing and making the most of your strengths

SET TLING IN 51

issue 4 / 2015

and capabilities, you become more confident, fulfilled and content both personally and professionally.

you feel positive emotions, you learn better, so reframe your approach and introduce some fun into your study process.

How can we apply this knowledge in our daily life?

Adjusting to any new culture can be difficult and even exasperating at times. What’s the positive psychology take on this?

Each activity can be modified to both inject more strengths and reduce the energy-sucking elements. Those could be big or small things.

People have a tendency to think that one aspect could become a game changer, but usually it’s more of a numbers game. You really want to modify and adjust a lot of behaviors. If all your routines are established it’s very hard to break them, while in a new country you can start afresh. If you like to learn, how about listening to audio books or podcasts while cooking or commuting? Or what about biking or walking to work for sporty types? Do you like board games, meditation, art or are you good at bowling, photography, golf? Join a related interest group or a club. Introducing those routines and activities that resonate with your strengths and interests will empower and energize you, which in turn help you to work better, reduce stress, attract friends and reach your goals.

Can you address some of the ways to deal with new workplace challenges?

As you start your job in Switzerland, you might not immediately have the status you want or feel comfortable in your new office. You suddenly have to earn respect. Those are the challenges many expats face. Remind yourself to be patient, take your time and enjoy the transition. Try to use constructive ways to deal with challenging situations and also exercise resilience. Emotions are often created by beliefs as opposed to facts, so revisit your beliefs and challenge those that bring you down. Also be aware of the “thinking traps,” for example jumping to conclusions, magnifying or personalizing things. Removing yourself from those thinking traps and adopting optimistic explanatory style will enable you to build more resilience.

One of the difficult tasks many of us face is learning the local language. How can we use some principles of positive psychology to tackle it?

Positive psychology is always interested in the best ways to do things. Firstly, find expats who speak fluent German (or your target language) and ask about their learning methods. Also, think of something you mastered well in the past and how you did it. Then apply the same principles to mastering the local language. Remember, when

One of the possible approaches is the idea of strengths. It’s applicable to countries as well, not just people. So focus on strengths, all the things you like, respect and appreciate about Switzerland, such as the well-organized and trustworthy infrastructure, high quality of life, beautiful landscapes and reliable public transport. Another useful technique is to write down what makes you smile so you don't lose touch with the fun and quirky things about your life in Switzerland.

Could you share a couple of final tips for solo expats?

"Write down what makes you smile so you don't lose touch with the fun and quirky things about your life in Switzerland."

We all need to find sources to refuel.

Each of us has things we enjoy, need or appreciate. For social people, it might be nice to take lunch breaks with co-workers, or for those who appreciate the funny side of life, spending time with humorous individuals or watching a comedy, for sport enthusiasts, exercising on a regular basis. Try identifying your personal “fueling stations” and introduce them into your week.

Also, you need opportunities for emotional disclosure in your life. Not talking about your feelings is unhealthy, so stay in touch with family and friends back home. No matter if it’s a phone or Skype chat, an e-mail exchange, a diary entry or even a blog. Sharing and expressing yourself stimulates positive emotions and reduces unease.

At the same time, it’s important to start building authentic relationships locally. High-quality connections with your colleagues, neighbors or members of interest groups you join can help you navigate local life with more knowledge, confidence, joy, amusement, inspiration and even love.

ABOUT KRISTEN TRUEMPY For more information you can contact Kristen Truempy at kristen@strengthsphoenix.com, or for dozens of free podcasts visit her website at strengthsphoenix.com

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CREATIVE LOAFING 53

LET’S TAKE THE BUS Switzerland boasts a remarkable public transport system.

Hello Switzerland reader Karen Rudin penned this witty snapshot of a short bus trip and how there's room for everyone.

Getting onto the bus I am struck by the large open space directly in front of the doors. Goodness, are there usually that many standees? Maybe during rush hour, certainly not now.

I choose a seat on the side away from the sun. Two old ladies proceed in a determined manner toward the first seats bordering the open area and teenagers festooned with iPods congregate at the back. A couple in hiking shoes and anoraks pour over maps, a young man concentrates on his laptop, young women are absorbed in their cell phones, typing in an SMS or conversing with unseen partners.

Illustration: © Randall Barriga

At the next stop a woman boards with a stroller slung about with bags and hold-alls, and one sees the purpose of the open space. Oh, and now here is yet a second stroller, easily pushed aboard, as the floor of the bus is only about six inches above the road, there are no stairs and the door side drops a few inches while at the stop.

One mother sits on the convenient fold-up seat, the other stands and behind her comes a woman with a two-wheeled shopping cart. She finds just enough space between one of the strollers and the rail, and the bus trundles on. A couple with wheeled suitcases climbs aboard and dispose themselves behind the strollers.

another such conveyance, a few suitcases or a collection of shopping carts wait at the next stop.

At the next stop — oh, no, this can't be — yet another stroller. No room, surely, but yes — everyone shifts just enough to fit this one in front of the door. The mothers smile and chat, the children are entertained by the old ladies in the front seats.

The other passengers comment cheerfully on the stroller convention and peer ahead to see if yet

I marvel at a system that makes it perfectly easy for those without a car to schlepp themselves and their baggage — be it ever so cumbersome — onto public transport and find there a welcome. Both the mechanical setup and the accepting attitude of the other passengers are expressions of an admirable sense of community and public responsibility.

Upon arrival at our destination, the teenagers, travelers and hikers rush off to catch the train, the shopping carts and the strollers are trundled to the supermarket and the old ladies head for the coffee shop.

54 THE L AST WORD

MEET RANIA FAKIH

Lebanese-born Rania has spent stints in and out of Switzerland since she was a child fleeing the civil war. Today, the engineer and part-time yoga teacher is balancing life in Lausanne with her Swiss husband, and their new baby.

BY ASHLEY ROQUE

This isn’t your first stint in Switzerland.

What initially brought you here?

Rania Fakih

I was born and raised in Lebanon.

Growing up during the war, we had to flee from the country at several points including a year-and-a-half in both Cyprus and Switzerland. Why Switzerland? My father earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering here and was able to find a job. So, from 6-years-old to 7-yearsold I lived in Lutry, Vaud.

When the war calmed down we went back to Lebanon. It was very important for my father that my brothers and I learn the Lebanese culture and that we grow up surrounded by family. In Lebanon, it’s a very Arabic culture and at the same time very open minded. You have a lot of traditions and rituals, and as a Lebanese father he wanted to transfer that to us.

After completing your bachelor’s degree in engineering in Lebanon and your master’s degree in wastewater treatment in the US, why did you return to Switzerland?

I wanted to have the American experience so I went to the University of Southern California. I then decided to stay for a year to see the country.

In the meantime, my father had decided to open a business in Switzerland and was encouraging me to come back here saying, “You will find a job very easily. The salaries are double those in the States. You’ll have five weeks of vacation time. You’ll have you family around and will be three hours from Lebanon.”

So he kind of brainwashed me and it worked. I packed everything up and found a job in Geneva.

this Swiss guy who is my husband today. We just started talking.

I was the first Lebanese he’d ever met. So my friend who became my boyfriend was like “I want to go and travel around the world, will you come with me?’

He just planted this grain in my head. I thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know each other and for me to try and travel the world.

Is this how you became involved with yoga?

I have been practicing yoga since I was 8-years-old but while we were in South East Asia I found a yoga teacher training program in Indonesia and spent the last two months of our trip there.

After our trip ended, we moved to Lausanne and I found a yoga studio that allowed me to lead classes in the studio. In the beginning I had one person coming to my class and now I have more than 30 people. I also co-teach with my baby during mommy-and-me yoga classes.

Do you have any tips for people trying to assimilate to life in Switzerland?

I lived for three years in Los Angeles and never felt it was hard to integrate. But here, it is much more of a challenge because the social circles are almost closed. People here have a very different way of living — they will not just come up to you on the street and talk to you. It doesn’t mean they are not interested in meeting people. So don’t be scared.

I would highly recommend that people look to join activities through glocal.ch like yoga and painting workshops. I feel like if you start activities and you post them online people actually come and this is where you meet like-minded people.

It’s amazing, you can meet so many people by going to events.

After some stints in Switzerland and Lebanon, I moved to a small city called La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel. It was a really good job and was a sign from above telling me I have something good coming after my mother had passed away.

I decided to stay, and a year later I was in a coffee shop and met

SHARE YOUR STORY Get in touch if you'd like to be featured on this page.

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Photo: © Rania Fakih

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