Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland?

• I have been living for 4 months now in Switzerland - and all my friends are foreigners!!! Why is it so hard to make German friends? Sometimes I get the impression that they prefer to stay amongst themselves. This is not really what I expected when I came here.
  

  07 Jun 2007, 05:22 Ben

Replies

• to those who don't like Schweiz

  Swiss are responsible, efficients to the extreme, really loyal friends once you've known them and maybe they seem too cold or whatever, but it's true: swiss people are better than americans, that's for sure. For those who don't like this country, please go home, but don't say stupidities about one of the best countries of the earth.
  I don't know where you have been living, but the country is plenty of jobs of all kind.
  
  I'm from Spain and I know what I'm talking about. All of you should be more polite about your words.
  
  Yankee Go Home! (for americans)

  rusty_james 12 Aug 2008, 03:20 - Report

• heh

  Carol, what are you talking about? Clearly you've never lived anywhere else in Europe, it's much easier to meet the locals in other parts of Europe than in Switzerland.
  
  I don't know about south americans but i didn't find them open at all (especially argentinians, they are as bad as the swiss).

  Jack 13 Aug 2008, 12:21 - Report

• Switzerland is a shithole

  Swiss are selfish, money-hoarding bastards. They don't deserve to exist as a nation. Why is there even a switzerland? Swiss people are useless, and the country is a useless pile of shit.

  Switzerland is useless 13 Aug 2008, 01:08 - Report

• Wow

  Carol must be joking. You can't even begin to compare Switzerland to other nations in the EU... have you ever been there? Why do you think so many foreigners living in schwiiz want to get away so badly during the vacations to the neighbouring countries? There is no comparison with swiss people to people from the EU, Switzerland is a shithole.

  Schwiiz? No thanks 13 Aug 2008, 05:26 - Report

• How nerve racking

  After reading all the MANY opinions and experiences from all different races, I am going to seriously reconsider moving to Switzerland. My Swiss boyfriend wants me to move next year but now I'm not so sure.
  
  I have a question to those that currently work there or have sought a job there. Is it difficult to find a job there and to obtain a Visa?
  
  I'm Asian and people consider me to be very friendly and open minded but maybe this is not enough. I would really need friends to cope in a new environment.

  Worried 14 Aug 2008, 02:51 - Report

• answer

  To the Asian poster above, I can tell you that it is nearly impossible to obtain a work permit for Switzerland, if you don't come from Western Europe, or else have extremely strong other connections. Your swiss employer has to prove that he first searched for a candidate in the 25 other EU states before hiring an outsider, and they are very strict about this (he has to show that he advertised for several months or something like that). I am sorry to tell you that the Swiss job market is very closed and very protectionist, and not much else other than banks and insurance companies. But if you marry a swiss guy then it's quite easy to work in switzerland, maybe in crappy McDonald's or something like that.
  
  If you look like an Asian, then the swiss will consider you an outsider and will be impossible to approach them, even if you have a swiss boyfriend, prepare to meet people only from foreign countries or perhaps other Asians. The Swiss will already have pre-set impressions and streotypes about you imprinted in their brains. Expect to find no close swiss friends in the first few years.

  Why Switzerland? Yuk.. 14 Aug 2008, 10:11 - Report

• Just need to know

  Thanks for your answer. I had a feeling it would be difficult. I really hope my qualifications and work experience will get me further than a McDonalds job.
  
  What preconceptions do the Swiss have regarding Asians? Are you Swiss yourself? Do you currently live there?

  Worried 16 Aug 2008, 04:24 - Report

• answer

  First of all the Swiss will already have a preconception about you, that you married a swiss boy just to get a swiss passport. That's the preconception that the swiss generally have about asians, especially asians from southeast asia. Believe me it will be hard to get any swiss friends, they hang out with their own groups but will politely tell you they are busy, or tired, or have to work, etc. to get away from you.

  Why switzerland? Yuk.. 17 Aug 2008, 11:07 - Report

• friend

  hi friend

  vinod kumar 28 Aug 2008, 09:34 - Report

• Is it so hard to make friends?

  Hi,
  I've been reading your messages and actually I'm a bit worried after having done so. I'm going to spend next year in Geneva (from 9th September to the end of July) and the fact of going there for the first time in my life and having no friends is frightening me a little. I also have to say that I'm from Spain, and as you probably know, it is quite a lively country, and although I was already conscious that Switzerland in general is not so lively, I thought that people in Geneva, being such a cosmopolitan city as it is, would be more open-minded and friendly. Can someone tell me what the real situation is in Geneva? (I mean, how difficult or easy is to make friends there)
  Thanks!

  Belenxu 05 Sep 2008, 06:08 - Report

• GIANDOR chocolates- YUMMMM!

  hi guys!
  
  i'm from USA and have been trying to order some GIANDOR (milk choc by frey) from LeShop but unfortunately they do not ship outside of switzerland. Do any of you know where I can find them or a place that would ship them to me????? Thank you in advance for your time!

  bev 14 Oct 2008, 04:31 - Report

• HAHAHA

  Well in this case, Im just comming to Zurich to make my money....and F off back home (when I have enough)..I'm sure friends will come if you set out to make some..Im going to be moving there (next week)alone, so if it is, as you all say it is..I'm set to have a boring time...well atleast I have my football..and some parks..

  Superstar 16 Oct 2008, 12:50 - Report

• hi

  me too, i have been living in geneva for 3 years, and i think that is very hard to make friend here, may be the language is very important

  ballan 30 Oct 2008, 02:48 - Report

• hey you!!!

  Hi to everyone!!! I am so surprised to read all these messages..i m italian, i arrived in lausanne 2 weeks ago and actually i am a bit afraid..i hope to meet many many friends as soon as possible...if someone feels a bit alone, well, just let me know...i have very few friends here...hope you are all fine..

  irene:-) 09 Nov 2008, 12:24 - Report

• swiss are racist

  I have not met anybody more racist than the Swiss.
  
  They are out to kill you with their hostilities
  and lies.
  
  They love to see you as a scapegoat.
  
  When you complain you are crazy, and when you
  ask you are stupid.
  
  They want us to intergrate into their so called
  swiss life, but we are not given a chance.
  
  Being an older woman staying here, is a LIVING HELL!
  
  Good Luck to you young people out there. Try visiting some foreigner-friendly countries!

  Christina Lai 12 Nov 2008, 10:18 - Report

• i'm changing my opinion...hope i'm doing the right thing:-)

  Hey all of you.it's my 4th week here in Lausanne, and actually i start feeling better..it's all metter of luck probably, but they're not so baad..of course i visited places that deserve all my love and good admiration, but i start feeling at home...SMILE PEOPLE..AND SOMEONE OF THEM,not all, WILL SMILE TO YOU..they're squared minded, but you can have fun!!so, enjoy this new country..take it easy

  irene:-) 19 Nov 2008, 01:21 - Report

• to the person from Trinidad and Tobago

  Hello Tracy,
  I am living in Zurich, I am from Venezuela and moved here from Singapore a few months ago. I was used to a completely different life with a family (although I also lived in England and in Scotland). Things seem very conservative here...
  I lived in your country for half a year and find the people from there really extremely nice, kind, happy.
  I would like to meet you and see if we could help each other finding the good things here and perhaps having some fun in the process. If you like, this is my email [email removed]
  Take care, best wishes
  
  Maria

  maria 23 Nov 2008, 03:52 - Report

• making friends in switzerland is easy

  this is for the people who dont have friends in switzerland. firstly, i will admit it. it is harder to make friends here than in onther countires. but, once you start talking to them, it is easy to become closer.
  swiss people dont like to make the first move. you have to do it yourself!
  invite them out for a drink afer work or ask them what they're doing on the weekend. if they find out that you dont have plans, they will most definately invite you to come with them.
  ask them what bars/clubs/restaurants are good and, usually, they will offer to try them out with you.
  stick with it and dont give up. its really easy.

  ich leibe der schwiiz 25 Nov 2008, 10:02 - Report

• hi

  my dream to vist and live in swilzerland and I think people's swilzerland are very kind and nice

  libya 27 Nov 2008, 09:27 - Report

• hospitalityclub & couchsurfing

  maybee this helps?
  
  http://www.hospitalityclub.org
  or
  http://www.couchsurfing.com
  ?
  
  through these sites you can contact swiss people and are maybee "more accessible" for your kind of guys?

  a swiss 03 Dec 2008, 11:26 - Report

• Swiss

  Hey,I do NOT blame the Swiss for not accepting or wanting anybody in creation...that's not racism...most ppl are disgrace anyway!!! People are pigs in general, I believe that you need to prove yourself first. So I think that they got that one right!

  Me 04 Dec 2008, 05:46 - Report

• Geneva

  Hi Guys,
  
  I'm going over next year to Geneva for an internship with the UN. Was wandering if anyone could point out some decent accommodation for a student for a few months at a reasonable price? I've heard so many varying accounts of the Swiss that rather confuse me... I've heard the Swiss-French are different to say the Swiss-Germans? But, any pointers on the Genevans and their way of life would be really apprecited, I just want to make an effort to learn more about the culture before I go.
  
  Thanks a lot guys: please send me an email at [email removed]
  if you have anything to comment on, because I know so little about the people..thanks!

  Aussiechick 21 Dec 2008, 12:20 - Report

• Have to know swiss people!

  Hello everyone please give me some websites to contact swiss people other then www.swissfriends.ch Thank you!

  Fazil 24 Dec 2008, 05:08 - Report

• @ Rusty James

  Rusty James, have you lost your way? The internet can be a complicated place.
  
  If you just want to cry "Yankee go home!" for no apparent reason, I'm sure there are plenty of forums that will toot your horn.

  Not Swiss, American or Spanish, and I don't think it should matter. 27 Dec 2008, 10:11 - Report

• Damn Switzerland

  i live in switzerand have of my life, since 12 years. and the only thing i can say is that switzerland sucks and i wish i never came here. everytime i go to another country in europe or back to the states it's like such a relief and such a drag coming back again!
  swiss mentality is strange, ignorant, rude. swiss are racist, even lots of those who say they're not. swiss are so f***ing boring, life in switzerland seems so planned and unspontanious! swiss people are the most f***ing ignorant people in the world, after russian millionaires. switzerland is a f***ing shithole because of the stupid mentality they have here!

  Jan 27 Dec 2008, 10:27 - Report

• Switzerland

  I was in Switzerland last summer for 2 weeks and it certainly was the last time. I agree wit most of the things sayed here. The swiss people are cold, closed and a little ignorant. And they often look at you very strange, probably if you do something that's not normal in their eyes.
  
  There are lots of nice countries in europe, no need to visit switzerland...

  Skip Switzerland 27 Dec 2008, 10:38 - Report

• switzerland - just my 2 cents

  Hi guys! I’ve now lived a big chunk of my life here in Switzerland, close to the lake of Zurich. I came here in 1977 from GB. It can certainly be a very lonely life living here. As discussed earlier in this forum, I’d say it really depends on your choice and how far you’re prepared to accept the swiss mentality or culture. If you are new here as a foreigner you will definitely encounter a huge language barrier. If you speak german you may have it easier with the language itself but it is not easy to understand and speak the dialect, like swiss-german which would make life a hell of a lot easier. To learn swiss-german takes time. Some learn it quicker and some never will. It took me some 6 years before I really started to speak it without being shy. That was when I changed jobs, when I told myself that by hook or by crook I’d speak swiss-german in the new company.
  
  Making friends in Switzerland, well, to some extent is true that your chances are not as good as in Spain or Venezuela but do you speak spanish? In France, you’re better of speaking french. Having said that, I agree that swiss-german is the most unsual language in europe. After living here for over 30 years, I’ve only a few but really good friends and they’re people whom I’ve known, who also speak english, since I came here to live.
  
  Feel free to drop me a line or if you’ve any questions, I may be able to answer them.
  
  
  cheers!
  
  [email removed]

  Colin 29 Dec 2008, 12:52 - Report

• switzerland = land of shitters

  shitterland is a country full of cheap crap and arrogant, racist white locals. hopefully the economic crisis f***s this corrupt, false country. the day will come when all those retarded white swiss shitters will have to get out of our way and lick our ass in order to make a life.

  fuck ch 30 Dec 2008, 10:07 - Report

• helloooooooooooo

  am looking goodfrend girl in bern or the word no .. pls coll me oo41-78 30 22 85 or em kojo121@ hotmail.com

  d.k 18 Jan 2009, 05:17 - Report

• unfriendly swiss

  This swiss should be chopped up with a swiss army knife!

  Swiss are piss 20 Jan 2009, 02:58 - Report

• unfriendly swiss

  Hitler ought to go back in and eradicate their asses like in WWII. Then their women ought to be made impregnated with German babies again to make sure the race is purified from Swiss stupidity because the Swiss are so stupid. Ya!

  Swiss are piss 20 Jan 2009, 03:06 - Report

• Swiss Friends

  My experience say swiss are so helpful and friendly. As i am living in geneva for two months and i have made lot of friends who are helpful as well good in nature.

  Ajay radheykrishna.ak@gmail.com 30 Jan 2009, 06:56 - Report

• Swiss friends?

  After 20 years in Switzerland, I would say it is surprisingly easy to find a Swiss girlfriend more or less on the spot (even without internet) but I do find it impossible to find a Swiss friend. What have I tried? The Swiss alpine Club, snowshoe hiking club, different courses at Migros and Volkshochschule, fitness training at ETH-ASVZ, different courses at ETH-ASVZ, going out to some bars and cafes. The funny thing is also that when the opportunity allowed I have tried to reach out, be friendly and smiled but many times it just has caused confusion (and I think even suspicion) !!? I guess it is the culture. I am from northern Europe, white, have higher education, speak german quite fluently and understand Swiss German.

  Giveitup. 30 Jan 2009, 11:47 - Report

• make friends

  Hi, I'm from a country called eritrea.I would like to meet people from Switzerland and make friends.My email is [email removed]. My name is mebrahtu and Im 18 years.

  mebrahtu 05 Feb 2009, 04:49 - Report

• switzerland

  A VERY SPECIAL FORM OF HUMAN RUBBISH AS SWITZERLAND MUST BE CLEAN AND SAFE.

  phomas taine 07 Feb 2009, 02:50 - Report

• Switzerland: land of the Gnomes

  A very good analogy that stretches from the bankers it was intended for to the so-called "hip" society. I've been 6 years here and can count the number of people whom I would deem to have given any help or advice to me on less fingers than make-up one hand. They don't trust foreigners and are unwilling to share anything. Don;t EVER tell them any business ideas you might have because they'll steal them from under your nose, being a nation with not enough fire and spirit to think of anything original unless it involves grabbing the rights for it - the whole concept of patents is Swiss. As for frindship, forget it. 6 years and still those whom I would deem to be reasonably well-known to me back in the UKL have yet to ask me out for a beer or include me in their social circle. The sooner banking secrecy is stamped-out by Obama/USA and the EU the sooner a dose of reality might set-in to this nation that has spent the last 500 years growing rich from other peoples misfortunes and misery. What kind of a nation is it that can't even talk openly about it's involvement with every despot and dictator that ever lived in that time? What kind of a nation makes no state provision for it's elderly? What kind of a nation turns people away from it's borders to send them to their deaths? (WW2) A cold, clinical and selfish one basically. As Orson Welles said "500 years of peace and all they've given the world is the cuckoo clock" - which they will be quick to point-out to you is an Austrian invention. The biggest joke of all, and another they can never discuss, is that the UN headquarters is in Geneva, which also happens to be the main centre for private banking to the world's infamous and despotic. Since the Iraq war started Geneva airport has turned into a bazaar of the middle eastern kind. Saddam's brother lived there for 10 years..........what more do you need to know? The whole world knows they're dodgy.........but they won't even countenance the fact because they are so 'trustworthy' with their private banking. Inverted morals to the extreme. Take away their banks and let them grow potatoes I say!

  Bored Resident 08 Feb 2009, 12:48 - Report

• Cost of Living In Switzerland

  Can any one help me in knowing the cost of living in Switzerland

  uday Kodati 19 Feb 2009, 03:17 - Report

• well thanks

  Now that's just a stupid thing to say. I'm American, and I really take offense when someone lumps everyone in my culture together.
  
  What's is your problem with Americans anyway?
  
  And don't give me the same story about Bush and imperialism. You should be educated enough to see past all that.

  Paul Jones 01 Mar 2009, 01:24 - Report

• Difficult even for Swiss themselves

  It is difficult even for Swiss people like me to make any new friends. My compatriots just are very opinionated, so they only judge books by their covers. It's just some kind of convenience to treat other people in a condescending manner, and even though I grew up and lived here for 25 years (before moving abroad) I can't explain it.
  
  Being arrogant probably makes them feel better about themselves? They're very OBSESSED with superiority and inferiority and constantly overrate their importance (as can be seen in this forum). But Switzerland just isn't that great. It's nice, but it's lame. Zurich just isn't an exciting city. It has some "post card beauty" to it, but Zurichians are not outgoing or creative or particularly interesting people. And if you don't accept their self-imposed superiority and flatter their ego, you will not get along very well with them.
  
  To make friends and share the fun with other people you have to go somewhere else.

  DD 03 Mar 2009, 11:39 - Report

• Switzerland and me

  IMHO Swiss people are selfish and arrogant and self-centered. They don't want to share, have no principles and are lazy and totally corrupt. They are chicken boot-lickers afraid of losing their wealth which is based on their corrupt banks dealing with drugs and weapons. This place is a horrible, nasty, racist place. I believe, even North-Korea must be more cozy.
  
  I'm staying here only as long as they pay me well. Hopefully, the EU and US kicks their asses and I have a reason to leave. Can't wait to see happen this: The US and EU keeping their own tax havens (Delaware, Monaco, Andorra) and weak, lonely, shitty, little CH is going to hell!!
  
  To the offended Swiss reading this: No, we are not bad people and we don't hate you. Neither are we racists. You are just egoist, weak idiots speaking a monkey-dialect and the whole world agrees on that 100%. Just give us your wealth which is based on criminal activity and shut up. Otherwise we sanction you, your economy will collapse and you end up worse than the Gaza-strip. LOL

  Everybody hates Switzerland 03 Mar 2009, 07:31 - Report

• I partly disagree.

  I agree that Swiss people don't have too many social strengths, but Switzerland is DEFINITELY a lot cozier than North Korea and Swiss people aren't lazy at all. In fact they're terribly busy and career-minded! It's all about achievements.
  
  Nevertheless, I've never enjoyed living in Zurich. It's just a lame place with self-opinionated people.

  DD 03 Mar 2009, 10:07 - Report

• How to make a Swiss Roll

  Push him off the hill!
  Good people these are, but they don`t know it.
  Talking to foreigners is Ok but only for 5 - 10 mins then the barriers come down.
  It`s a pity because the locals don`t get to see the bigger picture and we don`t get to know how they get all them holes in their cheese and not a worm in sight.It`s a cultural thing from living in Valleys and not getting over the other side enough.
  Enjoy the good transport, the nice scenery but for happier times, bring your own bunnies.

  GoodKingJohn 05 Mar 2009, 05:25 - Report

• I have a Swiss Friend!

  I have a Swiss Friend...it took me 14 years, but I did it....and he's great! I'll write again in 2023 with news of a second. My fault for not learning German properly I guess, but anyway, I'm not in a rush

  Optimistic as Ever 20 Mar 2009, 12:11 - Report

• Epic fail

  All those "Switzerland sucks and is a shithole" comments are pretty lame and interchangeable with any country. Come up with good arguments if you want to convince others.

  D. Ouche 29 Mar 2009, 07:14 - Report

• HI

  i am 27 years old eritrean man ,i have been in swiss for two years i speak good germany i am working very hard to coop with the swiss people i have some freinds but most of the time they are at work . But i am sure i will integrat well.i am looking people who can enjoy kaffee or tee together with me in your free time so that i can speak Germany i live in Aarau .thank you. [email removed]

  afrooboy 01 Apr 2009, 11:26 - Report

• helo swiss

  i am male 28 yer i am in ziurch now this is one month i i like swiss cos i know thay are smaret peopel and good in hem haort i am from sirya may scond contry well bee swiss for frend may mill [email removed]

  shukri 05 Apr 2009, 03:22 - Report

• hard shell

  beeing swiss myself i can only give this one advice: keep pushing! swissies generally have a hard shell, but once you've pushed through you'll have buddies who won't let you down.
  
  to all guys with the anti-swiss attitude here: i've lived in san francisco, london, and now i work in montreal. i found all people equally nice and treated them the way i want to be treated. i think that does the trick everywhere.

  Big Al 08 Apr 2009, 06:02 - Report

• Schweizerfreunde per Internet

  Hallo allerseits!
  Ich suche Freunschaft per E.Mail mit Schweizern die bereits im Rentenalter sind.
  Ich habe eine geräumige und geplegte Wohnung am Mittelmeer (nettes, kleines Hafenstädchen), wo gute Freunde vielleicht urlaub machen könnten.
  Ich denke dabei an ältere alleinstehende Leute, die nicht ganz auf sich gestellt sein möchten.
  Ich selbst habe eine kosmopolitische Einstellung, spreche mehrere Sprachen und bin meistens gut gelaunt.
  
  Man erreicht mich unter: [email removed]

  Esgrüntsogrün 20 Apr 2009, 12:21 - Report

• am loking for geting mered

  male 28 yers i spiak english and grec and turkish arbic kurdish nat merid yet live in ziurch plis ho wont to contakt weth me he can send me hes foon number at [email removed]

  shukri 22 Apr 2009, 06:36 - Report

• Looking for friends in Geneva

  Hi,
  I am from India, staying in Geneva now. Looking for making new friends - swiss or from other countries mainly for hanging around or going for a small trek. If intersted, please drop me an email at [email removed]

  Pal 21 May 2009, 07:00 - Report