Hello Switzerland Issue 4/2014 by Hello Switzerland AG

issue 4 / 2014

WRITER ALAIN DE BOTTON

ON BEING

SWISS

HOW TO DO THE HOLIDAYS IN SWITZERLAND BEST EVER CHRISTMAS MARKETS www.helloswitzerland.ch

r one e b num The owledge ource kn ion s d’s t a r i rlan insp and r Switze onal i fo rnat ity e t n i mun com

Languages • e-Learning • Management Training Intercultural Seminars • Kids & Teens Camps

BERLITZ CHRISTMAS PARTIES Discover Swiss Christmas Traditions! Geneva: 4th Dec. 2014 Zurich: 27th Nov. 2014 More information on berlitz.ch/christmas

BERLITZ SWITZERLAND The number of ways to learn a language at Berlitz is practically unlimited. Whether face-to-face lessons at a Berlitz Center, group courses at a company location or one of the innovative online options, the wide range of courses and delivery methods allows you the flexibility to choose the program that best suits your learning needs. The full scope of Berlitz programs and services can be tailored to meet your specific needs and develop the skills to help you succeed in the global marketplace. For more details please visit us at www.berlitz.ch

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FIT FOR SWITZERLAND AND THE WORLD.

IN THIS ISSUE 3

issue 4 / 2014

SWISS LEGEND AL AIN DE BOT TON

ZURICH’S OPERA FOR ALL AGES

50 28 9 WAYS TO AVOID SKIING THIS WINTER

Front cover: Vincent Starr Photos: Alain de Botton/Mathias Marx, Zurich Opera/Monika Rittershaus, Valais/Wallis Promotion/ Christian Perret, Basel Christmas market/swiss-image.ch/Christof Sonderegger

BEST SWISS CHRISTMAS MARKETS

FEATURED PARTNERS

ZURICH REGION Zurich’s opera opens up Zurich tips for visitors

59 60

Basel for beginners 16 How to survive...Christmas 19

Pfister 30 A network of experts 31 Autociel 32 National Suisse 33 Packimpex 34 Credit Suisse 36 Sunrise 38 Hirslanden 40 PwC 42

Swiss Legends Alain de Botton

Ultimate Christmas special 43 Discover (Hello) Switzerland 46

Coming up in the next issue 65

Our community 4 Letter from the Editor 5 The Hello Switzerland team 7 Contributors 8 World of Hello Switzerland 9 What's on 10

BASEL REGION

LUCERNE REGION Lucerne to go

Dreaming of a dry Christmas 64

Meet Girish

BERN REGION

GENEVA REGION

Bern’s capital assets

Career advice

FRIBOURG REGION

9 ideas for the ski-shy Combat the winter blues

50 53

Up Close and personal with Chantal Panozzo 54

Feeling at home in Fribourg 27

L AUSANNE REGION Top Swiss Christmas markets 28

Lausanne under cover

4â&#x20AC;&#x201A; COMMUNIT Y WALL

OUR COMMUNITY

S A SK U G IN ANY T H

.C H RL AND G E Z T I WFELY I T Z M A SA L OS HIEVLE SW @ O R F D N I HELLO @ : R E T WIT T

OUR Y E R SH A WS VIE

Competition Winners Find more competitions on www.helloswitzerland.ch/competitions

Christiana won two tickets to the Basel Tattoo!

Shirley was our World Cup Photo Competition Winner!

Join us at an upcoming Hello Switzerland event! www.helloswitzerland.ch/events

View the full album of photos from our Flavours of Brazil event online www.helloswitzerland.ch/-/flavours-of-brazil

Follow Hello Switzerland on Pinterest! www.pinterest.com/helloswitzmag

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR 5

issue 4 / 2014

WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL WINTER TIME Dear readers, I don’t know about you, but every winter, as the festive lights go up, stalls pitch at the Christmas markets and shop windows start to glitter, I wonder how we’ve reached the end of the year so quickly… again! So my sage advice is to take a moment to sit down, relax and immerse yourself in this latest issue of Hello Switzerland – it’s really all you need to enjoy the holidays. Joining us in this issue is the London-based writer and philosopher Alain de Botton, whose nationality (yes, he is Swiss) comes as a surprise to many. He talks to us about how his childhood in Zurich set him on his course of self discovery. If you’re expecting visitors over the holidays, or simply enjoying some time at home, we’ve got a packed Christmas edition for you with ‘need to know’ places and tips for each Swiss region, together with a compilation of the best Christmas markets and a practical guide to gift giving, sending and receiving with the minimum of hassle. This edition is also our first anniversary issue in our new-look format (although the magazine has actually been running since 1998) and to celebrate we take a little look back through the archives to reveal the history of the magazine together with some significant memories for the team. We’re also thrilled to welcome new trusted companies to our pool of experts in our Featured Partners pages, the go-to section for readers who want to be assured of the best quality services for their everyday needs. And, as ever, we're online and on hand to bring you the best offers and competitions through our Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest presence, our app and our website. We’d like to say thanks to all our loyal readers and wish you all the best for 2015! Jennifer Davies Managing Editor-in-Chief jennifer.davies@helloswitzerland.ch

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THE HELLO SWITZERL AND TEAM 7

issue 4 / 2014

JENNIFER DAVIES

MIKE TOMSET T

MARITA FUHRER

managing editor in chief

chief operating officer

production manager

QUERIDA LONG Bern editor and layout

CATHERINE NELSON POLL ARD

KATE ORSON

ALLISON TURNER

Basel editor

Zurich and Zug/Lucerne editor

Romandie editor

LUKAS HAYOZ

EMMA BAUMHOFER

MICHAEL GFELLER

ADRIAN AELLIG

commmunity and account manager

content and community manager

project officer

sales manager

8 CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE

DÉSIRÉE A.STEINMANN

CHANTAL PANOZZO

P.K. READ

MICHAEL COLLINS

FIONA TURNER-HEHLEN

? e t i r w o t Love re a d

e to We'd lov ries. your sto nline at them o Submit zerland.ch/ it hellosw ures feat ROGER BONNER

EDI BARTH

THE WORLD OF HELLO SWITZERL AND 9

issue 4 / 2014

Embrace Swiss living BE INSPIRED BY OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

Meet new people FIND GREAT EVENTS AND PROMOTE YOUR OWN

Relocate with ease USE OUR GUIDES TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT ALL REGIONS OF SWITZERLAND

Connect with the best of Switzerland. Whether you’re still abroad or you live here, find the right information and get inspired. Personalise Hello Switzerland, add photos and tips, share your views, ask questions and find answers.Subscribe to our free magazine by signing up for a free online profile. Welcome to Hello Switzerland.

Discover your new home ENJOY OUR MAGAZINE

www.helloswitzerland.ch

Stay in touch SHARE STORIES, HUMOUR & MORE

10 WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER Lady Gaga, Watchmakers and Onions 30 Oct to 02 Nov 02 Nov Zurich

Lausanne

Kunst 14 Zurich From multimedia to photography, industrial design, and classic expression in painting.

LEMAN International Fair A fun and informative exposition for the Lake Geneva area international community.

www.kunstzuerich.ch

www.lemanevents.ch

30 Oct to 13 Nov

02 to 23 Nov

Expovina Taste wines from all over the world on twelve ships docked on the lake.

The Turn of the Screw Opera based on the Henry James novella. English with English and German subtitles.

www.expovina.ch

www.opernhaus.ch

31 Oct to 02 Nov

04 to 09 Nov

06 to 09 Nov

08 Nov

Beatles Tribute Band The Beatles as you have never heard them before – a theatre spectacle.

Short Film Festival Winterthur hosts Switzerland’s most important international short film festival.

Car show The biggest car show in the German part of Switzerland with some 60,000 visitors.

Night of the religions Open door night at the mosque, temple, synagogue, churches and more.

bit.ly/HelloBeatles

www.kurzfilmtage.ch

www.auto-zuerich.ch

www.nacht-der-religionen.ch

01 to 22 Nov

05 Nov

06 to 13 Nov

08 Nov

The Gaza Monologues A dance piece based on the experiences of young women from the Gaza Strip.

SEAT Music Session 2014 The 360°- stage event rocks Lugano with its national and international music stars.

Festival Tous Écrans A fantastic film festival with an attitude of celebration and experimentation.

Watchmakers' heritage day Discover the passion behind the unique art of original Swiss watchmaking.

www.konzerttheaterbern.ch

www.seatmusicsession.ch

www.tous-ecrans.com

bit.ly/HelloWatchmakers

02 Nov

06 Nov

07 to 09 Nov

08 to 16 Nov

32nd Swiss Cup World class gymnastics stars meet at one of the major sports events in Switzerland.

Lady Gaga The incomparable Lady Gaga brings her music and flamboyant fashion to Zurich.

BédéMania Get ready, comic fans! The 12th international comics festival promises a lot of fun.

Lucerne Blues Festival Celebrate the festival’s 20th birthday with fantastic blues music.

www.swiss-cup.ch

www.hallenstadion.ch

www.bedemania.ch

www.bluesfestival.ch

Zurich

Geneva

Bern

Zurich

Winterthur

Lugano

Zurich

Kunst 14 Zurich

Zurich

Geneva

Corminboeuf

Bern

La Chaux-de-Fonds

Lucerne

WHAT’S ON 11

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Looking for the best Christmas markets? You can find them in our special guide on page 28. 08 to 16 Nov

21 Nov to 31 Dec

27 Nov

29 Nov

Vinifera This exhibition offers a wide range of wine products which can be purchased locally.

Festival of Lights New light creations convert Lausanne into an open-air museum.

Christmas Party Discover Swiss Christmas traditions and delicacies and visit the Zurich Christmas market.

Basler Stadtlauf Every year the Basel city run attracts up to 10,000 local and international runners.

www.vinifera.ch

www.festivallausannelumieres.ch

www.berlitz.ch/christmas

www.stadtlauf.ch

11 to 16 Nov

21 Nov to 15 Mar 15

Rocky Horror Show With hits such as 'Sweet Transvestite' this flamboyant show always causes a stir.

Nakis Panayotidis exhibition Looking into the invisible - an extraordinary exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Bern.

www.musicaltheaterbasel.ch

bit.ly/HelloNakisArt

15 Nov

22 Nov

Zoe Scarlett & The Petits Fours The Swiss Queen of Burlesque performs in Bern for an evening of entertainment.

Anglican Church Bazaar Seasonal groceries, homemade goods and food, English books, and other delights.

bit.ly/HelloZoeScarlett

bit.ly/HelloBSChurchBazaar

15 Nov

22 to 30 Nov

Zürcher Bach Chor This choir harmonises four to eight voices in an A cappella sensation.

Lucerne Festival at the Piano Classical, contemporary and jazz star pianists grace Lucerne’s international stage.

www.zbc.ch

www.lucernefestival.ch

15 Nov

24 Nov

Slash The former lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses rocks St Jacob's Stadium.

Onion market (Zibelemärit) Drink mulled wine, throw confetti and partake in onions in every form imaginable.

www.stjakobshalle.ch

bit.ly/HelloOnion

Biel/Bienne

Basel

Bern

Zurich

Photos: ©Kunst 14 Zurich

Basel

Lausanne

Bern

Zurich

Basel

8th edition

Sunday 2 November MCH Beaulieu LAUSANNE

Basel

Lucerne

The BEST of Switzerland In English!

Bern

www.LemanInternationalFair.ch

12 WHAT’S ON

DECEMBER ABBA, Swimming Santas and Ice Hockey 27 Nov to 06 Jan

04 Dec to 08 Dec

05 Dec to 06 Dec

07 Dec to 14 Dec

Locarno on Ice How about skating on the Piazza Grande or enjoying a show in the evening?

Montreux Comedy Festival Laugh over five nights at the Montreux Comedy Festival. Events in French and English.

Escalade Race Runners of all ages and abilities race from Geneva's old town to the Parc des Bastions.

Candle Dipping Bring some light into the winter darkness with homemade candles.

www.locarnoonice.ch

www.montreuxcomedy.ch

www.escalade.ch

www.kerzenziehen.ch

03 Dec

05 Dec

05 Dec to 06 Dec

10 Dec

Elton John Concert 40 years after his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album came out, Elton John remains great.

Klausjagen A unique, traditional St. Nicholas event featuring 1,000 “Klaus chasers”!

International Supercross Genève See the best motocross drivers in the world.

Paloma Faith Concert The British singer-songwriter brings the electro-soul of the 70s to Lausanne.

www.hallenstadion.ch

www.klausjagen.ch

www.supercross-geneve.com

www.docks.ch

04 Dec

05 Dec

06 Dec

10 Dec to 13 Dec

Christmas Party Discover Swiss Christmas traditions and delicacies and visit the Geneva Christmas market.

Full moon ride The sight of the bright moon and the mountains on the Säntis is unique.

Santa Claus Cruises Samichlaus (St. Nick) joins the children on this lake cruise designed for them.

Christmas Tattoo A magical winter wonderland comes alive at the St Jakob's stadium.

www.berlitz.ch/christmas

www.saentisbahn.ch

bit.ly/HelloSantaCruise

www.christmas-tattoo.ch

06 Dec to 21 Dec

11 Dec

Medieval Market at Chillon This year the castle will be decorated to look like a fairy tale. (only on weekends)

Irish Christmas Festival Three acts bring Irish music to Zug in the Chollerhalle's Celtic Soul concert series.

bit.ly/HelloChillon

www.chollerhalle.ch

07 Dec

11 Dec to 14 Dec

15th Samichlaus Swim Join over 300 other brave souls for a swim in the refreshing Limmat.

54th CHI Genève One of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions since 1926.

www.samichlausschwimmen.ch

www.chi-geneve.ch

Locarno

Zurich

Montreux

Küssnacht am Rigi

Geneva

Schwägalp/Säntis

Geneva

Zurich

Veytaux

Zurich

Ice skating on the Piazza Grande Locarno

Bern

Lausanne

Basel

Zug

Geneva

WHAT’S ON 13

issue 4 / 2014

Looking for the best Christmas markets? You can find them in our special guide on page 28. 12 Dec

26 Dec to 31 Dec

Bryan Adams Concert Canadian rocker Bryan Adams had it in the Summer of '69 and he'll still have it in Heaven…

Spengler Cup This ice hockey cup is the oldest team sport tournament in Europe.

www.hallenstadion.ch

www.spenglercup.ch

13 Dec

27 Dec to 29 Dec

Christmas Midnight Run Put on your running shoes and Santa Claus suit–many of the runners are dressed as Santa.

Women's Top Volley International The event known as the “Spengler Cup of volleyball”.

Zurich

Davos

Lausanne

Basel

Samichlaus Swim, Zurich

www.midnightrun.ch

13 Dec

14 Dec

20 Dec

28 Dec to 15 Feb

Arts & Craft market Hobby-craftsmen and artists offer their homemade products.

38th Zürcher Silvesterlauf The Zurich New Year run attracts up to 20,000 running enthusiasts every year.

37th Cross-country skiing Christmas race

Ice skating on the Bundesplatz Skate off some of your holiday indulgences on the skating rink on the Bundesplatz.

www.zugerhandwerkermarkt.ch

www.silvesterlauf.ch

Zug

Photos: ©Piazza Grande Locarno; ©Monika Metzger-samichlausschwimmen.ch

www.topvolley.ch Zurich

13 Dec

20 Dec

Seether Concert In July, the South African alternative rock band released their 7th Studio album.

A night of Sinatra The Sinatra Tribute Band with Max Neissendorfer transports you to a "Winter Wonderland."

www.kofmehl.net

bit.ly/HelloSinatra

13 Dec to 14 Dec

20 Dec

Swiss Brass Consort & Konzertchor Canto Classico Christmas in Lucerne- The Wonder of Christmas concert.

ABBA Gold ABBA Gold seem to be the reincarnation of Agnetha, Anna-Frid, Björn and Benny.

www.kkl-luzern.ch

www.musicaltheaterbasel.ch

Solothurn

Lucerne

Bern

Basel

Unterschächen bit.ly/HelloCrosscountry

20 Dec to 21 Dec Engelberg

FIS Ski Jumping World Cup Switzerland's only ski jumping world cup event on the world's longest natural jump.

www.weltcup-engelberg.ch

20 Dec to 21 Dec Geneva

Riverdance Theatrical show consisting mainly of traditional Irish music and dance.

www.riverdance.com

Bern

www.kunsteisbahnbundesplatz.ch

29 Dec

Schaffhausen Albie Donnelly’s Supercharge After 40 years of "on the road" the outfit is anything but a pensioner combo.

www.kammgarn.ch

31 Dec

Grindelwald New Year’s Eve Head to the hills for New Year's Eve and enjoy the party on the main street.

bit.ly/HelloNYGrindlewald

14 WHAT’S ON

JANUARY Witches, Balloons and Snow Sculptures 01 Jan

07 Jan

13 Jan to 18 Jan

16 Jan

Touch the Mountains Join thousands of vistors from near and far for an evening of free concerts and fireworks.

A spectacular night of Queen The show must go on! A tribute to one of the biggest rock bands of all time!

Irish Celtic Fantastic choreography with an excellent tap dance ensemble.

Museums Night Up to 40 museums and cultural institutions invite you to visit them.

www.touchthemountains.ch

www.ticketcorner.ch

www.musicaltheaterbasel.ch

www.museumsnacht.ch

01 Jan to 31 Jan

08 Jan to 11 Jan

15 Jan to 18 Jan

16 Jan

Cooking, Eating, Purchasing, Digesting! See how our food goes from production to the shelves.

CSI Basel International horse riding show and jumping tournament.

Holiday and travel fair Come in out of the cold and get some inspiration for your next holiday trip.

Led Airbus Concert The band pays tribute to Led Zeppelin on their ’20 Years Gone’ tour.

www.alimentarium.ch

www.csi-basel.ch

www.ferienmesse.ch

www.chollerhalle.ch

03 Jan

10 Jan to 11 Jan

16 Jan

16 Jan to 18 Jan

The James Brown Tribute Show A special tribute to the godfather of soul.

Ski World Cup An exciting race day featuring the best skiers in men's slalom and giant slalom.

The Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber's world famous musical is coming to town.

85th International Lauberhorn Races Among the world's highestattended winter sports events.

www.chollerhalle.ch

www.weltcup-adelboden.ch

www.volkshaus.ch

www.lauberhorn.ch

03 Jan

10 Jan to 17 Jan

A Pirate's Symphony Disney in Concert presents an exclusive blend of film, live music and dinner.

33rd Belalp Hexe At the Belalp Witch Race competitors wear flashy costumes and scary masks.

www.pirates-symphony.ch

www.belalphexe.ch

07 Jan to 08 Jan

11 Jan

Russian National Ballet Moscow The Russian National Ballet Moscow presents the famous ‘Swan Lake’.

Viennese Opera Ball Orchestra New Year gala concert featuring works by Strauss, Stolz and Millöcker.

www.musicaltheaterbasel.ch

www.kkl-luzern.ch

Interlaken

Vevey

Zug

Lucerne

Basel

Lugano

Basel

Adelboden

Basel

Bern

Zurich

Basel

Zug

Wengen

Belalp

Lucerne

Belalp Witch Race

WHAT’S ON 15

issue 4 / 2014

Looking for the best Christmas markets? You can find them in our special guide on page 28. 22 Jan to 29 Jan

28 Jan

50th Solothurn Film Festival The Solothurn Film Festival is the most important festival for Swiss film.

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

www.solothurnerfilmtage.ch

bit.ly/HelloBaeckermoehli

23 Jan to 25 Jan

28 Jan

Mecedes-CSI In its 26th Edition, the Mercedes-CSI presents show jumping at the highest level.

Ed Sheeran Concert England’s shooting star is back in Zurich with his new album "X".

www.mercedes-csi.ch

www.hallenstadion.ch

Solothurn

Zurich

Ski World Cup in Adelboden

Zurich

16 to 18 Jan

19 Jan to 24 Jan

24 Jan

29 Jan

Disney on Ice See all your favorite characters at Disney & Friends’ musical comedy... on ice!

World snow festival International sculptors create wonderful art from snow.

Cirkafrika 2 Colourful costumes, decor and music to entertain the whole family.

Rea Garvey Concert This Irishman became known as the singer of Reamonn. Now on solo ‘Pride’ tour.

www.geneva-arena.ch

www.volkshaus.ch

24 Jan to 01 Feb

29 Jan to 01 Feb

Hot Air Balloon Festival Bring your camera to get some fantastic snaps of the colourful balloons.

Artgenève An artistic platform for contemporary art, modern art, and design.

www.festivaldeballons.ch/en

www.artgeneve.ch

24 Jan

30 Jan to 07 Feb

Johann Strauss’ Viennese Waltz Dance show with the world famous Viennese Waltz.

Sommet Musicaux de Gstaad Classical music festival held in the churches of Gstaad, Saanen and Rougemont.

www.theatreduleman.com

www.sommets-musicaux.ch

Geneva

www.geneva-arena.ch

17 Jan Fribourg Photos: ©belalphexe.ch; Ski World Cup©.Alain Grosclaude-Alexis Boichard

Zug

Alice in China The Chinese national circus brings their interpretation of Alice in Wonderland to Fribourg.

www.equilibre-nuithonie.ch

17 Jan to 18 Jan Chur

Wedding fair Obtain expert wedding advice at Chur’s ‘Ja, ich will’ wedding fair.

www.higalive.ch

Grindelwald

bit.ly/HelloSnowfestival

20 Jan Basel

Vogel Gryff Festival Festival of the traditional symbolic figure of the Kleinbasel society.

bit.ly/HelloVogelGryff

21 Jan to 24 Jan Mürren

72nd Inferno Race The biggest amateur ski race! Each year 1,800 skiers take part on the 15.8 km long run.

www.inferno-muerren.ch

Geneva

Châteu-d’Oex

Geneva

Zurich

Geneva

Gstaad

16 BASEL

BASEL FOR BEGINNERS Entertaining your guests over the winter can be a challenge. Lucky for us, Hello Switzerland’s Basel editor, Kate Orson offers her top tips plus a few gems from regular contributors to the magazine. Their choices reveal a city where past and present are perfectly interwoven and nature is never very far away. HOOKED ON HISTORY In August 2014 Basel’s old town became a car free zone, making a stroll along these cobblestone streets even more tranquil than it was before. Local writer and Hello Switzerland contributor Toni Davidson says ‘‘My mum, brother and nephew are all artists, so when they visit they love admiring the 15th Century architecture and peeking in the windows of the galleries and boutiques. The fact that you can jump on a tram when you get tired means it’s an easy destination for all ages.’’

OLD WORLD GL AMOUR Want to wow your family and friends with facts about Basel’s rich historical past? There are a series of self-guided walks in which you follow in the footsteps of Basel’s historical figures such as philosopher Erasmus and portrait artist Hans Holbein. The walks take you to some of the city’s main attractions, such as the Munster, the Rathaus, and the main squares, Barfusserplatz, and Markplatz, where there is a daily market. Pick up a leaflet from the tourist office. Audio-visual “iguides” are also available for hire.

www.basel.com

Another Hello Switzerland contributor is Baselbased author Faiz Kermani, who recommends warming up with some hot chocolate at Basel’s oldest cafe, Confiserie Schiesser in the Marktplatz. “It’s been serving customers since 1870 so visitors love the authentic feel to it’’ he says. “Or if you’re feeling very generous, the Hotel Les Trois Rois offers a stunning vantage point for watching life on the river.”

www.confiserie-schiesser.ch www.lestroisrois.com

BASEL 17

issue 4 / 2014

ROCKING OUT

Photos: Background, ST/swiss-image.ch/Andreas Gerth; © Basler Tourismus and Standort Marketing Basel; © Hotel Les Trois Rois; swiss-image.ch/Christof Schuerpf; © Confiseur Laederach AG

The beauty of Swiss cities is that the countryside is always in easy reach. Jump on a train at Basel SBB and within minutes you can enjoy a walk in the hills. Try the S3 train, and start at Grellingen where you can hike to the Wappenfelsen, a series of rock paintings from the 1st World War. Soldiers painted the coat of arms of their unit onto the rocks, and now it’s a protected memorial. Follow the yellow Wanderweg signs from the station, and discover waterfalls, streams and caves.

www.grellingen.ch

SOUVENIRS AND SERENIT Y Cross the Mittlere Brucke over the Rhine and you can combine sightseeing with a trip to Manor department store for some souvenir shopping. There are Swiss mugs, cow themed souvenirs and Swiss army knives aplenty. Taking a walk along the Kleinbasel side of the river is a peaceful antidote to the busy shopping streets. With ferry boats drifting along pulled by the tide and the nearby church bells ringing, you could easily forget which century you are in!

www.manor.ch/basel

L AST MINUTE LOOT All visitors need some Swiss goodies to take back home with them! My favourite last minute stop is Laederach at SBB station, where the airport bus leaves from. You can sample pieces of the huge slabs of unpacked chocolate, which can be purchased by weight. There is also a branch in the Marktplatz.

www.laederach.com

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Member

LIFEST YLE 19

issue 4 / 2014

HOW TO SURVIVE...

CHRISTMAS As Christmas is knocking at the door, trying to accomplish buying gifts, planning meals, plus taking care of the various pre-holiday dates, visits, concerts and events can become overwhelming and hectic at time which should be one of reflection. Life coach Désirée A. Steinmann suggests ways to keep calm over yuletide. Instead of experiencing this period as special, spiritual or as a time for personal relationships, it often means stress, impatience, disagreement and rejection. That's because most of us are out of balance. We have very high demands during this time that ever ything should be per fect. The apartment should be decorated in the holiday spirit, cookies should be homemade, we search for that perfect gift for everyone in the family, the beautiful clothes, great meals (mostly too

much food which also throws us out of balance), and often we are surrounded by so much family that we're not sure what to expect. If you feel overly strained and stressed, take a moment of peace and silence and find a way out of the holiday trap. Ask yourself these key questions: “What do I enjoy in how I celebrate Christmas?” Then keep the answer in your mind and focus on it.

20 LIFEST YLE

On a practical level, here are a few tips that might help you to relax better:

“The apartment should be decorated in the holiday spirit, cookies should be homemade, we search for that perfect gift for everyone in the family…”

- Split up the tasks and ask the family for help. - Plan more time just to be by yourself.

- If the gift situation overwhelms you, start to use a new model: for instance, buy only small gifts, only for children, or perhaps have a family drawing of names and you only buy a gift for the name drawn. Just be creative. - If you lack time for baking or simply don’t like baking, ask around and find out who enjoys it and perhaps you can find a solution that way.

- Does the volume of Christmas cards drive you to the edge? Just write up a review of the year and send it to those in your mailing list. For some recipients such a review could be more meaningful than the usual season’s greeting! And if all else fails, try these Christmas gift suggestions from Texan novelist, journalist, and humorist Oren Arnold, “To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” Christmas can be a very special time, if you focus on how to make this time special for your family and yourself. Don’t allow yourself to be infected by the hysteria and stress and allow yourself to enjoy this time in your own way!

PASSIONATE ABOUT ENGLISH BOOKS SINCE 1999 The Bookshop, Orell Füssli Thalia AG, Bahnhofstrasse 70, CH-8001 Zürich Tel. +41 (0) 44 211 04 44, Fax. +41 (0) 44 215 72 05 www.books.ch | www.facebook.com/TheBookshopOrellFuessli

Photo: © Akshay Moon

“How does Christmas stress me?” Try to find a specific answer for this.

issue 4 / 2014

SWISS LEGENDS 21

ALAIN DE BOTTON: SEEING THE WOOD FOR THE TREES

With bestsellers in 30 countries, Zurich-born Alain de Botton is a prolific writer and TV presenter on the p' hilosophy of everyday life'. Based in London, he has established a centre for learning, The School of Life, in eight nations worldwide in just over six years. Now he's launched The Philosophers' Mail, a website with a satirical take on mainstream news. So how did his childhood in Zurich impact on his career? Jennifer Davies finds out...

22 SWISS LEGENDS

You're Swiss, yet, because you made your name in the UK, many people assume you are English – where do your roots lie? I was born in Zurich in 1969, to a Swiss German speaking mother from St.Gallen and a naturalised Swiss father who was a “I deeply respect Swiss Jew from Alexandria, At home we egalitarianism – whatever Egypt. spoke French, and I you do and however much went to the École Français in Zurich until money you make, you are the age of 12, when I part of the community transferred to a UK boarding school. I first. This beautiful idea retain ver y close doesn’t belong in the emotional and practical ties to English tradition.” Switzerland.

What is your most significant memory of growing up in Zurich? It was the sense of safety and solidity – that came primarily via the architecture – even of the simplest buildings like the tram stop. One had a feeling of a civilisation that was inherently calm and stable. This is extremely reassuring for a child – especially one like me – with a tendency to anxiety. I especially remember the smell of drying concrete in the wall of our garden after a rain shower, and, in spring, the fat snails that appeared on the lawn.

How does being Swiss influence your life and work? I deeply respect Swiss egalitarianism – the sense that whatever you do and however much money you make, you are part of the community first. This beautiful idea doesn’t belong in the English tradition. I also love the ways Swiss life challenges Anglo-American capitalism. The way that people generally prefer quality over the long term to short-term cash! Lastly, I greatly admire the Swiss approach to architecture and the unbelievable care that's taken with many public spaces. This is deeply unusual and inspires patriotism. And, one tiny aside, in the last football World Cup, my younger son and I became very enthusiastic supporters of the Swiss team, which we've maintained ever since.

Is your goal to help people use philosophy to understand everyday life better? Really I'm interested in emotional health first and foremost. I looked at philosophy, but also psychology, art, literature – culture as a whole if you like – as a response to the needs of the soul.

In Switzerland, many economic and social problems have been solved, but many psychological problems are still very active. Therefore I'm convinced that, because the outer questions were so well resolved, my Swiss childhood helped to orient me to the inner questions that interest and excite me, like: Why can’t we feel less anxious? Why are our relationships so hard? Why is it so difficult to raise children well? What can console us in the absence of God? I’ve been drawn to looking both into my own mind and the minds of ‘great thinkers’ to answer these dilemmas.

After years of writing and presenting, in 2008 you helped found The School of Life in London. What do people get out of the attending the school that your books don't – or can't – give them? My insight was that I, as an individual, could only get so far. I wanted to team together with likeminded souls. Thus The School of Life is the world’s first attempt to create a multinational ‘brand’ in the area of emotional health. We write books, offer therapy and run classes. It’s very powerful to attend a course, in person, on a subject and to discuss it with others in the room rather than merely with yourself in your head. You need others to hold up a mirror to you and to help you to understand things your own defences make it hard to see. There are now study centres in eight countries including the UK, Australia, Turkey, Belgium, France and Serbia. We hope to open a branch in Switzerland soon!

This issue of Hello Switzerland extends over the New Year period. Why do you think there's such a need to improve ourselves at the start of the year? I think that, since the decline in religion, there has perhaps been more of a sense that we each of us have to find our own way. January is “Our natural news-reading actually our inclinations, like reading biggest month gossip, are a starting point... so for enquiries at The School of we acknowledge it probably Life – people would be thrilling to have sex want to make a change. The with Jennifer Lawrence.” areas are often similar: 'My relationship is bad', 'My job is not fulfilling, I want more mental stimulation', or 'I am sad'. We take these issues so seriously and our whole school is geared towards intelligent, wise responses to them.

SWISS LEGENDS 23

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SPEEDY SIX Q&A 1 Favourite colour? Celadon.

2 Favourite place? The desert.

3 Biggest inspiration? Le Corbusier.

4 Most embarrassing moments? I bump into walls a lot.

5 Motto for how to live life? With comedic pessimism.

6 How would you like to be remembered? He tried to get culture to do more for people.

Do you think we put too much pressure on ourselves? Well, we, as human beings, should be ambitious, but ambitious for our souls rather than just our status levels. And we shouldn’t think we're sick for trying to make life less painful and more interesting and kind – it's a natural aspiration.

In an age when we seem more and more stressed about time, money and our personal resources, what can philosophy realistically do for our everyday lives? Philosophy simply means a devotion to wisdom. This is one of the grandest and oddest words out there, so lofty, it doesn’t sound like something one could ever consciously strive to be – unlike say, being cultured, or kind. Although it’s impossible ever to reach a stable state of wisdom, as an aspiration, wisdom deserves to take its place among a host of other, more typical goals one might harbour.

Photos: by Mathias Marx

What prompted you to set up the incisive news website The Philosophers' Mail? Our news outlet www.philosophersmail.com interprets daily news in a philosophical way. In a tiny way, it is a fight back against inane media. Because today, the most attractive, sexy and compelling news outlets enjoy unparalleled influence over tens of millions of people, while the serious, earnest and good ideas are read in tiny niches. Therefore, the world doesn’t change. The epochal challenge is to reach the people who don’t engage with complex news and so The

Philosophers’ Mail makes use of our natural inclinations to read celebrity gossip, look at erotic images and read shock stories. It is also sympathetic (as a starting point) to popular biases. For example, perhaps we would find it thrilling to have sex with Jennifer Lawrence? We do want to switch off when hearing about trouble in Africa? Or we do become unnerved by a Romanian family begging on a French train? We don’t start by asking what the good or serious outlook might be. For that one could turn to the Economist, or the New York Times. Instead the site views the rolling day’s news as a way to develop insight, generosity and emotional intelligence.

Can philosophy survive into the future? If so, how can it stay relevant? We're trying to keep it relevant! We're making sure the philosophers are asking the right questions. Not so much 'what is the metaphysical status of being?', but more 'what do I do about shyness?'

FOR MORE ON AL AIN DE BOT TON www.alaindebotton.com www.theschooloflife.com www.thephilosophersmail.com www.living-architecture.co.uk

24 BERN

BERN’S CAPITAL ASSETS So your visitors know a bit about the Swiss capital and now they want to know more? Hello Switzerland’s Bern editor Querida Long serves up the highlights to sate their curiosity and answer some typical questions...

“WHAT’S THE MÜNSTER?” Once the guests have had an introduction to the city, head to the Old Town. Veer to the left and follow your nose to the Münster.

“ARE THERE REALLY BEARS IN BERN?” Indeed there are, and they no longer live in dreary pits. Instead they reside in roomy riverfront enclosures. Guests love to visit the bears, but in winter there won’t be much to see. After showing them the bears’ old and new digs, head to the Bern Show, a 3D multimedia presentation of the city showing how it has changed through the centuries. The show is presented every 20 minutes in several languages, including English.

www.baerenpark-bern.ch

The beautiful Gothic style cathedral is certainly worth a visit even if your guests just want to take a few snapshots to show the folks back home. If they prefer to learn more about the history and architecture, there is an audioguide tour available (in English and other languages). If they’re up for some stair-climbing they’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view over the city. On the first Saturday of the month (except January and February, but with extra days in December) there is a handicraft market on the Münsterplatform.

www.bernermuenster.ch www.handwerkermaerit.ch

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“WHERE DO LOCALS SHOP?” The Lauben, the 6 kilometers of arcades that run through Bern, allow you to window shop no matter what the weather. Guests will find charming little shops as well as familiar chain stores. On Tuesday and Saturday mornings (8:00 to 12:30) there are also the weekly markets on Schauplatzgasse, Gurtengasse, Bundesgasse, Bundesplatz, Bärenplatz und Münstergasse. You’ll find seasonal produce, local cheese, regional specialties and lots of photo worthy displays. Don’t forget to swing by the market on the Waisenhausplatz where your guests might find a souvenir to take home with them.

Photos: Background ©swiss-image.ch/Bern Tourismus, Muenster ©swiss-image.ch/Christof Schuerpf; Einstein, Lauben and Bundeshaus ©swiss-image.ch/Terence du Fresne

www.bernerwochenmarkt.ch

“ARE YOU ALLOWED INTO THE BUNDESHAUS?”

“DIDN’T EINSTEIN LIVE IN BERN?” Whether your guests want to know a little or a lot about Albert Einstein, you can accommodate their wishes. Warm up with a cup of coffee at the Einstein café, which is located in the building where Einstein lived when he came up with his special theory of relativity. The Einstein House has been restored to how it would have been at the time Einstein lived there. It is open to the public (but closed for the month of January). If the guests are still hungry for more Einstein, take them over the Kirchenfeld Bridge to the Einstein Museum to learn more about his life and work. Einstein Kaffee & Rauchsalon Kramgasse 49 / Münstergasse 44

www.einstein-kaffee.ch Einstein House

www.einstein-bern.ch Einstein Museum

www.bhm.ch

But of course! There are free guided tours that take about an hour. You should book at least one day in advance because space is limited. Please note that you have to have photo ID (passport, for example) to leave as a deposit during the tour. Check the website to be sure there are tours in the language you want on the day you choose.

Bit.ly/HelloBundeshaus

26 CAREER ADVICE

5 REASONS EXPATS NEED JOB COACHING A job search with Mercuri Urval’s program means open doors stay open BY EMMA BAUMHOFER

Despite their qualifications, many expats find it difficult to navigate the Swiss job market. Mercuri Urval’s unique one-on-one training gives newcomers a competitive edge in their job hunt. Peter Anderegg describes the 5 immediate benefits of Mercuri Urval coaching. 1. Increased networking skills – Expats in Switzerland are severely disadvantaged without a network. They will learn how to network, identify networking groups and use networking tools. Candidates need to learn to sell themselves. 2. Strategic CV adaptations – We help expats present their experience in a way that will be well received in this market. There are specific CV expectations in Switzerland. 3. Competitive interview skills – Learn when to negotiate your salary and other essential interview strategies that give you a clear advantage over other foreign applicants in your field.

4. A ccess to employer/candidate database – We connect employers with candidates from our database. Candidates who have been coached by us have an added “Fit for the market” quality stamp on their file. 5. Benefit of expert knowledge about the Swiss market – Mercuri Urval coaches are experts in the Swiss labor market. Our program is uniquely tailored to the skillset, Swiss region and language abilities of our clients.

For professional coaching in Switzerland please contact: Peter Anderegg Mercuri Urval Switzerland +41 (0) 41 228 80 90 peter.anderegg@mercuriurval.com

www.mercuriurval.com/en/ Countries/Switzerland

FRIBOURG 27

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FEELING AT HOME IN FRIBOURG While there are active expat communities in Switzerland’s major cities, those living off the beaten path can feel a little left out. Now Fribourg’s Junior Chamber International (JCI) is welcoming expats into the local community. Laurent Bernet from the organization talks to Querida Long about the project. The number of expats living in Fribourg is on the rise as its favorable tax rates attract more and more international companies to the region. Thanks to JCI Fribourg’s Expat Connection Committee, they can get involved in the local community while networking and socializing with other international professionals.

WHAT IS JCI?

Photos: Courtesy of JCI Fribourg

Junior Chamber International, or JCI, is a nonprofit organization of young people who are committed to creating impact in their communities. They come from all sectors of society, using their diverse skills, knowledge and passion to find sustainable solutions to local issues and to face global challenges. There are more than 200,000 members in over 100 countries. JCI Fribourg is one of about 70 local chambers in Switzerland. Under the motto “Learning by doing” their shared objective is to spark a sense of community responsibility in their members to use their skills to benefit the larger community.

The concept was to give expats and locals the chance to get to know each other in an informal setting. The first JCI Expat Connection event, a dinner and lecture (in English) by coach Hans Kossmann of the l e g e n d a r y l oc a l hockey team, proved such a success that there have been three more in the past two years: a visit to Fri Art exhibition where a former CEO of Cartier Switzerland spoke on the topic of luxury; a discussion on the economic situation in Fribourg with Canton Councillor Beat Vonlanthen ; and a meeting with St. Nicolas, the patron saint of Fribourg. These events are certainly something to look forward to, but JCI realized that more frequent gatherings would further develop a sense of community.

EXPAT CONNECTIONS One of JCI Fribourg’s projects is the Expat Connection Committee, which began in 2012 to promote integration of expats. “We wanted to find a way to help expat professionals get to know Fribourg beyond the workplace,” Bernet explains.

A solution came in the form of a “Stammtisch,” the German term for a group who comes together on a regular basis. The JCI “Stammtisch” is a casual get-together open to every expat. Bernet says, “As with any ‘Stammtisch,’ individual members may come and go, but the ‘Stammtisch’ is permanent.” The first Expat Connection Stammtisch met on 6 September 2014. It is held on the first Thursday of every month at Yatus winebar; register to receive the invitations at

www.expatsconnections.ch

28 DISCOVER SWITZERL AND

CHRISTMAS MARKETS Your guide to Swiss Christmas markets in 2014

Bern

Montreux

From 29.11.2014 to 24.12.2014. Times: Mon - Sun 11.00 to 18.30 / Thu 21.00 / Sat-Sun 10.00 to 18.00

From 21.11.2014 to 24.12.2014. Times: Mon - Wed 11.00 to 20.00 / Fri 11.00 to 22.00 / Sat 10.00 to 22.00 / Sun 10.00 to 20.00 Einsiedeln

Lugano

From 05.12.2014 to 08.12.2014. Times: Fri 16.00 to 21.30 / Sat - Sun 10.00 to 21.30 / Mon 10.00 to 18.00

From 01.12.2014 to 06.01.2015. Times: Mon - Sun 11.00 to 19.00 / Wed to 17.00

Photos: © Montreux Noel, © Bern Tourismus, swiss-image.ch /Terence du Fresne © Einsiedeln / Caroline Hurschler, ©Lugano turismo

Switzerland offers a variety of Christmas markets throughout the holiday season. Check out our guide to markets and their opening hours around the country. Varying from one day to several weeks in length, they offer local handicrafts, specialty regional food, artisan goods, and plenty of seasonal atmosphere! Visit a different market for a unique experience each weekend.

DISCOVER SWITZERL AND 29

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Photos: © pinterest, © Zuerich HB /Christkindlimarkt, © Basel Barfuesserplatz/ Dominik Pluess, © Luzern Tourismus, © Lausanne Régis Colombo/diapo.ch Background and map: © iStock/Anneleven, © freevectormap.com

Basel From 27.11.2014 to 23.12.2014. Times: Mon - Sun 11.00 to 20.00

Lucerne

Zurich

From 04.12.2014 to 21.12.2014. Times: Mon - Sun 11.00 to 20.00

From 20.11.2014 to 24.12.2014. Times: Mon - Sun 11.00 to 21.00 / Thu - Sat 22.00

HIDDEN GEMS Visit Hello Switzerland's interactive Pinterest map of Christmas markets to see our full list of over 40 markets across Switzerland and over the border. www.pinterest.com/helloswitzmag/christmas-markets-2014

Lausanne From 22.11.2014 to 24.12.2014. Times: Mon - Sun 11.30 to 21.30

Magic for my home Be inspired in one of our 20 stores or on pfister.ch

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OUR FEATURED PARTNERS A network of experts Welcome to the Featured Partners section of the magazine. Hello Switzerland’s Featured Partners provide you with world-class advice and products covering all key relocation topics. Hello Switzerland has been simplifying relocation and settling into Switzerland since 2008. To help you cut through the mass of information surrounding relocation we have partnered with seven leading Swiss companies who offer our readers up-to-date, accurate advice on the topics at the heart of successful relocation. Hello Switzerland’s Featured Partners all provide services specifically tailored to the needs of expats and foreign residents. Their services are available in English, French, German, and in some cases further languages. Our Featured Partners are trusted partners. We are convinced that their contribution adds true value to the Hello Switzerland community. Their know-how is your key to a smooth and efficient relocation and settling-in process.

Whether you need to open a Swiss bank account or are looking for the right insurance policies, you’re preparing your papers for the immigration process or dealing with Swiss and home-country taxes, you’re moving your household goods or buying/importing a car, finding a place to live, furnishing and decorating your new home, getting TV, mobile or internet , or finding the right healthcare solution - you can count on expert support from Hello Switzerland’s Featured Partners. We thank all partners warmly for their dedication, involvement and commitment to the Hello Switzerland community, and wholeheartedly recommend our Featured Partners to our readers. Mike Tomsett Chief Operating Officer Hello Switzerland

mike.tomsett@helloswitzerland.ch

Car import and sale

Banking services

Healthcare & medical

Insurance

Relocation

Home & furnishing

Tax consulting

TV, internet & telephone

32 FEATURED PARTNERS

WINTER DRIVING TIPS How to stay safe and handle Swiss streets in the snow Markus Häfeli, the owner of leading car dealership Autociel: Car Services for Expats, knows that winter driving is often new to many expats. Here are his winter tips. 4 wheel drive: In winter conditions 4WD cars offer a far better driving experience than 2WD, but remember 4WD doesn’t make you invincible! Interestingly, when driving downhill, a 4WD has no advantage over a 2WD. Winter tyres: In October every car-owner in Switzerland visits a tyre garage to exchange their lighter summer tyres for winter tyres. They grip better and perform better at lower temperatures. THIS IS A MUST from a safety point of view. Also, many insurance companies will refuse to settle for winter accidents involving vehicles with summer tyres. Tread carefully: Have the tyre shop check your treads, not just to make sure they are still legal but that they can handle snow and ice. All systems go:Ask a mechanic to check your vital systems - wiper blades, fluids, batteries, defrosting and heating systems.

Autociel’s unique customer service model is tailored to expats. We assess your needs and help you save money. As an independent dealership, we offer all car brands and take advantage of price differences between Switzerland and abroad. We can help you save on customs and import tax, and especially so if you contact us more than 6 months before you relocate. We are also Switzerland’s leading expert on relocating with your own car. We look forward to serving you!

Find more tips and info on the Autociel microsite at www.helloswitzerland.ch/autociel CONTACT US!

Check road conditions: www.ch.ch/en/traffic-and-travel-news is an excellent resource for English speakers. Snow chains:Know how to use chains, and make sure yours fit and are on board. Pack the right kit! Jumper cables, shovel, ice scraper, warm winter clothes, blankets, flashlight. Autociel wishes you safe driving this winter!

Autociel’s recommended partner for winter tyres is Pneu Egger. With branches all over Switzerland, it’s the nation’s premier tyre dealership. Present the adjacent voucher at any Pneu Egger branch to receive a 10% additional discount on the regular conditions. Find a branch near you at:

www.pneu-egger.ch -> Filiales

Markus Häfeli Autociel.ch 1093 La Conversion, Lausanne +41 (0) 21 796 37 39

markus.haefeli@autociel.ch www.autociel.ch

Name: Vehicle Type: Purchase of tyres – Bezug von Reifen – Achat de pneus Purchase of complete winter wheels (rims and tyres) – Bezug eines Komplettrades – Achat de roues complètes Dimensions (example: 235/65R17 108H):

Change of tyres – Reifenwechsel – Changement de pneus Change of wheels – Radwechsel – Changement de roues complètes Storage – Einlagerung – Gardiennage Clean your car – Fahrzeug Reinigung – Nettoyage de la voiture Service your car – Autoservice – Service Snow chains – Schneeketten – Chaînes à neige

Pneu Egger : 10% discount/Rabatt/remise Autociel Client Card (Kundenkarte/carte de client) RLA285, Kundennr./no. de client 9922500820

FEATURED PARTNERS 33

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ANTIQUE ATTRACTIONS BESIDE LAKE GENEVA Lovers of antiques can look forward to November, when the 45th Salon des Antiquaires will be held in Lausanne. The fair will boast a wide variety of interesting pieces, and art insurer Nationale Suisse will be on hand to offer expert advice to visitors and collectors alike. The Salon des Antiquaires in Lausanne has been a firm fixture on the cultural calendar since 1981, attracting exhibitors, dealers and above all antiques lovers to Switzerland. This year’s fair, running from 15 to 23 November, is set to feature a strong art nouveau influence. The Library of Geneva’s exhibition entitled “Autour du Léman” (Around Lake Geneva) will contain a collection of advertising posters designed in the art nouveau style by Genevabased artists in 1900. The posters showcase Switzerland’s characteristic qualities and the beauty of the region surrounding Lake Geneva. There will of course be plenty more to see during the nine days of the fair: from antique paintings to vases, sculptures, jewellery and exquisite rugs, collectors will find something to suit every taste.

Photos: © Salon des Antiquaires

COMBINING INSURANCE AND ART EXPERTISE Collecting antiques performs an important function. It helps to preserve the arts and crafts of bygone eras so that future generations can enjoy them too. Lovers of antiques can benefit from the support of a strong partner in this valuable endeavour in the shape of art insurance specialist Nationale Suisse. “We work hard to amass the requisite know-how on art conservation and thus make a sustainable commitment to art,” explains Edith Schneider, Head of Art Switzerland at Nationale Suisse. The

insurer has, for example, helped the Fondation Beyeler to preserve Henri M a t i s s e ’s key work “Acanthes” and joined forces with the Kunsthaus Zürich to restore a number of outstanding artworks. It also promotes young restorers and art educators through its partnership with the Kunstmuseum Luzern.

NATIONALE SUISSE PRESENT ON SITE Nationale Suisse will be present in Lausanne to ensure that it can inform visitors to the Salon des Antiquaires directly about art insurance matters. Even those who are more interested in the actual treasures of the past than insurance solutions are well advised to visit the Nationale Suisse stand, where some historic handbags that were once carried by famous people will be on show courtesy of the Musée Suisse de la Mode in Yverdon.

Edith Schneider is Head of Art Switzerland and has worked at Nationale Suisse in Basel for 13 years. Salon des Antiquaires, Lausanne 15 to 23 November 2014

www.salondesantiquaires.ch

www.nationalesuisse.ch/art

www.packimpex.ch

« In one of the toughest real

estate markets I have encountered, Packimpex was successful in securing my family’s dream home. Their proactive and processorientated approach was invaluable during my relocation to Geneva.

Ann Sullivan and her partner Transocean, Global Practice Manager

Packimpex tailors innovative and sustainable relocation solutions to the needs of international companies and their employees.

Packimpex Ltd. Switzerland: Bern (HQ), Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, Neuchâtel, Vevey, Zug and Zurich Germany: Freiburg i.Br. - Phone +41 (0)58 356 14 14, info@packimpex.ch

FEATURED PARTNERS 35

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CHINA TO SWITZERLAND A FAMILY ADVENTURE How Packimpex met one family’s unique relocation needs Packimpex relocated Bin Fu and her family from China to Switzerland three years ago. Bin shares the story of their adventure with Hello Switzerland. BY MARITA FUHRER

When I was offered the chance to transfer from Bosch in Hangzhou to Solothurn, my family and I had only three months to decide and move! It was extremely important for me to get my daughter’s buy-in for this exciting new phase. We attended information days together and visited Switzerland. I firmly believe in the importance of preparing yourself and your family with the right expectations before relocating. Packimpex’s DSP arrival services, including registration with our commune, and school and home search, were I told her that a smile is indispensable. I don’t how people manage international and if know to relocate on their own! that’s all she can Packimpex is specialised handling the challenges manage then that’s fine. in that foreigners encounter. They know what is required for a smooth relocation and how to prevent potential problems later on. Our consultant Ursula focused on our priorities in the move. She successfully found a good school for our daughter Yifan within walking distance of a nice apartment, located in an international area where many residents spoke High German. We enrolled Yifan in public school and through it got to know our new community. Yifan felt safe walking to school and we got to spend more time together as a family when she came home each day for lunch. The public school was great and involved Yifan from the first minute. The school principal got

the kids really excited about Yifan’s first day and she felt very welcome. The first three months were tough for her of course because of the language. I told her that a smile is international and if that’s all she can manage then that’s fine. After six months she was playing and communicating with the other kids as if she’d been here the whole time. There are things we miss about home. My husband Bingxiang misses the fish and I miss the huge variety of vegetables available in China. But we’ve been lucky to have family and friends come to visit. If I made this move again I would try to learn the language before I arrived. Learning a new language, plus managing a relocation and a new job was a bit too much to juggle comfortably at one time. The quality of life in Switzerland is exceptional. The natural environment is beautiful and I love the discipline and safety of the country. After three years, we are now transferring back home to Hangzhou, but we have had a wonderful Swiss adventure.

Contact Ursula Christen, the consultant who helped Bin and her family relocate, for support in your relocation to Switzerland:

Packimpex Ltd. Ursula Christen Destination Services +41 (0) 58 356 14 53 ursula.christen@ packimpex.ch

www.packimpex.ch

You know Switzerland for its muesli. But we have much more to offer: Credit Suisse is the bank that brings you excellent financial advice. credit-suisse.com/welcome

FEATURED PARTNERS 37

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THE FINAL TALLY What is left at the end of life? How much do the Swiss have left in their wallet after life's major and minor expenses? Assets, inheritance and disposable income at a glance. Assets provide no benefits; they simply serve to smooth over consumption during a life-cycle – or so the Italian economist Franco Modigliani (1918-2003) believed. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1985 for his life-cycle hypothesis. According to his theory, people save throughout their working years in order to consume their assets in old age and up to death – which is known in advance in the model calculation. Two major points undermine Modigliani's theory. In practice, we don't know when we'll die; and assets are passed on in the form of inheritance. In Switzerland some CHF 30 billion are passed on annually. In 2000, the average amount inherited per deceased was CHF 450,000, not including the 25% of those who die without leaving behind an estate. The average inheritance was CHF 180,000. However, onethird of the population never inherits any money. As we see, inheritance is a highly irregular phenomenon: 45% of heirs receive 98% of the total amount inherited. Inheritance is thus on the whole as unevenly distributed as assets. In other words, inheriting strengthens the asset concentration – those who already have, receive more.

Source: Credit Suisse website

©Credit Suisse

According to the latest federal tax statistics, there are 10,500 people in Switzerland with net assets of more than CHF 10 million. They make up less than 0.5% of those subject to wealth tax but own 26% of total private assets. The "richest 300" according to Bilanz magazine have an estimated

©Credit Suisse

wealth of CHF 564 billion; that is nearly as much as Switzerland's annual gross domestic product. The 2013 Global Wealth Report by Credit Suisse provides an international comparison of the concentration of wealth. According to this report, the distribution of wealth in Switzerland is almost as uneven as it is in Sweden, and more uneven than in Germany or France, although it is more even than in the US. In addition, the concentration of wealth and average assets vary between cantons. The average net assets per person subject to tax are almost CHF 300,000 in Switzerland. The cantons with the highest average wealth are Nidwalden and Schwyz with more than CHF 870,000, and Jura and Solothurn are at the bottom of the list with CHF 120,000. Within the cantons, wealth is distributed most unevenly in Basel-Stadt and Geneva, and most evenly in the canton of Uri. Find out how inheritance tax can impact you in the second part of this article online at

www. helloswitzerland.ch/features

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 adviser 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.

SWITCH MY MOBILE RATE PLANS AT ANY TIME.

Forget minimum terms. Sunrise Freedom gives you the flexibility to switch your mobile rate plan, whenever you want. So you always have the mobile rate plan that’s just right for you – whether you’re calling here or halfway around the world. For more information visit sunrise.ch / freedom

FEATURED PARTNERS 39

issue 4 / 2014

A TROPICAL RAINFOREST IN THE MIDDLE OF ZURICH Here's some good news for anybody who considers winter days in Zurich too cold and gray : The nearest tropical landscape is just a few minutes away! Above the city, in Zurich Zoo, a huge hall houses a simulated rainforest ecosystem. It is one of Zurich Zoo's main attractions: the Masoala Rainforest hall, an enormous construction covering an area of over 11,000m2. Flora and fauna in this indoor ecosystem, the only one of its kind anywhere in the world, have flourished since the facility was first opened. The 17,000 tropical plants have grown to form a thick rainforest which is home to lemurs, reptiles, fruit bats and birds.

NIGHT AT THE ZOO Zurich Zoo offers a wide range of tours and events in English. Evening tours during the winter months are particularly popular. When dusk approaches, a special atmosphere settles across the entire zoo – particularly if snow is on the ground.

Visitors to the Masoala Rainforest will experience the plant and animal life of this landscape directly and unobstructed by any fences. Paths allow visitors to stroll through the range of habitats contained within the rainforest. The jungle's essence, multiple levels of lush, thick vegetation, is enhanced by the exhibit's topography and the layout of the paths.

www.zoo.ch WIN TICKETS! Sunrise is giving away 10 pairs of zoo tickets. Mail zoo-competition@ sunrise.net and tell us why you should win the tickets. Good luck!

ESCAPE THE WINTER CHILL

Photos: © Sunrise

In order for the plants to thrive, the hall must replicate the climate conditions that prevail on Madagascar's Masoala Peninsula. That means that the Masoala Rainforest is also an ideal place to escape Switzerland's winter chill for a few hours. An elaborate heating and ventilation system ensures that air in the rainforest remains at temperatures of 20-30°C and at humidity levels of over 80% throughout the entire year. An overhead sprinkling system even provides up to 6mm of precipitation per day, an amount typical for a tropical rainforest.

CONTRIBUTION TOWARD RAINFOREST PROTECTION Since 1995, Zurich Zoo has invested over CHF 3m in conservation and development aid projects in Madagascar, supporting the protection and preservation of the Masoala Rainforest.

SUNRISE SUPPORTS ZURICH ZOO Sunrise is the official communications partner of Zurich Zoo and is committed to promoting the zoo's interests. In spring of this year, for instance, Sunrise installed a webcam, even before the grand opening of the new elephant park, to ensure that curious eyes could get a glimpse of the pachyderms – including Omysha, the baby elephant born in June 2014.

www.sunrise.ch

Competition closes 20 December 2014. Only one entry per person allowed. No correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be contacted.

40 FEATURED PARTNERS

THE HIRSLANDEN PRIVATE HOSPITAL GROUP Expertise you can trust The Hirslanden Private Hospital Group is committed to excellence and quality. Over the last twenty years it has established an international reputation by offering the very best in private healthcare. The group provides the highest standard of clinical skills and nursing care across a wide range of medical specialties. All hospitals are in locations which are easy to reach and possess a clear infrastructure and processes on-site. In addition to this, a comfortable and pleasant ambience, including modern equipped rooms, supports the patient’s recovery. MEDICAL EXCELLENCE At Hirslanden all doctors are highly qualified and well-known experts, providing specialized medicine and surgery in their chosen fields. This expertise, the care of excellently trained medical staff as well as cutting-edge technology, including the latest techniques and devices, enable Hirslanden to meet every patient's individual needs.

PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES An unexpected fall can quickly lead to a laceration or a broken bone, an awkward movement on a sharp edge can cause a deep cut. The Hirslanden Accident & Emergency wards are prepared to assist you in these situations – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The paramount goal of the Emergency Unit is the integrated care of our emergency patients. That's why our infrastructure offers the most modern diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. ABOUT HIRSLANDEN Hirslanden operates 16 hospitals located in 11 Swiss cantons. With a total of 2,100 affiliated doctors and in-house physicians, and around 7,800 employees, it is the leading private hospital group as well as the largest medical network in Switzerland.

THE HIRSL ANDEN INTERNATIONAL TEAM Choosing the right doctor for getting a treatment or second opinion can be a formidable task. For information, support and direct referrals to the specialists, international patients (those with international insurances and self-pay patients) can contact Hirslanden International. Hirslanden International Seefeldstrasse 214 8008 Zurich +41 44 388 75 75 international@hirslanden.ch

www.hirslanden.ch

FEATURED PARTNERS 41

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THE 16 HIRSL ANDEN HOSPITALS Aarau Hirslanden Klinik Aarau*

Zurich Klinik Hirslanden* Klinik Im Park*

Schaffhouse Klinik Belair

Basle-Münchenstein Klinik Birshof

Heiden Klinik Am Rosenberg

Saint-Gallen Klinik Stephanshorn*

Geneva Clinique La Colline

Photos: © Hirslanden

Zug/Cham AndreasKlinik*

Lausanne Clinique Cecil* Clinique Bois-Cerf

Berne Klinik Beau-Site Klinik Permanence Salem-Spital* Praxiszentrum am Bahnhof

Lucerne Klinik St. Anna* St. Anna im Bahnhof Meggen swissana clinic meggen

Hirslanden hospital with 24h emergency centre Hirslanden hospital with 24h emergency admission

* hospital with obstetrics departement

Hirslanden Ambulatory Care Centre

42 FEATURED PARTNERS

CLOSING PENSION GAPS AND SAVING TAXES Employees in Switzerland who are members of a pension fund may close pension gaps with additional buy-ins. These extra payments can reduce income taxes significantly. However, there are limitations and therefore any buy-in should be considered carefully. BY NICOLE BREGY

SWITZERL AND’S SOLID SOCIAL SECURIT Y SYSTEM Switzerland has a solid and effective social security system based on three pillars. AHV/AVS and IV/AI funds build the first pillar, paying pension benefits in the case of disability, death and retirement. Basically every person living in Switzerland, even if not working, is legally required to be insured in the AHV/AVS system. Building on this, the second pillar or pension fund is organized for employees by their employers within the requirements of the BVG/ LLP law. Each employee insured in AHV/AVS and earning over CHF 21’060 per year must be insured in the company’s pension fund. The firm may set up its own pension fund or is free to join a multi-employer pension scheme. In order not to lose out on competitiveness and to attract well-qualified employees, companies often decide to set up a pension plan that is more generous than the minimum legal requirements. For example, many employers not only insure salaries up to a maximum of CHF 84’240 as required by BVG/LLP, but also include salaries exceeding this amount. The third pillar consists of any other voluntary individual savings.

SAVING TAXES WITH PENSION FUND BUY-INS Being a member of a pension fund means compulsory saving for retirement benefits. Each month, part of the salary is deducted and transferred to one’s individual pension fund account. In addition to these regular contributions, employees may make extra payments if the pension fund regulations allow this and if there is a gap in the employee’s pension fund account. The pension fund administrators will calculate the so-called buy-in potential. Normally the potential is listed on the annual pension fund statement. The amount depends on a range of factors, such as the insured salary, the regular savings premiums, the date of enrollment, and the retirement age. Typically, employees relocating to Switzerland from abroad have large gaps because they started their career in a foreign social system. Pension fund buy-ins can be deducted from one’s taxable income at federal and at cantonal level. The higher the marginal tax rate, the bigger the tax savings. However, it is important to consider that Swiss tax law does not foresee tax credits like many other

countries do, and so pension fund buy-ins should not exceed the taxable income since otherwise the exceeding buy-ins will not save any taxes. It therefore may well make sense to spread the payments across different tax years.

LIMITATIONS TO CONSIDER Even if it sounds like a very easy way to save taxes, several limitations should be considered. These are, among other things: Tax rate: Buy-ins increase the retirement benefits. Retirement benefits such as lump-sum payments will be taxed at a reduced tax rate, whereas pensions will be taxed at the regular income tax rate. So, it is essential not only to calculate the immediate tax savings but also to estimate the approximate tax burden on the additional benefits at the time of withdrawal. 20% limit: Buy-ins are normally limited to 20% of the insured salary for the first five years if a person relocates to Switzerland and becomes a member of a Swiss pension fund for the first time. Three year blocking period: Extra payments are blocked for three consecutive years in the pension fund and cannot be withdrawn as a lump-sum payment within this blocking period. Foreign taxpayers: Although buy-ins are an easy way of reducing the Swiss tax burden, international tax aspects have to be considered as well. Employees who are liable to pay taxes abroad (e.g. US nationals) may overall not have an actual tax benefit from buy-ins. Each case should be analyzed carefully in advance to determine whether buy-ins are a useful option for lowering one’s overall tax burden. Read more about the special tax situation of US nationals in the next issue. For more information, simply get in touch:

Nicole Bregy Manager, Tax & Legal Services +41 (0) 58 792 44 00 nicole.bregy@ch.pwc.com

www.pwc.ch

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 43

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ONLINE SHOPPING IN SWITZERLAND Get it right! As the festive season approaches, many of us will buy gifts online for friends and loved ones - from hard-tofind products to feel-good gifts from "home". But international purchases can be subject to surprisingly high customs duties and import/VAT taxes, due on delivery in Switzerland. Here’s what we like and how to not get caught out.

MEINE DEUTSCHE LIEFERADRESSE ("MY GERMAN DELIVERY ADDRESS") Online retailers like Amazon or E-Bay often offer free shipping within the EU but not to Switzerland. This service lets you ship your items to one of the company’s

NORTH AMERICAN STORES Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Sears and many other US stores use the Borderfree system to make it easier to shop from Switzerland. Shipping, tax, and duties are included in the price, which is shown in CHF and is the guaranteed final price - so no further charges on delivery. It’s not cheaper, but more transparent. borderfree.com/clients

Swiss stores are usually in the local languages. Fashion Friends and Zalando are popular for clothing. Our favourite Swiss stores in English are Leshop.ch for food & drink, Koala for shoes, and Zara for clothes.

many pick-up points all along the Swiss border with Germany. Pick-up is easy and the company’s app makes using the service a breeze. www.deutsche-lieferadresse.com

CHRISTMAS POSTAL DATES 2014 The Swiss Post recommends mailing festive packages as early as possible. The final post dates are:

EXPAT STORES

Switzerland: 20 December for Economy, 21 December for Priority, 23 December for Express

Myexpatshop.ch, Jim’s British Market, and Taste of

International post: 3 December for Economy, 10

America offer Anglo-Saxon favourites direct to your

December for Priority, 19 December for Urgent

Swiss doorstep.

LESHOP.CH: YOUR ONLINE SUPERMARKET LeShop.ch delivers your shop to your door! Are you used to having your groceries delivered to your

HOW TO PL ACE AN ORDER

home? Then don't change your habits, as you can do this in

• LeShop.ch is pleased to offer you a discount

Switzerland too! With its large range of products.

voucher as a welcome gift - visit our welcome

LeShop.ch, the leading Swiss online supermarket, makes

page to find your voucher code

shopping an easy task. The LeShop.ch mobile apps let you

• Sign-up with LeShop.ch in just a few clicks

do your shopping anywhere at any time. Choose between

• Order at www.leshop.ch or via mobile app for a

12,000 Migros products, fresh products, branded articles

minimum purchase value of CHF 99

and wine. Don't waste your precious free time in crowded

• Click on "Checkout", enter your voucher code

supermarkets – simplify your life, spare your back and have

from the Welcome page under "Vouchers &

LeShop.ch carry your heavy grocery bags.

Gifts", and your discount will be deducted from your bill. Welcome to LeShop.ch!

44 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

WORLDWIDE CHRISTMAS DINNERS Why not try a new Christmas dinner menu this year? From Switzerland and Sweden, here are some great ideas for a delicious dinner to enjoy with your families and friends. Why not share your own menu ideas with the Hello Switzerland community on our Facebook page? You can order the wines recommended on this page at www.helloswitzerland.ch/moevenpick BY LUKAS HAYOZ,LINA GUNNARSSON WITH ILLUSTRATION BY EDI BARTH

WINE RECOMMENDATION

SWISS CHRISTMAS

Urs Schwerzmann, Manager at Mövenpick’s Wine Cellar in Zug, recommends the 2012 Compleo Cuvée Noire from the Staatskellerei Zurich

FONDUE CHINOISE Ingredients 50 – 200g per person of very finely sliced meat (steak of beef, veal, or pork, chicken or turkey breast). It’s best to ask a butcher to prepare the meat. 1,5 l beef stock (Swiss bouillon) 200g mixed sliced vegetables (e.g. onion, carrot, leek, celery) 1 bay leaf 1 clove 2 brushes of thyme 2 tablespoons of chopped flat parsley

How it’s done 1. Boil together stock, vegetables, bay leaf, clove and thyme. Simmer for around an hour. 2. Strain the mix through a sieve into the fondue pot. 3. Add parsley and keep it hot using a fondue heat source underneath. 4. Serve.Each guest takes a piece of meat, puts it on their skewer and cooks it in the bouillon. Serve with Sauces, bread, rice, chips, salad, pickles, gherkins, sweet-andsour vegetables or sliced fruit.

This cuvée blend of Pinot Noir, Diolinoir and Cornalin perfectly matches Fondue Chinoise. Its deep fruits paired with solid complexity stay front and centre even with the rich flavours of the meal’s side sauces. Serve it a little cool for an unforgettable Christmas meal. CHF 18.50 / 75 cl Wine Cellar Zug Mövenpick Schweiz AG Baarerstrasse 141 6300 Zug Tel: 041 760 96 50 weinkeller.zug@ moevenpick.com

“Fondue Chinoise” is the leader in the Swiss Christmas kitchen. Easy and quick to prepare, this meal means the host can spend more time at the table enjoying the company of guests. This fondue takes cheese out of the starring role and onto the dessert plate, while the range of tasty sauces and meats make fondue chinoise a highlight.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 45

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SWEDISH CHRISTMAS In Sweden people generally enjoy a huge buffet of many different tasters over a period of several days! This is known as a Swedish Julbord (“yule board”). There is so much on there but we will pick out one recipe, the Janssons frestelse. Vodka and beer are the preferred festive beverages!

JANSSONS FRESTELSE Ingredients 750g firm potatoes 1 can (75g) anchovies or tinned sprats 2 onions 3 dl (1 ¼cups) cream 1 tablespoon bread crumbs 3 tablespoons butter

How it’s done 1. Peel the potatoes and the onions, then cut the potatoes in strips and slice the onions. 2. Fry the onions in butter until soft. Place the potato-strips in the bottom of a buttered oven proof tray, add anchovies and onion and top with additional potato-strips. 3. Pour half of the cream and about 2 tbs of the remaining liquid from the anchovies over the potato mixture. Sprinkle with the bread crumbs and the rest of the butter. 4. Bake in the oven for approximately 40 minutes at 200 celsius. After 20 minutes, add the remaining cream. Serve with Herring and beetroot salad.

VODKA RECOMMENDATION Domenico Calabro, Manager at Mövenpick’s Wine Cellar in Jelmoli Zürich, recommends the Swissmade vodka Xellent This Swiss masterpiece is not as viscous as vodkas distilled from wheat. It’s very sweet in the nose, like pure chocolate, and freshly sweet on drinking. The surprisingly long aftertaste reminds us of rye bread and finishes with a fascinating aniseed and bubblegum flavour! Quite unique. CHF 52.00 / 75 cl

Wine Cellar Market Jelmoli Mövenpick Schweiz AG Bahnhofstrasse 8001 Zurich Tel:044 220 47 48 weinkeller.jelmoli@moevenpick.com

46 DISCOVER SWITZERL AND

HELLO SWITZERLAND TIMELINE Discover the history of (Hello)Switzerland As Switzerland’s expat and international scene has grown, so has Hello Switzerland. Starting out as a Basel-based news-sheet, we have become a national multimedia platform. This is our story.

1998

Anitra Green became editor of Hello Basel in 1998 and led the magazine for more than a decade.“One of my best decisions! My happiest moments were spent roaming the city and countryside, taking photos for the next issue.”

Hello Basel magazine was magazine founded in 1998, edited by Leslie Rijpstra and then Anitra Green. Hello Zurich, founded 2004, was edited by Jennifer Donati, Natalie Sanfiorenzo, and Jennifer Davies. Hello Bern, founded 2005, was edited by Querida Long. With 4 issues per year and a circulation of approximately 1,500 copies per issue, it was a modest start for what has become a leading national English-language magazine. Romandie editor Catherine arrived in Switzerland in 2001. “In our first week here were were invited to a fabulous barbecue down by Lake Geneva. We were then whizzed across Lake Geneva in a speedboat for an after-dinner coffee in France! What a start!” A few days after Thanksgiving in 2000, Bern editor Querida visited her first Ziebelemärit, Bern’s annual Onion Market. “In my family, Onion Market festivities have become as much a Thanksgiving tradition as pumpkin pie.”

January 2002

May-October 2002

The euro comes into circulation and makes cross-border shopping from Switzerland much simpler (if less interesting)! Got any old banknotes in the attic? The former German, Austrian, Irish and Spanish currencies can still be converted into euros!

Expo.02, Switzerland’s 6th national exhibition was held in the Three Lakes region of Biel/Murten/Neuchâtel/Yverdon, and had five themes: Power & Freedom, Moments & Eternity, Sense & Movement, Nature & the Artificial, and Me & the Universe.

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2008

2011

Hello Basel, Zurich and Bern merge, adding French and Italianspeaking Switzerland, to become Hello Switzerland. Anitra Green takes the helm with her longstanding editor's experience.

For our first major reader meet-up event, Hello Switzerland took 50 participants from all over the world to the Swiss wrestling championships in Schwarzsee, Canton Fribourg!

New editor-in-chief Caroline Thonger presides over the first full-colour issue of Hello Switzerland! Our circulation reaches 12,000 copies per issue.

On her third Halloween in Switzerland, Zurich/ Zug/Lucerne editor Allison’s daughters decided to finally trick-or-treat. “They came home with a strange assortment of sweets and over the years took more and more children with them - I wonder what the neighbours thought!”

Chief operating officer Mike relocated from Scotland in 2003 and worked in an an international organisation for the first seven years before moving to a Swiss firm. “Going local in 2009 was tough but luckily, the Swiss are openminded. My colleagues helped me learn the languare and made me feel very welcome.”

In 2009 our editorin-chief Jennifer won a Swiss broadcasting prize - one of her proudest moments: “The controversial campaign to ban new minarets in Switzerland became career-defining for me. My radio documentary on the topic won an SRF Award for outstanding journalism and I was thrilled to be the first ever Englishlanguage broadcaster to win.” (tinyurl.com/JenniferDavies)

June 2002

December 2005

Switzerland fully opens its borders to the EU-15 countries with the Free Movement of Persons Agreement, ushering in a new era. This leads to a higher influx of expats and a growth in Switzerland’s international community.

Smoking is banned on Swiss public transport! The days of pungent smoking compartments and wafting white cloud are over as train carriages are given an overhaul.

48 DISCOVER SWITZERL AND

2011 Reader expedition - 40 of us visit the Federal Yodelling Festival and enjoy the spectacle of 10,000 yodellers, flag throwers and alphorn blowers at the foot of the Jungfrau in the Bernese Oberland.

2013

In 2010 Basel editor Kate moved to Switzerland after four years in Vietnam. “I absolutely loved the fresh air, the view of the river from my apartment balcony, and sampling the wide variety of Swiss cheese and chocolate!”

Production manager Marita arrived from Melbourne, Australia in 2011. “I jumped straight into intensive German classes at Migros Club School to get up and running. I hadn’t counted on meeting my best mates there, and on my first day of school no less. Well worth it.”

July 2009

September 2009

Valais is the first canton to introduce a smoking ban. Local bars and cafés fear trade will drop, but from the first day of the ban, tourists and locals alike simply move to outside tables.

Swiss industry faces the global financial crisis. Banks are hit hardest and have to cut jobs. Swiss industry weathers the storm and maintains its workforce by switching to a part-time working regime for many employees.

DISCOVER SWITZERL AND 49

issue 4 / 2014

Hello Switzerland rebrands and relaunches – online, as a mobile app, with a new magazine concept, and with a bold vision for regular meet-up events around the country. Our print circulation reaches 23,000 copies per issue!

Content & community manager Emma kicked off with the coolest cliché. “I attended my first fondue dinner party at the home of Swiss friends. This was no dainty fondue eating - it was madness and so much fun! I’ve never seen cheese and schnapps gobbled up so fast.”

2014 We welcome our new editor-in-chief Jennifer Davies, who edited Hello Zurich eight years ago. Jennifer: “I was thrilled to see some familiar faces again and to receive such a warm welcome from the new members of the team. I can't wait to start reading about all the amazing things that readers are doing with their lives here in Switzerland. Please get in touch!”

Community & account manager Lukas has been the constant in the team. “After 10 years of Hello Switzerland I'm still passionate about sharing Switzerland and connecting like-minded people. I’m proud of how Hello Switzerland has become a leading source of inspiration and the most helpful platform for the international community. I even met my girlfriend at one of our readers’events! It has been an enriching 10 years. Thank you to the many people who have been involved in developing Hello Switzerland.” June 2010

February 2014

A record number of companies relocate their headquarters to Switzerland. The qualified workforce, innovation culture, fiscal conditions, central location and quality of life contribute to the country's success.

After years of increasing numbers of foreign employees, Switzerland’s referendum on mass immigration unsettles foreigners working in Switzerland and threatens EU relations. In response, the Swiss government announces it will be gentle with any changes…

50 GENEVA

9 TOP IDEAS FOR SKI-SHY FOLKS They say it’s a rare breed of locals in the Romandie who eschew ‘the ski’. So just what can you do here in winter if you don’t ski or snowboard? Writer P.K. Read investigates the options.

If you’re not strapping on a pair of skis, then there are countless fun and exciting winter activities that won’t iwnvolve you being stranded at a café at the bottom of the ski run and stuck behind a book as you sip on hot chocolate all day. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that anyway!)

SNOWSHOES

One of the very best ways to get outdoors in winter is also one of the easiest to do: Snowshoeing. Most ski resorts have marked trails, and snowshoes can be rented at local ski shops. Some excellent guided tours, for example of the UNESCO heritage site Aletsch Glacier in canton Valais, can be found at Mont Blanc Experience.

www.montblanc-experience.com

SAVOUR THE VIEW

The Salève plateau, known as the Balcony of Geneva, offers extraordinary panoramic views of the area in winter. There’s a cable car on the weekends, but why not hike up instead? Free guided hikes on the Salève are offered all year round every Sunday by the Association Genevoise des Amis du Salève (AGAS). More at

www.rando-saleve.net.

GENEVA 51

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LEARN TO CURL

What could be more Swiss than curling, one of the newest Olympic sports? The Geneva Curling Center in Thônex offers introductory classes beginning in September, Thursday to Saturday evenings.

www.curling-geneve.ch

CANINE CALLING

If building an igloo seems too tame, why not learn to drive a dog sled? The Vallée Verte area also boasts lessons in dog sledding.

www.traineaux-passion.com.

BRR…WINTER SWIM!!!

A genuine local winter activity that is not for the faint of heart is training for winter swimming in Lake Geneva. Starting in October, intrepid swimmers meet on Sundays at 10 am at the Rotonde des Bains-des-Pâquis to prepare for the 76th Coupe de Noël on 14 December 2014. Warm up afterwards in the saunas at the Bain-des-Pâquis, which are open all winter.

OUTDOOR SPA

Spas with outdoor thermal pools are one of the best ways to enjoy panoramic views. Family and friends who’ve been skiing can join you there when they get off the slopes. For example, there’s Leukerbad, with 30 different thermal baths from which to choose.

www.coupedenoel.ch www.bains-des-paquis.ch

www.leukerbad.ch

GO ESKIMO

Make an igloo. Feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with building your own house in a single day, and learn a few snow survival skills in the process. Group classes are available in Geneva.

Visit a glacier and experience these beautiful and disappearing wonders. Make your own list and see how many you can view this season. For a list of many of Switzerland’s 122 glaciers and guided tours, have a look at

www.alpenwild.ch.

Photos: © Swiss image; © Leukerbad AG; courtesy Teamway; © La Libellule. Background, Valais/Wallis Promotion/Christian Perret

www.teamway.ch

GL ACIAL GREATS

TRACK AND TRACE

Find out what all those prints in the snow mean, and about the animals that share the mountains and forests with us. Learn animal tracking in the snow! Courses available at La Libellule in Geneva.

www.lalibellule.ch And, when all else fails, put on your mittens, grab a few friends, head to the nearest park and start an epic snowball fight!

www.st-cergue-tourisme.ch explore

CrĂŠdit photos: Didier Jordan, Peter Colberg

breathe

SAD 53

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BEATING THOSE WINTER BLUES We all know the Swiss winter brings us shorter days yet, for around 200 thousand sufferers nationally*, it also brings the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. So, if the darker days are getting you down, Dr Michelle Wright, a British GP with a practice in Switzerland, gives us her expert advice on how to cope. INTERVIEW BY CATHERINE NELSON-POLL ARD

What is SAD?

Photo: Vladimir Fedotov, google.com/+VladimirFedotov

Although SAD is reasonably well known among the general public, its causes are still not very well understood – even by the medical profession, as Dr Michelle explains, “Basically, SAD is a variant of depression – the episodes of depression occur at the same time each year, usually during the winter months and affects mainly women. We don’t fully understand why it happens, though it’s thought that it occurs because of less sunlight around during the winter months. That changes the balance of chemicals (principally serotonin) and hormones (mainly melatonin) in the brain. This has a knockon effect for a person’s mood. There may also be a genetic tendency. Actually the ‘winter blues’ or sub-syndromal SAD is a less severe variant of SAD. SAD can be distinguished from ‘normal’ depression by the fact that a person’s mood improves during the spring and summer months.”

How can we make it better? Dr Michelle advises exposing yourself to natural daylight each day during the winter months, especially around lunchtime. If you can, try to take a sunny winter holiday. Make sure you get some regular exercise too as it has a positive effect on brain chemicals. She also suggests light therapy as a form of treatment. “There is a very specific way that the light therapy should be carried out – you need a special light source of at least 2500 lux (about ten times that of ordinary light bulbs). You need to sit a specific distance from the box and for a specific period of time. The risks of light therapy include a theoretical risk of damage to the retina at the back of the eye, so you need to make sure you use a specially designed light box for treating SAD and that you follow the instructions you are given. I would say if you’re worried you may have SAD, go and see your doctor to discuss it. Don’t just start using light therapy yourself. It’s important that you have a proper diagnosis.” *According to the Revue Medical Suisse

revue.medhyg.ch/article.php3?sid=23247

For more information You can contact Dr Michelle Wright at Health First

www.healthfirst.ch a provider of health related training for the English-speaking community in Switzerland. Further info on SAD here:

www.sada.org.uk/

54 UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

CHANTAL PANOZZO A day in the life… Copywriter Chantal Panozzo arrived in Zurich from Chicago in 2006 and quickly became known as the voice of the “everywoman expat” through her blog One Big Yodel. Since then she has become a mother and kept a successful writing and copywriting career. In 2014 she published her first book Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I’d Known. So how does she juggle her time? Chantal gives us a snapshot of her day. MORNING - THE JOY OF PIGS AND A NEW PROJECT 05:32 Crappy overpriced Swiss flea market alarm clock radio (for which I pay way too much to Billag) wakes me up to the tune of static. 05:45 Put on swimsuit and leave apartment, wondering why I do this to myself every week and catch bus to swimming pool.

“God bless you, YouTube Peppa Pig: Tree House Episode! It’s Peppa Pig for Toddler M and article writing for me.”

06:00 Swim 2,000 meters. Consider it a victory that I only crash once into the guy who feels the need to swim about a centimeter away from me. Then celebrate accordingly with a long shower. 07:29 The bus should be here. Check watch impatiently.

07:31 The bus arrives two minutes late. Wonder “what’s wrong with Switzerland?” but then get distracted by the woman who sits next to me, even though there are 20 other empty seats. Sigh and feel my earlier victory fading away. 07:45 Stand outside my apartment door checking my email. Open door to Toddler M’s cry of “Mommy!” and my husband’s “Bye, I’m going to work now.” 08:00 Try to have a coffee. Time to make today’s to-do list, which itself looks like it could do with a little ‘to-doing’. Though I thrive when I’m working on many kinds of projects, the to-do resembles my desk, aka the dining room table, which looks organized to no one but me. When I was asked to write about a typical day I didn’t know what to write. I don’t really have one, except to say it includes working out, writing, and answering to my most demanding boss – Toddler M (aged two) who makes her requests known in both English and German. “Sicher nicht, Mommy,” she is saying to me right now, as I try to write this article. “Sicher nicht!”

08:14 God bless you, YouTube Peppa Pig: Tree House Episode! Peppa Pig for Toddler M and article writing for me. 08:59 All too soon, Toddler M says, “All done Peppa Pig” and closes my old MacBook. “All done, Mommy?” she asks. It doesn’t matter

issue 4 / 2014

what my answer is because Toddler M wants to “play house t o g e t h e r.” S h e ’ s pulling my arm. I don’t w ant to be t he world’s worst mommy, so I finally agree. Toddler M re war ds me by choosing the smallest, oldest looking grandma doll to call “Mommy.” Try to accept. 10:00 Clock dings across the street. Dings four times, then ten times. I escape from the dollhouse to write a blog post for One Big Yodel. Toddler M plays by herself for 20 minutes. (Practically an eternity for a toddler, while the clock tower reminds me exactly how long an eternity really is.)

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL 55

14:30 Bells ding twice. Phone rings three times. Begin conference call with ad agency to discuss latest ads. Overall takeaway is that we need to make the ads less funny and interesting. 15:31 Conference call ends. Jot down, “stress Swiss quality” and “include call to action” before beginning the CNN Travel article. I need to categorize Zurich’s hotels into expensive, moderate, and budget. Realize “budget” has a different definition for Zurich as it’s one of the world’s most expensive cities. Is it ok that “budget” means at least $200 a night? It will have to be. (Sorry to the American readership who might be used to places like Super 8!) 16:03 Work on updating the Liechtenstein portion of a Switzerland guidebook. 16:37 Feel like a nap but instead go back to CNN article. Realize I need to recommend places for nightlife. Nightlife? What’s that? Email friends in Zurich who actually go out at night. Do I still have friends that go out at night?

10:20 Toddler M wants to go to the “...back to CNN article. Realize I playground. I give in. I want her to be 17:01 Toddler M is crying and I retrieve really tired at naptime since I have so her from her crib. “Are you going to need to recommend nightlife. much to do. At the playground, work, Mommy?” she asks as we walk What’s that? Email friends in Toddler M ignores the baby swing – into the dining room, looking at the the only thing that is age appropriate. Zurich who might actually go out table. My papers are, as always, scattered everywhere, “Not right She wants to climb the ropes. As her at night. Do I still have friends who now,” I say. “Let’s go for a bike ride.” feet go unsteadily higher than my head, I silently wish for those super go out at night?” safe Amer ican playgrounds – 17:16 We bike along the Limmat river inspired by lawyers – that I usually think suck. and I wait for the Swiss Family Robinson to overtake us. Then, as I pass other bikers, I realize that we’ve become the Swiss Family 12:00 Bells ding twelve times. Husband comes home for lunch. Robinson. I’m feeling pretty good as I bike back before I realize we Groan inwardly because there is no food left in the house and are being followed...by a police car. Toddler M is eating from a box of stale Lucky Charms imported from the US about six years ago. 17:42 “Polizei Auto!” yells Toddler M happily. I’m not quite so enthusiastic. I pull over and am charged with the crime of biking 12:36 Cell phone rings. It’s an editor at CNN Travel who wants me in a pedestrian zone. I want to get mad but then I think, “yep, all in to do a story. Secretly celebrate husband’s presence and talk to a day’s life when your life is in Switzerland”. Not to mention, it’s the editor in a rare five minutes of peace. something to write about... 12:42 Check email. Wonder if it is broken since still I don’t have an email from the CNN editor. Repeat every two minutes until email from CNN editor arrives...

Photos: All courtesy Chantal Panozzo

AFTERNOON/EVENING - CONFERENCE CALLS AND ILLEGAL BIKING 13:35 Celebrate my new assignment and the fact that my email isn’t broken. Phew! 13:57 Wonder why I thought I had time to take on another assignment when I’m in the process of writing and editing four different books, working part-time for an ad agency, blogging, and running the Zurich Writers’ Workshop. Have a small panic attack upon realization that I am crazy. Put Toddler M down for a nap. Breathe for one second and realize that is all the time I have to do so.

18:09 Add “Polizei Auto story” to my to-do list.

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT CHANTAL PANOZZO Chantal Panozzo is the author of Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I’d Known. She is currently at work on her second book about Switzerland, among other projects.

www.swisslifebook.com Her blog: One Big Yodel

www.onebigyodel.com

56 L AUSANNE

LAUSANNE UNDER COVER If you prefer to find your fun inside (and in the warm!), rather than on the slopes, then Catherine Nelson Pollard presents some options to keep you and your family amused in the Lausanne area on cold winter days. The Swiss Museum of Games, in an old château in La Tour de Peilz (near Vevey), is a gem of a museum. Packed with displays of old games, board games, chess sets, playing cards, exhibitions and more, this museum is fascinating for both adults and children. You can play some on site or even rent some of the larger wooden ones to take home. On request, the museum hosts birthday parties for children to “travel around the world” in 90 minutes via games from different countries. Or, for those who are older, workshops can be organised to learn games like Go or Mah Jong. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:30, there are also special themed days throughout the year, including family brunches.

www.museedujeu.ch

TROPICAL TEMPTATION With a delightfully warm temperature of 25 degrees Celsius all year round, the Tropiquarium is the place to be, particularly on rainy and cold winter days. Just 15 minutes from Lausanne by car (public transport also stops outside the Tropiquarium), here you can find all sorts of reptiles and amphibians. Check out the Dome of the Komodo Dragon, newly installed this year!

www.tropiquarium.ch

Photos: Courtesy Swiss Museum of Games; American Flamingo by Robert Claypool - Own work. Creative Commons 3.0 via Wikimedia - bit.ly/AmericanFlamingo ; Musée de l'Elysée, Philippe Halsman, Like Two Erect Sentries, My Mustache Defends the Entrance to My Real Self, Dalí’s Mustache, 1954. Philippe Halsman

GAME ON

L AUSANNE 57

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GET YOUR SKATES ON! Lots and lots of skating rinks are erected throughout the winter in towns and villages across Vaud. Thankfully, there’s a website which lists them all to find the nearest one to you.

Archive © 2013 Magnum Photos Exclusive rights for images of Salvador Dalí: Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, Figueres, 2014; Swiss-image.ch/Regis Colombo; Courtesty TCS; Background, Swiss-image.ch/Regis Colombo

www.lake-geneva-region.ch/en/ expat/winter/icerinks

PHOTOGRAPHY IN FOCUS A short distance from the Olympic museum in Lausanne, the Musée de l'Elysée is billed as a Museum “for ” Photography. The museum houses a unique collection of photographs. Made up of over 100,000 prints, this collection is enriched, year after year, by acquisitions, long-term loans and gifts. Whether you know your “f stop” from your focal length, or you are simply interested in photography as an art in itself, it’s well worth a visit.

www.elysee.ch/en/collections

SAFE DRIVING We all know that we need to change the tyres on our cars for the winter season, but do you know why? Many expatriates arrive in Switzerland with little to no driving experience on mountain roads or in icy winter conditions. Touring Club Suisse (TCS) offer day-long courses from December 2014 to February 2015 on driving in the snow and ice, handling the wheel, emergency stops, the difference between summer and winter tyres and more. You take your own car. Courses are in French but many instructors speak or at least understand English. In the French speaking region of Switzerland, courses are held in Bourg-St-Pierre in the Valais.

www.tcs.ch/fr/cours/cours-neige-et-glace.php

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ZURICH 59

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Photo left: Hans Jörg Michel (Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi) of Dimitri Ivanchey as Borsa, Cheyne Davidson as Marullo, and the chorus. Scenery by Tatjana Gürbaca. Costumes by Silke Willrett. Set by Klaus Grünberg. Photo right: Dominic Büttner

ZURICH’S OPERA OPENS UP Some might think the opera is only for the richer and older among us, however as 15-year-old Fiona Turner-Hehlen finds out, Zurich Opera House – one of the winners at the International Opera Awards 2014 – has evolved with the times, offering something for everyone, including teenagers.

Photo: Both courtesy Opernhaus Zürich.

When I went to see Rigoletto by Verdi at the Zurich Opera House with my class, in June 2014, one of my most vivid memories is how much my feet hurt! Stepping into that century-old building and seeing my first opera, I had forced myself to wear ballerinas to compensate for my lack of fancy clothing! Despite that, it was quite the magical experience. Tremendously talented singers, doing things with their voices I could not even imagine was possible, accompanied by a splendid orchestra, all surrounded by an architecturally beautiful building. We had talked about the entire plot and listened to the score in previous German lessons, but for those who hadn't, a screen with subtitles in both German and English hung over the stage. The show itself was sort of a modern adaptation of the original, with businessmen dressed in

suits, and the only prop was a single white table in the middle of the stage. Safe to say, this evening must sound quite out of the ordinary for some who might have the impression that opera is only for those who reject technology, or everything modern, and have too much money to waste. But, like every other form of media, opera has evolved with the times. Sure, it’s not a cheap night for people to go to wearing skimpy clothing, but that doesn't mean that it's only for 60-plus-year-olds either. In fact, if you are willing to take the risk, the opera house sells relatively cheap tickets on the day of the shows (which vary from contemporary productions, to the classics we all know). Opera may not be for everyone, but Canton Zurich encourages young people to see operas and plays so that they become aware that there is more to see and hear than just free downloads from the Internet. In fact, they support it so much that tickets for some of the best seats are reduced to CHF 50 and the cheapest ones end up being more reasonable than an ordinary movie ticket in Zurich city!

For more information about Opernhaus Zürich

www.opernhaus.ch/en

60 ZURICH

THE INSIDE VIEW WITH MICHAEL COLLINS A dip in the Zürichsee may be out of the question, but there are still plenty of ways to keep your winter visitors to Zurich happy, so says American Michael Collins, a long time local resident and the publisher of the leisure voucher book Live Switzerland. INTERVIEW BY ALLISON TURNER

UETLIBERG VIEWS Beautiful winter days do exist, so take your guests up the Uetlibergbahn to the top, where there’s a spectacular look-out over the city as well as the excellent Uto Kulm restaurant. Or, depending on the path conditions, you may be able to walk the 6km from there to Panorama-Restaurant Felsenegg for a convivial fondue. If the path is closed, even better! You have a great excuse to travel up and down the Felsenegg gondola from Adliswil. From both of these restaurants and from the gondola itself, you’ll have a gorgeous view of the city, lake, Züriberg and the Alps in the distance.

CHOCS AWAY If your visitors equate Switzerland with chocolate, why not take them just down the lake to the Lindt factory in Kilchberg, where you can take a chocolate-making course?

ZURICH 61

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PY! WIN A CO

Photos: Swiss-image.ch/Christof Sonderegger; Uetliberg LCD" by Murdockcrc - Own work. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 via Wikimedia - bit.ly/Uetliberg; "Lindt bunnies 2" by bryan from nyc, usa @ karstadt oldenburg. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 via Wikimedia - bit.ly/LindtGoldBunny; Landesmuseum; Courtesy Michael Collins

d 2014" e Switzerlan iv "L n o ti en M in an email to land.ch helloswitzer competitions@ our free copy. to receive y entries win! The first 20

CULTURE TIPS For not-so-nice days, the Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum) is great if they like history and you’re unable to answer their trickiest questions. Or if you like cultural pursuits, try the Kunsthaus and the Museum für Gestaltung for your art and design loving friends.

As we all know, saving money in Switzerland is no mean feat, so all of these venues or activities are offered as discounts in Michael Collins’ book Live Switzerland, with vouchers (‘2 for 1’ offers in most cases and some even better) that could save readers up to CHF 4,500 in 69 places across Zurich and the rest of Switzerland. “All the offers are from establishments that I chose myself because they’re my personal favourites. I wanted to create a book that would inspire visitors and newcomers in particular to get out and discover the region – after all the ‘live’ in Live Switzerland is a verb,” explains Michael. So what is new in the 2015 book? Michael tells us, “I asked those who purchased the first edition for suggestions, and both men and women said they wanted more adventure activities. Women also said they wanted more spa and wellness options, so I’ve been working on that as well”. So, your guests can expect to be heading off to the mountains, possibly on a motorcycle, possibly with one foot attached to a dam! Or relaxing with a mud mask and massage. The book is a handy size to pop in your pocket or purse and walk around enjoying the beauty of the city, taking advantage of the money-off deals wherever you might come across them. Or, especially if you plan to go further afield, Michael suggests pairing a day’s activity with dinner at a nearby restaurant.

BOOK DETAILS Don’t despair if you don’t win our competition. Live Switzerland costs CHF 69 and you can order a copy at

www.live-switzerland.ch It makes a great gift, as well!

62 CONTACT US

INE Z A G A M E FRE ION SUBS CRIPT o to lease g unched! P la re e 'v e W and.ch to oswitzerl ll e .h w w w e your or chang e b ri c s b u s s. on detail subscripti

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LUCERNE 63

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LUCERNE TO GO From Mark Twain to your average day tripper, Lucerne’s always been high on Switzerland’s visitor hit list. On a nice day you can’t go wrong with a lake cruise or stroll through the old town, but, if you and your guests are cursing the elements, Allison Turner has some suggestions. GL ACIAL STARES As a trip to the Lion Monument is practically a legal requirement for anyone visiting Switzerland, why not pop in next door to the lesser known Glacier Garden? There’s no warmer feeling than knowing that 20,000 years ago, the exact spot you’re standing on was covered in a kilometre of ice! The potholes and huge boulders were a fortuitous find by Josef Wilhelm AmreinTroller, who was excavating for his wine cellar in 1872. The site opened to the public soon after and now also houses a geological museum.

www.gletschergarten.ch

Photos: Gletschergarten.ch, Swiss Transport Museum Lucerne, swiss-image.ch/Christian Perret

TRANSPORT THRILLS It’s trains, planes and automobiles at the Swiss Transport Museum, many of which you can climb on and some you can drive. Also, don't miss the television studio complete with green screen, where you can make your own news, or talk show, and perhaps even email it to your adoring fans. New this year is the Swiss Chocolate Adventure. Climb in the amusement-park type ride and, as you’re whisked through the exhibit, you’ll learn (in a choice of languages, including English), how the cocoa beans get from their tree in Ghana to the box of chocolates in the shop.

www.verkehrshaus.ch/en GOING GOING GONDOL A When you do get a cloud free day, take the train from Lucerne up to the Titlis mountain via the world's first revolving gondola. The Titlis Rotair gondola revolves 360 degrees during the five-minute

trip, enabling unique views of the mountains with their dramatic rock faces and plunging crevasses. The trip takes you up to 3,020 metres above sea-level for a spectacular view – it is indeed worthy of being world famous!

www.titlis.ch/en/glacier/rotair

64 BONNER & BARTH

DREAMING OF A DRY CHRISTMAS As we drove out of Basel to Kandersteg on Christmas Eve in a car crammed with luggage, presents and a turkey, we were doubly excited because this would be our first Christmas in the little chalet we had bought nine months earlier. BY ROGER BONNER, ILLUSTRATION BY EDI BARTH

Owning a chalet in the Swiss Alps was the fulfilment of a dream, but we hadn’t reckoned on unforeseen complications. First, we arrived to find that the local farmer hadn’t cleared our long, winding driveway and we began schlepping our stuff through knee-deep snow. The next hurdle was the heating. Inside the chalet the temperature was an invigorating minus five Celsius, though hopefully cold enough to freeze the silverfish that spent their summer vacation in our cupboard and the spiders and earwigs that loved to nestle in shoes at night.

himself, so I outlined the problem and he had a go at tackling the valve, vigorously twisting it back and forth with the key until the sound of a “gush”. We were saved, I thought...until we started to retrace our steps and heard a high-pitched screech. Surely it was too soon for Janet to express her Yuletide Joy?

I quickly lit a fire and braced myself for the final obstacle: Turning on the water. The former owner had told us there were four important steps to take each time we left in winter: close the water main, drain the boilers, leave the taps partly open, and siphon the toilet bowl. Janet and I particularly relished the last job on Sunday afternoons before returning to our apartment in Basel.

“The bathroom is flooded!” she hollered.

Now, turning on the water meant trudging about a hundred metres to a pipe sticking out of a farmer’s field, and opening the valve with a special socket key. The water was supposed to rush uphill in the main. I turned the valve to the right this evening to a rumbling emanating from below ground, rather like a stomach coping with a fondue onslaught. Yet, back at the chalet no water came out of the taps! I slid down the hill again and tried again. Janet was still busy unloading the car and I decided not to say anything yet about the looming disaster, hoping for a miracle. I plodded back up…and still nothing. On my weary way down the hill once more, I saw Frans, one of our Dutch neighbours. Frans is a strapping guy who can handle

She’d been in the basement, storing a case of Glühwein, when water started to trickle down the walls. We dashed back to find the bathroom sink overflowing onto the floor. “Didn’t you pour antifreeze into the drains?” Frans asked, matter of factly. Janet had a bright idea for melting the ice, and while hunching under a sink with a hairdryer did nothing to enhance our holiday mood, we persevered for a couple of hours until the ice finally thawed. The temperature was now a steamy +15 degrees Celsius inside. At last we could celebrate Christmas Eve with our friends. The night was beautiful, with snow glistening from the chain of lights strung along the rafters of our neighbours’ farmhouse. We entered their living room and the tree had been decorated and carols played in the background. Putting our presents around the tree, we duly sat down with everyone for a light meal. And, as we listened to Bing Crosby crooning ‘White Christmas’, I couldn’t help but dream that all our Christmases be… dry.

FUTURE ISSUES 65

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COMING UP Explore new corners of Switzerland

Easter treats Where to go and what to do

The next issue of Hello Switzerland will land in your lap in February. Whether Back to school you embrace the winter or try to escape International, local & Join us as we prepare for the everything in it, we’ll be sure to feature something Auto Salon, Geneva’s between that grabs your attention. prestigious motor show. Plus, Grab a moment to discover it's time to plan for the new activities and events in school year 2015-16: We share our tips for Road tri Switzerland as we take you Star cars in pping finding the best school for your children. Switzerla nd straight into springtime. And why not embark on a few of the best Easter weekend escapes?!

WRITE FOR OUR FUTURE ISSUES! Hello Switzerland is an international community magazine focused on stories gathered from our countrywide readership and our regional editors. Since we began in 1998 your contributions have reflected all aspects of life as an expatriate here in Switzerland h zerland.c it w s o ll and we’re more keen than ever info@he to share your tips, anecdotes and experiences with our longterm readers, as well as those who are just at the start of their Swiss adventure. We’ll be looking at what keeps people busy, whether it’s internationals working hard to build their own business, how newcomers can build a network in their new home, or how to cope with down days. Share your stories or advice with our community. For example, you can help other readers by telling them how you: • Chose a doctor, school or nursery. • Built a personal/professional network in Switzerland. • Found a bargain. (Really?) • Fit into your local community. (We know it’s not always so easy!)

Photo: swiss-image.ch/Christian Perret

OUCH GET IN T S AT WI T H U

NEW BUSINESS PORTRAITS We have started a new regular feature on expatriate entrepreneurs around the country, so if you happen to be one, then get in touch – we’d love to hear from you and feature your business. Just email info@helloswitzerland.ch (editorial guidelines apply). We look forward to hearing from you! Or would you simply like to tell our readers about what your organisation is up to, or share your event news? Then get in contact with us at the aforementioned email address or create a business/ organisation profile on the Hello Switzerland website, where you can update it effortlessly with your events. Just head to www.helloswitzerland.ch to set up a free profile.

66 THE L AST WORD

MEET

GIRISH

Newly arrived from Mumbai

BY EMMA BAUMHOFER

You’ve been in Switzerland two months now, what are your first impressions?

Girish Pawaskar

Switzerland is a dream holiday destination in India. It’s in many Indian movies and its scenic beauty is well known. I am enjoying the first hand experience, but I realise we are not here on vacation. We are settling down for a few years, so it is very different to adjust to the culture, language and lifestyle with a long term perspective.

We moved to Zug from Mumbai because of my wife’s job. It was a difficult decision to leave my own job behind but we’re very excited to start this new chapter of our lives together.

What are some of the initial challenges you’ve faced?

I am definitely not used to shops closing so early! It has also been a challenge managing our son’s needs. Many crèches do not take children over five years old. With my wife and me working full-time Ishaan requires some after-school care. It was also a challenge for me to find a job without strong German skills. I would also like to meet more like-minded people here in Switzerland.

UR SHARE YO STORY

to be if you'd like ch u to in et G is page. featured on th land.ch itzer info@hellosw

How are you overcoming these issues? We’ve been able to work with Ishaan’s school to arrange after-school care. I also enrolled in an intensive language course at Berlitz, and advanced quickly through the course material. I feel more confident now communicating in German in public – although I still have a long way to go!

Is there anything you miss from back home yet? Haha, oh yes! First, there’s the food. We Indians eat a lot of spicy food and in Mumbai we also eat out often. I also miss all the hired help we have back home for cooking, cleaning and washing. You don’t do anything on your own in India so this is a big adjustment for us. Between nannies and family we also have more help for our child in India.

How do you tackle homesickness? The first thing we did was to locate the nearest Indian food shops. There are two or three good ones in Zurich. We now cook much more often at home and I have discovered a new passion for learning to cook my favourite Indian dishes. I am also actively looking for new expat and Indian communities in the Zug area. English Forum has been very useful and the Indian community in Zurich hosts many excellent festivals. Attending these events has helped a lot in overcoming homesickness.

What are you looking forward to next? I hear winter is pretty hard but I am also looking forward to it. I hope we even enjoy some winter sport! I am also eager to start my new job as a SAP consultant and to have the chance to make new international and local friends here. And it will be exciting to see my son begin to pick up German; it will be his fifth language!

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We look forward to your visit: Basel, Berne, Biel, Bursins, Crissier, Geneva-Meyrin, Kloten, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Zollikon, Zug, Zurich-Enge, Zurich/Jelmoli, Vaduz (FL)

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