Well, I was wondering, and this is what I found...

I've been following this thread because I come to meet my girlfriend in her own country often, and while I adore her, one day in sadness and desperation, I typed in "Switzerland is boring" and this is the thread I found!

Basically, I find that the Swiss are afraid of excitement and real spontaneous fun. While I realize security is all fine and dandy, coming from a truly diverse society (like, with a Black president! YAY!) I love exploring and enjoying other people. I AM bilingual, btw... Anyway, I honestly initially came here with an open mind and a desire to possibly stay (because basically, I am totally in love with my GF). However, the conservatism and coldness (some would say meanness) of the people shocks me.

Consider the fact that you must pick your baby's name from a government supplied list... how crazy is that? And yes, even 'liberal' Swiss will defend this to their last dying day! Swiss site strange names and say 'what about the child's feeling' which is basically a way of making fun of others, while not having to accept the responsibility for accepting difference.

Yes, as is seen in the movies, a Swiss idea of standing out is using the wrong colored garbage bag. While I admire that everything 'works', this clinging to security is almost killing me. Moreover, I find Swiss people will make fun of me for my spontaneity... For this I really suffer. If you are not along for the ride, fine, but really, would it kill you to look the other way?

Also, people don't talk to each other. This cold-ness is certainly noticed by others. If you are from a village 10 miles away you are a stranger. Why so defensive? We live in a diverse world, and foreigners are certainly here in Switzerland! So why not really let people integrate, if it is such an issue for you? We need your help to integrate! Talk to us! Open your mind! Is this not logical?

All this said, my GF is the most delightful person. However, she is a stranger, at least a little bit of one, in her own culture. She won't date Swiss people. While unschooled in sex, she is willing, interested, and damn tired of shy Swiss boys who shudder at the prospect of being real: confident (or even openly sensitive) men, men who might dance openly (unless of course, they are gay - I admire the gay culture here), be emotional, and available. Heck, I watched one guy refuse to give a bite of food to his GF, from his own plate. He acted like to do so was a serious affront, after all, it broke the etched-in-stone table-manners! When I joked about it he was ready to start a fight. The poor girl!

After seeing that, I could see why I was such a catch to my GF.

I do hope my gf is willing to move to a better place... however even she is afraid of losing her precious 'security', such as it is. I do try to remind her that while she makes a big salary, everything is 2-4 times as expensive as they are in my country. Doesn't seem so appealing when you take that into account. Sure, she feels rich when she comes here, but is that all you want? Some vague awareness of superiority?

Honestly, I would love to be convinced of other conclusions. Can someone help me? Like many posters, I simply want to find a way. However, I am sad, because while I admire my love, I don't know if I can do this... Any advise, honest advise, would be lovely... I don't know, we'll see...

Jonnie W. 03 Feb 2009, 03:26 - Report