[Bluebonnet]

We arrived in Winterthur two months ago, and boy, was it difficult to find an appartment. It is not like the US where you just decide where you want to live and find something the same day. But we found a nice place, thank goodness, and are now happily settled in. My son (15) is in 9th grade at the International School here in Winterthur, and just loves to use the public transport, for the first time in his life he can go places all by himself without me having to drive him everywhere. The trains, buses and trams are always on time, it is just perfect. I love Zurich, what an interesting city. The countryside is just so beautiful, Switzerland is just so very very beautiful.
Does anyone know of a SA club in Zurich? It would be nice to make new friends, we do not know many people around here, or shall I say we hardly know anyone. My husband is from Basel, so he has some friends there, but Zurich is very new to us. I would also like to get my son involved in something where he can meet other teenagers,,,any suggestions from anyone? He loves playing guitar and I will have to find a music school where he can continue taking lessons. My husband started a new job, so he is very busy and I started the job-hunting process, which seems very difficult. I will stay positive and hopefully find something soon. Since my german is far from perfect I thought it would be better to study the language better first and then go from there, but who knows, maybe I am lucky and find something in the meantime and take evening classes.
Anyway, we do love it here in Switzerland.

[Jen]

Bluebonnet, on Aug 30 2008, 01:55 PM, said:

We arrived in Winterthur two months ago, and boy, was it difficult to find an appartment. It is not like the US where you just decide where you want to live and find something the same day. But we found a nice place, thank goodness, and are now happily settled in. My son (15) is in 9th grade at the International School here in Winterthur, and just loves to use the public transport, for the first time in his life he can go places all by himself without me having to drive him everywhere. The trains, buses and trams are always on time, it is just perfect. I love Zurich, what an interesting city. The countryside is just so beautiful, Switzerland is just so very very beautiful.
Does anyone know of a SA club in Zurich? It would be nice to make new friends, we do not know many people around here, or shall I say we hardly know anyone. My husband is from Basel, so he has some friends there, but Zurich is very new to us. I would also like to get my son involved in something where he can meet other teenagers,,,any suggestions from anyone? He loves playing guitar and I will have to find a music school where he can continue taking lessons. My husband started a new job, so he is very busy and I started the job-hunting process, which seems very difficult. I will stay positive and hopefully find something soon. Since my german is far from perfect I thought it would be better to study the language better first and then go from there, but who knows, maybe I am lucky and find something in the meantime and take evening classes.
Anyway, we do love it here in Switzerland.

HI there, sorry I cant help with info on Switzerland, but I think your idea of attending classes is an excellent one. You are likely to meet people in a similar situation to yourself that are also new and keen to learn the language! I went on a computer course when I arrived and it was the best thing I could have done, got me out of the house, occupied and meeting people, and learning a useful skill! I enjoyed the computer so much that I am now an internet junkie!!
I dont know about Switzerland but they are part of the EU, so I assume theat they have something similar to FAS in Ireland which is a government sponsored education and skills upgrading program that you can apply to, to do courses, it is free and you get paid a training allowance. Ask your local citizens advice bureau, I am sure their must be one around!
Good luck and let us know how you are doing!!

Jen

[Bluebonnet]

Jen, on Aug 30 2008, 02:31 PM, said:

HI there, sorry I cant help with info on Switzerland, but I think your idea of attending classes is an excellent one. You are likely to meet people in a similar situation to yourself that are also new and keen to learn the language! I went on a computer course when I arrived and it was the best thing I could have done, got me out of the house, occupied and meeting people, and learning a useful skill! I enjoyed the computer so much that I am now an internet junkie!!
I dont know about Switzerland but they are part of the EU, so I assume theat they have something similar to FAS in Ireland which is a government sponsored education and skills upgrading program that you can apply to, to do courses, it is free and you get paid a training allowance. Ask your local citizens advice bureau, I am sure their must be one around!
Good luck and let us know how you are doing!!

Jen

Thanks so much for the reply, I will definitely look into it. I know about the RAV (arbeitsvermittlung organization) They assist you in finding employment and what you need to do to be successful in the process, including taking the necessary classes ect. I have an appointment with them next week, and I have heard that they also assist you with the expences,, but that remains to be seen. Switzerland is not part of the EU, and from your post I can tell Ireland has similar programs than Australia. I do know in Australia the government assist people who wants to change profession or upgrade, similar like Ireland I guess, but I will find out more in the next weeks. I am a strange case to them I think, since I am Swiss (have been married to a Swiss for 20 plus years) I have some advantages, but not much, since I have been gone from Switzerland for 17 years.
Thanks again for the reply.

[Dedré]

Hey there,

Nice meeting you. Hope we see a lot of you here. We don't have many members from Zürich here, but look what I found for you:
http://www.glocals.com/
A website of other people in Zürich that are all outside of Zürich. But please don't forsake us for them. we would really love to have you here with us permanently!

And here is a guitar school in Zürich:
http://www.guitar-sc....ch/e_index.php

Here is also a Music High School...
Though I know this might not be the better option, as he is in a school already... but here goes, maybe they have private or individual lessons as well:
http://www.smsmusic.org/programs/older_tha...php?t=2&p=2

Nice to have you here. Please post a lot about your experiences and how you got to the places you got. Please post in the diaries as well. We would love to have you make this your home away from home!

[Bluebonnet]

Dedré, on Aug 30 2008, 06:47 PM, said:

Hey there,

Nice meeting you. Hope we see a lot of you here. We don't have many members from Zürich here, but look what I found for you:
http://www.glocals.com/
A website of other people in Zürich that are all outside of Zürich. But please don't forsake us for them. we would really love to have you here with us permanently!

And here is a guitar school in Zürich:
http://www.guitar-sc....ch/e_index.php

Here is also a Music High School...
Though I know this might not be the better option, as he is in a school already... but here goes, maybe they have private or individual lessons as well:
http://www.smsmusic.org/programs/older_tha...php?t=2&p=2

Nice to have you here. Please post a lot about your experiences and how you got to the places you got. Please post in the diaries as well. We would love to have you make this your home away from home!

Dedre, thanks a million. I will definitely post in the diaries as well.

[Marli]

Guten Tag Bluebonnet!!

I also unfortunately do not live in Switzerland, but often wish that I did!! I visit Switzerland as often as I can, but do prefer to go to the Alps, rather than the cities..

I think there is perhaps more English spoken in Switzerland, but I have found that the best way to make friends is to be willing to adapt to the local culture and this certainly means to make learning (in your case) Swiss German as soon as possible. People appreciate it greatly when you do the effort to integrate and this is the activity that I spend most of my time on here in Germany.

I think it is also important to get to know your environment so that you don't feel too much like an alien... go for walks, bike rides and be open to events that are advertised in the community paper. Learn to eat lots of cheese!!

I guess I don't have any information that is directly relevant to you. However, in general my advice would be to try and make as much contact with the locals as possible. You will need this in the years to come, and it will certainly help you integrate.

I wish you all the best!!
Marli

[Bluebonnet]

Thanks Marli, I appreciate it. I am working hard on my Swiss German and it is coming back now full speed. In my early 20's I lived and worked in Switzerland for 5 years, so it is not all new to me, but I must admit it is more difficult when you are older.