Now that I am back in Switzerland the differences between the United States and Switzerland are very obvious to me. That’s why I thought I am going to list some of them for you guys who asked me some question about Switzerland.

Conversation:

1. When you meet someone Swiss people shake first and or if it is a girl kiss her three times on her cheek.
2. When someone ask you “how are you” you really tell him how you feel.
3. When meeting a new person a Swiss doesn’t ask private questions and is very passive in a conversation till he figures out that he can trust the other.
4. Questions like “what’s happening?” or “what’s up” don’t exist in Switzerland. (That’s why I tried to really answer those at the beginning of my year in the US)
5. In Swiss German their is a polite form which is used for adults and teachers. (This form exists in many languages and represents Mister or Misses)
6. Teachers don’t often talk about something else then the school stuff with their students.

Transportation:

7. Cars are way smaller in Switzerland
8. On every street corner you can sightsee the car “Smart”, and no this doesn’t mean Swiss people are very smart.
9. A straight street is so rare like a farm in downtown Chicago. Every street has some kind of curve or turn.
10. When you speed you don’t get pulled over. Photo camera’s take a picture and send you a fee home.
11. The speed limit on highways (Autobahn) is 75 miles per hour in the whole country.
12. Getting the driver license costs around $ 4000.-. This includes everything what you need to learn how to drive a car.
13. While learning how to drive you have to put a little blue square sign with a white L on it on the back, so everybody can see that you’re learning how to drive and laugh at you. (Yes the “L” stands for “learning”)
14. No driving under 18.
15. Teenager get around with public transportation like train, trams, and buses.
16. The public transportation network is huge and goes to every little town.
17. Buses and trains are never late. If the train is only one minute to late every body gets nervous and angry because they have to wait.
18. Trains are comfortable in Switzerland.
19. There are so many tunnels in Switzerland like wholes in a Swiss cheese.
20. My mom never gives me a ride to school.
21. Stick shift cars are the norm
22. When you drive over the speed limit the police won’t hunt you down. They will take a picture of your your license plate and send you a penalty home. The mean thing about it, they camera’s are set up almost everywhere and they don’t need a human to figure out when to take a picture.
23. Crossroads are often regulated my street circles.
24. The trains look like from the future. Seriously
25. A family has on average one car.

These are just some difference between US and Switzerland. More will coming up soon! So look forward to part two of the differences between the United States and Switzerland.

If you don’t understand something, please ask! And let me know which one is the weirdest one for you. For me it is probably nr. 4.