Hello
پوسٹڈ بايئ Roger B انرر سوئٹرزلینڈ فورم
Guess that's right for someone from Mauritius... Majority Hindu, isn't it?
The (somewhat funny) conversation of yours about Switzerland and whether this place is friendly towards others kind of drag me back into this. As a native Swiss, I can't help but see some merit in both points of view.
If you are constantly complaining, well, maybe it'd be a better choice to rest your case and settle somewhere new. I guess as foreigner you won't be able to change the Swiss, constant complaint about their reserved, awkward and "xenophobic" nature won't be of much help in this endeavour either... so why bother staying here? (that would be Maria's point)
Which brings me to Daniel's point. The Swiss are an utterly complicated, utterly reserved people. There are a lot of "hidden" customs of sorts (i.e. things people just expect from you or what they expect you not to do) you won't get to know except if you act against them. Worse to this, it even depends on where in Switzerland you are (that's sth even I had to learn - Switzerland is complex).
So while we are rather reserved, keen on privacy and therefore often perceived as cold, the "nativist" part, though certainly present from time being, has taken a notable uptick during the last couple of years (by the way, I think rather then xenophobic I'd rather see the tendencies as "nativist"... might be semantics of sort, but I think it shows better where the issue has its roots). Though, this needs to be put into context and judged what is happening around Europe, I think this is not an isolated phenomenon (or else see the success of right wing / nativist parties such as the Front National, Vlaams-Belang, Popolo della liberta, BNP, PVV). As I have put forth at another stage, I perceive our "nativists" to be rather modest in their views compared to some of the examples just mentioned but showings for them is more imminent as we get to vote far more often than anyone else in Europe (think of voting at least 4-times a year).
While "nativism" is something on the rise in Europe, Switzerland might certainly have its own specialty. While the other Europeans are mostly geared towards immigration from outside Europe, the Swiss are, and that might come as a surprise, more concerned about immigration from neighbouring countries. That brings with it a worry about jobs, flats, transportation and culture. If you see the statistics, Switzerland has had a net-immigration of around 360'000 over the last five years (that's roughly 5% of the population), this to a country that has a non-swiss proportion of nearly 20% and an additional 10% of foreign-born Citizens (pushes up the tally to 30% - though for me it's 20%). With these proportions, I don't think it's so surprising there is resentment
The issues have increased mainly because, due to our EU-alignment, we're now part of the EU free-movement of people. That, by the way, is also something I personally don't like. I think the state should at least have a modicum of control about whose settling and looking for work here. To be plain, I'd be very much in favor of altering the current system of no-control to a system akin to the one of Australia. Is it really a good sign for a country if you have colonies of well-earning, well-educated foreigners, living detached from the hosts, not being interested in the said country except for its tax rules and jobs (and not being interested in the culture/politics/heritage of the host country as long as they have their colony)? Is it a good sign if almost each company in Zug sports a CFO from the UK or a CEO from Germany? Are we certain, as companies quickly affirm, that they couldn't find suitable Swiss? Sure, the country profits handsomly fiscally, but it's not always just the economy stupid. If you sense that the people feel threatened, that there is a problem and that unpleasent and ugly opinions are taking hold, politics should act and not just gloss over the, be they justified or not, worries of the population.
The Swiss have a problem with immigration. It's just too much currently, they are affraid people flooding in the country (and 5% over 5 years is very significant) could take away jobs, flats (which is, depending on place, a huge problem) and stretch the infrastructure to the point. Therefore there is a reaction - a sometimes ugly one I might ad. You probably have noticed that I count myself among those worried about the current state. However, I don't hold a grudge against the immigrants themselves, Switzerland offers a lot of opportunity (economic, fiscal, cultural) and I can understand anyone wanting to come here. However what I have a problem with, is that currently the pace of immigration is too much, too many people comming in and a nagging sense of selling your country out. Finally, The politicans don't have the guts to admit that there are problems (except for the right wingers).
That's the way I see it
دوسرے جوابات
- Making friends in Switzerland
- ...
- Switzerland
- ...
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- Sorry Steven.
- thanks juan
- EN la sierra de Guadarrama.
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- Sobre mi zona.
- Friends in Switzerland
- exactly the same
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- About the Swiss
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- lonesome
- It's most difficult in Zurich
- Bitte echli MITdenke!!!
- @ Benno de Vries
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- Just flicking through these posts
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- Berlin is great!
- Thanks for your posts Steven and Dino
- About Switzerland
- Conformity
- It takes time
- I must be very lucky
- How long are you staying?
- now im really angry how swiss are and behave
- you are right jim
- Maybe Zurich is different to Bern?
- hola celia zurich es diferente hi celia zurich is diferent
- celia have you tried to meet people out of your laboral area
- People from work and not from work
- zuri is very diferent,but people are also closed
- Welcome to hell - welcome to Switzerland?
- nothing to add to claudios comment
- When in Switzerland...
- Switzerland is no Mexico
- Move to another country!
- What's the matter
- To Andy
- Come on...
- What?
- Miscegenation
- alright
- Your own theories are based on emotions and not on facts!
- reply
- if you arnt swiss, you arnt good enough
- i need help.
- To Mark
- canuck
- @ mark
- canuck
- Sorry
- The Swiss and their friends
- hi
- Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland??
- to Faiz
- Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland??
- @ Faiz
- Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland??
- @ Faiz
- Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland??
- ouch
- Schwiitzertüütsch
- @ Roger and Daniel
- Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland??
- Swiss Friends
- @ Canuck
- Can't realy agree
- You're right
- the "kantönligeist"
- @ roger
- german speaker
- Can't agree
- thanks
- no problem
- thanks
- becose they dont want new people or diferent people
- attn. Brian Taylor
- Dear Brian Taylor
- Swiss people are....
- fellow canuck
- hoi!
- :
- good to hear your story
- new in switzerland!!
- hi
- hi back
- the Swiss are very racist . They hate everybody including themeselves
- Yeah..whatever
- Swiss people are boring
- About Switzerland
- @ Jim
- Na, can't do other than disagree
- about switzerland
- Goodevening Maria and Everyone,
- About Switzerland
- Life in Switzerland
- @ alexander, roger and just in general
- Fear of foreigners is one of the reasons...
- A piece of news from World Radio Switzerland
- Switzerland & Racism
- why ???
- To Roger B with respect
- back with respect
- Difficult to integrate with this kind of campains
- I understand but it's a free democracy
- Free democracy promoting racist and xenophobic campains aginst foreigners
- half the country?
- The authorities have to be blamed for their inaction
- of course part of the problem are the authorities
- @ Roger
- a question for roger
- Swiss racism is to blame for everything
- racism in Switzerland
- Mr. Jackson be careful...
- Switzerland explained
- STOP IT
- Mr. Switzerland you be very careful
- Stop it
- To Jim Jakson
- hi
- bout carefulnes
- Foreigners more than ever considered to be criminals!!!
- Na, if you think it's the way you describe, you have not understood the initiative
- This is an ugly racist and xenophobic agenda
- We pet a lost dog, so lets send a smile to the stranger...
- Racisim big time in Switzerland as usual..
- racism in Switzerland
- Here is a good one foe you again from a "foreign" friend in Switzearland
- let's stop about this racisme shit?!
- n
- Check what Human rights web site says about racism in Switzerland
- get the point guys
- hi
- thanks
- racism in Switzerland
- I understand you
- hi dear flo regina
- sorry to hear that
- Even for a swiss guy it's not easy to make friends in Switzerland
- re
- re
- the same
- Yes, it is VERY hard to find friends in this country!!!
- to live in Switzerland
- LOOKING FOR GOLD DEALERS URGENT
- Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland??
- Dear Karim
- ok
- I need help
- my opinion
- Seriously?
- Open your heart
- :-O
- MSC STUDENT INQUIRY
- Its really easy to make friends
- Oh yeah?
- great, li lu
- Blaming Swiss
- Riiiight
- Hi
- hello
- Dear Nikko Z.
- O yes!
- Really?
- What to do with a problem named Mariaaaaaa?
- Lmao
- Hello
- Time
- Agrees
- Thanks
- Friends and other things
- PS, forgot to say one last thing...
- Looking for friends
- Reply
- Tonight ????
- Swiss people are haters
- @sonia
- Yeah, right.
- Seldom had such a good laugh...
- I am Spanish
- Not totally hard to find a friends...
- Y ppl not serious in friendhsip from switzerland
- do not agree
- not easy for us
- sei
- still existing the comunity college in Zurich
- The best thing about Switzerland is to leave it!!!
- oh
- For one who said "The best thing about Switzerland is to leave it!"
- Hie
- I don't understand....
- reply to Davor and others
- Its Right!!!
- you can't have one without the other?????
- sidenote
- so stupid jokes
- Get a grip.
- Seriously??
- swiss
- Friends
- Answers?
- Sorry
- you may try a course to make Swiss friends
- racism in Switzerland a concern?
- person who's good ,nice and simple, can find good friends everywhere...
- Swiss direct democracy leads the world
- Whaaat???
- Big time Racism in Switzerland
- Jim, are you OCD?
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- Switzerland vs US
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- .
- .
- .
- Friendliness Requirement
- agirlin..
- no obligation to be friendly
- Clin, are you a white south african?
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- Are Swiss racist?
- Very true...
- about CH
- MAN I SPENT MY LAST CENT TO BUY YOU A DRINK
- Friends
- Always hard to make new friends
- hmm
- not multicultural
- It is hard everywhere
- I agree but....!
- hey...
- We can meet
- Since 1 year
- Hi
- This one goes to canuck s
- Suche nette Leute weiblich und männlich um zusammen was zu unternehmen
- From the outside
- Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland??
- Why is it so hard to make friends in Switzerland?? (40)
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- If this thread is so popular since 2008...
- Well they aren't that unfriendly
- Its just another peace of land
- "hosting in Egyptian Home" welcome to hosting in our Egyptian Home in Egypt ..f
- Swiss
- Making friends in switzerland
- Frendship
- Frendship
- Reply
- Hmmmmmm
- Traditional and Conservative
- Making friends in Switzerland