Jo moved to Switzerland just over a decade ago, so it seemed to be about time to talk about her experience, the highlights, and what she would do differently if she would do it all over again. ... Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to hello@swissandchips.com , a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66. Subscribe to the free newsletter ... Subscribe on iTunes , Spotify , YouTube Music Other ways to subscribe...
Dec 30, 2021•14 min•Ep. 59
If you have a British-Swiss child and live in Switzerland, like we do, how do you go about getting their first passports? In this episode we'll explain everything from organising all of the documents to taking a suitable picture of your little one. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland Organising the Swiss passport: where to get it, what you need and how to take a picture. The British passport: The long list of documents, how to organise them and roughly how...
Dec 09, 2021•15 min•Ep. 58
It's the big moment in the Swiss citizenship process: finally you will meet someone face-to-face who will decide whether all the paperwork you have collected, all the forms you have filled out and all the studying you have done is enough to make you a viable candidate for becoming Swiss. My moment finally came when I was invited to the office that handles citizenship applications in Bern. I've read so many reports in the media about the difficult questions posed at these interviews and heard num...
Nov 18, 2021•6 min•Ep. 57
Vines, food and splendid views: if you're looking for a short and easy walk to do by yourself or when you have visitors in town, this is an episode for you! We talk about a scenic, circular walk in canton Bern that will take you from the village of Twann to Ligerz, via the vineyards and back along the lakeside to Twann. To get to Twann, you can go by train or park your car at the train station. ... Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to hello@...
Oct 14, 2021•8 min•Ep. 56
Once you have fulfilled all of the criteria to apply to become Swiss (take a look at our previous episodes in this mini-series if want to know more about this), you will be faced with filling out "the form". This is where you provide all of your personal details including your entire education history and certificates, Swiss employment history, references and more. In this episode, I explain exactly which documents I had to gather as part of the more than 50 pages I had to put together. Notes on...
Jul 29, 2021•11 min•Ep. 55
Before or instead of a dinner, at a garden party, a wedding, an office function or even a funeral, it‘s always the right time and place to join or organise a classic Swiss apéro. But what is expected at this typically Swiss get-together? We talk you through the food and drinks, the preparation, and, as always, the subtleties of navigating a Swiss event. What is a Swiss apero? The classic Swiss apéro involves nibbles and drinks and is suitable for any occasion. The food usually consists of cold m...
Jun 17, 2021•14 min•Ep. 54
There have been a few long breaks between our last podcast episodes, but we had a good reason: we have a new person in our family! Please welcome Maeve, our beautiful baby girl, who you may now hear in the background of some of our recordings. She was born in early 2021 and our lives became a whirlwind of excitement. Now that the chaos has calmed down we wanted to give you an update and share Jo's thoughts on how pregnancy and having a baby in Switzerland is different to the UK. Learning Swiss G...
Apr 06, 2021•8 min•Ep. 53
Setting foot into another country can mean a significant change of your lifestyle and sometimes a culture shock. We asked in our Facebook group about your weirdest thing you’ve experienced when you moved to Switzerland and got loads of fun and interesting comments as well aas interesting discussions started. Thanks a lot for that! In this episode we talk about a few of them and Jo will tell you about her personal story when she moved to Switzerland. ... Don’t forget to send us your feedback, que...
Feb 23, 2021•19 min•Ep. 52
Christmas is drawing nearer but thanks to coronavirus, making plans to celebrate it this year isn't very easy. It's difficult enough to get together with family if you live in the same country, but almost impossible if you don't. We like to look on the bright side though! This year could be a chance to find new ways of celebrating Christmas and maybe start some new Swiss traditions at home. In this episode we talk about the parts of a Swiss Christmas that are perfect for our socially-distanced, ...
Nov 24, 2020•14 min•Ep. 51
We're still here and still making podcasts: not as often as we'd like, but there's a good reason for that, which we'll explain in this week's episode. But the main topic in this episode is the Swiss citizenship test. Did you know we have a Facebook group? Switzerland for English Speakers is a great place to ask questions and share experiences. Take a look! Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland Why is an exam part of becoming Swiss? How do you prepare for the...
Oct 27, 2020•19 min•Ep. 50
After living in Switzerland for ten years, I can now formally apply to become a Swiss citizen! There are a number of conditions I had to make sure I met before applying, which we mention in this episode of the podcast. We'll talk you through how to start the process in Bern specifically, as there are differences depending on where you live and exactly which type of naturalisation you are applying for. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland Contacting the natu...
Aug 04, 2020•16 min•Ep. 49
Finding it difficult to make friends with the Swiss is a common complaint from expats in Switzerland. Do the Swiss really have such different ideas about friendship? What does it take to be able to read between the lines in a conversation with a Swiss person and are there any tips that can help you feel less isolated here? We share our insights on this contentious topic and give you an update on Jo's application to become Swiss. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Swi...
May 19, 2020•19 min•Ep. 48
If you can only get out outside at the moment to go shopping or for some fresh air, you might be starting to get a little bored of your local surroundings. Pop your earphones in and come with us as we head out for a walk along the Aare river in Bern. Where did we go on our walk? 'Dählhölzli' section of the Bern animal park , including the children's zoo Elfenau park , including Bern city's greenhouses and the rare species garden ... Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic sugge...
Apr 14, 2020•20 min•Ep. 47
The coronavirus might have stopped you from getting out and exploring Switzerland, but you can still learn plenty about Swiss culture from inside your own home. Here's our list of five things every person interested in getting closer to the Swiss or looking to become Swiss should know. We chose a film, a book, a musician, a recipe and a game that you can look up and enjoy to see you through your weeks staying at home in Switzerland. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips, your British Guide to...
Mar 24, 2020•18 min•Ep. 46
Shaking hands in Switzerland is common: children learn it at school and it seems to be a regular feature of everyday life. But when is holding out your hand too much and when would it be a faux pas not to? What are the alternatives when you can't shake hands, for example during the Coronavirus outbreak? We'll run you through the hand-shaking dos and don'ts of Swiss culture! Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: your British Guide to Switzerland What to do if you don’t know whether to shake h...
Mar 10, 2020•15 min•Ep. 45
Joining a club in Switzerland is a simple way to make new friends and connections. There are several English-speaking clubs in Bern and other Swiss cities, like the British Residents' Association of Switzerland , which we visited in October 2019. Should you sign yourself up to a club? Listen and find out! Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland The British Residents' Association of Switzerland ... Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic sugge...
Feb 25, 2020•13 min•Ep. 44
It can feel like there are a lot of rules governing life in Switzerland. They‘re often written on signs in public places or in the building where you live or work. But what about those unspoken rules? The ones you don‘t know exist until a realisation slowly dawns on you that you‘ve been doing something differently to everyone else, and never known. Notes on this episode about unspoken Swiss rules How important are unspoken Swiss rules Where, when and how to greet people How to toast and other ru...
Feb 11, 2020•20 min•Ep. 43
Hiking in Switzerland is a favourite national pastime, especially in autumn, which means there are plenty of maps, online resources, and books to help you find the perfect hike! To get you into the mood, we'll tell you what you have to watch out for and give you all sorts of other tips, including a short excursion we made recently up a mountain and tell you what secrets are waiting for you at the top. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips, Your British Guide to Switzerland: How to prepare for...
Oct 08, 2019•19 min•Ep. 42
Come on a walk through one of Bern's picturesque neighbourhoods, Kirchenfeld, and listen in to what the Swiss capital sounds like on an ordinary day. Starting off at the Tierpark (animal park), walking through Helvetiaplatz with many of the country's important museums, I'll talk you through what you will see and hear as you head up into the city centre, walking over a beautiful bridge and ending at one of the city's main attractions, the Zytglogge. Take in the sounds of Bern wherever you are in ...
Sep 17, 2019•15 min•Ep. 41
"There's enough hay down there now" to "even his chopping block will calve": these are just a few everyday sayings that make perfect sense in Swiss German, but don't exactly translate into English. Whether you've heard some of them already, or just want to impress with a sentence or two at the right moment, this is our pick of some useful sayings in Swiss German. In this episode, we try to explain their meaning and talk about when you can use them. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your ...
Sep 03, 2019•20 min•Ep. 40
Is dating in Switzerland any different to anywhere else in the world? The Swiss have a reputation for being difficult to get know, so in this episode, we talk about expectations, stereotypes and traditions when it comes to attempting to get romantically involved with a Swiss. How to date in Switzerland: Show notes How to make friends in Switzerland . Where to look? How to ask? What to do on a first date? Special things to think about? ... Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic...
Aug 20, 2019•17 min•Ep. 39
With the temperatures heating up again this week, it’s the perfect time to enjoy Switzerland and get to know a few places where you can create the feeling of going on holiday without straying too far from home. We explored some of the locations the Swiss head to when they need a 'staycation'. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland What's German for 'staycation'? Get ready to drop this phrase into Swiss conversation What’s summer like in Switzerland? - Weather...
Jul 23, 2019•16 min•Ep. 38
Do you need a car in Switzerland? And what other options are there apart from buying one? We asked what you wanted to hear about in this episode of our podcast, and driving in Switzerland was one topic you suggested in our Facebook group, Switzerland for English speakers. We talk about why you might decide to get a car, and how leasing, hiring and car sharing works. Notes on this episode of Your British Guide to Switzerland Owning a car - Great public transport, do you really need a car? - Regul...
Jul 09, 2019•14 min•Ep. 37
There’s been lots of questions in our facebook group, Switzerland for English speakers, over the past couple of weeks, so we wanted to talk about a few of them. Moving to Switzerland can be quite a confusing time, from the paperwork to the forms, to saying and doing the right thing..it can be tough! But there‘s always a funny side in the end. Notes on this episode of Your British Guide to Switzerland How to figure out how many bedrooms a Swiss apartment has What the differences in saying hello a...
Jun 25, 2019•19 min•Ep. 36
Many say it can't be done, but some of us will still try! Jo has been attending a Swiss German course and in this episode, she shares her experience of signing up and going to classes. From precisely what the course entails, to what happens in the classroom and the kind of things she has learnt, there were some unexpected elements to the course. Could taking a Swiss German class be something for you? Have a listen as we talk about the pros and cons of taking on learning the local dialect. ... Do...
Jun 11, 2019•17 min•Ep. 35
Moving to a country where you don't speak the language can be a 'chicken and egg' situation: which one comes first, the language or the move? It's a challenging situation for anyone relocating abroad, and for newcomers to German-speaking Switzerland, this is a big issue. It's hard to get hold of resources to learn this dialect outside of the country. Once here, there are many different regional variations to get to grips with, and the differences between Swiss German and high German can feel ove...
May 21, 2019•15 min•Ep. 34
Looking for furniture, clothes or something for your home in Switzerland that won't cost the Earth? Then you definitely need to find your nearest flea market or second-hand shop. In the German-speaking part of the country thrift stores are called "Brockis" (short for "Brockenhäuser"). In this episode we'll take you through how you can find them and what to expect, and tell you where to look online if rummaging for a bargain in person isn't really your thing. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Ch...
May 07, 2019•15 min•Ep. 33
If you’ve looked at any Swiss newspapers or programmes in the past few months you’ll have heard about the ‘ Fête des Vignerons ’. It’s a once-in-a-generation event that sounds like it's not to be missed. So what’s all the fuss about, and will there be wine? Notes on this episode We try to answer the most important questions before it begins. What is the 'Fête des Vignerons'? The festival is a massive production that takes place in a huge arena in Vevey, French-speaking Switzerland. There is spac...
Apr 22, 2019•16 min•Ep. 32
What are the main shops in Switzerland and where do you go for specific items? In this episode we go through the big name shops, what they sell and where you can find them, plus we talk about some smaller, specialised shops or boutiques, and what you can buy online. Find out about the classic out-of-town shops traditionally frequented by farmers which could be useful for you and the surprisingly affordable electronics. Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Shopping in Switzerland Food Migros...
Apr 09, 2019•16 min•Ep. 31
Switzerland is a very diverse country with four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. The Swiss also share their border with five countries: Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. And out of all the people living in Switzerland, 25% don't have a Swiss passport . So how does this work? How do the Swiss communicate and how do they all get along with each other? Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland Marco's post in our Facebook Gr...
Mar 26, 2019•21 min•Ep. 30
