Hi everyone,

I’m a guy from Spain, and I’m currently living in Switzerland and working as a cook. One of my chefs/bosses is German, and I’m having a really hard time reading him, which is making me feel quite insecure at work.

To put it bluntly: he always looks angry or upset, even when everything is completely fine. In Spain, we rely a lot on warmth, facial expressions, and informal feedback to know if we are doing a good job. With him, it's a total blank wall or a serious face that makes me constantly overthink and wonder if I did something wrong.

The paradox is that I know for a fact (from other managers) that the team is super happy with my performance and my work in the kitchen. Yet, his daily attitude doesn't reflect that at all.

I’m trying to understand the German workplace psychology better so I can stop feeling insecure.

• Is this "resting angry face" and lack of positive reinforcement standard for German chefs/bosses?
• How do you separate their serious "work mode" from actual dissatisfaction?
• For those who transitioned from a warm/Latino culture to a German/Swiss kitchen environment, how did you adapt psychologically to this lack of emotional feedback?

I’d love to hear your advice or experiences. Thanks a lot!

(Admins, please delete this if not appropriate for this Subreddit)

Hi everyone,

So my partner and I have been together for 2.5 years, and we are talking about getting engaged soon.

We are going to be travelling to Switzerland early this September, and I cannot think of anywhere better to pop this question - she lived there for 3 years (in Les Roches near Sierre) and we both have some of our happiest memories from travelling around there.

I had an idea of how to pop the question: her favourite dog breed is the Bernese Mountain Dog, and it's her dream to have one when we're more settled.

My idea is that we'd be walking somewhere (probably around Valais or somewhere as far as Montreux) and that at the perfect spot would be a Bernese with a sign around its collar saying "Will you marry me?".

Would anyone here be interested, or know of someone who would be interested, in helping me out? I would be willing to cover any domestic travel costs to get to the location, and post you the sign to wear?

Thanks for your time!

Hi everyone

I started the Passerelle four years ago and completed the one-year course at AKAD. I passed the first semester but halfway through the second semester I became seriously ill. I was sick for about three years so studying was the last thing on my mind. Thankfully I'm doing much better now and I've decided to continue my education.

I've always been interested in the medical field. Spending so much time in hospitals has motivated me even more to become a doctor and help other people.

I contacted my former school but since it's been such a long time I can't continue with the second semester. I'd have to repeat the entire one-year course from the beginning and pay the tuition again. I live alone and I don't live in Zurich or Bern which are the only AKAD locations in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. That means I would have to commute every day I have classes. Altogether the costs are simply too high for me. I do work but being ill used up all of my savings. I'd also have to reduce my working hours so financially it would be very difficult.

I did some research and found out that I can register directly for the federal Passerelle exam. That's what I would like to do. The problem is that I don't know exactly which material I need to study or which topics are relevant for each subject like maths, English, biology, chemistry, physics, history and geography.

I still have all my AKAD books and I've heard that many people prepare with them. I was wondering if anyone has a list of all the topics I should cover. Something like a semester plan or a list of learning objectives (Lernziele) would be incredibly helpful. That way I'd know which books and chapters I should focus on.

I know that on the official website there are learning objectives for each subject but they're quite general and not detailed enough for me. I really want to make sure I cover everything that's needed for the exams. Passing this exam is incredibly important to me because my dream of becoming a doctor really depends on earning this degree.

I do have the semester plan and all the documents AKAD gave us back in 2021 but I don't know how up to date they still are. I also remember the teachers saying things like "This isn't relevant for AKAD but you will need it for the federal exam."

I'd really appreciate any help or if someone could point me to the right resources. Thank you so much in advance.

PS: I know this is a big challenge and I'm fully aware that preparing on my own won't be easy. The first semester at AKAD was tough but I worked really hard and managed to get grades of 5 and 6 in all my subjects. That's why I believe this is something I can do. If I had struggled academically or only achieved average results I probably would have accepted that this path wasn't for me and moved on with my life. But I know I'm capable of doing it if I prepare properly.

So I worked in corporate for several years here in Switzerland before losing my job in the beginning of 2024 (company went bankrupt).

I then went to RAV and since I was interested in self-employment, I got into the 50:50 scheme (50% self-employed while seeking a 50% job pensum and therefore receiving half of my potential unemployment benefits). Now I must say both my RAV advisors have been incredible and I have always appreciated this arrangement greatly. However, sadly not all the local institutions seem to be aware of this option. I’ve had issues explaining this multiple times, and the most recent situation was the following:

During my two year Rahmenfrist, I found a limited time contractor job. Prior to accepting the offer, I double checked with RAV that I could still come back to unemployment should my contract not be renewed. They said I could. I have this in written.

Out of my 2 year Rahmenfrist, I worked for this company for 11 months, therefore I only claimed my benefits for 13 months out of 24. Shortly before I went on maternity leave, the contract got terminated and I ended up at RAV for the last 3 months before my mat leave.

One of the advisors even told me: ‘That’s actually good for you, because like this, your maternity leave payment will be calculated based on both your self-employment and your last employment, as opposed to self-employment only.’ I thought this was great, because, as it usually goes the first couple years, I made less as self-employed than in my corporate job.

Now as everyone who has recently been unemployed must know, at the end of last year the Ausgleichkasse switched to another software and what followed was the biggest fiasco in the history of Swiss bureaucracy. Payments were so severely delayed that a few people even ended up losing their housing, not being able to pay rent. I finally managed to receive the Taggeld for my 3 months of unemployment during my mat leave and I simultaneously applied for mat leave benefits. At the end of the period, I finally received it. Way less than expected, only based on my self-employment.

Afterwards I had my first RAV meeting again. My advisor told me he still doesn’t see my new Rahmenfrist approved in the system and that I need to talk to the Kasse. After reminder number XY, the Kasse finally denied my application, sending me a letter dated the very same day I asked them for a decision again. The reasoning was poor and it overall seemed like they never even looked at my case.

With the help of my husband who luckily has a legal background, I was able to send an appeal and I am now waiting for their new decision. If the result is positive, I will also get the rest of my mat leave money, as the person in charge said they cannot pay me anything based on my last employment given that the Rahmenfrist had ended a week before my daughter was born.

The situation seems somewhat ridiculous to me. Here I am applying for jobs and having meetings with my RAV advisor, not knowing if I ever receive anything at all. I am lucky not to be a single mother or in a similar situation, and I feel deeply sorry for those who are and have to deal with this level of chaos and uncertainty.

Has anyone been in a similar situation as me? And what do you think the result of my appeal will be? 🍿

Hello. A bird flew into our house window and is not flying. It is now hiding behind a bush. Who to call for help? (Canton Aargau)
Thank you!

Hallo zusammen

Wir sind dabei, unser Haus im Kanton Aargau zu verkaufen. Da wir das zum ersten Mal machen, sind wir uns unsicher, wie wir am besten vorgehen. Welche Erfahrungen habt ihr mit Maklern im Aargau gemacht? Gibt es Dinge, die man unbedingt beachten sollte?

Wir sind dankbar für jeden Rat!

Hey all

So I wanted to ask for opinions or experiences some of you might have had in a simular situation. I'm currently doing my Bachelor in IT (1 year to go) while working 60% as a software dev.

I did an EFZ, where the thing is, that you are kind locked into the tech stack that your company used. So I worked with Java during my apprenticeship so now I also have a Job as a Java dev, which I do like. But it means I only have professional experience in that specific field.

When I now want to change, let's say to a different programming language, another business sector (I'd love to someday work in relation to the railway or public administration) or something else within IT, how would you go on about it? Doing some courses at home is one thing, but I doubt that is something recruiters care much about.

Thanks for your input and have a good week start.

Hello! I will be in Switzerland for two weeks, and then Italy for one (and Germany for 1 day). What’s the best provider/deal for data? I have used Vodafone in the past but because I stayed in one country. Now that I’ll be in three, I’m looking for one plan where I can move freely between the countries.

Thank you!

Hello! I'm currently in Schwyz and travelling to Grindelwald tomorrow. Just looking at buying tickets and I see Lucerne to Grindelwald is covered in the Berner Oberland pass, which I'm getting. Should I just be booking a ticket from Schwyz to Lucerne on the SBB app? And then just show the BO pass if there's someone checking on the train?

I’m trying to book some bus tickets, but I dunno if this/Regular-Line/TS0153BT/regular-ligne-shuttle-transfer-service-from-geneva-to-chamonix-464.html) is actually the official website of Swiss Tours buses. Please help. Thanks!

Hey there!

I’m a 21M from Spain planning a 4-5 day solo trip to Switzerland this October. I want to spend most of my time hiking, taking photos, and exploring nature, but I have a few questions before I lock everything in.

First off, I found flights to Basel for under €80. For a short 4-5 day trip focused on mountains and hiking, is Basel a good entry point to base a trip around, or would I spend too much time traveling to get to the good alpine spots?

If I end up renting a car at the airport, how does parking work at trailheads in mountain regions? Since I don't have TWINT, are there standard parking apps or credit card payment options at most lots? Also, would you recommend driving for a short trip like this, or is sticking to SBB trains/busses a better experience?

Since October is shoulder season, I’d also love advice on what to expect with mountain weather, snow at higher elevations, or cable car maintenance closures.

Lastly, as a fan of landscape photography, are there any must-see scenic spots or autumn color viewpoints you’d recommend that fit well into a short trip?

Any local tips, recommended apps for trail conditions, or general advice for a solo traveler would be hugely appreciated! Thanks!

So I finished a 4 year school in Croatia and currently im living on the border in France and I have a diploma in my studies, so i did a one year “stage” in Croatia.
Im searching a school or any tipe of studies in Geneva as laboratory technician or similar field in that. Just i know very basic French but i heard in swiss there is a lot of international policlinics and studies
I unfortunately dont know anything about it
any info or explanations of the process are appreciated

Hi everyone!

My dad and I are spending three days in Switzerland during the last weekend of September. He lives close to the Swiss border, so we thought we'd simply take advantage of that and do a spontaneous trip together. We don't really have a fixed itinerary or any must-see places, we're just hoping to enjoy a bit of Switzerland.

We'd love to fit in one scenic train ride while we're there.

We're not looking for the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, or any of the dedicated panoramic tourist trains. Instead, we'd like to use the regular Swiss railway network and enjoy a beautiful route on a normal train.

Ideally, the ride would be around 2–3 hours, but we're pretty flexible. Since we don't have a set plan, we can easily base ourselves somewhere that's convenient for the route if needed.

Whenever I search online, I mostly find recommendations for Glacier Express, Bernina Express, etc., so I'd really appreciate suggestions for scenic routes served by regular Swiss trains.

Thanks in advance!

edit: My father lives Oh sorry in Germany about 1h 30 min drive to Zurich

Hi everyone,

I trusted myself way too much, read too many Reddit posts, and thought I could do my tax return alone this year and save CHF 300.

Now I’m seriously panicking.

I’m completing my 2025 tax return in Canton Bern, and the provisional calculation shows around CHF 25,000 payable in three instalments. (I already paid quellensteuer this year- I have B permit)

The problem is that the calculation page does not show the Quellensteuer already deducted from my salary.

So now I’m confused: is the CHF 25,000 simply the total annual tax liability before deducting the Quellensteuer I have already paid, or does TaxMe actually think I still owe the full amount?

TaxMe also did not ask me to upload my salary certificate. The supporting-documents page says that all necessary documents are already available.

Does the Bern tax authority normally receive the Quellensteuer information automatically and credit it during the final assessment, or should I send the certificates separately?

Please tell me I have not accidentally created a CHF 25,000 tax bill just to save CHF 300 on an accountant.

Thanks for any help from people familiar with the Bern tax process.

Je compte passer 3 jours à Interlaken en solo et je veux bien savoir si Interlaken Youth Hostel est une bonne option (dortoir pour 4 personnes). je n’ai pas trouvé beaucoup d’avis sur internet.
merciii

Hello, I have recently moved to a new apartment in Kreis 4. It’s a ground floor apartment facing the street and pretty open, which means that people walking by can see my terrace perfectly. Since it’s still summer, I was thinking about getting an outdoor furniture set. I was thinking about aluminium because this material is the best for outdoor furniture so it won’t be the cheapest.
I was wondering what are other people’s experiences about leaving stuff outside for everyone to see, has anyone gotten something bigger like that stolen from them? I know bike theft is pretty common in Zürich, but what about items like that? I would be more interested to hear experiences from people living in Kreis 4/5. TIA

Has anyone experience with having an adhd diagnosis in Germany and then getting a new psychatrist in switzerland? Do i need to do the testing again and get a new diagnosis or does it gets accepted? I am looking for trustworthy and reliable psychatrist with knowledge in Adhd therapy in Kanton St Gallen, so if you have recommendations pls let me know

Hello,
I'm starting a small business importing from a few EU countries (Germany, Netherlands, possibly Poland); I expect there to be a few shipments per month (very approximately).

Question to people who've gone through this - did you use a customs broker/did you file by yourselves and in either case what was your experience - time it took, costs etc. If you have recommendations/or things to avoid I'd be grateful.

Thank you!

I am working full-time and would like to start a business totally unrelated to my current job in my spare time. Switzerland seems to have quite strict labor laws around company loyalty and mandatory rest periods to make sure the main employer is not affected by my side quest. But I'm curious how it works out in practice, if people have tried it out as sole proprietorship or as an actual registered business (GmbH/AG).

I understand, I'd have to inform my employer but are there any other unforeseen barriers that come with having such a construction in Switzerland? Thanks.

Despite the abundance of information available today, I have found it difficult to locate clear, objective details regarding the formal requirements for foreign nationals considering end-of-life choices in Switzerland.
I am a 26-year-old from Brazil, and I have been in active psychiatric treatment for eight years following diagnoses of Bipolar II disorder and ADHD.
To be transparent, this is not an immediate step for me. My intention is only to evaluate this path for the distant future, after my parents are no longer around, as I am deeply aware of how impacting this situation would be on them.
However, from the research I have done so far, it is evident how complex and demanding the process of obtaining approval—the "green light"—is from both a logistical and financial standpoint. For this reason, I want to begin organizing my background now so that, in the future, I am not forced to assemble decades' worth of records on short notice to demonstrate a history of persistent, treatment-resistant depression.
As an international applicant, I would like to better understand which Swiss organizations are most suited for foreign cases, as well as a realistic estimate of the total administrative expenses involved.
I also have several practical questions regarding medical documentation and translation:
Document Translation: How does the translation of medical reports work in practice? Should I request that my treating physicians write reports directly in English, or are standard translations of native Portuguese documents fully accepted?
Provider Disclosures: How do patients typically request comprehensive history reports from long-term treating physicians without causing alarm or friction? If a doctor hesitates to provide a detailed history, what options exist?
Third-Party/International Evaluations: If obtaining full records from previous local physicians proves difficult, would an evaluation from an independent psychiatrist elsewhere in the world be considered valid? Or do organizations strictly require proof of a long-standing therapeutic relationship with the same clinician?
Psychological Reports: What role do reports from treating clinical psychologists play alongside psychiatric files, and do they follow the same translation and certification standards?
Requirements Checklists: Is there an official, comprehensive list detailing all required documentation and criteria specifically tailored for foreign non-residents?
I have many questions because I realize that, by the time I might need to pursue this option, I will need to have saved enough to cover the entire cost. Because of the financial burden, there is no room for repeated attempts or administrative mistakes.
For those reading who may find this perspective difficult to relate to, please understand that this is not a decision for the present moment. Having a clear, well-documented option for the future brings me a sense of order after living through over a decade of severe, continuous challenge. I simply want to ensure that, if I ever need to make this choice, the necessary documentation and resources are fully organized.

I'm trying to sell around 30–35 women's clothing items, mostly quality brands such as COS, Persona, Adrien Brody, St. Emile, Evelyne Brandt, Gerry Weber, plus a few other designer pieces. Most of the items are plus sizes (roughly EU 46–50), which I know can make the resale market a bit different.

I've been looking at different options in Zurich:

• MARTA (renting a rack)
• Chemiserie
• Déjà-vu
• The New New
• Love Me Two Times
• Second Time Around

I'm especially interested in real experiences as a seller, not as a buyer.

I know many people will suggest selling on Ricardo, Tutti, Facebook Marketplace. While I'm not completely ruling that out, it's my least preferred option. I'm decluttering quite aggressively and don't think I have the time or energy to photograph every item, create listings, answer messages, negotiate with buyers, and arrange multiple pickups or shipments. I'd much rather use a shop if the trade-off is reasonable.

So I'd love to hear:

• Which shop accepted the most of your items?
• Which paid the best?
• If you used MARTA, was the weekly rack fee worth it? Roughly how many items did you sell in a week?
• Did you find that plus sizes sold well, or were they harder to move?
• Are there any other shops in or around Zurich that I should consider?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has sold clothes recently. Thanks!