Little things in Switzerland that aren't actually normal at all

Living in Switzerland is usually about the big things: skiing, the mountains and the higher salary. But after 5 years I notice that it's mostly the small moments that make life so good.

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Last month I wrote about the things I still have to get used to after 5 years. This is the other side: ordinary weekday moments after work that feel almost normal by now, even though they really aren't.

1. Walking down to the lake after work

I live a few minutes' walk from the lake. Sometimes after work I just walk down to the water to watch the sunset. No plan, just getting outside for a bit. And then you're standing there, with the lake in front of you and the mountains in the background. By now that sometimes feels normal, even though it's ridiculously beautiful.

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2. A short walk first, then a drink

In the Netherlands I'd usually just meet up somewhere for a drink. In Switzerland you might easily go for a short walk first, head up somewhere for the view, and only then end up on a terrace. It doesn't have to be big or sporty. That "getting outside before we have a drink" feels very typical of life in Switzerland to me.

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3. A bike ride that turns into a mini adventure

A quiet bike ride after work sounds simple. But you soon find yourself cycling along a lake, through small villages or with mountains all around you. Sometimes you're only gone for an hour and it still feels like you've stepped right out of your working day. That really makes me happy.

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4. Into the lake after work

In summer this might be the best little thing of all. A run after work and then straight into the lake. Or just grab your things, head to the water, swim and sit for a while. It's an ordinary weekday evening: you went to work and you end the day in clear water with the mountains in the background. It feels like being on holiday. It also shows that a full working week leaves plenty of room to explore Switzerland.

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5. Forgetting how beautiful the view from the train is

I notice this mostly when friends or family come to visit. I sit on the train as if it's nothing, while they can't stop looking out of the window. Then I think: oh right, this isn't normal at all. Lakes, mountains, small villages, green hills. For me it's just getting from A to B, for them it feels like a scenic holiday route. So when visitors come, put a train ride on the programme for your guests. For them it's often a day out in itself.

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Still special after 5 years

After 5 years Switzerland feels more and more like home. I work, do the shopping, pay bills and have busy or boring days like anyone else. Not every day is an adventure. But in between there are moments when I think: this is really special. A walk to the lake, a short bike ride, a train ride with a view or a swim after work.

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Maybe that's the best thing about living in Switzerland: the special moments sit right between your working day and dinner.

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Fancy a working week with the lake around the corner? Take a look at our current vacancies for physiotherapists.

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