La vie à la Suisse

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… is usually just the approaching train. So I am not gonna spray optimism around here, but it seems as if I am slowly getting somewhere! This morning, I went to the Administration Communale in Criesser, and set the work permit process into motion! Was easy and very nice, the attendant was very helpful and even willing to help me out with a little bit of english!

Encouraged by this change in the climate, I rushed down to Renens and actually found where they sell monthly tickets! Again, I encountered help and willingness to engage in non-French activities. Great! Now I was really flying…

… and came crushing down when I tried to open a bank account with the Swiss post. You could see the face of the person at the counter drop when I said the magic words: Ne pas parler de français! And then she got even annoyed when I did not understand her lengthy sentence about filling something out and coming back or so. I decided that they will not get my business! I found a haven of friendliness at the UBS, where I didn’t have to fill out hundreds of forms and was even greated with a smile!

So things are in motion now. No reason to delay the active search for an apartment…. sigh

One of the most defining experiences for me in the US was having a driver’s license and being able to go anywhere I want in my own car. Now, a car over here is most probably not necessary, but not having one is quite a change. Of course, there is plenty of public transportation over here, but it is a painful process getting back into chasing trains and buses!

But first things first: On Thursday, freshly arrived from the US, I made my way to my new office from Geneva. The ticket I bought at a vending machine, pas de problem! It even accepted my US debit card. Of course, I took a train that does not stop where I had to go, so I had to change into a more, well, local service about half way to Lausanne. In Renens, I had to change to the metro, but unfortunately, the ticket machine only takes change or a special pay card! I didn’t have any change on me, and actually, that problem has been with me ever since! I mean, why can’t the machine accept bills? Especially, since the prices range from 2 up to 15 Francs! Come on, this is the 21st century, machines can read bills and credit cards! But nooooooooooooooo, not here, not on the local train or bus service. To make it worse, the whole thing is bloody expensive! I was trying to find a place where I can buy a monthly ticket, but so far these offices are like a myth to me…

But there is one thing I have to admit: Damn, the public transport is punctual! Even the local busses are mostly within 2-3min of their schedule! And the SBB (Swiss train), oh là là, don’t even think about coming 30s or so too late on the platform! Man, those Swiss have that really figured out!

Biking is certainly an option, but only as long as your are craling along the lake front. The instant you decide to go north, you start going up. Seriously up. Anyone remember my bitching about the hill I had to ride every morning to work? Well, forget it! This is the real deal! In some places, bicycling is completely out of the question!

So, maybe I should get a car? But as long as I don’t have my work permit, I won’t get a credit, so I better get used to walking. And carrying tons of coins with me!

Yes, here it is, the first report from la Suisse! No excuses, no censorship, just the plain, sometimes brutal, but always honest truth. Well. You know what I mean….

I have been in Lausanne now since Monday morning, so about two days. Please keep that in mind, because whatever comes below, you should take it with a grain of salt. But I am of German upbringing, can’t really help it, so when things do not go quick and efficiently, I get… well, irritated, I guess, is the correct expression. Anyway.

Starting anew is always the same game: You need to fill out the papers for your new employer, you have to get a bank account, you have to deal with immigration matters, and you have to get yourself a place to stay, and deal with some other small stuff I have conveniently forgotten. Now, my temporary accommodation was already settled while I was still back in Delaware. For four weeks, I am staying in the Marcolet student dorm (maisons des étudiantes), which is not too bad. Except maybe for the fact that the promised internet is not working. But that is the least of my problems right now… And just guess how much fun it will be when I start looking for a real place…

Immigration is interesting. Just recently, the entry for citizens of the EU was made much easier. Now I just use my ID card and voilà! Bienvenue! But I do have to register (annoncer) with the commune I am living at. Now, silly me, thinking I am a Lausannien, went to the office in the city. Wrangling with my almost non-existent French, I got them to tell me what I needed to get the process done. However, when I was back shortly after, they realized that I was in the wrong place! As it turns out, my dorm (= my home) is not in Lausanne, it is in Crissier! Which, having a quick look at a map, really sounds like nit picking! So I am still not registered, my next try is on Wednesday…

At least bank account should be simple, you say? Come on, this is Switzerland, after all, you say? Even thugs and terrorists have bank accounts here, plus dictatorships and alleged democracies. So, why wouldn’t a harmless scientist get a simple debit account right away? Well, actually, I could have had one already, but once I turned up at the bank when it was closed, and twice when they were about to close… Sorry, guys, but I lived for two years in a place where almost everything is 24/7. Hell, my crappy local bank had a branch even open on Saturday! So, here I am, perfectly Americanized, finding myself dazzled by the mere fact that any place would be closed between noon and 1.30pm for lunch! And of course the bank closes for the day at 4.30! Arriving there at 4.25 and asking if I could open an account right away produced only a mild smile…

The forth time I went to the big branch in Lausanne. No lunch closing here, but again my efforts came to a grinding halt when the accountant told me in rather broken English that I was missing a letter from the immigration office! Gnargh! Frustrated, I gave up for today and will start another attack on that front tomorrow… I should mention here that the letter I was asked to present was actually with me, but the way it was described to me misled me completely… Again gnargh!

At the University, things went rather smooth, I do have an office (shared, but with windows!), a comfy chair, a new desktop (core 2 duo, mmmhhhhhh!), an account, a new web page, and so on and so forth. There are plenty of cafeterias for lunch, the one I have been twice so far is rather nice! Finally, the floor I am on has a decent coffee maker, who could ask for anything more?

All right, that is just a quick and bit unsorted rant about the status quo over here. More soon!

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