Back to the roots

Finally – after 6.5 years. Just in the week where the newspress announced that there is a significant economic downturn in Austria and that Carinthia (a province in Austria) is close to being bankrupt, we have moved our principal residence from Switzerland to exactly that place! According to the motto: It can only get better!

Why are we doing that? Well, that’s not part of that blog. But what you’ll get is a fact list what I am leaving behind and what I expect to happen.

What I will miss

  • The trust in the government. Well, maybe not that comprehensible for a Swiss citizen. But if you follow Austrian politics, you know what I am talking about.
  • The idea of direct democray. It’s being questioned – even in Swiss newspapers. Still, it’s the best option to involve people in the political process.
  • My job – great people, great company and – lucky I was- great project! Fyi, I was employed at Landis + Gyr in Zug.
  • The “gym club” of my former home town, aka “Zolliker Turnverein”. I am still unable to make more than 10 press-ups.But at least I am a little better in playing Volleyball and way better in partying. Thanks to that I reached the level I had when I was a student. In both disciplines. And yes, a club consists mainly of people. And that was the biggest asset, no question.
  • The net – salary. Even in the non-banker business. Much better than in Austria, no doubt.
  • You know what you get. No bad surprises.

 What I won’t miss

  • The city of Zurich. Too clean, too stylish, too perfect. That’s too much for a person who grew up in the middle of nowhere.
  • The Swiss food – except for the cheese-foundue.
  • Swiss broadcasting (i.e. SRF, SF) – made for Swiss people. Probably the same as ORF in Austria. Only the native citizens can make anything out of that.
  • You know what you can expect. So it’s twofold (as I indicated the same in the previous section). The downside is simply that you hardly get positive surprises.
  • It’s all too pedantic perfect. But that’s probably also one of the reasons why Switzerland is that successful in the economy.
  • The Swiss keyboard layout. Maybe a reasonable compromise between German and French layout, but for somebody who only uses German/English it’s just a mess.

Rest to come in the next few days…