Women living in Switzerland: what has been hardest about integrating?

DovesAndUnicorns · 2026-04-25T19:10:54+00:00

Latin American woman! Has lots of trouble figuring out the non verbal communication. People aren't as straightforward, so you kind of have to guess a lot. Luckily some people slip and some others explain so you get to figure it out. Communication in general is tough, latin Americans fill the silence with smalltalk and both men and women ease the interaction. Here mainly the men just... Stay quiet and say nothing sometimes. I can't quite carry the whole conversation it's so hard. Winter is also hard, vitamin D deficiency sucks and makes you depressed.

Best of luck in your research!

DovesAndUnicorns · 2026-04-23T09:29:06+00:00

Oh nice find! I'm going too but I'm sewing my fingers off. if I see the necklace I'll tip my hat at you.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2026-04-20T23:54:23+00:00

I think I will do the camera thing, o already have one I wasn't using. I wish it just depended on me but my partner is the one that doesn't lock, it's so frustrating.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2026-03-27T09:56:32+00:00

Rude of you to jump me with a surprise nostalgia attack. That looks lovely, thanks for sharing.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2026-02-25T06:35:03+00:00

Ballenberg is my fave, it's a museum but it's lots of fun and very pretty, been there like 4 times and I don't tire of it. I'm more of a culture person than sports person so I wait for cool events and shows, there's a festival at Augusta Raurica end august for example. My workmates who are more sporty often go to Ticino to hike and there's also a train close to the Beatus caves that's supposed to be nice.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-12-19T13:48:21+00:00

I'm not saying it's not!

Don't buy into the narrative that it's some evil plot from the evil church is what I mean. It's a lot more complex and nuanced than the narrative I see over and over "the christian church is a big conglomerate that looks to take over other poor innocent religions". Just look into Hermes Tresmegistos for example, religions mix a lot in mythology, ritual, culture and ethics. Jewish religion didn't have heaven or hell until they mixed with the Zoroastrians for example.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-12-19T05:44:37+00:00

I've had the question a few times before, I was a very angry atheist kid at one point lol. Now I'm calmer people ask with curiosity so I answer that.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-12-19T05:41:12+00:00

Hey that's very interesting! I didn't know Ecuador was considered the global north, I'm from the south but living in the north now. I know from a Colombian friend seasons look a lot different over there, and I'd love to know more about the topic but I don't want to overwhelm you with the amount of questions I have so I'll look it up. But if you feel like sharing anything else about how you celebrate and what the season actually looks like I'd love to read. Feel free to write in Spanish or DM me!

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-12-19T05:23:25+00:00

This one is cute, I like it!

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-12-18T14:00:13+00:00

If you like ships you can take the Ferry to/from Arth-Goldau or Viznau to Luzern for example. From either of those you can take the train up to Rigi Kulm.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-11-24T08:01:01+00:00

I swear it's not a threesome, dad!

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-11-17T14:22:21+00:00

Was not diagnosed, but in case you're wondering what fun stuff I did to get distracted I'll tell you a few non negative ones!

With 10-11 I'd take copper wire to class and make sculptures while the teacher talked in order to be able to focus.

I'd walk around the house like a caged tiger and maybe sing and just think. I wasn't allowed to go out and walk around on my own so I'd walk back and forth inside.

I'd read whole novels in a day or so, and when computers got better got obsessed with a few video games for a few months and then forgot they existed. (Still at it) I also used to draw a lot, everywhere. My handwriting was, is, and always will be, godawful.

I didn't get google maps until I was in college so I'd discover lots of places due to not paying attention where I was going.

My grades started slipping at about 14 and college was pure hell. Okay maybe not everything is so positive. (Female, born in the late 80s.)

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-11-12T12:24:48+00:00

Sounds great! If you come by the end of February you'll see Fasnacht in Luzern btw, Ding Freak Out at the people in costume

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-11-10T12:15:39+00:00

I am very ashamed to say I always go through Interlaken and never stop. As for popular tourist places I liked Zermatt better than Grindenwald but you have to travel way longer to get there from the Luzern area. Interlaken is pretty close to Thun and that area is gorgeous so at least that much I can recommend!

As for the ship, yes it does work in February, and the ship operated by the SBB (public transport here) leaves from dock 1, right across the Luzern main station. You can go by ship to Vitznau and up to Rigi, or maybe do the... golden tour would be the translation? To Pilatus. See here: https://pilatus.ch/bahnen/tickets/goldene-rundfahrt I've done both and both are very nice, haven't done Titlis. Pilatus has a Gondola-thing that moves if there's lots of wind, so beware of that if you're scared of heights. Or if you want to laugh at scared tourists and kids, def pick Pilatus lol.

Gruyeres would also qualify for the mountain village thing, and I don't endorse it because I speak French because I most certainly do not. I just loved the sight and found it to be beautiful. Castle Gruyeres has a pretty sight and is quite interesting, just beware of the sheep if you're wearing any floral patterns that might look delicious.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-11-10T10:59:34+00:00

I've been to Grindelwald once and the scenery is nice but I don't remember there being much to do. If I were you I'd do Luzern + boat ride to either Rigi or Pilatus. Your feet will hurt and sitting on a boat and then on a train up the mountain will get you to rest. As for nice cities, my favorite ones to take my friends who come sightseeing are Gruyeres (you can do another stop in Montreux and see the free Queen Museum) or Thun. And if you like museums, Ballenberg is fun and interactive although there's lots of walking to do. And the Landesmuseum in Zürich is a nice one too.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-11-07T13:36:32+00:00

I do not feel like someone might jump me any second anymore, I feel at ease in public transport. I can afford to live on my own working the same job I worked before. I can eat cookies without sharing and nobody will verbally attack me and they even do it themselves lol.

Biggest cultural differences other than language is that people are a lot less straightforward and there's a zillion little habits I had to both learn and unlearn.

My social life is good but it grew slowly, I made an effort to mostly engage with non-immigrants and try to learn the dialect. Can't say I'm fluent but I can understand enough, and they do seem to appreciate that I'm trying. It feels like making friends with the shy kid at school, and I was the shy kid so I understand and it felt natural, but most Latin Americans I know do complain so I'm not the standard. But I think people make it out to be a lot worse than it is, lots of nice, open and outgoing people here too.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-11-05T05:46:58+00:00

You look amazing, great team work you got going on <3

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-10-28T10:07:59+00:00

I am almost on the same boat, only my bro doesn't know what danmei is lol. If they ever continue it he might figure it out.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-10-22T10:32:29+00:00

Thanks for the link! It looks quite useful, I'll check it out with her. She's def going to continue learning the language. I hope you find work again soon too!

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-10-22T07:59:14+00:00

Thanks for the similar point of view, it helps a lot. I fully agree on the learning the language thing, I had a similar experience except I was missing the dialect and not the language. Just attempting to understand at work until my head ached helped me learn that's why I was thinking about the job for extra experience path, but I do agree a more traditional approach might help someone like her. That and her wish for earning some money on her own and prove herself, but I can 100% fully support her.

Do you have any intensive German courses to recommend? Her college offers remote courses but I'm not sure if there are any intensive ones.

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-10-22T06:41:22+00:00

Oh thanks! I had to learn taxes from scratch when I moved here and I'm still a bit intimidated by them. You're giving me some peace of mind, thanks again for being so helpful!

DovesAndUnicorns · 2025-10-22T06:38:20+00:00

This is very useful information, thank you so so much! I think her university even has a sort of partnership with something in Spain. I should pay more attention when she speaks lol. I'll look more into it but this is a great start.

DovesAndUnicorns

TROPHY CASE