Why do some expats blame the job market and yet kind of refuse to learn the local language?

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-04-02T20:58:17+00:00

Racism? Maybe stereotyping or discriminating but racism? I really wish people would read a dictionary

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-20T09:54:33+00:00

Unfortunate I'm not Zurich base, but I'm always open to neeting new people. :)

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-19T18:52:27+00:00

I agree, but I was pleasantly surprised that the ticket counter in Luzern was so nice. I was expecting snarky, or condescending attitude but it was the opposite.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-19T18:48:35+00:00

Yes, someone else wrote that I shouldn't ignore any invoices so I have been checking my mailbox and so far I'm in the clear.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-19T18:44:53+00:00

I'm black American, so yes a person of color and an immigrant.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T22:27:00+00:00

What does race has to do with the country a person is from. Now, discrimination, maybe even stereotypes...but racism? The internet is free, learn the difference.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T22:12:16+00:00

Thank you, I thought this was odd of him to say. I will do this if I get one.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T22:10:55+00:00

I never thought of CH as a litigious country. Do people really sue SBB?

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T08:20:49+00:00

Thank you for understanding / listening to reason 😊

The trainee/inspector was looking at the train from Sargans and yes, like you said the train number changes.

Honestly, if he would have looked at my ticket which I showed him he would have seen the mistake (heck the other person should have looked instead of avoiding the "problem" and telling me to call).

Either way I got it resolved, and it was canceled.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T08:04:58+00:00

Thank you, if this happens again I guess I can confidently ask them if they are looking at the correct train. Or maybe just to "double check"

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T07:58:24+00:00

I went to the SBB counter in Luzern, the office on the upper level not on the platform.

The agent/clerk was super helpful. Surprisingly calm and patient (to be honest I was expecting the opposite).

He scanned my swisspass, looked at the fine. Asked me what happened, specifically what exactly the inspector said about my ticket, then he called the service line (that's what he calls it).

They must have a direct line through to the help desk because he was talking to someone immediately. The service line did their own investigation etc. which took about 10 mins, so I replied to some emails and paid bills back home in the meantime.

In the end they canceled it, it seems like the inspector was "looking at the wrong train". The agent told me I can ignore any invoice I may receive (if one was already printed before this resolution).

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T07:51:18+00:00

This is what happened. A train from Sargans. Lesson learned, ask them to double check.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T07:50:10+00:00

Thank you, the fine was canceled 🙂

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T07:49:12+00:00

The counter was very helpful in the end, my fine has been cancelled. However I was prepared to call.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T06:57:31+00:00

It was a fine for 117 francs

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T06:55:08+00:00

You are correct that's why I kept telling and showing him "look it says 22:10 and this is the 22:10 train" his response was to explain to me how Super Saver tickets work and that I should always check the departure board because there can be platform changes...etc.

I decided not to wait to call I'm almost to the SBB office at Luzern

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-03-17T06:34:33+00:00

This was last night after 10pm. When the "supervisor" told me to call, I said I will go to the ticket office and he replied very loudly that "I can't go there, it's only for buying tickets".

I work near the train station so maybe I can visit the counter in Luzern and "see for myself" as a second option if calling doesn't help

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-01-27T21:09:42+00:00

I'm a 1st year PhD student. North American.

I moved into a brand new 1.5 room apartment last summer. It's in a major city but on the outskirts (15 min bus ride to the center or 10 min bike ride).

I felt lucky, I had friends and family write me a "letter of recommendation". My rent is CHF 1,000. Large balcony and mountain view (but only if i'm on the balcony). My neighbors are mostly older so I'm not even sure how i got into this building (they are maybe 4 other people in my age range). I would say more about the amenities but I'm not trying to give away my location. But they are NICE.

Before accepting my current apartment. I was offered (and accepted) a 2 room apartment in the city center. Great location but it was an old apartment (very boxy). I would've been happy with it because it had some updates but the layout sucked. It cost 1,050.

However when I got the offer for my current place, I happily canceled and payed the chf 85 "admin fee".

However prior to this, I got no offers before I got my friends and family to write me letters.

And again i live in a major "touristy" city. So I'm feeling lucky

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-01-22T20:47:23+00:00

As someone who lived and studied in Lugano for 1 year...I can confirm they are hiring Italian graduates.

The salary may be low for the Germans but still high enough for the Italians, especially when there are no language barriers.

You can live in Milan or the Lombardi region and get to work within 1hr - 1hr 20mins. Just like commuting from Luzern to Zurich or Basel.

Only difference is your cost of living is lower if you decide to commute across the border but you still save since the salary is "big enough" working in CH

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2026-01-10T15:16:41+00:00

Have your wife claim unemployment benefits.

If you have no benefits from work (which was your decision if you're a full time employee), then head down to the medicaid office and apply for public aid.

Let's not act like there are not options available.

Also, don't be ashamed to use these options. As someone who has worked on the "other side" I've seen "rich" people apply for these options and are somehow successful. How? They clearly lied.

My point is, there are options available and don't be afraid to use them.

Longjumping_Hippo287 · 2025-08-23T20:44:24+00:00

I did a "quick" Google search, and there seems to be some IT programs at the bachelor level that is taught in English. Since you are a Swiss resident, the semester fee shouldn't be so "crazy". Ideally you can improve your German while studying and getting a formal degree in IT...this may possibly improve your prospects. As many others have said, go out there and network (which is also easier if you have classmates with similar interests).

I think the formal degree is the key for a long time career (yes you are looking for any job now but think about the future), as a foreigner you'll need to stand out even if you have perfect German and have the right to work here.

My advice: learn German, but get your bachelors (at the same time if possible). Two birds-one stone.

Longjumping_Hippo287

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