Newly Swissed Online Magazine

15 unmistakable signs that you’re becoming Swiss

Tucked in the center of Europe, the small country of Switzerland is a planet of its own. And just like any other planet, it has its own culture and set of rules.

Expats arriving here from another continent must feel especially mesmerized. Yet, from the moment you leave a note on your neighbor's door asking them to keep it down after 10 PM, you realize that you are becoming Swiss...

From food to sports, here are 15 unmistakable signs that you're becoming Swiss:


You get irritated when you go abroad and find that stores do not carry at least 10 different kinds of Swiss chocolate and 15 kinds of Swiss cheese.


You know what "Röschti" is (and have crossed the "Röschtigrabe" at some point).

You know you're Swiss if

You were legally allowed to drink beer and wine at the age of sixteen.


And you order beer because it is cheaper than anything else - even water!


At the restaurant, you feel cheated if they serve your beverage with ice. There are no free refills in Switzerland!


Obviously, you prefer "Elmer Citro" from "Sprite".


You're the proud owner of a Soda Club machine.


You have ever prepared a dish based on a Betty Bossi recipe.


You pick up a liter of fresh milk every other day.


You compulsively buy ice-cream during the break at the movie theater. (Yes, movies break straight down the middle in Switzerland.)


You are not surprised when the grocery clerk greets you by name.


You work out on the Vita Parcours outdoor gym in your local forest.


During school, you attended state-funded ski camps every winter.


You have ever worn a pair of these:


Or these!

Adidas Adilette Sandals

Dimitri Burkhard

As the founder, editor, and community manager of Newly Swissed, Dimitri owns the strategic vision. He is passionate about storytelling and is a member of Swiss Travel Communicators. Dimitri loves discovering new trends and covers architecture, design, start-ups and tourism.

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  • Then: Carving pumpkins in October.
    Now: Carving turnips in November.

    Then: Going to dinner before going out for the evening.
    Now: Sitting in a restaurant all evening.

    Then: Normal numbers, normal addresses, normal dates.
    Now: Backwards numbers, addresses and dates.

    Then: July 4th
    Now: 1. August

    Then: Getting to the airport three hours early to get through security.
    Now: Schengen.

    Then: Hershey’s
    Now: Lindt & Sprüngli

    Then: Garbage.
    Now: Compost.

    Then: Buying vegetables at the grocery store.
    Now: Growing vegetables in the garden or buying them from the farm down the street.

    Then: Doing things because I could.
    Now: Doing things because I should.

    Then: One family home with a private yard.
    Now: Two family home, sharing a yard with the neighbors.

    Then: Shopping mall
    Now: Bahnhofstrasse

    Then: Bud
    Now: Feldschlosschen

    Then: Drive-thru banking
    Now: On-line banking

    Then: College football
    Now: Schwingen

    • Then: A good idea of what it means to be Swiss.
      Now: A way better idea thanks to the many creative contributions of moonchild!

      Thank you so much, and keep ’em coming!

Dimitri Burkhard

Download our e-book: 77 Facts about Switzerland

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