Diccon Bewes - The Expert Guide to Your Life in Switzerland - May 2020

We were thrilled to have Diccon Bewes join us as our first post-quarantine guest in the studio once again, to tell us about the latest book he has written and edited, "The Expert Guide To Your Life In Switzerland". As the title suggests, the book is an anthology of subjects written by experts in their fields. For example, the chapter on "Arrival" was written in collaboration with Cornelia Lüthi, a member of the Board of Managment at the State Secretariat for Migration. Diccon also wrote four chapters himself: on Tradition, Swiss Facts, Shopping, and Becoming Swiss (where he shares his first-hand experience with becoming a Swiss Citizen). Here, we share a few fun facts from the book which you can order from Bergli (a Basel-based publisher) or buy in person at Bider & Tanner:

- The ban on flushing toilets after 10pm is an urban myth

- Foreigners make up 25% of the population but only 10% of deaths (because they are generally younger and healthier)

- It’s expected that your photo is on your CV or resumé

- Tipping is not required in Switzerland but it’s usual to round up

- There are four stages of getting to know people: stranger, acquaintance, colleague, and finally (maybe) friend

- Over 6% of the population owns a GA annual travel pass

- Mortgage down payment is typically 20% on your primary residence

- Only four public holidays are observed in every canton: 1 January, Ascension Day, 1 August and Christmas Day

- As a rule of thumb, your annual taxes = one month’s salary

- Avoid small talk about illness, politics, sex, religion and money