My Swiss Home - Part One

There are so many things I'd love to document about moving to Switzerland...it's a VERY formal process. In the U.S.A. it seems so simple (I know there are lots of personal details to work out, but the process varies from person to person).

Moving to Switzerland or within Switzerland is not a simple or varied process. There are very specific things that must be done and completed prior to moving here and once you get here. One of the more interesting things we had to do was register with our canton (a canton is like a state...we live in the canton of Zug). Paperwork, MONEY, and we used an attorney to make sure it was all done correctly are all necessary. We had to go to the offices in the canton and be fingerprinted, eyes scanned, picture taken and an ID card made to carry with us at all times. Depending on what type of resident you are (local, expat, etc.) determines what type of permit you have. We have "B" permits which allow us to work and live here for a certain period of time. Seemed really "weird" to me.

And then renting a home or apartment is a very formal affair.  First, availability is very limited. We were only shown two places that were available. And we are very fortunate to be living where we do. We are in more of a home than an apartment so our rules are not strict. If you live in an apartment in Switzerland, there are certain rules that must be adhered to.

• blinds need to be closed not too late (I actually have an expat acquaintance that was told by her Swiss neighbor that she was closing her blinds too late and it was bothering them...they were not nice about it.)
• you cannot use the washer/dryer after 10:00 (22:00 here). Some places actually shut off power to them after this time.
• no yardwork or loud outdoor (indoor for that matter) on Sunday.
• no loud indoor activity really ever.
• your home and yard must be kept immaculate. You will have all sorts of complaints from neighbors if it is not.
• no flushing the toilet after 10:00 pm.
• you cannot practice musical intruments before 8:00 am or after 6:00 pm

Most of these are really social rules and not laws, but break one, and be sure that you will be informed by a neighbor or bystander. I can't believe how many friends have shared stories of how their doors have been knocked on by neighbors telling them the things they are doing wrong...from yard work to raising their children.  CRAZY!!!

If you happen to lose your house key, it can cost between 800 - 1000 swiss francs. seriously. This is serious business losing your key! I am paranoid about it.

When you are ready to sign a rental agreement, a form is filled out (it is the exact same form for every person living in the canton - no exceptions). You have a meeting with the land owners and the realtor. It was quite the formal affair...drinks, snacks and about three hours later you are finished. You complete a walk through, go over every line on the form, sign in no less than 500 places (slight exaggeration). And all this with translation because we don't speak German. Bob was dying...he was looking at his watch the entire time thinking "can't I just sign and go back to work?"  After you are finished, you walk through on another day with the land owner, realtor for the tenants moving out and your realtor to go over every scratch, bump and bruise of which there are none because the Swiss way of clean is making it all look brand new. Honestly, it did not look like our place had ever been lived in. The previous tenants had lived her for four years. All the walls need to be repainted white when you leave. I cannot even explain how clean this place was.

We really love our home. It's very comfortable. And we have wonderful land owners. He is Italian and she is Swiss. And we are so lucky!!!!  And we don't have any of those silly aparment rules. We even have our own garage...and a yard! (not common here. I will post pictures of that next time. The kitchen pictures were taken on a cloudy, rainy day so the flash was used. The house is very bright and light.

From the street

looking out the front door - the whole front to the left is terraced with herbs, flowers, ivy, etc. I just love it!

Entry Way - my friend Amy made me some vinyl lettering before I came and I love the Wilkommen on the entry mirror.

view from kitchen of main floor - we love the open space.

view from entry way of kitchen and main floor

sink area of kitchen...across from island

view from family room

favorite reading chair and foot rest - I love this felted wool balls foot rest. Hours of fun are had with it!

family room...blue color...so NOT Swiss!
I couldn't handle all the white so I painted this corner of the room this sea blue and I love it.
We painted the entry way as well and the kids have one wall painted in their rooms as well.
It's amazing the comments I get about this color. The Swiss like LOVE their white!

**Pictures of upstairs and downstairs coming soon.


 Auf Weidersehen,