10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE MOVING TO SWITZERLAND

Hi Famollie! Join me today for a reflective chat as I share about 10 things I wish I knew before moving to Switzerland in February 2019. It's since been 5 long years, and i'm proud that I'd assimilated and learnt so much about life in Switzerland, and I'm excited to share all that I've learned with you. If you too are thinking move abroad, whether to Switzerland or somewhere in Europe, I hope this video will help you out with your planning and inspire you to take that leap of faith.
(Sorry guys for the darker lighting this time round... I was using a different DSLR for this video and the setting went wonky!)
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☁︎ T I M E S T A M P S ☁︎
00:00 Introduction
00:45 1. Do not settle (or make rushed decisions)
02:53 2. Get second-hand furniture
03:51 3. Sort out the bureaucracy first
04:51 4. Language
08:12 5. Job-search
09:39 My BRAND NEW Swiss Travel Guide!
10:07 6. Healthcare
10:53 7. Geographical location + cantons
13:06 8. Public holidays
14:19 9. Eating out/cooking at home
15:56 10. Friendships
BINGE-WATCH MY OTHER VIDEOS: 🍿
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TOP 10 CULTURE SHOCKS IN SWITZERLAND: • CULTURE SHOCK LIVING I...
How to find a job in Switzerland: • HOW TO FIND A JOB IN S...
How I passed my FRENCH DELF B2 Exams! • HOW TO PASS THE FRENCH...
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TOP SWITZERLAND ACTIVITIES:🇨🇭
1. Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe Tour 🏔️
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2. Mount Titlis Day Tour from Zurich 🏔️
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3. Lucerne: Swiss Transport Museum 🚂
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4. Lucerne: Day Trip from Zurich with Cruise 🏞️
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5. Jungfrau Region: Paragliding Diving in Interlaken 🪂
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6. Lauterbrunnen and 72 waterfalls: E-Bike Rental 🚴‍♂️
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7. Rhine Falls Half-Day Tour from Zurich 🌊
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8. Zurich: City Tour, Cruise, and Lindt Home of Chocolate Visit 🏙️
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9. Bern: 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour 🐻
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10. Zermatt: Gornergrat Railway Day Trip 🚂
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11. Basel: 2-Hour Historical Walking Tour 🏛️
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12. Geneva: Chocolate Tasting Tour 🍫
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13. Lausanne: Olympic Museum Entrance Ticket 🏅
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14. Lausanne: Lavaux Vineyards Tour, Chillon Castle, Chaplin’s World 🍇
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15. Bernina Express: Full-Day Rail Tour from Milan 🚂
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Get your SWISS TRAVEL CARDS:
Swiss Travel Pass
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Half-Fare Card
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Berner Oberland Pass
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THIS VIDEO IS NOT SPONSORED. All opinions are my own.
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Sub count at upload: 11,755

[@Olliechinny]

*GET MY BRAND NEW SWISS TRAVEL GUIDE!* rexby.com/olliechinny (Use "OLLIECHINNY" for 20% off life-time, unlimited access)

[@seanvic0912]

Very informative. Clear and straight to the points. Definitely will be a useful video from time to time. Thanks Olivia

[@Olliechinny]

Thank you! ❤

[@neimadc]

Thanks for sharing! Every point is spot on and anyone who plans to move here (especially from SEA) should take note. And yea, I miss the hawker centers!

[@isalutfi]

Hi Olivia. Am your new subscriber. This content help me a lot. Swiss 🇨🇭 is one of my dream countries to work or study. Thank you for sharing this great video. Keep up! 🍵

[@Olliechinny]

Best of luck!

[@carlfenger]

Swiss is an adjective. The name of the country is Switzerland.

[@Yeaaaah_z]

New subscriber! Thank you for the helpful information. I plan to visit Zurich soon. Austria is another country I really enjoyed so knowing that learning German will help me in both places is a win! Thank you 🫶🏽

[@Olliechinny]

Welcome!

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

Go to China and don't speak Chinese. Good luck!

[@anthonymartinez9184]

This video was for sure informative! I’m considering the move to Züri in about 2 years. So this helps me weigh out the pros and cons. 😊 ❤

[@Olliechinny]

Glad it was helpful! You can always support my channel with a subscribe or by buying me a coffee. Best of luck with your move 🌎✈️🇨🇭

[@veryv5565]

This video was so helpful! I moved to Geneva a few weeks ago and am currently apartment hunting. I will definitely keep in mind about French intensive classes ❤ merci

[@Olliechinny]

Good luck! Don’t stress about the search, the right one will come to you in due time. And yes intensive classes (at l’ecole Migros) is fantastic. Do also consider trying out Lingoda: there’s a free 1 week trial and u get 20% off with my code OLLIECHINNY for ur first month of subscription. Bone chance! 🤞🏻🍀

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

Geneva is a bit special when it comes to languages. Speaking English is ok if you work in an international environment - but when it comes to spending the money you earn - from groceries, restaurants, and rent - without French, you will find it extremely difficult.

[@Nobuyyear]

Wow amazing tips

[@antidumbcomments]

Hi Olivia 😊. Thank you for the video. Would you recommend 1. Living within walking distance from the workplace? 2. Using websites for housing?

[@Bigimotena]

It may be difficult, but I think I can handle immigrating from Israel to Switzerland. Your video was very useful for me.

[@BenderFondue]

Wait, I need a family doctor? Been living here in Switzerland without a physician for the better part of 10 years. Then again I've been living here for all my life, might be easier to do that this way. And yes tha language part is very important, so yeah starting as early as possible is a good thing to do, at least on of 3 main ones. Depends very much on the place you end up living.

[@oatlatte19]

so much good info, and so raw so authentic! 🥲

[@Olliechinny]

Glad you think so! Please support with a subscribe

[@Oom_in_Switzerland]

We brought over all our furniture because it was part of the relocation package😄 Without that we would have just bought 2nd hand items like you suggested.

[@Olliechinny]

Lucky u had a relocation package too! Where are u living in Switzerland? 🙂

[@Oom_in_Switzerland]

We are based in Neuchâtel 😊

[@maanvithachowdary.p21]

Hey Olivia. I'm your your subscriber for quite a few months. You are videos are so helpful and informative ❤. I heard that if international students come to study there, they need to wait atleast 6months to get a part time, Is it true? If yes, what can we do to support our lifestyle before we get a job?

[@Olliechinny]

Yes, if you are from non EU/EFTA countries there is a six month period before u can apply for part time job. There is also a limit of 15 hour per week during studies and 100 hours during semester break. You can cut on cost by not eating out, shopping at cheaper supermarkets (or even in France). Transport wise get the half fare card.

[@maanvithachowdary.p21]

​@@Olliechinny Thank you for answering my question and for your valuable explanation ❤. Are we not allowed to do even remote jobs like pet walkers/selling our own products(small business or something).

[@yogeshpoudel2477]

Can u make a video on how can international students save money like hacks and tricks and also about expenses and monthly wage

[@roobs5]

I am currently studying in the US and it's a dream to move to Switzerland in 5 years or so with my husband. Is my only option for a visa to get sponsored by an employer on a work visa?

[@Olliechinny]

Yes.

[@JJI-A]

hi Olivia

[@earthchanger]

Nice video ❤ Can you make video about how to make friends in Zurich and things about swiss citizenship.

[@Olliechinny]

Please keep a look out for my next video where I talk about how I obtained my swiss permanent residency ❤

[@earthchanger]

@@Olliechinnythanks, as an non EU/efta citizen It would take me to 11-12 years to get swiss citizenship but Living in Switzerland is itself a heaven.

[@Olliechinny]

I am a non EU-EFTA citizen myself from Singapore and I still managed to get my permanent residency in 5 years :) @@earthchanger it is not the same as citizenship though which i do not intend to renounce my current citizenship.​

[@earthchanger]

@@Olliechinny yeah Singapore does not allow dual citizenship and through my research on best countries I come on Switzerland and Singapore i choose Switzerland because it allows dual citizenship however I am Indian But sadly India does not allow dual citizenship. And Switzerland as EFTA country citizens will have freedom of movement and work in EU/EFTA region and It is hard to find homes in Singapore on ground because I always love to have House on lands multi-storey Apartments are not my type. But in taxes, buisness,and rest of all things Singapore is slightly better or same in comparison with Switzerland..and as a mountain lover and trekker Switzerland is also a heaven..but how you manage to get permanent residence in 5 years because as far as know for non EU/efta without marriage with swiss national it would 10 years of residence in Switzerland to obtain permanent residence.. don't mind but can I ask you why you moved to Switzerland because I feel like Singapore Itself is quite best.

[@Olliechinny]

@@earthchangerthanks! I will answer everything in my coming video

[@toniotucci3637]

How does a Canadian get a work permit in Switzerland?

[@rkw2917]

You'll have to get a job offer and your skills will need to be exceptional

[@rd00____]

I want more video

[@Olliechinny]

Please support by buying me a coffee so I can produce more videos for all of you! Www.buymeacoffee.com/olliechinny

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

What a novelty. A young beautiful intelligent person moving to Switzerland and talking about "how to integrate" to fit into this new environment. The far majority of such videos accuse the Swiss of not being tolerant of them being "different" and of course - blaming gender, race, nationality, and any other reason other than themselves.

[@Olliechinny]

🙏 thank you!

[@perro0076]

The killer for us is too many rules (maybe it's just a german side thing), no noise between 10PM and 7AM? I understand it if you live in flats .... but really? Put it down in black-and-white somewhere? And an ugly undercurrent of patriarchy. Is that also on the French side?

[@JonGreeny]

I don't get it. Why do many people choose to stay in Switzerland and not go to bigger countries like USA, UK or Canada where there are much more opportunities in terms of career?

[@Olliechinny]

Sometimes career is not the be all and end all for everyone. Uk: never will move to the UK. much lower salaries than Switzerland US: unstable political environment, lots of hate crimes against Asians. Canada: I actually like Canada and wouldn’t mind if an opportunity comes

[@JonGreeny]

@@OlliechinnyIt seems to me you have an aversion towards bigger countries. And by the way, most of the reasons you stated concerning the UK and the US are just based on false rumours and not facts. There are many high earners in the UK as well as many successful Asians in the US. You came to Switzerland probably because of the ''high salary'' cliche when in reality it's only about 15% of Switzerland that earns really ''high''.

[@hk254lyt8]

@@JonGreenyIt’s her choice. You can choose US if you want.

[@JonGreeny]

@@hk254lyt8Sure but would you say a big country such as the USA has more or less career/business opportunities than Switzerland, a relatively small country?

[@hk254lyt8]

@@JonGreeny I think USA has more career opportunities but sometimes it’s not just about how easy it is to get a job in a country. Personally I wouldn’t live or work in the USA too