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  Living Abroad Living Abroad by Country Living in Switzerland

Living in Switzerland  Living in Switzerland

Key Expatriate Websites and Resources

Articles on Switzerland
Business and Economy in Switzerland
Education and Study in Switzerland
Embassies and Consulates
Expatriate Websites and Resources
Government and International Organizations
Housing and Real Estate in Switzerland
Language Courses in Switzerland
News and Media in Switzerland
Recommended Reading on Switzerland
Travel Information for Switzerland

Compiled by Volker Poelzl

Featured Articles on Living, Working, Studying, and Traveling in Switzerland
Living in Switzerland: The Reality is More Complex than the Image by Catherine Richards Golini
Working in Switzerland: Hospitality Schools Welcome Professionals by Sarah Muxlow-Jacquet
Teaching English in Switzerland: How to Move From Pipe Dream to Reality by Catherine Richards Golini
Moving to Geneva: The Cost of Living is High but the City Has its Rewards by Michele Ann Jenkins
The Experiment in International Living Experience: A Homestay in Switzerland by Leah M. Cano
Intern Jobs in Geneva, Switzerland: From Short-Term Jobs to Professional Positions by Kara C. McDonald
Affordable Alpine Retreat in Switzerland by Dinah Cardin
Swiss Alps Vacations by Jennifer Colvin
Off-Season Switzerland: Miss the Crowds and Enjoy Budget Prices by Dolores B. Tillett

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 Business and Economy in Switzerland

U.S. Commercial Service, www.buyusa.gov, offers assistance to help U.S. businesses export goods and services to markets worldwide, including Switzerland.

The Economist, www.economist.com, is a British weekly newsmagazine reporting on the global economy, politics etc. The Country Briefings, compiled for 60 countries by the Economist Intelligence Unit, provides extensive economic and political data, as well as links to articles. Take a look at the Switzerland Country Briefing.

Swiss American Chamber of Commerce, www.amcham.ch. Talacker 41, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland; Tel: (41-1) 211 24 54; Fax: (41-1) 211 95 72; info@amcham.ch.

U.S. Government Export Portal, www.export.gov, publishes Country & Industry Market Reports, Commercial guides, and other essential information for doing business abroad.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), www.oecd.org, provides a lot of economic information about its member states, including Switzerland.

STAT-USA/Internet, www.stat-usa.gov, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides economic, business, and international trade information from the Federal government.

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 Education and Study in Switzerland

Office of Overseas Schools, Department of State, www.state.gov/m/a/os, lists American International Schools for most countries, including Switzerland: International School of Berne.

British International Schools Worldwide, www.bisw.org, provides listings of British schools around the world, including Switzerland.

Worldwide Classroom, www.worldwide.edu, contains information on over 10,000 schools in 95 countries, including Switzerland. The web pages include information about primary and secondary schools, as well as universities and language schools.

GoAbroad.com, www.goabroad.com, in its Study Abroad section, provides an international education database for those intending to study abroad, including Switzerland.

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 Embassies and Consulates

See the Anywork, Anywhere website for an overview on visas and work permits in Switzerland.

The embassies and consulates listed below will be able to provide more detailed information:

Embassy of Canada in Switzerland, www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca; Kirchenfeldstrasse 88, CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland; Tel: 0041-31-3573200; Fax: 0041-31-3573210; bern@international.gc.ca

United States Embassy in Switzerland, bern.usembassy.gov; Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland; Tel: 031 357 70 11; Fax: 031 357 7344

British Embassy in Switzerland, www.britain-in-switzerland.ch; Thunstrasse 50, 3005 Berne, Switzerland; Tel: (41) (31) 359 7700; Fax: (41) (31) 359 7701; info@britain-in-switzerland.ch

Swiss Embassy in the UK, www.swissembassy.org.uk; 16/18 Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ, UK; Tel: (020) 7616 6000; Fax: (020) 7724 7001

Swiss Embassy in Canada, www.eda.admin.ch/canada; 5 Marlborough Avenue, Ottawa ON K1N 8E6, Canada; Tel: ++1-613-235 1837; Fax: ++1-613-563 1394; vertretung@ott.rep.admin.ch

Swiss Embassy in the USA, www.swissemb.org; 2900 Cathedral Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA; Tel: 1-202-745-7900; Fax: 1-202-387-2564

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 Expatriate Websites and Resources

American Citizens Abroad (ACA), www.aca.ch. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, ACA advocates the interests of US citizens living abroad. The website has downloadable information on voting, citizenship and census issues, plus links to various resources.

Comparish.ch, en.comparis.ch, provides advice for those moving to Switzerland on finding insurance, telephone providers, apartments, etc.

Escape Artist, www.escapeartist.com, a site mostly dedicated to off-shore investments and retirement havens, provides useful information for expatriates in Switzerland.

Expat Blog, www.expat-blog.com, is a worldwide directory of blogs related to expatriate life, with listings for Switzerland.

Expat Exchange, www.expatexchange.com, provides a wealth of resources and articles, as well as a forum.The site has a few useful articles and links about Switzerland.

Expats in Switzerland, groups.yahoo.com/group/Expats-in-Switzerland, is an online discussion forum full of good advice for expatriates.

Expatriates.com, www.expatriates.com/, an online community for expatriates, has a section on Switzerland, with classified ads, links, and a bulletin board.

FAWCO (Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas), www.fawco.org, is an international network to support American women living abroad with over 70 member clubs worldwide, including Switzerland.

The German Way, www.german-way.com, provides useful information on German culture, customs, business and education, with a section on Living in Switzerland.

Going Global, www.goinglobal.com, is a resource center for global careers, providing Career Guides for numerous countries, including Switzerland.

Meetup, www.meetup.com, lists group meetings in cities around the world to help bring people with common interests together and promote the development of active local communities. Check out the Switzerland section, listing groups all over the country.

Newcomers Club Worldwide, www.newcomersclub.com, is a worldwide directory of newcomers clubs for newly arrived expatriates, including Switzerland.

Switzerland is Yours, switzerland.isyours.com, provides a lot of advice and information for those wanting to relocate or invest in Switzerland.

Tales from a Small Planet, www.talesmag.com, is a webzine with news, stories, links, excellent message boards, and other resources for travelers and expatriates; The Switzerland section features "Real Post Reports" by expatriates, as well as useful links.

The Xpat Xchange, www.xpatxchange.ch, is a one-stop shop for English-speaking expats, full of advice, businesses, addresses.

BritishExpats.com, britishexpats.com, is a website dedicated to British expats around the world, including a general forum on Europe.

British Expat, www.britishexpat.com, is a site for British citizens living abroad, featuring a British Expat Forum, with a general section on Europe.

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 Government and International Organizations in Switzerland

Confoederatio Helvetica, www.admin.ch, is the portal site for the Swiss Federal authorities.

The Swiss Government Website, www.gov.ch, serves as a portal, allowing access to all Swiss public sector sites.

Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, www.eda.admin.ch.

European Governments Online, europa.eu.int provides useful links to government websites for all member countries of the European Union, as well as other European countries, including Switzerland.

United Nations Office in Geneva, www.unog.ch. The site also includes a complete list of Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations, www.eda.admin.ch, provides general information about culture, politics and the economy, as well as a variety of useful links, or visit the United Nations web portal at www.un.org/english/ or www.un.int.

CanadaEuropa, www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canadaeuropa, is the website of the European Bureau of Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC), with a section on Switzerland.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, www.customs.gov, provides useful information on its Travel Spotlight page about customs regulations when leaving and entering the U.S.

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 Housing and Real Estate in Switzerland

Escape Artist, www.escapeartist.com, has an extensive International Real Estate Listing, including Switzerland.

International Real Estate Digest, www.ired.com, provides international real estate listings, including a section on Switzerland.

International Real Estate Directory, www.internationalrealestatedirectory.com, has worldwide real estate listings, including Switzerland.

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 News and Media in Switzerland

Cream Magazine, www.cream-magazine.ch, is an English-language magazine for Switzerland.

Inside Switzerland Magazine, www.insidemagazine.ch, is an English-language magazine about contemporary culture in Switzerland, with a free monthly digital newsletter.

Kidon Media Link, www.kidon.com, an online directory of world newspapers and news media, has an extensive listing of news media in Switzerland.

Live-radio.net, www.live-radio.net/info.shtml, provides continuously updated links to thousands of online radio stations worldwide, including Switzerland.

Online Newspapers, www.onlinenewspapers.com, lists over 1000 links to online newspapers worldwide, including Switzerland.

SwissInfo, www.swissinfo.org, provides a wealth of current news stories, culture, travel, weather, politics–all you need to know about Switzerland today.

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 Recommended Reading on Switzerland

Living and Working in Switzerland, Tenth Edition: A Survival Handbook

Why Switzerland?

Culture Shock Switzerland

Rick Steves' Switzerland 2007

Lonely Planet Switzerland

Frommer's Switzerland

Fodor's Switzerland

The Rough Guide to Switzerland

Switzerland Eyewitness Travel Guides

Insight Compact Guide Switzerland

Ticking Along with the Swiss

Culture Smart! Switzerland: A Quick Guide to Customs & Etiquette

Doing Business And Investing in Switzerland

Adventuring in the Alps

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 Travel Information for Switzerland

My Switzerland.com, usa.myswitzerland.com, is the website of the Swiss National Tourist Office.

Switzerland Tourism USA and Canada: Swiss Center, 608 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10020; Tel: International Toll Free 011800-100-200-30, or USA only 1-877-794-8037; Fax: (212) 262 6116; info.usa@myswitzerland.com

Switzerland Tourism United Kingdom: 30 Bedford Street ,London WC2E 9ED, UK; Tel: 00800 100 200 30 (toll-free) or 020 7420 4900; Fax: 00800 100 200 31 (toll-free fax); info.uk@myswitzerland.com

About.com, in its Travel Section, provides useful articles, links and travel information for a large number of countries, including Switzerland.

Eurotrotter, www.eurotrotter.com, in its Europe section, provides useful links and resources for travelers, with a section on Switzerland.

Lonely Planet Worldguide, www.lonelyplanet.com, provides a lot of useful travel information. Check out the link for Switzerland.

Rough Guides Destinations, travel.roughguides.com, offer a lot of useful travel advice and information for most countries, including Switzerland.

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