REVERSE CULTURE SHOCKS! An international couple discusses their AMERICAN culture SHOCKS!
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
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Hey guys! In this video we’re talking all about REVERSE CULTURE SHOCKS that we experiences as an international couple who lives abroad in Switzerland who has been back in the US for the first time in a while! As an American Expat/immigrant who has lived abroad in Switzerland for the past 4 years, I’ve noticed a lot of differences both big and small! In this video we’ll discuss the top 10 differences of life in Switzerland versus life in the United States from the perspective of an American and a Swiss international couple. We'll take a look at Swiss Culture and society versus the US and compare!
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Bienvenue & Willkommen! We are Lex & Louis - and together we are The Traveling Swiss. We're an international couple (USA + Switzerland) who have recently moved from NYC to Switzerland. Come travel with us - we'll give you tips and guides, and hopefully have a few laughs along the way. Our goal is to show you that borders are meant to be crossed!
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xx Lex & Louis
I cracked up whe Louis said, “yes, as you should.” He wants Lex to be on time in Switzerland. I can relate! My husband is always on my case about being on time too. lol
Tipping at US counter-based foodservice locations has gotten out of hand. It’s become another “tax” and it subsidizes employers, allowing them to pay a lower wage.
Tipping requests have become out of control for sure. Not only do the payment devices ask for tips in all kinds of stores and situations where tipping is not appropriate, but the suggested tip amounts are getting bigger and higher. Just remember, it’s perfectly OK to choose your own tip amount it to not tip at all in those places where tips aren’t appropriate. I’m a generous tipper. I usually tip 20%. But not at a takeout place or a convenience store. 😂
Actually all the restaurants we went to never had anything on the bills for additional tips, and the waiters didn’t seem upset at all.
I don’t see it on the bill. It shows up when you swipe your card to pay the bill.
Agreed, pharma commercials, tipping and athleisure have gotten out of hand in the 🇺🇸 . I loved the common sense and respectability I experienced in🇨🇭during a 10 day trip last Fall.
I agree that it’s genuine when Americans compliment someone, even a stranger! Just because it’s different to many cultures does not mean it’s fake. Also appreciated your perspectives on tipping. It’s sort of crept up on many of us here where we find ourselves tipping for absolutely everything!
And thanks for your videos. We are traveling to Switzerland this summer and are using lots of your tips!
All the pharma commercials drive me nuts.
Nice video and chat guys. Hope you have a great week.
If I’m walking up to order food … no tip .
Ath-leisure wear?! I wish. 😆. Too many Americans simply dress with no regard for themselves, others or the places/events they are at. It makes many experiences seem much less special than they used to be. Conversely, in Switzerland, the many well-dressed people make things seem more special.
Just came back from Switzerland and was shocked by a restaurant in Zermatt that charged chf8.00 for a glass of tap water.
Also, some of hotels don't include the tourist (city) taxes with the hotel bill. And, they made you pay it on top.
I paid 4CHF for a glass of regular water too ( once) not even Peligrino
I learned to drive in Houston and the lived in Dallas and dc and currently live outside of Nashville! You drive with the flow of traffic and if not, you get run over 😬thinking about driving the speed limit seems so foreign to me, not in a bad way but I have always had to be aggressive and defensive while driving
This video really cracked me up. i was laughing galore. The culture shock you guys have mentioned are really good. I live in US in NJ for 45 years. I have also seen a lot of things have changed. The tipping in US after covid has just gone outrageous even for not being served for anything people expect tips at register.
Glad you enjoyed it!☺️
I agree with driving. Every time we’re in Europe, I can’t get over how much more enjoyable it is to drive and not worry about cars swerving between lanes. I also love that slower drivers stay in the right lanes!
Follow up as I’m watching! Yes, the tipping culture continues to get worse. Now everywhere when you’re just grabbing something from a convenience store or really anywhere, it pops up in the screen to tip.
Just got back from Switzerland and we rented a car and drove from Zurich to lake Como Italy.
The roads are amazing, driving the speed limit took a minute but what a wonderful country.
and the chocolates aren’t bad either. Cheers!
Is it via Liechtenstein?
@@austindsamuel5294 No, we went past Lucern, another beautiful town, I believe it was Interstate 2.
@@yrkomhRight, it‘s called A2 (where A stands for „Autobahn“, which means motorway in German)
@@markusf58 🙂
Regarding my own personal observations on the subject of "reverse culture shocks"
As what was mentioned here on this channel food as for the U.S. edibles being a mess with artificial colors and with unpronounceable additives I do agree of course. Along these lines there is also an obvious difference between European (Swiss) and American body size. Fatness! Chunky obesity. Extra folds and mounds of layers. Here in Switzerland (my new home as of 4 months ago) people here are very active - forever always moving about on bicycles, skies and/or hiking or running. And chasing after buses and trains! People from ages 2 up to 82 years, and older. Yes the food here (Switzerland) is pricey, but taste a whole lot better and is much more healthier.
ps, I don't believe race or nationality have anything to do with being overweight - It's laziness and watching too much syndicated TV reruns and 100's of ads pushing untested drugs that will make you loopy, goofy and fat.
I find driving in Swiss highways stresses me out because I’m always worried I’m not going to slow down fast enough at the frequent speed limit drops and a camera radar trap is going to nab me. Perhaps even more so on the Swiss secondary and local roads which often have no speed limit signs - and drivers are expected to simply know the limit, often based on the density of buildings along the road. As for drivers in the NY/NJ/Philly areas, especially post-Covid… Yes! For too many of them, crazed aggression is now standard.
Sales tax is based on the county you live in and it differs even with neighboring counties. Pretty much impossible to roll that into the price of goods. For example, Amazon has to know the sales tax in every single county in the US, which is around 3,200 counties.
Like most comments tipping has gotten out of hand. If it’s take out no tip.
Tipping in the US is just out of hand especially when you serve yourself. You have to figure all thT money is going to the corporation and not the employess.
Hello , I wanted to book consultation with you as soon as possible but can not see any time available in your schedule.
1. I hate driving, too, and for the dozen+ times I’ve been to Switzerland, I’ve never needed to drive. Love the Swiss public transport system!
2. I think kids and dogs bring rogue compliments. But that’s better than rudeness!
3. Sometimes good customer service exists (not always!).
4. Here in the States, I tend to eavesdrop on conversations without even trying. In Switzerland, I can only understand French, but people don’t speak so loudly.
5. Ugh, the pharmaceutical ads are TOO MUCH! It’s the direct-to-consumer advertising. Awful.
6. Oh, the solicitation for a store credit card. Don’t do it! Use one, pay it off each month!
7. The way people dress: I’ve actually seen folks in pajamas and slippers! When I was a student in Switzerland, I didn’t even bring jeans with me (long time ago).
8. The tipping culture is a HUGE problem. It’s everywhere. I’ve learned to not be shamed into it. I’ll generously tip in a restaurant (especially lower-priced places).
9. Taxes are taxes. We deal with it. I guess we’re used to it!
10. Being on time: I’m always early. To me, it’s kind of rude to be late. That’s a very Swiss thing!
These were great! Thanks. 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭
How is the driving in Zurich?
I‘d not recommend driving in Zurich. Swiss cities try to offer a really good public transportation system and to focus on pedestrains and bikes. Apart from this, parking spaces are hard to find and parking garages are really expensive. As a Swiss car owner I always travel to Zurich by train!
As an Australian, the non inclusive tax prices and tipping culture were the most wack for us to get used to.
It has dramatically increased for sure. It is overwhelming with the constant tipping. I am not liking it with the intimidation.
It's so strange that Europeans don't spontaneously compliment people or like to chat with strangers. It's like second nature for me to make small talk and compliment random people I encounter in my day to day.
Not strange….. it is an entirely different culture. Personally I find small talk with random strangers to be exhausting!