Moving to Lausanne from London

Hi there,

I moved to Lausanne from Stevenage (north of London) with my partner in 2009, so I know what you might be facing. However, I was fortunate that my wife is Swiss and her family live in Lausanne, so I already had a social structure waiting for me here.

As Rik said above, Swiss people aren't the most open people you could ever wish to meet. They aren't rude by any means - they are polite and helpful, but it takes a long time to win their trust. I've been here for over 2.5 years and I'm only just starting to go out socially with people who aren't part of my family-in-law.

Not speaking French won't prevent you from getting by here, as most people have at least a very basic level of English. I work with some English people who still don't speak a word of French despite living here for over 10 years, and they seem to be doing alright! However, it would be a big help if you can pick up French; I didn't really speak any French when I moved here but now I can converse with ease, learnt by immersing myself in the language here (TV, newspapers, and just trying to speak French at any opportunity).

Anyway, hope all goes well for you. If you need any other tips or advice please don't hesitate to ask.

Best regards,

Paul