An expat experience of living in Switzerland

When we move to a new country, we have to be prepared for many challenges and open-minded to learn and experience many new things.

Regarding setting at a new place, which in this post focused on Switzerland, you need to explore the canton website to find much useful information:

1. www.contakt.stadt.sg.ch (for the St. Gallen canton)
2. www.integration-sg.ch (ARGE)
3. www.solidaritaetsnetz.ch
4. www.aidasg.ch
5. HEKS MosaiQ Ostschweiz: for career counsiling
6. Resident Card: When you enter Switzerland as a nonimmigrant temporary resident like as a student or worker, you need to visit the town hall and get your resident card. It is like your identity card. 
7. Rent the apartment: For this, you need a document issued by the local cantonal office. 
1. Security Deposit: You need to deposit 3 months rent as a security deposit.
2. You need to get household insurance.
3. You need to get 3 sets of Nameplates: i. outside the apartment ii. for the post box iii. for ringing the bell by the visitors
4. You also need to pay the address change fee every time you change the apartment
5. Also, discuss whether it is a rolling contract or fixed term
8. Bank: You need to open a local bank account with a refundable bank opening fee. Don't forget to apply for the credit and debit cards as you would need them for online shopping or bookings. Also, get an online banking facility so you can pay the bills online.
9. Travel Card: Switzerland has one of the best transport networks and it is very expensive too. However, they have different schemes for daily commuters as well as for tourists. So, get a suitable travel card for yourself and save a fortune. 
1. Get half-card
2. For the daily commute, if you get the tickets in advance, you save the money.
3. Supersaver: If you book the train tickets in advance and online, you could find discount offers.
4. You can also get the day pass from the city at a reduced price.
5. Coop and Interdiscount: You can also get the flexible day pass from the Coop and Interdiscount at a reduced price and get it stamped when you travel, but make sure to use them before it gets expired.
10. Job: If you are seeking a job, do register yourself at the local unemployment office, if there is any. Always keep the copy of your employment contract and salary slips safely as you need them to show on different occasions. Visit RAV.
11. Taxes: Depending upon your resident status in the canton, you need to explore whether the tax is deducted at the source or you need to explicitly file the tax. 
12. Retirement plan and pension: It is an equally important decision to decide upon the retirement plan. In Switzerland, there are 3 pillars.
13. Work culture: It is very common in Switzerland to have corporate outings and tours, it is part of their work culture. As Switzerland has so many nature trails and diverse terrain, their activities basically involve this aspect of the region and help you to better integrate into the new country. Also, Switzerland is so famous for its chocolate, cheese, beer, and wine culture that the visits to these places is not uncommon and give you an opportunity to witness their diverse culture firsthand. Like "O-lauf" or orienteering, making of Biberli (a kind of gingerbread) in the local bakery.
14. Health and fitness: Swiss people are very health conscious. And, health insurance is one of the big expense. So, to keep me fit and healthy, I wanted to enroll myself in the gym. With this intention, I went to the gym and its trainer told me that you can take a free demo training. I thought after seeing the demo, I would decide whether I want to join this gym or not. After taking the training, to my big surprise, I found the bill for an annual gym membership at my home. Anyways, I have to take the membership in that gym, but I always wonder what if I did not want to take the membership in that gym. 
15. Health Insurance and health card: In Switzerland, health insurance is mandatory. So, you need to have the basis of insurance. 
1. For alternative medicines like homeopathy, Chinese medicine, you need to get the supplementary insurance.
2. I don't know, why in the western world,  you need to take separate dental insurance, which is usually very expensive.
3. You also need to confirm whether your complementary insurance covers the eyeglasses. As usually for dental and eyeglasses, there is another insurance category called, 'diversa'. 
16. Deciding factors before buying health insurance:
1. Deductible: How much you have to spend for covered health services before your insurance company pays anything (except free preventive services)
2. Copayments and coinsurance: Payments you make each time you get a medical service after reaching your deductible
3. Out-of-pocket maximum: The most you have to spend for covered services in a year. After you reach this amount, the insurance company pays 100% for covered services.
17. Doctor: You should register yourself with a house doctor or physician.
1. You should always go for the annual checkup.
18. Public Liability Insurance: In Switzerland, it is also advised to buy Public Liability insurance.
19. Integration: I always stress upon this that for better integration take part in the local events(e.g. circus, summer food festival, cultural events) and festivals(Halloween, Christmas).
20.  TV: Get a TV connection for your native language channels like Jadoo TV.
21. Internet: Get a local internet and home phone connect.
22. Mobile: Get the local mobile phone connection or sim card.
23. Language course: Enroll yourself in a language school to learn the local language.
1. www.deutschkurse.sg.ch
2. www.klubschule.ch
3. www.hds.ch
4. www.aidasg.ch
24. Home Furnishing: 
1. Bathroom: In Switzerland, you need to buy the bathtub rod for hanging the curtain.
2. You need special hooks for hanging the window curtains.
25. Money Transfer: 
1. Transferwise.com
2. Swiss Transfer
3. Western Union
4. Wired Transfer using online banking
26. Utility contract for Internet, Tv and phone
1. Internet: see the speed i.e. MBits/sec
2. Telephone: Call rates; VoIP; call rate to fix phone; call rate to mobile; call rate within country and internationally.
3. Tv: channels and features like recording and playback
4. Web hosting: for websites and blogs; mail hosting
5. Cloud service: for data backup
6. Domain