Politeness
One of the values I admire about the Swiss is politeness. I often experience that many Swiss people show genuine respect for others. By being polite, the dignity and worth of every human being are, as I understand acknowledged - regardless of origin, upbringing, or beliefs. I find this positive and meaningful. When I think of how I experience Swiss politeness in daily life, the word Grüezi comes to mind. As I walk down the street, I regularly hear people greet each other with Grüezi. Grüezi is, I have experienced, among the best-known Swiss German greetings. In learning more about it, I discovered that it originally means “May God greet you.” I still remember when I first moved to Switzerland. Hearing people say Grüezi to me with a friendly glance made me happy and curious. I recall that I often looked forward to a brief chat. Over time, I came to understand that part of Swiss politeness also lies in maintaining a certain respectful distance. It includes not getting too close, not sharing too much personal information too quickly, and not asking too many questions. Beyond Grüezi and the friendly parting phrase Schönen Tag (“Have a nice day”), further conversation in passing is not so common, I learned.
Not long after moving to Switzerland, I attended an event for educators in Bern. Since I hardly knew anyone, I initially felt somewhat alone. Most people seemed to talk mainly with those they already knew. What changed my mood - and made me feel welcome - was when two young people doing an internship struck up a friendly conversation with me. That simple interaction meant a lot. A few years later, at the online citizen science event #CitSciHelvetia2021, something truly remarkable happened. Among the participants was Christian, an elderly Swiss gentleman with whom I exchanged a few messages. To my surprise, he later invited me to his home in Zürich for a cup of coffee with him and his wife. At that point, I had lived in Switzerland for over 10 years - yet I couldn’t recall ever receiving such a personal invitation from a Swiss person I had just met. The gesture filled me with joy and gratitude. It was a simple invitation, but it carried deep meaning: it made me feel genuinely welcome. Not long after, I took part in another online event where I met Sonja, a Swiss woman. Like Christian, she reached out after our meeting - this time inviting me to join her for a walk with her dog. Having grown accustomed to rarely being invited into the homes or daily lives of Swiss people, I was both surprised and deeply touched by her openness. Both of these gestures - Christian’s invitation for coffee and Sonja’s invitation for a walk — warmed my heart. Their willingness to connect, to show interest, and to make space for someone new had a tremendously positive effect on me. Even now, as I write about it, I feel a kind of expansion in my heart, a soft reminder of the power of small acts of kindness. Later, during a dinner with a Swiss couple, Kathrin and Kari, I shared these stories and asked what they thought newcomers might need to feel more at home — and to learn the language more easily. Without hesitation, they agreed that gestures like those of Sonja and Christian can make all the difference. Sometimes, all it takes to help someone feel they belong is the courage to reach out — with a simple invitation.
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