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Discoveries from an unexpected life in Switzerland

United States

What Switzerland Gets Right — and What the U.S. Could Borrow

What Switzerland Gets Right — and What the U.S. Could Borrow

February 10, 2026

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Geneva is often associated with images of skis or

Geneva is often associated with images of skis or Gruyere cheese, rather than romance—

but I beg to differ.

Below are a few favorite spots where love is in the air — whether en amoureux, with friends, or simply to show self-love:

🎥 Independent theaters such as Cinéma Les Scala, Les Cinémas du Grütli, or Cinéma Le City
💦 Pointe de la jonction – Where the Rhône and Arve rivers kiss
🍝 Truffle-coated anything (we love the truffle pasta at Jeu de l’Arc, which also has offers on sites such as the Fork for a reduced price)
⛪The view of Geneva from the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre
🍷Spanish red wine, chorizo, and olives at Soleil Rouge
🎶 Classical music at Victoria Hall
🗝️ Evening walks in the Old Town
🦌Spotting deer and flamingos at the Jardin Botanique
🏺The entryway and porcelain collection at the Musée Ariana
🥀The rose garden in Parc La Grange

#genève #geneva #saintvalentin❤️

Walks in La Givrine feel like a vintage postcard ❄

Walks in La Givrine feel like a vintage postcard ❄️🚡

Cat daddies are major green flags 🐾

Cat daddies are major green flags 🐾

I never was one to believe that America required t

I never was one to believe that America required treading backwards to be great – but rather to evolve. In my wildest dreams, the United States would take inspiration from Switzerland, equipping itself with the following:

Renting not treated as a personal failure
Renting isn’t failure — it’s freedom.
My Swiss in-laws (now in their 70s) have rented their entire lives. Homeownership here often costs over CHF 1 million, pushing many Swiss to buy property in neighboring countries instead.

Generous maternity leave
In the United States, there is no federal law that requires paid maternity leave (while some companies or states may offer this), whereas Swiss law demands it.

Reliable trains that connect faraway cities
To be fair, the United States was once king in its use of passenger trains. However, with the invention of the automobile, the government encouraged states to invest in highways. Many cities that exist today were constructed for vehicles.

Accessible sidewalks
Walking in much of Middle America can be surprisingly difficult outside of parks or city centers. Sidewalks are inconsistent — or simply nonexistent — which naturally leads to less daily movement.

Protected mealtimes
Most restaurants close between meals — and many close entirely on Sundays.
Structured mealtimes aren’t just cultural; studies link them to better metabolic health.

Quiet Sundays
Resting on Sunday isn’t only encouraged in Switzerland, it’s the law. Most shops and restaurants remain closed, and mowing lawns or recycling are seen as a noise disturbance and can lead to fines!

Tried using reverse psychology to make Monday the

Tried using reverse psychology to make Monday the best day of the week.

#geneve #learnfrench

Art Geneve did not disappoint.

Art Geneve did not disappoint.

I heard this expression for the first time last we

I heard this expression for the first time last week, when I changed my flight to Switzerland last minute to avoid a major snowstorm across the U.S. The following morning, the airport had closed.

French phrase: Tu l'as échappé belle
Literally translates to: You escaped it beautiful
What’s really being said is → You dodged a bullet / had a close call

#frenchlanguage #learnfrench

Is it legal to live in Switzerland if skiing bring

Is it legal to live in Switzerland if skiing brings you blood curdling fear rather than enjoyment?

Manifesting extra leg room.

Manifesting extra leg room.

Pieces of Oklahoma: 1.) The Dolly Parton document

Pieces of Oklahoma:

1.) The Dolly Parton documentary
2.) Driving through Kansas
3.) Biscuits and gravy
4.) A pin-up photo in an antique shop
5.) Sunset from the highway
6.) Steak and potatoes
7.) Billboards with strong opinions
8.) My grandfather in uniform
9.) Family portrait
10.) Orange skies
11.) Boot cleaning at the airport
12.) Vintage books about oil

Missing, loving, and grieving the U.S. all at once

Missing, loving, and grieving the U.S. all at once.

Hopping borders à la Suisse 🇨🇭

Hopping borders à la Suisse 🇨🇭

Preparing mind, body, and soul.

Preparing mind, body, and soul.

A few favorite spots in Geneva that feel like the

A few favorite spots in Geneva that feel like the set of a movie:

✨ Kiosque des Bastions
☕ Café La Vouivre
🎭 Grand Théâtre de Genève

January in Switzerland is duck cold! 🦆 French phr

January in Switzerland is duck cold! 🦆

French phrase: Il fait un froid de canard
Literally translates to: It's duck cold
What's really being said is: It's freezing!

#frenchlanguage🇫🇷 #learnfrench

Number 1 hack for amplifying your walk in the snow

Number 1 hack for amplifying your walk in the snow

#winter #snowday #geneva

First snowfall in Geneva was magic ❄️ #geneve #hi

First snowfall in Geneva was magic ❄️

#geneve #hiver

We recently gave chocolate making a try at @labonb

We recently gave chocolate making a try at @labonbonniere.ch

If you have a major sweet tooth and are looking for unique activities in Geneva, why not try making chocolate yourself in a local Swiss atelier?

Surely your chocolate bar will look much better than mine...

#swissbucketlist #swisschocolate #geneva

In Switzerland, the holiday season doesn’t end on

In Switzerland, the holiday season doesn’t end on Christmas or New Years, but after the Galette des rois.

This puff pastry cake is enjoyed traditionally on January 6th, or alternatively on the first Sunday of the New Year.

Inside a porcelain trinket is hidden known in French as une fève.

Whoever wins gets to be King or Queen of the day, wearing a paper crown (in some families, the winner is also responsible for buying the Galette des rois next year).

Is this celebrated in your country?

This time of year always makes me a bit anxious. A

This time of year always makes me a bit anxious. According to podcasts and personal development books, we need to be ever evolving, as opposed to sitting with the snug feeling of our current selves, hanging off our backs like an oversized wool sweater, the one that is too delicate to wash, storing years of smell like a well preserved artefact.

So here's to accepting ourselves in 2026, and to loving all of our perfect imperfections.

#newyear #resolutions

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