Swiss and Chips - Your British guide to Switzerland – Details, episodes & analysis

--- Send us your questions ---

00:00 - Intro

01:53 - Listener Feedback

04:06 - Swiss Bytes

• How to say things in different situations by region
• That is what they sound like

• Swiss German episodes on Swiss and Chips
• Official page of ABCSRF3 with links to the game
• “Scherenschnitt” or traditional paper cutting

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

Swiss National Day is coming up! Let’s talk about what happens on the big day and what it means to the Swiss. We’ll help you figure out how to mark the occasion even if you haven’t been in Switzerland for long. We also have some new features in our podcast for you: “Swiss bytes”, listener feedback and our survey.

00:00 - Intro

01:58 - Listener Feedback

03:14 - Swiss Bytes
US Marine reacts to Why the Swiss love their Guns (more than Americans)
Another interesting Video about Why Switzerland has 370 000 bunkers
Da chönt ja jedä cho

07:09 - Learning Swiss German
Da chönt ja jedä cho

10:32 - 1st August: What to buy and what to do

16:05 - Listener Survey
Fun with Flags

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

Warning: this episode is a rollercoaster! We try to navigate our way through a traditional Swiss kitchen, and explain the classic items you'll find in any Swiss kitchen cupboard. From flavourings to implements, we lift the table cloth on the secrets of Switzerland's home dining habits - and we reveal a few foody preferences of our own along the way. Plus: what's missing in a standard Swiss kitchen? We name three items that we can't live without, but which have proven to be somewhat of a novelty to your average Swiss.

Interested in connecting with us and other listeners?

Want to chat about the show, talk about life in Switzerland or even meet up? We want to know how! Please vote and we'll try and make it happen. If anything is missing, you can add it in the comments at the bottom of this page.

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

• Vote results from our last episode
• Thanks to 'AGBinCH' for the helpful comment
• What you'll find in a Swiss kitchen
• Aromat and Kressi
• After Eights in Switzerland, here, here and here
• What's missing in Swiss kitchens

Learning Swiss German

Chnuuschti - if you have a better explanation, let us know in the comments.

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

After Jo got her Swiss passport it was time to step up and get her first real taste of Swiss democracy… and what better way to do it than going to vote in the regular Swiss polls in person.

In this episode, we talk about how to vote in person or by post, and how to navigate political discussions with the Swiss.

The Swiss and Chips vote

Come and vote, we want to hear from you!

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

• First time voting in Switzerland!
• When can you vote after becoming Swiss?
• When can you go and vote and how often?
• Where can you vote?
• How does it work?

Learning Swiss German

Our word in this episode: 'Gfröörli'.

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

The traditional ways to travel between the UK and Switzerland are plane, train and car. 2022 turned out to be the year we used the channel tunnel to make the trip for the first time. We drove from Bern to England and then back a few weeks later. It was an experience to remember! And one that’s worth talking about and sharing with you.

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

• Why did we end up driving by car? What is the advantage?
• Which route did we take, how long is the journey and how are the stops on the way?
• Which route to take, how long is the journey and how are the stops on the way?
•  Recommendations in our Facebook Group.
• The Channel Tunnel video on YouTube.

Learning Swiss German

Our word(s) in this episode: 'Plapperä' and 'Plapperi'.

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

It took around two years, but the moment has finally come. Ten months after the final interview a confirmation letter arrived in the post: Jo is Swiss! Now that's worth talking about.

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

What happened so far: Check out our other episodes on 'How to become Swiss'. What happened since the interview What changes after becoming Swiss What's next?

Learning Swiss German

Our word in this episode is: 'Gschtabi'.

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

The BEA is open! This annual traditional Swiss fair is a must-see for anyone living in or around Bern and it's open until May 8 this year. From donkey displays to fairground rides and the chance to sample local beers and a staggering range of cheese, there is so much to see for children and adults. 

We recorded while out on a day trip in Switzerland, so there's not one, but two recommendations of places to visit in this episode. One of them is an insider tip about a slightly hidden place.

 Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

• The BEA website with prices, opening hours and tickets
• The map to find your way around the event
• A hidden place for you to check out in Switzerland: Schwarzsee (Black Lake): find two on our website.

Learning Swiss German

Our word in this episode is: 'Zuckerwatte'.

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

Snow, a frozen lake and beautiful mountains: there aren't many more things you need to complete the perfect Swiss winter destination. When we headed to St. Moritz in January 2022 we had high expectations for this famous ski resort with a glitzy reputation. And it absolutely lived up to them! With breathtaking winter scenery and vintage Winter Olympics sights, there is lots to do here even if you're not skiing. 

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

• Reasons to go (there's more to see than the ski slopes!)
• How to get there
• Where to stay
• What to do while you're there

Learning Swiss German

This episode's word is: Iischzapfä. Hint: you'll see a lot of these in Switzerland in the winter!

Don't forget to visit our website for photos.

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

What is it really like to move to Switzerland? In the second of two episodes looking back at when Jo first relocated from the UK, we delve into some of the unexpected sides to setting up a new life among the Swiss. In this episode we cover:

• Differences in lifestyle between England and Switzerland
• The surprises that come with renting a flat
• Working in Switzerland and finding a job

Previous episodes we refer to in the show:

• How to find an apartment in Switzerland as an expat
• How to find a job in Switzerland as an expat

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

Jo moved to Switzerland just over a decade ago, so it seemed to be about time to talk about her experience, the highlights, and what she would do differently if she would do it all over again.

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: hello@swissandchips.com
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe