Small Talk

In certain cultures it is considered taboo to talk about the weather as it is seen as conversation piece of last resort or a lack of willingness to talk about other things. In Switzerland, however, you should not be shocked if this topic comes up time and again, especially at the beginning of conversations. This makes for a light beginning to a discussion and avoids jumping into the heart of any given topic that might make either person uncomfortable.

The country’s landscape makes for dramatic climatic variations, even over short distances. The weather forecast is obviously one of the most frequently watched programs as the Swiss love discussing the climatic differences between the regions of the Alps, the Jura (mountains between France and Switzerland), and the plains.