A Swiss neighbourly notice

This notice in the hallway at the entrance my apartment building from last week is asking everyone to be more careful and considerate when leaving their windows partially opened (usually for airing purposes) at night as pre-storm wind can create significant difference between indoor and outdoor air pressure causing windows to tend to slam on to their frames; and I have to agree the sound can be shocking! It took me a while to understand exactly what the person was trying to convey as the translation has obviously come from some really bad online translator.

Just below the notice (not captured in the picture) is also a reference to the clause in the house rules that specially states no noise whatsoever from 10 PM onward. 

This notice reminded me of one targeted specifically on me in 2006 about a months after moving into our first rented apartment upon arrival in Switzerland. Not that it was of the same tone and/or about the same thing but the way it was done reflects the extremism commonly found in the way the Swiss educates the society around them. However the way this particular one was handed to me (stuck on the outside of my front door!) was a little bit on the extreme end of the extremism, and very arrogantly done. I wish I still had the original paper to show it here - it's a good laugh when thinking about it again now (it wasn't then), and a good story to tell to new Auslander friends :).

What was printed very nicely and colourful on the A4 paper is still clear in my mind, and only the reconstruction of it could tell the story best:

RECONSTRUCTED NOTICE FROM SEPT 2006 (ORIGINALLY FOUND STUCK ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY FRONT DOOR)

How would you feel if you received the same notice, only a month after moving to your first home in a foreign country, still trying to learn about the new life? 

Swiss-style 24-hour fresh farm produce vending machine

I was taking a quick spin through the nearby village with my daughter when we stumbled across this vending machine selling fresh vegetables, fruits and eggs. It was the first time that I saw a vending machines used to sell farm produce. Looking at the prices, they are a wee bit above those found in the supermarkets downtown, but I guess not so bad if one needs any of these items urgently and it's Sunday (Sunday is a no-business day in Switzerland; with a small exceptions all shops are closed, including many restaurants!). 

A Swiss-style 24-hour vegetables, fruits and eggs vending machine near where I live

Waste handling and recycling in Switzerland

The Swiss are highly discipline when it comes to recycling and you will not NOT find any recycling collection points in every housing area and Gemeinde (municipality equivalent). For glass bottles and cooking + motor oils, they are usually found near local shopping centres and as for plastic bottles (two categories: 1- those used for soft drinks; 2- milk bottles) they are always located inside entrances of supermarkets. Having lived here for quite some time, I have to say these are well thought locations supporting their highly environmentally responsible/friendly society.

Lately in the past few years, I have begun to see deterioration in the attitude towards to cleanliness in public places. A good example is the children playground next to where I live; it's with empty bottles, plastic bags, sweet wrappers strewn all over the places, far from how it was when I first moved here. I hate to put the blame on the outsiders (foreign nationals a.k.a. Auslanders in German) as I am one of them, but I believe this issue is mostly attributable to the increasing influx of foreigners into the countries, especially those from the lower income / education groups.

While chucking off my recyclable stuff at the local collection point, I saw the following poster - confirming to some degree the issue I have just mentioned. Specifically, this notice in short is telling those who keep leaving their non-recyclable rubbish not meant for this collection point to stop doing it and bugger off!. The designated rubbish bags are pretty costly, hence, I guess the reason why some idiots simply leave them here!.

"Waste and bulky items at recycling collection points is UNFAIR!

Please pay the regular fee and dispose of your rubbish at home. Thank you!" .. is roughly what it says