Update: "Is Geneva Boring?" Leads to Near Bar Brawl Between Two Men

Little did I know when I posted this blog link on a forum on glocals.com, a popular Geneva expat site, that one week later two men on the threads would threaten to duke it out at a pub! The posting, designed to spark discussion (and yes, plug my new blog) was placed in a forum for Geneva newcomers. I looked forward to fresh takes on an old topic from other newcomers.  I was pleased at the number of thoughtful responses and the many Glocals visited this blog (from 10 countries, thanks you!!).

What I did not expect was that 1000 views and 100 comments later, it would turn into mayhem. Insults were exchanged. Feelings were hurt. Lives were threatened! At first, someone I’ll dub Sarcastic Guy, was quite funny. “What’s up with all the Johnny Halliday posters in Geneva?” Ha! I remembered living in Heidelberg with David Hasselhoff posters plastered everywhere, a source of great amusement. SG also said that the Geneva residents have “about four outfits.” Also funny, and harmlessly catty. Many folks thanked SG, saying they had a good laugh on a Monday.  “What a fun thread!,” I thought, spinning 'round and 'round in my chair to pat myself on the back. Then the postings from SG, a guy who could maybe earn a living writing a snarky blog, got ugly. I was cringing at my desk as email notifications of blog threads poured in at rapid fire.  One guy kept disagreeing with SG and baiting him with outrage.  “You’ve gone too far!”. This escalated to name calling and then “I’ll wait for your next posting” and “yeah, okay bring it!” to “I will take you down” and finally “I will be at X pub at 7 waiting for you tonight.”

 

What?! Others chimed in that they were acting like children. A few joked they wanted to run over to the pub and witness the brawl. The site administrator, alerted by a tip, stepped in and deleted SGs comments,  posting something like “Hi folks, this was funny at first, but got nasty and personal and I blocked and deleted him.” Many people thanked him. I have no idea if these guys duked it out but someone posted they saw SG sitting by the pub door. My guess is SG slammed down a few shots of whiskey, and then swaggered his way through the streets of Lausanne muttering to himself and waving his fists at children and old ladies.

I wondered - a donnybrook over a question on boredom? But I've seen other nasty comments on occasion on thpse forums. Although I believe expats or global locals anywhere are generally friendly, outgoing, and helpful, every group has its haters. But because we choose to be expats, we usually want to get along with other people and cultures and respect a new city, its rules, and differences. Yes, we really want to meet locals and fit in, but we most often turn to the comfortable cameraderie of other expats. And usually, it's a group that supports one another through thick and thin - apt searches and job questions, vacation choices and visa issues.

Until someone disagrees on what constitutes a fun town, then it's a good old-fashioned duel!

But I guess that a forum is a forum is a forum.  And most anywhere some will choose to hide behind keyboards hurling insults. Maybe... they are just bored.

Is Geneva Boring?

Well, that depends. Are you boring?

When I told people I was moving to Geneva, many people responded "Great. But it's boring." When I arrived, I asked Geneva expat residents spanning from 1 to 10 years their thoughts. The answer seemed to reflect their general outlook on life and their situation. Like most things, it's largely in the eye of the beholder.

If you define “boring” by a variety of hipster bars and restaurants open until the wee hours of the morning, then yes, you will find it boring.

Clearly, a huge draw for Geneva is that it is anchored around a pristine lake in a beautiful country surrounded by some of the world's most scenic mountains. If you enjoy skiing, majestic mountains are near and cozy chalets are plentiful. In summer, one can sail, bike through vineyards, hike, windsurf, or rent a paddleboat with a 1890s style parasol on a clear lake.

But what about that winter weather? And the Sundays? My god, the Sundays! One expat from Barcelona said he finds it crushing to be in Geneva on a Sunday. This is especially true in the fall and winter since most everything is closed and a gray UFO type cloud hovers over the city for weeks at a time. So the masses with train passes (or cars) often flee to the mountains or one hour away where the sun magically shines in a nearby microclimate. If you require some semblance of sun in your life, surviving a Geneva winter may involve many getaways, a therapist, and a car sized lightbox in your flat. 

Geneva is small town 'ish but it has the benefit of quick access to major cities to stave off the ennui. When your budget allows, close proximity to the airport and train station can place you in Paris, London, St. Tropez, or Rome in just a few hours. It's true that Sundays in many European cities are family day and many places are closed. But finding fun and being content likely depends on the same factors anywhere. If you have a family or find good friends, have an adventurous spirit, creative pursuits, or fulfilling hobbies, you can probably successfully navigate the city and its Sundays.

And your expat network can help you. With 45% of its residents not having a Swiss passport, Geneva expats are everywhere. Whatever brought them here, they are usually eager to meet others, and like you, want to cobble together a life in this ol' town.