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Christmas is drawing nearer but thanks to coronavirus, making plans to celebrate it this year isn't very easy. It's difficult enough to get together with family if you live in the same country, but almost impossible if you don't. We like to look on the bright side though! This year could be a chance to find new ways of celebrating Christmas and maybe start some new Swiss traditions at home.

In this episode we talk about the parts of a Swiss Christmas that are perfect for our socially-distanced, outdoor times and how you can mix these with your usual festivities to make some wonderful winter days.

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We're still here and still making podcasts: not as often as we'd like, but there's a good reason for that, which we'll explain in this week's episode. But the main topic in this episode is the Swiss citizenship test.

Did you know we have a Facebook group? Switzerland for English Speakers is a great place to ask questions and share experiences. Take a look!

• Why is an exam part of becoming Swiss?
• How do you prepare for the test?
• What's it like to take the test: atmosphere on the day, set up in the room, what kind of questions will you face?
• Book recommendation: 'Der kleine Schweizermacher'.

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After living in Switzerland for ten years, I can now formally apply to become a Swiss citizen! There are a number of conditions I had to make sure I met before applying, which we mention in this episode of the podcast. We'll talk you through how to start the process in Bern specifically, as there are differences depending on where you live and exactly which type of naturalisation you are applying for.

• Contacting the naturalisation office: which questions to expect in the first phone call
• Current differences due to coronavirus
• The first appointment at the naturalisation office: what to take with you and what happens during the appointment
• What happens next?

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Finding it difficult to make friends with the Swiss is a common complaint from expats in Switzerland. Do the Swiss really have such different ideas about friendship? What does it take to be able to read between the lines in a conversation with a Swiss person and are there any tips that can help you feel less isolated here? We share our insights on this contentious topic and give you an update on Jo's application to become Swiss.

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

•  How to make friends in Switzerland

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If you can only get out outside at the moment to go shopping or for some fresh air, you might be starting to get a little bored of your local surroundings. Pop your earphones in and come with us as we head out for a walk along the Aare river in Bern.

Where did we go on our walk?

• 'Dählhölzli' section of the Bern animal park, including the children's zoo
•  Elfenau park, including Bern city's greenhouses and the  rare species garden

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The coronavirus might have stopped you from getting out and exploring Switzerland, but you can still learn plenty about Swiss culture from inside your own home. Here's our list of five things every person interested in getting closer to the Swiss or looking to become Swiss should know. We chose a film, a book, a musician, a recipe and a game that you can look up and enjoy to see you through your weeks staying at home in Switzerland.  

• The most popular Swiss film of all time: 'Die Schweizermacher' (The Swissmakers). We rented it on iTunes in Swiss German with English subtitles.
• A very well-known Swiss children's book: 'Schellen Ursli' (A Bell for Ursli)
• One of Switzerland's most famous recording artists, DJ BoBo. You might know him for this song.
• Tuck into a buttery 'Zopf' (a plaited, golden loaf of bread). Find a recipe and plenty of instructions here.
• Looking for 'Hobelkäse'? It's a hard Swiss cheese made in the mountains, which is served after being planed into thin slices or rolls.
• The Swiss card game 'Jass'.
• Monday-Saturday mornings at 07:50 on Swiss Public Radio SRF 3, practise your Swiss German by playing along with the game 'ABC SRF 3'. You can also buy the card game to play at home.

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Shaking hands in Switzerland is common: children learn it at school and it seems to be a regular feature of everyday life. But when is holding out your hand too much and when would it be a faux pas not to? What are the alternatives when you can't shake hands, for example during the Coronavirus outbreak? We'll run you through the hand-shaking dos and don'ts of Swiss culture!

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

• What to do if you don’t know whether to shake hands or not?
• Hand shake or kiss on the cheek?
• When shaking hands is a must
• An optional hand-shaking moment
• When to avoid shaking hands
• 'Der Schweizer Knigge', a well-known guide to Swiss etiquette (book in German)

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Joining a club in Switzerland is a simple way to make new friends and connections. There are several English-speaking clubs in Bern and other Swiss cities, like the British Residents' Association of Switzerland, which we visited in October 2019. Should you sign yourself up to a club? Listen and find out!

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

• The British Residents' Association of Switzerland

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It can feel like there are a lot of rules governing life in Switzerland. They‘re often written on signs in public places or in the building where you live or work. But what about those unspoken rules? The ones you don‘t know exist until a realisation slowly dawns on you that you‘ve been doing something differently to everyone else, and never known.
Notes on this episode about unspoken Swiss rules

• How important are unspoken Swiss rules
• Where, when and how to greet people
• How to toast and other rules with alcohol
• Quiet times

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Hiking in Switzerland is a favourite national pastime, especially in autumn, which means there are plenty of maps, online resources, and books to help you find the perfect hike! To get you into the mood, we'll tell you what you have to watch out for and give you all sorts of other tips, including a short excursion we made recently up a mountain and tell you what secrets are waiting for you at the top.

• What is the difference between: Hiking trail, mountain trail, alpine trail.
• Myswitzerland map
• Admin map
• Wanderland map
• Weather
• What do the different signs mean?
• Our trip to the Bunderspitz

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