Swisster No More

Just learned there's no more Swisster. I think this site lasted just a few months longer than I did. 

Google Analytics says this blog is still getting hits

Adieu, UBS. Adieu.

I no longer have a Swiss bank account.

The U.S. gave Swiss banks too much grief a couple years back for them to want to keep accounts for Americans who weren't living in the country. It was a fun novelty while it lasted.

Makin' Ads Abroad

Since returning to the States, I've had a lot of requests for advice on getting a job overseas. To answer most of those questions, I wrote an ebook. Click here to download.

Hopefully, it's more useful than self-indulgent. Enjoy.

Check this out

After two years in Switzerland where every bill is either paid online or in cash at La Poste, using checks as a form of currency seems really lame and Third-Worldish.

Atticus on the Outside

I just learned that I won a Certificate of Merit from the WPP Group's Atticus Awards. I'm not sure they know I'm no longer with the company. Hopefully, they won't disqualify me. Since this is the only award I was able to win for the Geneva office, I'd really like that certificate.

If you're interested, you can read the original piece here.

Discovery

Unpacking a box-load of books I'd kept in storage, I found the following note to myself.

Nope. Never bought the dog.

Not the reason I left, but...

I noticed that my old gig in Geneva is now listed on LinkedIn. I read the job description which included the following...

I would add that "The real test of any agency is it's ability to spellcheck. Especially if it believes is doing whatever it takes to hire a new copywriter."

Buying a House

Apparently, when you're trying to close on a house, having a Swiss bank account and making several large-sum transfers to the U.S. in a short amount of time really freaks out the underwriters.

Epilogue, Part 4: Swixas

When people learn that I moved from Switzerland to Texas, they're quick to comment on how different things must be for me. Going from the most gorgeous mountains in the world to an expanse so flat people say you can see the back of your head if you stand on a tin can, the geographical difference is undeniable. But after a month in Texas, my wife started pointing out the cultural similarities. Here are a few we've compiled:

Even though Texas is one of the United States and Switzerland is in the middle of Europe, they both have very autonomous attitudes towards everyone else around them. They're affiliated with their neighbors only by convenience.

Both Texas and Switzerland have flags that are iconic enough to set them apart from their neighbors.

Both have a high degree of pride in being an original citizen or not.. You're either Texan/Swiss or you're not. And you get bonus points for being multi-generational.

Between Stetsons and lederhosen, they both have a very iconic dress code (even if the general population doesn't participate).

Step into a Texas or a Swiss gift shop, and you'll see a lot of cow tsotchkes. They both like cattle; Texans eat them and the Swiss milk them.

Arguably, yelling "yee-haw" is a form of yodeling.

Texas has a lot of Mexican refugees. Switzerland has a lot of Portuguese refugees.

Texas gave the world Dr. Pepper. Switzerland gave us the Euro equivalent, Rivella.

See, I'm not the only one who sees the similarities.

Bakugan au combat!

This is why I love my Bakugan au Combat! blog. It's long-ceased to have a purpose, and really pretty dumb.

But every once in a while 50 people around the world suddenly decide to disagree.

What day is it?

I'm having the hardest time remembering if you put the month first or the day first in the US.

Is today 5/20/10 or 20/5/20?

I think it's the former.

Man, Europe really messed me up.

Epilogue, Part 3: Banner Cities

Graphically speaking, the cities I've called home have all had some pretty cool flags.

Epilogue, Part 2: Watches to Tacos

I've decided that taco restaurants are to Dallas what watch companies are to Geneva: Varied, ubiquitous and weakly branded despite being so awesome.

Epilogue, Part 1: Homecoming

Back in the USA.

Maybe the Last Post

Today, my family and I leave Switzerland.

I still have a few interesting things to write about. One or two of them I'd consider rather mind-blowing. I'll have to check my contract to see what the statute of limitations is on my confidentiality contract.

But maybe that's all just chewed down bone, and I've got more important things to focus on now.

If I don't get around to another post, thanks for reading. The Google Ads haven't been as lucrative as people make them seem. But this has still been lots of fun.

Cheers,

Greg

Things I Learned In Switzerland, Part 5

You can't really love being in a country and make fun of it's people at the same time.

Things I Learned In Switzerland, Part 4

Friends back home will always see living abroad as an adventure, even though 90% of the time you're still doing stuff like buying dishwashing soap, look for a parking place, and paying electric bills.

Things I Learned In Switzerland, Part 3

Generally speaking, when it comes to the Swiss, the French, the Italians, the Germans, and the Americans, all the stereotypes are painfully true.

Things I Learned In Switzerland, Part 2

The French aren't that rude if you speak French, and no matter how fluent you are, the Germans still want to speak English with you.