All posts by Christian

The Zurich “Rental Vote”. What Does It Mean?

When people decide to move to Zurich or arrive here there is one thing that most notice right away — it’s expensive. the city is consistently ranked amongst the most expensive in the world. This is not just a fact for expats, but for many Swiss and longterm residents of the city as well. Recent reports about the Bahnhofstrasse have shown that even for old and established businesses the rents have become hard to pay. On Sunday November 25th residents of canton Zurich were asked to vote on a new initiative backed by the Zürcher Mietverband (ZMV — Zurich Renters’ Association). The high influx of people to canton Zurich from the rest of Switzerland, Europe and elsewhere has seen rent prices shoot up, especially in the Limmat city. At present there are two central issues responsible for high rent prices in the city and canton of Zurich. First, there is a very high demand for flats in Zurich. Second, any new and newly renovated flats have been designed for the upper price segment. If one looks on Homegate.ch one will find just under 250 flats in the city of Zurich that are at least 1.5 rooms large and under CHF 2000/month, whereas flats with at least 1.5 rooms and a price starting of CHF 2200/month delivers 675 available flats in the city of Zurich. The two people’s initiatives (Volksinitiative) that were put forth would have required landlords to openly present the rent conditions and price the previous renter paid to new tenants without their explicit request. This is meant to hinder cases like that of Maite Torrente, who took over a lease after subletting the flat and saw the rent go from CHF 1532/month to CHF 1744/month even though the interest rates went down this past year. After having a lawyer get involved the rent was lowered to CHF 1478/month. The ZMV and many others believe that this is unfair and that it should never get to the stage where lawyers are needed in the first place. Furthermore, many looking for flats and the ZMV argue that with the housing shortage many potential tenants are afraid of asking for information because they are so desperate to get into a flat that they don’t want to “start any trouble.” According to Walter Angst from the ZMV tenants have 30 days after signing a lease contract to request any information regarding the previous terms of rent and to request rent reductions. With the two initiatives landlords would need to present that information before hand and thus the onus would be taken off of tenants to defend themselves against unfair rent increases. The initiatives clearly accused Landlords of withholding this information from new tenants. In a recent article in the Tages Anzeiger, it was reported that many tenants from the same house or settlement will not be approved to switch flats, should they be seeking a larger flat or just to move to a flat with a better view, because they have a good idea of what the rent was and/or should be, and will easily spot if the rent has been raised by too much. Landlords are of course allowed to raise their rents, however, this is also controlled. Principally a new building should have no more than 4.25% gross rate of return and older buildings no more than a 2.75% net rate of return. At present if a tenant believes they are being gouged, it is their responsibility to approach the landlord or rental agency and get the arbitration office involved. If the arbitrator cannot help the two sides come to a settlement them further legal procedures may be necessary, however, most landlords will choose to settle outside of court. This takes time and costs money. The first of the initiatives “Rechtschutz für alle (Mietgericht gebührenfrei)” would have made this free for tenants, for which reason the Canton of Zurich has encouraged constituents to vote against the initiative. Zurich voters followed the advice of the canton and votes 60% against the initiative “Rechtschutz für alle (Mietgericht gebührenfrei),” which for the cash strapped canton was a blessing On Wednesday November 21, the ZMV issued an open letter inviting the HEV (Hauseingentümerverband: Home owners association) to meet for a roundtable and work on creating a label of “fair landlords”. The goal of such a label would be that landlords and agencies renting out flats will freely and openly show their tenants, especially new tenants, all of the documents regarding the costs of the building, former rent rates and to freely pass on reductions in interest. It is exactly this that the second ballot item on Sunday also aimed to address, though not with a label, but through making it mandatory. The HEV response was that the ZMV should have suggested this earlier and that they would also like to see a label for good renters. The open letter does make one wonder if there was fear by the ZMV that the issue would not pass the vote. For future renters, the second initiative passed with a 52% majority, however, the new law will not come into effect until November 2013. For their part the people of Zurich tamed the real estate shark (Immo-Hai) without asking the state to bare the costs and have set the ball rolling to ensure that the renting scene in the canton becomes more favourable for those seeking new lease objects. The threat that was put forth by the HEV that voting yes would cause a split between tenants and landlords was unfounded, as the yes simply takes the onus off renters to make sure they are not being taken advantage of. Landlords maintain the right to make a profit and to choose their tenants. At present the best way for renters to protect themselves is by joining the ZMV, which provides legal advice and assistance when dealing with landlords. Christian Langenegger Marathon Sprachen Am Wasser 44 8049 Zürich www.marathonsprachen.com

Sweet Zurich — Finding Zurich’s Sweet Spots With MyKugelhopf

Kerrin Rousset & Guests on the first Sweet Zurich Tour

There is no better place to start a tour of Zurich than at Paradeplatz on the Bahnhofstrasse. Home to three of Switzerland’s claim to fame — the big banks UBS and Credit Suisse, as well as the Sprüngli Flagship café and shop. Money and chocolate. On a stunning Friday afternoon at the start of February food blogger, translator and connoisseur of all things sweet Kerrin Rousset is ready to lead her first group of curious sweet toothed tourists to some of Zurich’s hidden sweet spots.

As we come together in front of the giant Sprüngli shop with the blue and white trams screeching to a halt and hissing as they turn the corner, Frauenmünster and Grossmünster in the background, Kerrin asks us to introduce ourselves. The New Yorker, who came to Zurich by way of Boston and France, has a very pleasant and warm voice that invites guests to introduce themselves and add a few things to their introduction other than just a name. We’re a small group on this maiden tour — a young Swiss-American art writer and art consultant, a lady from the Valais moved up to Zurich and working in the pharmaceutical industry and myself. What we all have in common is an interest for food and learning more about Zurich’s sugary side. Having gathered in front of the Sprüngli shop, one might believe that this is the perfect start to the tour. Begin with something familiar. Even if you’ve never been to Switzerland, Lindt & Sprüngli’s chocolates are known around the world.

Lindt’s most famous spokesperson is none other than Switzerland’s most famous man — Roger Federer. Just to point out here that Lindt & Sprüngli chocolates and Sprüngli confiseries are separate business entities. Again one might believe this is the best place to start the tour, but we turn our backs on the Swiss giant and make our way up the Bahnhofstrasse. Along the way Kerrin gives us a short history of chocolate in Switzerland. Where Nestlé, Cailler, Sprüngli, and Lindt come into play and what these men did for chocolate in the small alpine country. As we turn a corner and make our way into the heart of the Old City, Kerrin also points out other little treasures for baked goods and sweets.

At every stop we are asked for our own experiences. While there is no doubt that Kerrin is the expert, she’s curious and always looking for further insight and another story for her collection.\n\nOur first stop is a specialty chocolate shop, emphasizing the culture around chocolate. Knowing that these shops are small and can be busy Kerrin quickly gives us a rundown of the shop, who runs it and their approach. If you’re looking for chocolate as far as the eye can see, you’re in the wrong place — this is not Merkur. The owner loves chocolate, but she also loves the culture around chocolate. She carries a wide assortment of chocolates from different countries, books about chocolate, and chocolate paraphernalia of all kinds. She invites us to try her special hot chocolate.

The secret is hers and she’ll gladly share it with you should you stop by on the Sweet Zurich tour. Something interesting comes into view of one of the guests. A knife with a curious blade. It is a chocolate knife. In the 1930s it was quite common to cut one’s chocolate with a special knife. This beautiful knife is a must have for all chocolate aficionados.\n\nAs we leave the shop we walk through the old city and over the Münsterbrücke. Next stop is another chocolate shop. As we enter it is more than clear that Kerrin is a regular there. Like our first place, this shop specializes in more than just chocolate, but also chocolate accessories. If you’re looking for special Swiss, Austrian, Spanish or Italian chocolate, this is the place. Again, a highly knowledgeable staff make us feel welcome and invite us to sample chocolate truffles as we like, and are ready to answer any and all questions. Again the chocolates here are also hand selected and come from a select few producers. These are chocolates that you won’t find in the chocolate aisle at Migros or Coop.\n\nNext we go somewhere I have never been before. I have walked past this place a few times a week for the past two years, but had never been in. I tell Kerrin and she’s shocked. The building dates back to the 14th Century. Walk inside and you can’t help but be in awe. It’s splendid. From the silk wall coverings to the giant cash register to the amazing selection of cakes, pastries, honeys and other fine treats. We are warmly greeted and treated to their famous hot chocolate. I’m in love. It’s very thick and has a nice bit of whipped cream on top. Again another secret and it’s different from our first stop. Hot chocolate down, welcome Prosecco and a tour of the establishment. Our guide is a perfect match to Kerrin and tells us stories about the café with enthusiasm, humour and charm.\n\nBack out onto the street we make our way to another Zurich treat. For us Swiss people going abroad always leads to some frustration mixed with humour when asked where we’re from. It seems many in North

America believe that Sweden and Switzerland are one and the same. The place we are now visiting brings these two countries perfectly together. A fine selection of handcrafted chocolates and Swedish fashion and design products are what separates this shop from the others. A trip here is well worth it, and shows just how creative people can get. Then Kerrin brings us to a shop specializing in what she sees as the latest sweet trend to hit Switzerland. What is it you may ask? You’ll have to venture out on a Sweet Zurich tour and find out. As Kerrin wraps up our tour she recaps what we’ve seen and asks for our feedback. Everyone is impressed and slightly high on sugar. Though the actual intake is not that much, it is much like a wine degustation, where a steady stream of small amounts leaves you feeling it. We part ways with smiles on our face and a little fear in our heads knowing that we are all about to become regulars at the shops we’ve just visited, which might not be a good thing for our waistlines. Kerrin has no need to worry though — she’s a runner.I sat down with MyKugelhopf founder Kerrin Rousset to find out a little more about her.

What makes her tick and where did the idea come from. Kerrin has always been a lover of sweet things and after she and her husband left their jobs in the US they travelled around the world, which gave Kerrin the perfect opportunity to try lots of new food. The name of her blog MyKugelhopf comes from the traditional Alsatian cake called Kugelhopf and or any variations of spellings. If you follow Kerrin on Twitter @MyKugelhopf there is one thing you will notice. She loves Zurich! It is most likely this wonderful combination of interests and qualities that make Kerrin a great food writer and the best person to lead interested people around Zurich discovering its sweet spots. In her almost three years in Zurich, Kerrin has gotten to know the shop owners of the places she takes her guests. One can expect friendly service and insider information that only come over time. I asked Kerrin where the idea for the tour came from and she said that it was a natural progression. “Whenever I travel, that is how I love to discover a city, where the locals go and especially where to find the best sweets. People ask me often for recommendations of where to do this here, and where I love to go. So this is a way to share it with them, and show them there is more than just the big name addresses in guidebooks.” Of course as a writer for tour guides as well, Kerrin will also say there is nothing wrong with using a book. But, based on what I experienced, you do get much more on a tour than doing it on your own. What Kerrin has done is found the passionate people in the city, the people who are running specialty shops because they love what they are selling and want to get others excited about it. When was the last time a Migros employee got you excited about selecting a Frey chocolate bar?

When she’s not busy writing, running, or leading curious groups around Zurich, Kerrin is most likely to be found at one of Zurich’s many markets. She loves the fresh produce and finds it great that Swiss people generally don’t mind paying higher prices for local quality. And of course what does she do with all of this fresh and seasonal produce? Well she cooks and bakes of course in her favourite place in Zurich — her kitchen. If you’re interested in taking the Sweet Zurich tour, check out the website: www.sweetzurich.com Tours are on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays starting at 2pm and last between 2 and 2.5 hours. Written by Christian Langenegger, co-founder of Marathon Sprachen Else-Züblin-Strasse 998404 Winterthur SwitzerlandTel: +41 (0)79 345 78 72 E-Mail: marathon.sprachen@me.com Homepage: www.marathonsprachen.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/marathonsprachen Twitter: @marathonsprache

What’s Up With The Gun Posters?

Why are there posters with a Grand Theft Auto thug pointing a gun at me everywhere in Switzerland? Is this a new video game?

No, it is not a video game, it is a “No” poster for the Volksinitiative “Für den Schutz vor Waffengewalt” (for the protection against weapon/gun violence) which is the only national question being put to voters in Switzerland’s first referendum of 2011 on February 13. Again Switzerland’s right wing People’s Party (SVP) is arousing fear in the Swiss populace.

The initiative was proposed by doctors, social workers and others affected by gun violence. Now many may say that when they think of Switzerland they don’t think of gun violence. Well for the third most armed country in the world Switzerland is a peaceful country. For every 100 people there are 45,7 weapons. When put in terms of households though this equates to 1 in 3 households possessing firearms. Yet behind this peaceful facade lurk some troubling numbers, and this is where gun violence shines.

Looking at the World Health Organization’s statistics, Switzerland has one of the highest suicide rates in Europe at approximately 35 people for every 100 000 people. According to Suicide researcher Dr. Valadeta Ajdacic from the University Clinic in Zurich, in the past ten years there have been more than 13,000 cases of suicide in Switzerland, or on average 1341 per year. A new study published in the Schweizerischen Ärtzetzeitung (Swiss Doctor’s Journal) shows that 34% of suicides are committed with a gun. Dr. Valadeta Ajdacic believes that limiting access to weapons would reduce these numbers by about 100 suicides per year. Then of fact there is the sad story that every so often someone, usually a man, kills not only himself but also his wife and children. And as highlighted in the Volksabstimmung vom 13. Februar 2011 Erläuterungen des Bundesrates (explanation and commentary to the initiative) just the threat of having a gun in the closet is a psychological torment for many and is not spoken about.\n\nWhile the cause of suicide may be hotly debated, the statics will point to the most traditional and conservative areas as being where they are the highest. When you live close to everyone and your every move in noticed and scrutinized by family, friends and neighbors the feeling of failure can come about easily. In this manner the Swiss bear a great resemblance to their number one fans the Japanese.\n\nThe “Waffen Initiative” asks that military officers leave their weapons in an armory when off duty. This seemingly simple and logical request is aimed at lowering suicide and murder rates, by making guns less accessible. It would further implement a federal gun registry replacing the cantonal registries. As Switzerland must exchange gun ownership data with the E.U. under the Schengen-Dublin agreement, this would help eliminate a level of confusion and bureaucracy as the E.U. would get information from just Switzerland and not 26 separate cantons. Furthermore, with the country being so small it makes more sense to have this done centrally.\n\nHowever, from the view of the SVP and many others it is an infringement on rights and further government intervention. Yet it begs the question that if you only need your weapon for military exercises or sport shooting, why do you need it at home? In fact you are not supposed to have ammunition for it at home anyway. The arguments against the initiative are illogical and based on fear. Oskar Freysinger, a SVP politician, openly asked what Switzerland  would be like if Wilhelm Tell had not been allowed to have a crossbow at home. A wiser person might ask, what this SVP politician would have become had he paid attention in his history class. Yet this shows that like so much in Switzerland tradition and myth form strong counter arguments to progress.

As for claims that it is for personal protection, I have not found any reports of cases in which an off duty officer used a military weapon for personal defense against criminal violence or activity. Again, officers are not to have ammunition in the first place.

Arguments for the “Waffen Initiative” are logical and well intended. They will put limits on people’s rights as they have existed to present and will mean that owning a gun for hunters and sport shooters will be more difficult. However, civil society means voluntarily limiting one’s individual freedoms for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. The Bundesrat and parliament in their official statement regarding the “Waffen Initiative” hold it for unnecessary and believe that the current laws are good enough, as the initiative cannot guarantee a reduction in gun violence. While this may be true, all of the studies would suggest that where there is less access to weapons there is less violence — without a gun at hand a potential suicide victim might consider his or choices again.

If you’re looking for more information on the topic, it can be found in German at: www.schutz-vor-waffengewalt.ch

Written by Christian Langenegger, co-founder of Marathon Sprachen

Else-Züblin-Strasse 99

8404 Winterthur\nSwitzerland

Tel: +41 (0)79 345 78 72

E-Mail: marathon.sprachen@me.com

Homepage: www.marathonsprachen.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/marathonsprachen

Twitter: @marathonsprache

Old New Year’s Eve In Appenzellerland

Agree with him or not there is a great deal to be said about Freud’s theories. When it comes to childhood trauma, I’m on Freud’s side. From an early childhood experience I now feel like Nathanael in E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Sandman. The source of my trauma is an old Appenzeller tradition — Alter Silvester (old New Year).

I was 4 years old and visiting my aunt and uncle in Waldstatt, AR. It was the morning of January 13th and the sky was brilliant blue and the hills were covered in snow when the ringing of cowbells pierced the the cold winter air. Even at four years of age I knew it could not have been cows, as they only wore bells in the summer when they were outside in the field and up on the alp. As the sound came nearer my aunt pointed in the direction it was coming from. At first sight there was just a snowy hill crest and then something came over the hill — the Chläuse.

There are three kinds of Chläuse: die Wüeschten (the ugly), die Schönen (the beautiful) and die Schön-Wüeschten (the beautiful-ugly).

The Wüeschten are covered in pine branches, cedar branches, or straw and wear large cowbells. Their masks are ugly and typically characterized by googly eyes, ferocious looking teeth and sometimes horns. Though they look evil they are not meant to be regarded as such.

The beautiful wear brightly-coloured traditional dress (Tracht) and have masks that look like the faces in traditional Appenzeller painting. They also wear giant head pieces that tell a story or show scenes from everyday life in the alps. These head pieces can weigh up to 8 kilograms and are hand made new every year. The head piece of the “women” Chläusen can easily have a height of over 50 cm.

The pretty-ugly are a mixture of the ugly and the beautiful. Their dress is made of forest elements like that of the ugly. But their masks are more human in appearance and they also have head pieces made of leaves, and nuts and straw and may also depict alpine scenes including barns.

Other than all of the Chläuse wearing masks the other thing they all have in common are that they are all men. Even the “women” Chläuse, known as Rollewiiber or simply Rolli, are men. In general a costume can weigh anywhere between 20 and 30 kg. All of them wear large cowbells and sing in front of the homes they visit. The singing is called Zäuerli, which are songs without lyrics. (Video).

I still remember the Schönen (beautiful) coming and singing, and I ran. I ran as fast as I could into my aunts house and hid under a bed. It must have been their daunting size, the singing and bells and the masks. Even today I still have a great dislike of masks of any kind.

Traditionally the Chläuse appear in groups called Schuppel at around 5 am on New Year’s Eve and again for the old New Year’s Eve on January 13th. If it is snowing the Schönen will not be out, as their costume is too delicate. Where the tradition comes from is not quite clear. If you were to ask someone in Urnäsch, they would probably tell you that it has been done since time immortal. Some studies suggest that it may be from as recent as the 15th Century, where St. Nikolaus festivities at the monasteries became continually more and more wild and reminiscent of Carnival (Fasnacht). Others suggest that it was an old tradition of scaring off the bad spirits of the old year. The idea of it being a pagan tradition was also cemented in popular belief by priests up to the 20th century calling the practice the remains of a barbaric era.

Like so much in Appenzell this is a tradition that does not seem to be going away, which is a good thing for the local tourism economy, which now sees an influx of tourists coming to watch this timeless tradition.

If you are interested in seeing this for yourself, it can be seen in the following towns on January 13th: Urnäsch, Herisau, Hundwil, Stein, Waldstatt, Schwellbrunn and Schönengrund. Here is a link to the event in Urnäsch.

Written by Christian Langenegger, co-founder of Marathon Sprachen

Else-Züblin-Strasse 99

8404 Winterthur

Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0)79 345 78 72

E-Mail: marathon.sprachen@me.com

Homepage: www.marathonsprachen.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/marathonsprachen

Twitter: @marathonsprache

EXPOVINA Tips

The EXPOVINA is in it’s second weekend and many are making their second rounds of Switzerland’s largest wine exhibition. Use the exhibition to try wines and learn something new about them. Here are a few tips to save you money, patience and possibly face.

1. Have an idea of what you’d like to taste. There are many ways to do this: white / red / sparkling – wines from certain countries – specific grape varietals.

2. Know your budget. Use this exhibition as a way of discovering new wines that you may actually buy to have at home. Better than buying surprise bottles in a shop.

3. Take notes and compare before you buy.

4. While you are not obligated to buy at any stand, be respectful and if you are not planning to buy from there do not spend too much time at the stand. a general rule of thumb is to try up to 4 at a stand then move on, unless you are intent on buying.

5. Do not let yourself get talked into buying wines you do not like, really want or cannot really afford. I bought a case of wine one year that I did not really want and I can hardly drink it because.

6. Go with friends who have a similar taste. This is great if you find that gem of a wine and it’s at a price point that is higher than what you usually buy. So instead of buying a 6er pack of Brunello at 50 CHF a bottle for yourself each of you buy two bottles.

7. You’re a potential customer and demand respect. If you feel that a sales person isn’t treating you with do respect, politely tell them that.

8. Go during the afternoon as there are less people, the sales agents are friendlier and you can learn more.

9. Allow sales agents to guide you through their wines but help them recommend wines that you will probably like.

10. Taste and learn.

The EXPOVINA is a great event for wine lovers and those wanting to learn more about wine. Take the opportunity to find a few gems for yourself, while having fun and meeting new people.

Expovina – Wänn Gaasch Ufs Wyschiff?

It’s that time of year again where the ground is covered in golden leaves and a blanket of grey is pulled over the city to be occasionally lifted to reveal one of the most regal blue skies anywhere on this earth: autumn in Zurich. Autumn brings with it more than just a change in the weather, but also a wonderful variety of local produce at the local markets from apples to pumpkins. Across from the Tuesday market at Bürkliplatz, one sees twelve ships anchored and masses of people moving between them. Yes, the wine ships of the EXPOVINA are back. This year Switzerland’s preeminent wine festival and exhibition celebrates it’s 57th year. If you have not yet experienced the EXPOVINA, it is an experience not to be missed.

The EXPOVINA was founded in 1953 by the Zürich shop owner J.F. Sauter. The first “Wyschiff” — dialect for wine ship — was the Linth. In that first year 6000 guests visited the single ship to discover new wines. Alongside the typical Swiss varietals of Fendant, Dôle and Dorin one would have found some wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Châteauneuf-du-Pape as well as South Tirol and Valpolicella. The selection and size was definitely limited in comparison to today, but for back then it presented a once a year chance to taste so many different wines all at one location. It quickly became a Zürcher institution.

The EXPOVINA grew steadily from year to year. As the number of wines being presented increased so did the number of ships. By 1964 the event had grown to include 6 ships featuring 66 producers and importers exhibiting approximately 600 wines. By 1981 there were eleven ships anchored at Zurich’s wine harbour.  The twelfth ship was added in 2000. Today on the 12 ships docked at Bürkliplatz some 80000 guests visit to try more than 4000 wines from over 24 countries.

The only question now is: “Wänn gaasch ufs Wyschiff?” (when are you going on the wine ship?).

The EXPOVINA runs from November 4-18, 2010. It is open daily from 12 – 10pm except Sundays 12 – 7pm. Entry costs 20 CHF, but is free between 12 – 1pm.

Here are a few tips that will help make your visit more enjoyable and possibly save your bank account:

 

    1. Use the guide book to locate stands with wines that you would like to try.

 

    1. Go on at least two days (one day white wines, one day red wines)

 

    1. There is no shame in spitting (if there is a bucket) or emptying out a wine you don’t like or from which the pour was simply too large.

 

    1. Know your budget. Many of the people at the stands want to sell wine. The turnover at the EXPOVINA is estimated at around 30 million Franks.

 

    1. Allow the server / sales person to guide you. It is frowned upon to just go and taste the most expensive wines that you have no intent on buying. However, if you taste a variety of wines you will generally be offered a taste of the best wines and sometimes even an unlisted wine.

 

    1. If you have no intent on buying, it is best not to stay too long at any one counter.

 

    1. Check your coat and bags. It gets very hot in the boats, especially at night.

 

    1. Be open to trying new grape varietals and regions: you might discover your new favourite.

 

Though most of the people working on the wine boats are quite capable in both German and English and often French and Italian here are a few words in German with their English Translations:\n

 

    • der Wein – wine

 

    • der Weisswein – white wine

 

    • der Rotwein – red wine

 

    • der Schaumwein – sparkling wine (often called Champagne or Prosecco, these are actually region and/or varietal specific)

 

    • die Nase – the nose (bouquet)

 

    • der Geschmack – the taste

 

    • Schmeckt er? – Does it taste good?

 

    • die Rebsorte – grape varietal

 

    • trocken – dry (max 9 grams of sugar per liter)

 

    • halbtrocken – half dry. These wines have a little more sugar than dry wines and tend to be fruitier. Their sugar content ranges from 9 – 18 grams per liter)

 

    • lieblich – lightly sweet (usually these wines are precieved as sweet, but it is the fruity aroma that makes you believe they are very sweet. Their sugar content ranges between 18 and 45 grams per liter. Swiss people often use this term to simply mean a nice and pleasant wine)

 

    • süss – sweet (this means really sweet like ice wine and other dessert wines like Sauternes. They have a sugar content of more than 45 grams per liter)

 

    • süffig – easy to drink (often used to describe wines by sales people)

 

    • leicht – light wine (most Swiss reds are light wines)

 

    • vollmundig – full-bodied

 

*Note: Because it is “der Wein” in German, German speaking people will often refer to the wine as he and not it.

Written by Christian Langenegger, co-founder of Marathon Sprachen

Else-Züblin-Strasse 99

8404 Winterthur

Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0)52 242 31 29

E-Mail: marathon.sprachen@me.com

Homepage: www.marathonsprachen.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/marathonsprachen

Twitter: @marathonsprache

Knabenschiessen: What’s Going On Here?

From the second Saturday to the Monday of every Septembder, a seemingly odd event for many Expats takes place in Zurich: Knabenschiessen. Now for many who have learned German (whether a little or a lot) the translation may pose a slight problem: “boys-shooting”. What’s happening here? Are the people of Zurich celebrating the shooting of a group of boys, perhaps dating back to Wilhelm Tell and the shooting of an apple off his son’s head? Or is there a group of boys shooting? And if it’s the later, why just boys and not girls?

It is in fact a group of boys shooting. This event dates back to the 17th century, where in order to get jung boys excited about shooting and their future military service, competitions were held for the Schützenkönig (King of the Marksmen). Today the actual shooting takes place at Albisgüetli in south-west Zurich, but up until the 1800s it used to be done at Sihlhölzli. The competitors must reside or go to school in Canton Zurich and be between the ages of 13 and 17. Since 1991, girls fulfilling the same criteria have also been allowed to partake. For the entry price of twelve Swiss francs competitors receive the right to participate, ammunition and of course a Bratwurst.

Today the shooting is done with the standard Swiss military rifle SIG SG 550. The SG stands for Sturmgewehr (assult rifle). Participants shoot at a standard A-target with points to 5. The highest achievable score is 35. Anyone shooting 28 or more points will get a prize medal. Each year 35000 rounds are shot during the Knabenschiessen.

Though the Monday, Knabenschiessem-Montag is not an official holiday, it is recognized as a half-holiday with many businesses closing shop at 1pm. Teachers and students however have the entire day off. The winner of the shooting competition is also announced on the Monday. The shooting has for most people taken a backseat to the Chilbi (fun fair) that takes place at the same time and is yearly the largest in Switzerland. The fun fair gets some 300 000 visitors and on the Monday there is a half hour “happy hour” where all the rides are free.

Take Monday afternoon off and head down to the festivity grounds and enjoy a few rides, eat a Bratwurst or Chnoblibrot (garlic bread). Knabenschiessen – uniquely Zürcherisch like Sechseläuten.

(Written by Christian Langenegger, co-founder of Marathon Sprachen in Winterthur www.marathonlanguages.com)