No.

Sometimes.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo

No way is Geneva boring... only boring people would say that.  Do not hang with them...

Geneva's not boring, but it depends of you. I have always something to do or to watch in Geneva. And I'm here since I'm born....

Thanks for your responses. Always a debate! Glad people aren't plagued by boredom here. My answer (if you have time to read my short blog entry above:-) is somewhere along the lines of it depends on your perspective and life, and suggestions about what to do if you think it is.

Hi Rennie,

If you need some inspiration:

http://www.glocals.com/forums/geneva/where-how-in-geneva/Geneva-is-Boring-118043.htm#msg_126724

http://www.glocals.com/forums/new-members-introductions/Is-Switzerland-boring--128784.htm#msg_131967

http://www.glocals.com/forums/new-members-introductions/Stuck-in-boring-old-Montreux---but-there-is-GOL---29373.htm#msg_147269

Ive managed to party 7 days a week till 5am or beyond in Geneva...now the summer is here there is even more to do. If only my liver could keep up!

If you like outdoor activities the mountains offer so much, as does nearby France.

Boring is as boring does...simple answer to "is Geneva boring" is "No"....simples :-)

Geneva is boring only the sunday  but for nothing I would change that, it's good to have one boring day to have time to get a good coffee, read the news, chat with stranger, watch all series, have sunbathes, loooong walk with dog, one hair-body day, visit long distant friends, etc....

This has been discussed in the last 4 yrs without an end. It is a boring topic.

same old song... but good try to promote your blog :)

Thanks all - and yes, I am busted, also wanted to promote new blog I started today :-). But love these responses. I am flying back to Geneva today from Atlanta and reminded of why I personally find it interesting. It's the lively expat community, and the beautiful scenery.

And the close proximity to other beautiful places and cool cities. Thanks for indulging me and viewing my blog for those who did - apparently quite a few folks read it. Am trying to get my creativing writing juices flowing again. I will link to other expat blogs i found that I like, one expat in Zug has a good one. Many others are out there. Cheers!

love it. to the point!

I thought Geneva was boring... because I came from a country where the stores/malls are open til midnight and on sundays, you can be noisy if you want to, and so on. But as I adjusted to the 'discipline' and schedule, and I found lots of activities to do and things to see, I think it's an exciting place. And as Juli r (above) pointed out, it's always nice to have downtimes.

Why come here then? It's a great place. If you get out and about and meet the right people it's great. Fun isn't going to come to you. You need to find it yourself and believe me there's lots of things to keep yourself occupied. More than a lot of other European cities.

One of the things people say about Geneva is: the airport is very close and you have many interesting cities within reach! Does that mean Geneva is not boring?

Some food for thought...

Might be an idea! To be fair i have my man period at the moment. 

I recently started to create a hashtag in instagram #funingeneva

I now have 12 photos--- ranging from eating with friends to guitar lessons. Of course, with a number of festivals and glocals activities coming up, there will be more!

ABSOLUTELY! 

Plus we're not allowed to have a cold/flu! We get Man Flu. 

They will never understand us. 

It is kind of my standard text: "Geneva is boring"
In the end it is what you are used to and where you have been before.
If you compare Geneva with for example other (Swiss) cities then for sure a city like Zurich has much more choices. Also the quality what is offered is strangly (Geneva is a wealthy city) lower. Think about Restaurants, live music, variances in bars.

Having said this, having a good time just needs a bunch of nice and fun people. Then it can be even fun in a ghost town.

wherever they are, boring people will wonder how the city is and finally get bored, cool people knows how to make the most of it and enjoy life.

Don't tell people Geneva is not boring, they could stay here....

Geneva is a great all round city.  Sure new york or london has bigger and better partys/clubs but then it doesnt have the same nature and country side so close by.

Geneva has a little of everything.

you can party, eat well, ski, swim, fly anywhere,so day and night you can fill your time, but sure other places may do individual things better, but here we have so much on our door step, its all accessable, close by and possible, with far more variety than you can possibly get elsewhere.

so is geneva boring, well that depends where you are in life.  if your intending to party to the best DJs in the world every night and sleep during the day, perhaps its boring, but if you want to be able to party and also enjoy traveling and nature than its a good alround mix

Geneva isn't boring, at least not until you visit NYC or Hong Kong..

Well said!

Hi, thanks and will check out your pics. Interested in guitar lessons also.

Sure, Geneva isn't New York but most places aren't. But frankly, If you rely on the city you live in to be entertained maybe you should become a bit more proactive yourself. If you rely on a night club or restaurant to have a good time maybe you should focus a bit more on finding the right friends.

Geneva is as boring or exciting as you want it to be. Geneva has an active expat community that organizes a range of activities. Can't find what you're looking for? Start a group or event or post something in the forum to find like-minded people. 

and if you speak French, you can find local communities that organize also a large range of activities. Same thing for Lausanne or other towns.

gosh, there is just too much to do in Geneva....

I think Geneva is great,  I've been here for 3 years, met some of the most amazing people ever, love the lake, love the huge array of outdoor activities the city has to offer, I live for those summer days when the sky is blue and that lake shines, love the extreme diversity and how well Geneva operates with it, loves the BBQs with friends, the festivals, the surroundings, the clean air and water....  Find me another town with 150 thousand people that offers the same diversity, outdoor activities and lifestyle that Geneva has to offer....... you probably can't

I will miss Geneva sorely when I leave.

If some of you hate it here, then take the bus 10 to cointrin airport and go back home!!!  at least there'll be more flats available for those who want to live here and can't find a place to live.

I agree: cycling to work around the lake is just great.

And where else can you afford skiing six months per year (special thanks to buyclub)?

OK, Geneva is not THE Hi-NRG place but I had to calm down anyway

The weather is definitely better than in Berlin and I still remember yesterday's afterwork triathlon at the lake (running, swimming, pick nicking).

If you love sunshine and the nature it's a great place and being paid in CHF these days is not bad either.

Geneva boring...!

I don't think so!

Great thoughts, although i am told the winter sun does not shineth much.

yes, agree. I think many people expect new cities to entertain them but you have to be proactive anywhere. In that regard, hats off to the folks who started this site and Internations. Geneva seems particularly well suited for these with 45-50% expats.

so you're calling me boring? :(

totally agree with you! 

This is the information that's available to us:

- 2 posts in the 20 months that you've been a member

- No photo

- 1st post: 'so you're calling me boring? :('

- 2nd post: 'totally agree with you!'

Apart from the (sad) smiley face and the exclamation mark you don't much going for you so far. But I'll withold judgement until later.

I don't know how you would define soul, but for me this is a country and city where people from multiple ethnicities live in relative harmony, where the poor are provided for and assisted rather than being left to decline on the streets, where citizens are not brutally assaulted nor are their civil liberties denied, where violent crimes are rare, where everyone has access to clean water and a roof over their head, where representation is truly proportional and government reasonably accountable.  

If for you soul is about noise and excitement, maybe this is not the place for you. But as far as I am concerned, Geneva is a peaceful and harmonious place to live and there is a lot of soul in that. What you then make of it is up to you.

A husband calls his wife and says "honey I am stuck in a traffic jamb", to which the wife replies "honey you are the traffic jamb".

- am a busy woman!

- photo is on its way!

- no need to judge! free country, free speech! 

...and some more exclamation marks for you!!!!!!!!!! ;)

HELL YES!

I doubt it is as boring as Vevey.. yawn

On a somewhat related note, wondering what the real stat is for expats here as I do think that influences opinions by expats of whether the city is boring. It seems to me if you're an expat and bored, you're not really trying  given how many there are here willing to explore Geneva with other expats (sight unseen) each day of the week. (note: the weather is a different story though, winter blahs from weeks of overcast skies/rain/wind is relevant.)

On the official swiss site it says expats number at 39%. I've seen 45% and up to 50%. Someone last night said it was 80 which seems high. thoughts?

http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/07/blank/key/01/01.html

Yes, boring,

Lausanne is better;-)

Rennie,

According to the Geneva stats http://www.ge.ch/statistique/population_residante/welcome.asp#1

there are 187'160 foreigners in the canton, out of 468'194, which (if I still can master high-school maths) is 40%. This concerns the canton, not the whole country.

Of course, Geneva, and the communes around UN & CERN have a higher foreign percentage, up to 51%.

Geneva IS boring - else why would this site exist?

A common complaint - natives are unfriendly, insular, humourless and xenophobic . the Swiss want foreigners here as much as they want herpes

Interested in anything other than hiking or winter sports and you will find this place as dull as Belgium if not duller

Visit Vallorbe to see poverty - the Swiss kick out "undesirables" whenever they can

Citizens not brutally assualted - you should witness some of the heavy handed treatment I have seen cops dish out to a few young black men

disagree on the thing about being proactive - you cannot make a silk purse out of  sows ear - Geneva is simply a big town masquerading as a city - it lacks lots of cultural stuff - why do you think people often state that they go to France or Germany or Italy? Its simple Switzerland lacks stuff that people want - the whole country may as well be an airport terminal - clean tidy organised peaceful but ultimately its a resting point

I was referring to the treatment of local poor. Also, I am not sure what you mean by heavy-handed, since no details were given, but I am sure it does not come anywhere close to torture, physical abuse, unlawful imprisonment and so on.

Yes Geneva is normally as boring,  but it's people who makes the place, that is if you can find friends, and to compare what cities you have experienced before. Things to do around is normally box standard, and if they are special it is unreasonalby expensive and just for the VIPs and the rich.

More boring possibly if you're over 35 and over, correct me. My first impression was place is full of young enthusiatic interns or expats and 'rich kid' students who may not have lived or travelled for livehood as much before to compare cities, and ageism is very distinct here. Unfortunately  I have to say I have Geneva as one lower down on my the list, I've had more fun in other cities.

Also it is't as clean as I expected of a Swiss city at all,  I call Geneva  'p' city, as it generally smells of 'p' ,more so when you arrive on the train of tram in Cornavin,  really, believe me LOL. Does anyone know if the poor and sorry state homeless who hang out around there do get any help at all ?

I don't know it well but has always struck me as rather soulless and too concerned about money and appearance.Pretty vacant-as the pistols would have said.

But then,it's antisceptic air is only in the eyes of an outsider......

for the poor, there's social services that help them (if they are *inside the f***king social rules*) if they are not, no luck, they got no help. I could almost say that sometimes, the asyl seekers have a better help. (talking from my own experience)

to come back on the subject of boringness, as I said before it's totally a personnal point of view. There's a lot of things to do here than I don't do, because it's expensive, because it doesn't interest me or isn't of my interest.

Well, just to say that I could go in Bern or New-York and find it totally boring if the town doesn't meet my interest centers or because I have no friends there. 

I was in Cairns for 6 months 20 years ago (to try to learn English), and find it totally boring for the first two weeks. Then, things crossed my interests, met totally awesome locals (I remember an amazing discussion about ufos...) and went to the activities organized by the school. 

So, if you're bored in Geneva, say the magic words : Glocals' things to do.

Belgium is amazing, Brussels is an affordable city with great breweries, cheap amazing restaurants, lots of little bars and bohemian cafes!!!

About your stereotype of the Swiss being xenophobic, humorless, you're from the UK I see, I spent time there and met plenty of humorless, stuck up, anal retentive, xenophobic, I rather segregate myself from minorities english types.... so i guess is not just a Swiss thing.

About London and New york.... O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D

in london all I recall was, everything is too damn expensive to be able to go anywhere, and if i have the money I am gonna have to spend two hours stuck in public transportation somewhere just to go there, so screw it I'll just stay home.... plus the weather was an absolute nightmare, the food (you can only eat curry so much), the people bleeeh pretensious, unfriendly, self absorbed, not open to strangers for sure, and rather provincial as lots of them think they live in the epicenter of the world because they're londoners yet most of them have never really been anywhere outside london......

london sucks the life outta you.... wake up it's another rainy miserable morning, face the hellish commute (2 hours in traffic or the tube or some shitty suburban train) to go to work, after work go home again (2 hours or so stuck in traffic again) all you can think about is... damn tomorrow I have to do this all over again..... and on the weekend you're just too tired and u wanna stay home, that or the weather absolutely stinks so u cant really go anywhere!!!

Spare me from "exciting" western cities like london....  compared london to cities the size of london..... cities like bangkok or rio de janeiro or buenos aires, tokyo, seoul and you'll see london absolutely sucks when it comes to nightlife!!!

About NYC, dont get me started..... Gentrified, overrated, yuppified comes to mind..... I lived there 19 years of my life.... a city that's the shadow of what it used to be back in the 70's and 80's..... NYC was amazing back in the 80s... today bleeeh you go to times square to see the lion king, huge mcdonalds neon signs and endless crowds of tourists taking pictures of a city that's starting to look more and more like a giant american shopping mall..... gentrification killed that city!!!

Agree with you, I was reading this post and seeing people citing london as an example of exciting.

London sucks, especially compared to places like Mexico city, I remember being in Mexico city and having to pick between activities because there's just so much to do!!!! and most stuff to do in mexico city is really cheap or free, plus the food is heavenly.

London is just "whatever" for me

in NYC they close the clubs at 2am and the last call for serving alcohol is 11 pm, after 11pm you won't find a single bar that serves you drinks!  that's nyc nightlife for you

Let's not go into the rat infestation problem they have, I remember in the subway seeing rats the size of a cat just trying to jump on people, and good luck finding an apartment that is not infested with cockroaches or that you're not the wrong skin color in the wrong neighborhood!

Everytime I get off the plane in Brussels, Vienna, London etc. I feel I have the wrong cloths. Last time it was warmer in GE at night than in Berlin during the days.

It might be personal but good weather is really a + for me. In Germany they are all complaining about steady rain right now.

Also due to the lake here, the air is pure and it smells nice.

I know that service is not the best here and and and.... Anyway. Off for the lake now.

no, it's not.

hey I m bored, what s to do today? 

Lake parade, wake boarding, hiking, good restaurant, wine tasting directly at the farmer place, meeting expat, having a drink with native swiss, enjoying free music in parc la grange, outdoor theater at l orangerie, electro mix at silencio, alternative program in Usine, la parfumerie or la gravière, having a great cocktail in le verre a Monique or l'aphoticaire, seeing some transexual show at la garconière, may be I will go sailing or just rollerblading around the lake...oups I forgot there is free swining pool in paquis and free beachvolley ball court in Eveaux, or may be basketball, no why not football with spanish, portugese, brazilian, french guys...

Oh yes, Geneva is so boring...

Yeap nothing to do today :)

You know i like it when people find Geneva boring because they stay at home and let us have all the fun!

so what you're saying is, there's nothing to do in Geneva? I suspected as much.

Me, I'll be having a boring evening at CinéTransat watching The Boat That Rocked by the lake for FREE with a picnic beforehand. Feel free to join this boring activity.

A free swining pool sounds avant garde. Tres cool. Sun, mud, punk rock, cham and ladies in bikinis?

Since we're talking about what to do today, there's also the option of seeing for free the French National Day celebrations, including fireworks.

However, be warned that at such an event, you risk being in contact with the natives. (Not the Swiss, but the French are probably almost as bad.)

Hey Raph,

Can't say I agree with your outlook... boring is relative and personal. But did want to say that your post cracked me up on a Monday morning... HAHAHAHAHA! I'm also fed up with seeing Johnny Hallyday showing up in all the epiceries, he is one weird lookin dude!

Ok... better do something serious this Monday. Rock on y'all.

Keith, what is it that you cannot do in Geneva which makes it so boring?

@raph as much as i disagree with you, that was a very entertaining post. and, i think i was in the same supermarket at the same time as you, as I remember BitUSA, WB, and KC back to back.....

For me Switzerland and especially Geneva was the biggest cultural shock and dissappoitment ever. Travelled, studied, lived in different countries so when I was sent here for a job I was looking forward to spending a nice time here.

Speak French, went often to glocals and non glocals activities but have to say that the only few things I liked was the lake, the Old Town, Eaux Vives and the salary.

In 16 months I know about 5 swiss people and about 200 foreigners. The swiss tried to persuade that their country is the best in the world and that everybody´s dream is to get the swiss passport. They are talking about the high quality of life but they cannot even choose where to live in Geneva, they have to plan everything in advance because almost everything is closed when people are still at work, everything is so slow and the services are not working as I am used to it.

Leaving in 2 weeks and doubt to come again. I am not saying that everything in my country is better than here but I just need to live in a city where you can walk on the weekends and meet people, services are working and it s open on Sunday!

Geneva for me is just a slow, old fashioned city with a nice lake.

LOL, Zuzana.  I just discovered that the GVA aeroport Interdiscount is open 0600-2100h.  On SUNDAY!  score...

Hi Richard,

yes the airport is almost the only place where something is open on Sunday but as you might know it s not in Geneva. Also said almost all is closed not everything.

And in a normal city you do not need to search for one opened store cause the majority of them are open.

I only can give one advice: pack you stuff and go back to the UK.

Is GE boring???

This question is never asked in Lausanne!  ;o)  JT.

That's because no-one expects Lausanne to be interesting. 

Hi Zuzana;

every zhere in the city, you can find shop opened 7/7 22/24, selling food; cigarette and 1st need. You can buy your Chanel shoes saturday or thursday night untill 9, but may be you re an workholic who doesn t have time to live and enjoy this nice city and have only sunday to buy some stuff.

Swiss people voted no for sunday opening, because they don t consider themselve only as consumers and have much more interesting to do during their weekend.

Ha ha ha!  GE is not CH anyway!  :o)  JT.

one point for you ;)

well that s what I am talking about. If I need something on Monday I should wait until thursday or saturday when it s overcrowded?

I was not working too much but the majority of stores close at 19h. I had a great time in Annecy, Chamonix, Megeve, 3 Vallees but not in CH.

If you are used to something good or great it s just difficult to adapt to something which is not so good or great.

It s also different to live in CH as a swiss or as an expat. I am just sharing my opinion.

There will always be people who will love Geneva and people who don t.

As I told you, you have shop opened 7/7 and closes around 2am all over the city.

Do you live in Annecy or Megeve? those 2 places is great to spend time during weekend, but I dare you to live in France... forget your nice salary. I also love Ibiza, as vacation...

Now about real swiss and expat, I will tell you one story; may be you will understand why they are so cold /

Last year, I organized a huge house warming party, I made it a public event on glocals and other social network...also invited my neighbourhood. We were at least 90, composed half of friends and new faces I never meet.

Most of new faces were expats and I will say more or less 10 native swiss. One year after;  i never see again 90% of the unknown expats who came and all the swiss persons are now my close friends.

Think about it.

I worked in Geneva for 16 months, first lived in Geneva but moved to France as soon as possible. I do not care about 7/7 with even higher prices than normal swiss shops.

Friendship is not about nationality and I never said swiss were cold.

You do not need to tell me what I should think about, I have my own brain, thanks.

Maybe you never see the foreigner again because they have already left?

never believe in friend and urban legend story... this is my real story.

Police came 2 at my party, 1st time to warn me that if they come back I will have to pay... 2hours later around 3 they came back and charged me 200chf, guess who propose to share the bill 1st? no, not the expat.

I have one question for those who stayed in Geneva without loving it :

Are you so gready that you stay in a city only because of money?

"In a normal city"?

Being a bit harsh with Geneva maybe..? I would choose Geneva and the quality of live a million times over an average city, say in the US, where shops are open 24/7 and going out on sunday equates to going to the local shopping mall..

*greedy

As a Swiss having lived in quite a few countries, I think Geneva could be much less boring with just a few changes:

- Shops open late at night and on the weekends (with special protection for mothers and such who need to be with their children at these times). Many unemployed people and students are looking for work.

- Better training for service or at least a bigger importance of the tips in the global salary of persons working in the service industry

- More beaches around the lake and one bridge crossing the lake to avoid cars jamming the center (this has been a project for 20 years...)

- More authorizations for cool bar terraces and spacious lounges all around the lake working all year round (I hate Geneva bars and restaurants that cram 50 people in a small room - no privacy at all)

- Improved security (simplify the judicial procedures for criminals and more police presence in the streets - on foot: They have started this lately. I see an improvement already) and better border control

- High hopes that this added fun in Swiss people's lives will cheer them up :) When I go out at night, Swiss people are the hardest for me to meet and have nice conversations with although I'm Swiss. Quite a paradox...

as french, I 1st lived in France ( Divonnes les bains) then moved to Geneva as it was so boring.

Hi,

you are right, I should have written better word than normal. I just meant in another city. Would you also chose Geneva over your home city?

Not sure if I would pick GVA over my home city. But when I moved here a year ago, i was worried to be bored isck very quickly. As it turned out, last spring and summer were great with mostly great weather.. so i did not get bored.

However I was convinced that once Winter sets in, I would be... but then I went skiing in the Alps most week ends. So now a year has passed, and I am still not bored.

The trick is to take Geneva for what it is and not compare. If you compare to London or New York in terms of attractions and liveliness, you will be disappointed. But it works the other way around too.. If you live in london and compare that to Geneva in terms of tranquility, beauty and quality of live.. you are bound to get disappointed too.

I guess the grass is always greener...

you got it : most of locals are fed up setting friendship with people who will go away after few years without giving news.

It looks like half of your post was deleted.

Why do you think the expats go home after few years?

Distance is not changing a real friendship.

Btw, I always give news to my friends and even send postcards

Hmm... I wonder why your not in my personal network... Let me see... Glocals is for friendly people, meeting friendly people... hmm... and you're simply a wanker.  :o)  JT.

I was too sacarstic about your brain, so I ask Oded to erase it.

They go back home simply because their contract is over and cannot stay even if they want it.

you re just perfect, I m so sad not having you in my short friend list...

Not that there has to be, but was there actually a point ?

So why exactly are you here, be it in Geneva or Lausanne, or whichever part of Switzerland you have deigned to bless with your presence ?

Ha ha!  If only Toxic-Raphs' contract would end soon!  ;o)  JT.

Have you ever considered that they might leave also because they are not happy in CH?

I am not perfect, nobody is and your sarcasm wont help you to have me in your friends list

How can you take offence by smthg you haven't seen?  :o)  JT.

What do you mean?

Well, Oded (Site Admin) errased it.

Because I saw Tryky´s reply before Oded deleted it.

What an interesting thread for your blog you've created... and what an interesting insight into ppl's psycology, views & opinions too!  :o)  JT.

Yes, this is very interesting! A lively discussion is what i expected but this was at a much greater volume. I hoped for thoughtful answers with pros and cons, and seems most people said it's what you make of it. (btw, i think the few people who like to antagonize others on blogs thrive on getting responses. I also think they can be reported to admins).

I think the Swiss vs. expat discussion is also interesting. The Swiss simply have their own culture and as expats in their country, it’s nice to understand it better. We can gently poke fun but no use getting mean about it, and most folks did not. I’m sure everyone can think of the tired stereotypes of their own city/country and know it’s not completely accurate. When I moved to NYC, I had heard NYers were mean, but it wasn’t so.  I also found NYC is exactly what you make of it and at the time I was working too much to fully appreciate NY. However, I love going back now. 

People’s tone and views generally reflect their personalities and outlook on life. I hope those who find it miserable in Geneve can move on or maybe regroup on friends/activities. Those who enjoy the city have plenty of company to do so.

Hi folks,

I blocked Raph's account and deleted his posts.

His posts were actualy pretty funny but they got too personal & used too much profanity.

Please keep expressing your opinions but do it in a civil manner.

Have a nice evening.

Oded

Thanks, Oded. Never in a million years did i think this post would result in a near showdown in a bar!

This is a really on point comment!

My sister lives in the US, in a city with over a million and a half people.... (over ten times the population of Geneva and over 20 times larger in area)

she's very excited at the prospect of coming to visit me in Geneva because she claims her city back in America is extremely boring, and in fact most cities she's visited in America and canada are quite boring she claims.

-The entire city in which she lives follows a suburban north american car oriented type of development, so there is no public transportation so you need to drive EVERYWHERE, even to the closest park to walk your dog!

-Very little focus on arts, music, nightlife etc.  their idea of dining out is going to the closest walk thru or chain restaurant somewhere off a highway exit.....

-Their dowtown is a bunch of skyscrapers and highways crossing around it, serving as headquarters for a few local companies and you can only find people there during the day because at night everyone goes home and it's 100% empty.

-The most fun thing to do is sit in your suburban home, watch TV, shop online or go to the closest mega shopping mall to walk around and maybe buy stuff you don't really need.

With that in mind, she thinks Geneva sounds absolutely amazing!!!

She told me the first thing she wanna do upon getting here is going for a LONG LONG WALK AROUND THE CITY, SIT IN A CAFE, WINDOWSHOP IN THE PEDESTRIAN AREA STORES AND GO TO A PARK AND HAVE A ICECREAM, she misses doing that in America 'Cause there aren't even sidewalks in her city.

I must admit that when I visit her I end up feeling a sense of desperation after a week or so because I find myself needing and asking for car rides to the mall so I can mingle with strangers!!

Not putting north american cities down of course.... but sometimes people complain too much!!!

Boring?...Geneva, Lausanne & any city. It's all about a matter of "a bit the Activities + a lot People". Let's live for a while in a country where you would never even go for few days...CH, Geneva, Lausanne, will be "not boring anymore". I have lived in few countries and from my experiences is mostly a matter of the People you meet and what we want to see of positive in the city/country concerned. CH is however a little nice corner of the world :-).

some ideas, about "activities/destinations" & "people" :

- http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html

- http://www.glocals.com/  ..... :-)

- http://2012.menuhinfestivalgstaad.ch/programme-en.html

- http://www.arboretum.ch/

- http://www.fifad.ch/

- http://www.portesdusoleil.com/

Jesus. Not again.

I want to bring something up that I don't think has been mentioned yet. If you think Geneva are boring - how long has it been since you have left school or university? 

My point - as soon as you enter professional life, your life changes a lot. Suddenly people around you will no longer want to go see a movie on a Tuesday night. And once your friends start getting married and getting children it will be even harder to get them to go out.

I remember my first month working, right after I moved from a student dorm in Amsterdam to an apartment in The Hague; I didn't know what to do with myself in the evening. 

My point: Is it really Geneva that is boring, or is it just your own life that has changed? 

What's awesome about Geneva: There's a train leaving every few minutes.  21 departures in the next hour, in fact.

You're saying that the great thing about Geneva is that you can leave?

No. He is saying that if you find Geneva boring then nothing stops you from leaving. Go do something instead of moaning about it

Depand if you have friends. You wont never bore but if you havent friends .. It ll make you feel very boring.. lol

Thank you Rick for this nice & funny pictures, which explain lots of things. Completely agree with you, ...if someone is not happy in a place, what stops him/her to leave, as there is the possibility. 

"No. He is saying that if you find Geneva boring then nothing stops you from leaving. Go do something instead of moaning about it"

Actually I meant both.  If gva is not your cup of tea then you have a lot of options nearby.

Subscribe to the newsletter from RON ORP :-)

It is in French but it is a great newsletter : http://www.ronorp.net/geneve/ron-orps-mail/archives/newsletter/965

And people won't complain that Geneva is boring after that !!!!

LOL - I think thats the Swiss tourist boards slogan - come to Switzerland and just use it as a base to visit France , Italy and Germany

in the meantime appreciate the friendliness and toleranc eof the locals

have much more interesting to do during their weekend.

probably practicing their xenophobia and humourless attitude

Congratulations! You've just managed to piss off 5,281 Swiss nationals registered in Geneva Glocals alone! I just hope the Swiss and every other nationality aren't judging the British based on your comments.

It`s a common problem that people can`t entertain themselves anymore. Furniture shops(IKEA) are even open in most countries with christmas days and all other holidays. Just for the simple reason that a big group of people, cannot be at home with their family these days. Boredom hits, which then frequently leads to chaos.

We need a Glocals group called "I need to be entertained". I`m willing to run it for a fee, a swiss fee.

Talk about making stupid generalizations.....

you're probably one of those annoying expats that come here and feel self entitled because you have a good salary and can't comprehend why despite your salary you're still miserable and the world still does not rotate around you.....

That made me laugh.

thanks but I really dont need your defence man!

LOL - as if I am bothered by other peoples opinions especially foreigners

wow someone actually making suggestions rather than saying the cliched feelgood BS

hhmmmm if you bother to LOOK the person I am quoting, you'll be able to see I am not even talking to you!!!!

BUH BYE!

Oh and BITCHING and WHINNING is not speaking one's mind!!!!

GTFO coward

Oh I get it

I was replying to Keith p's generalization of swiss people being all xenophobic and humorless...... and keith p replied to me with his troll account grant r.... makes sense....

Ok got it..... 

I'd stay and talk to you, but I have better things to do than talking to a multi-account loser.... 27 degrees outside and a beautiful outdoor pool awaits me....BYEEEEE

>>and keith p replied to me with his troll account grant r.... makes sense.

I'm sure it's the same person, just a different photo angle

Anyway, they both hate Swiss people...

Another one of those threads. Kill it!

This just show how much stupid foreign people egals stupid swiss people, but for those complaining about how bad is swzt, please go away we do need free flats (life is about choice either you make it or dont= but stop complaining being a poooor bored victim in rich country)

Have you try shop by internet ? you can go to LeShop.ch, as well now Gucci.ch and Chanel will start soon, in each area on sunday you can find bakery if really you didn't organise yourself to get food.. :)

Oh No. Keep it going. It entertains me when I'm bored  :)))

(and also when I think that all expats are friendly)

I guess we got to relax guys. We all will go back from where we came from..& we all come from the same place. Life is too short (just like this summer!) for disputes. Just enjoy the little time we have here on this planet:-)))

Psst: How many blog hits did ya get? 

Ha! well, since you asked, it was about 3 or 400 views last i checked. This thread is pretty entertaining, though. Most people just want to weigh in,and why not? Some contribute interesting and positive suggestions, activities, web sites, newsletters. All good.

The cranky people are welcome to unsubscribe- it's quite easy. Or pick up an Eckart Tolle CD or yoga mat :-).

Wow, having read this blog it seems to me that I missed so much drama and excitement which is strange as I almost read all the posts.

Also I did not realize yet that being an expat means taking on so many characteristics like being friendly, unbiased, outgoing... 

But I don't want to move on here. Otherwise I risk making it to the blog.

I'll just leave these here before someone boring invokes it. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/legends/godwin/

 The proof that this "thread has gone on too long".

That's brilliant, thanks!

Geneva is the best Country in the world not city :P Guys relax, its internet and its a forum.If someone has an opinion, we read it and if we agree we take it, if we dont we leave it.ffs and the locals here some of you started writing really generic, started involving everyone, even those who enjoy Geneva for one reason or another which is not correct dont you agree?.Myself by seing someone that writes hate speech for this place neither changes my mind or affects me.I personally like it as a place to live and work and i have travelled to several cities...Whoever does not like Geneva should have the wright though to express his/her opinion in a nice manner as the boss said little more above (i did not even bother to read all posts btw, i will fail my glocal exam i know but 140 replies pfff its Rennies fault!!! )

Continue to make war and not love those of you who like:P Peace 

LOL :) So much time and energy for "virtual arguements" looks like Geneva is really boring everyone and they are taking it out in glocals :P

I am coming back to geneva after a year in Mexico city and I am so happy to be back. Love geneva and my home. I dont have to depend on my friends or walking my doggie along the lake to entertain myself. FAMILY is the best thing you can have, you enjoy with them everywhere!!!!

Warm wishes from beautiful Vancouver (Canada)

what if they are all dead ? ... ok bad joke :(

The question is clear Is Geneva Boring? I dont see many answers except Yes or No.

I can just say NO

Not bad joke, just very bad taste and pointless post.

Shaun, you think I posted because i am not concerned ? or i don't care ? that's the opposite, since i have no (more) family i am helping others (teaching french to kids and adults) helping old people (their shopping, walk in the parc) and I have a lots more entertainment than going in nightclub (no jugment here just my pov), and i am busy, what I tried to say (agree the taste of joke might not be great) but being bored when i see so much people in need (yes ! in Geneva, do you know how many kids are left alone because parents drink or drug or don't care...) i can't help being upset, so apologize for this bad joke again, but it's reality for me i didn't want to offense you

You are doing some great stuff, I really appreciate you for that!! May be I didnt explain well. I dont think Geneva or any city is boring. Expat life doesnt suit everyone and the post should change to "Is expat life boring". I have been living an expat life for past ten years and I know how difficult it is to keep moving and make friends. It takes sometime to find good friends and by the time you have a few of them you move to another place. I was in Mexico where people are family minded, they have extended families and they dont really invest their time in expat friends, friends in general are not part of their social life. So its not easy to make friends everywhere in the world where you are not living on a long term. What you do is more than having a family, helping kids and other people in need is very satisfying and I wouldnt miss an opportunity to do the same!