Sounds like a crap weekend mate tbh. Sorry for your troubles, but to be fair a string of bad luck can happen anywhere. I once had the same in Barcelona. I can recommend go to match meet ups with Charlie for example, always a few hitting the club together. I reckon you were victimized as you were alone. Also lets be fair I've been in pubs in London where I have experienced racism towards the irish on match days. There is a myth that Geneva is like Willi wonka happy land where everything is made of chocolate and nobody is bad. This as you can now attest to Is false. Don't give up faith just yet, come hang out with glocals folks. I'll give you a shout next time I'm going for a few down the clubhouse. Chin up karma will come around. 

I would say you were at the wrong place at the wrong time. I mean, you shouldn't generalize, but you should always keep an eye "open".

What you explained about the guys stealing your stuff, well, that's really shitty, but for sure that is the first and last time it will happen to you, because now you will know that you shouldn't trust people in the street, follow them to places you don't know, especially when you are alone.

And the games... welll, that would have been quite surprising if you didn't hear any insults! I mean did you ever see a game where the supporters of the teams didn't insult each other, especially after they had a few drinks?

Just put it behind you and try to enjoy Geneva! There are also nice people out there, you might have just not met them yet! :)

I'm sorry to hear that. I usually never reply on this. Its the first time I hear such a freeky WE. You got it all at once, but didn't win any price, unfortunately! I dont really have any advise there, probably you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Actually it took me years to finally feel comfortable in GVA, so even if  one WE does change your mind on GVA, dont stuck on this. Because, anything that will happen to you can only be better, and afterwards it should stay as the exeption.

I hope you will keep on going out and try with the glocals, at least they are neither racist nor violent, on my experience!

Have a good sunday

Morgane

I know it's irrational, but stories like this one just persuade me further than I'm not missing out on anything by refusing to go out in Geneva.

ps: your profile says you've been here since '09, and yet you don't know anyone?

Sounds bad. It's my first week in GVA and i don't go out at all. And after that i will not love to, Please don't give up and try find some interesting activities not late at night)

Hahahahahahahahahah, I am sorry but if uk is beating the team they are supporting then for real they hate English, no brainier there. That suck u got mugged,tho. And trust me Geneva is actually great.

Paul, i totally agree that in his story it just has some inconsistancies.

If he was going out and got robbed, normally oyu dont have money to still go to the club, as they are still very expensive.

Also in Pickwicks, there are enought engish and english speakers who will put any one in there place if they really were insulting. Infact its normal to piss on the other nations during these kinds of games but at pickwicks, I have been there 100 of times and never experience this same 'extreme' behavior. I think anyone knows that.

Anyway, if all true, you then are both very unlucky and sorry for the bad weekend.

Finally, go out in a group, a glocals activity should be a good.

I think that someone has started this post just to get reactions. As his profile says he has been around since 2009. I seen this over and over that people want to to whine up others, so could be real or just a story.

Finally most important is England 23-13 France, ahahahahahahaha

Apart from my coleagues, I don't anyone here.

You are not missing out, better off indoors 

I didn't want to make the post too long, I was able to keep my wallet so i still had access to my money, thankfully

I wouldn't make up a story.  What would be the point if that, what do i gain?

I can assure you that this happened to me.

I don't know why i posted it on here, a way to vent my anger maybe. I also wanted people to be aware that they should be carefull on the streets

The reason i don't know anyone here is also a long story and one i'm not going to bore you with.

Again i don't see what i would gain from making up a story?

You’re 30 years old, you’ve been here since 2009, you work in UN, and you still don’t know anyone?

You decide to go to a bar without checking how to get there?

So you ask a group of three strangers, in the dark, for directions and then you get mugged?

Later on taxi drivers refuse to take you to Ferney.

And to crown it all on Saturday there’s a bit of rowdiness in the pubs after a rugby match?

Woe indeed is you, but just goes to show what a boring place this Geneva can be.

All the best of British .. .

Yes how many times do i have to say it.  I don't know anyone here, why do you find that so hard to believe?

I knew roughly where the club was but it's well hidden no one would find it without having to ask some one the first time around.

I hope that your not suggesting that i deserved what happened to me?  If you are that just cements my point about people in Geneva.

Well,it's true you had a shitty experience.No wonder you feel so bad about Geneva.

However,as someone said earlier,wrong place ,wrong time.What you experienced could have happened anywhere.

Like.....The Angel,not far from your namesake ,Camden.

I went home to London with my husband and was out (in the daytime!) at The Angel,Islington.I'd been trying to put up a convincing argument for us moving back to London(ho ho).

Suddenly,in a trendy coffee shop,a woman at another table(perfectly normal looking) started shouting at nothing. Then,without any warning,she stood up and threw a bottle across the room,hitting my husband on the shoulder,before storming out .  

Then,about 15 minutes later,we were crossing the street at a big crossing.As we walked with the crowd,an old guy coming towards us deliberately stubbed his cigarette out on my husband's arm.Totally unprovoked.

Some time later,some lowlife teenager on a bus spat on the back of his head.

Had he just arrived in North London,he would probably have told his friends it was a shit hole and he hated it.

You were unlucky - wrong place wrong time.I've never liked Geneva myself as I find it rather soulless.But I don't think it's more unpleasant/aggressive than anywhere else

For all those that do not know this (yet) ...

GENEVA is a violent city with lots of angry agressive people !  It's not the tranquil little sugar coated town people like to think it is...  And it will get worse

And some even find Geneva boring...

I have a number one survival instinct, I never trust anyone till they prove me the opposite, you will never be dissapointed that way.  How cynical of me, well yes I guess so.  

Well thats half my swiss franc worth... a bon entendeur

I have been to Geneva since 1996.  Oh boy I wished Glocals exited back then.  First 2 years I was depressed.  Coming for the 3rd world country I experienced very rude racisim quite often.  I considered myself lucky to be here before getting a job in UN because I agreed with camdenkarl, UN is not the best place to meet friends (that's another long story).  If you moved here and entered the job directly, it is hard unless you depends on the social website.  It could be wrong time worng place but it is only normal you accept people to be like you in weekend spirit to hang out.  Having said that it took me several years to get used to Geneva and accept it. I Just take it as I'm in their world... so, I take it as when I'm in Rome. I do not expect this place to be more fun than it is because compare to 2006 it is prograssing in everyway.  Maybe easier said than done for me as I don't go clubbing anymore. Everything becomes rainbow and butterflies on the payday. :) Just by taking the bus I have lake and the mountain view in the city. Everything is so close in the city or even outside of the city, no need to travel far. etc.. etc.. ect  That is how I appreciate it. But believe me I learnt it in a very very hard way. :)

That was a truly disturbing post. Hope the next time you venture out is less eventful.

Geneva’s a frontier town, always has been.

Plus ça change, plus c’est reste la même chose.

R.

I'm sorry to read about your experience. I've never been mugged but I know from some friends who have that it can affect your self-confidence for quite some time. I wouldn't worry too much about the rugby game; these things happen everywhere. 

This may not apply to you but I just want to share this observation.

Many people here on Glocals arrive here quite shortly after graduation, to start at a new attractive job at the UN, a bank or a multinational.But once the excitement of the new job has left (after 1-2 years) they suddenly feel isolated. By that time their friends from college start forgetting about them (because they also have a new social environment), and especially the evenings become much less eventful than they were in college. 

I've been through this when I moved from from my student accomodation in Amsterdam to a small apartment in The Hague (which isn't even that far). Suddenly there was noone around if I wanted to chat or have a beer, and there were evenings when I literally didn't know what to do. It's especially hard if you're in a foreign country. 

It takes some time to adjust. But here are some tips:

Get comfortable being home alone. Find something to do in the evenings, some kind of hobby. For me it was photography; I used to go out at night to take photos, and had my own darkroom to process b&w film. Now it's cooking and writing. For my wife it is jewelry making. 

Making friends takes more effort. Unfortunately once you're out of college you cannot become friends with someone just because you're in their proximity (e.g. in a classroom or club). Colleagues typically have a family to get to in the evenings.

You only make friends if you share an interest. Great places to meet people are gyms, sports clubs, and evening classes (in any subject). If you like doing something for which you can't find regular group sessions, then you have to rely on the Internet and become more creative to find people with the same interest in Geneva. 

Don't expect results immediately. It takes longer to form friendships, especially if you're just starting the hobby you may not get accepted immediately because you're not that good. So make an effort to learn. Not being able to speak French creates another barrier, and you'll feel like an outsider for the first weeks/months. But stick with it, and gradually you'll become part of the group.

Pick the right hobby. It's a long-term commitment. Do research online if you're not sure. Make sure it has a social component, but make sure you're comfortable doing it by yourself. 

Judging by your post I know that you like clubs, dancing, and watching rugby. Those aren't my interests so I can't really help you along. But you could start by trying to organize watching rugby matches through Glocals, with other Englishmen. Maybe you like soundmixing / DJing (I'm not even sure if that's the right word); it will be a bit tricky to find people with that interest here, but you can always give it a try. 

Anyway, some thoughts.

If the fact of not knowing anyone was of no consequence, you wouldn't mention it, but since you do?  You have the whole glocals community to choose from.

And why opt for a bar that's well-hidden on a dark night in an area you didn't know?  You could have checked the location on on the Net and even telephoned for directions.

I'm certainly not suggesting that you deserve your misfortune, but you do give the impression that you are consciously courting mishaps in order to enlist sympathy for your sorry plight.

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone, so why not give accentuating the positive a whirl for a change?

Best, R.

Sorry about your awful experience. did you report the muggers to the police? Strangely enough everyone talks about how safe Geneva is which I personally think is a myth. Used to be a safer place but population growing as more and more people are moving to Geneva for economical reasons. As the canton  grows it is normal that Geneva is confronted with the usual urban problems that accompany rapid growth such as overcrowding, crime and housing shortages.

I'd like to thank everyone for their thought's and opinions on my post.  I'd like to put this to bed now and start a new week, fresh

Obviously the only thing i should do with this experience is learn from it.

So no more going to dodgy small clubs, tucked away in Geneva's dark corners. If i do go out i will try to organise something with people from glocals.

Next winter i will buy a small car so i can go skiing instead on wasting my money in Geneva town center.

Next time come to Clubhouse... People do shout for thier teams... but its not personal towards anyone in the pub.

Good burgers, live music after the matches (and dancing is encouraged)... 

The worst you can do is lock yourself away....  not a way to solve life.

Skiing is good!

Why not join the International Ski Club of Geneva: www.scig.ch
They do great day trips on Satursdays and Sundays!

Edwards post 19 is a very good summary. There are 415 groups on glocals. There must be something there which interests you. 

I do not agree completely with Edward in that you should choose a hobby in order to socialise. At your age you should already have some interests.

Rena suggestion of the Ski club International is good and you do not need a car either big or small to go skiing.  If mountains not your scene, then there are lake activites.

However if your only interest is dancing on your own in clubs where dancing is not allowed, then I cannot help. Also you picture which is very small seems to suggest you wearing clothing which draws attention to yourself.  Dress down and try to blend in    

@Paul

The reason why I would encourage a hobby is because, as I said, you will be spending time at home by yourself. You can spend that time watching TV, browsing the Internet, or playing a game, but you don't want to do that all the time. Reading is an option, but developing a useful skill (i.e. a hobby) is even better.

But I see your point you don't need a hobby to socialize, as long as you have interests you can share.

Did you mention the burgers?

One day around midnight, last year 2012, my car broke down on the road next to Hotel Intercontinental. I asked the hotel for help. The guy and his supervisor at the reception, came out of the hotel, pushed my car with me to the Hotel's parking, let me keep my car there for a couple of hours, and offered to me a cup of nice hot coffee and chocolate for FREE allowing me to have a seat on a comfy couch in the warm and nice hotel lobby, while I was waiting for TCS to come down to pick up/fix my car. (I was just a stranger passing by the hotel, not staying there.)

I am not Swiss, not white, apparently a foreigner living in Geneva, who speaks French, too. Mutual respect makes things nice. People respectful to others remain or become even more respectul to you (like that guy of the Hotel Interconti) if you keep up with your spirit respectful to other people, giving you wonderful memories of Geneva... Not to forget of course, we all need to be cautious anywhere in the world with any kind of dangers or dangeraous persons/criminals, sure...

Exactly Paul:

And you can join at any time and take a class (from very beginner to Off-Piste level). You don't have to come every week but just subscribe on Thursdays for the coming weekend.

My daughter goes out with SCIG regularly for the off piste skiing and hads finally become a member.  I also know someone who started to learn to ski with them only a couple of years ago and is now doing ski toring.

Should have joined them myself when I first started skiing. Too late now as am self taught and useless

;) Am in the same class - I should know her

Edward what I meant was and did not express myself correctly. You should try to follow a hobby which is related to your interests. If you do, then it is not the end of the world if your social network fails to develop because you are doing something you enjoy.  If we decide on a hobby just to socialise we could all end up joining the womens netball group or something similar

Not sure what her name is will look it up

Not the best weekend ever..I agree...But Repeat after me : Positive mental attitude!!!  Life is what you make it. If you are going to let this "terrible weekend" effect your experiences of Geneva, that is very sad indeed. You have to be careful, anywhere you live. England is far worse, for football and Rugby louts..surely you must be used to this kind of behaviour and have experienced worse?!! Also.. would you even consider trying to befriend 3 random strangers in the street back home in the UK? I think not..

What you experienced was a really awful thing, and i totally understand your anxiety..but don't let these people win and turn you into a hermit. Geneva has a lot to offer, and as i assume you are not here permanently, so you really should make the most of it..

PS..Are you sure you are British?!

Your daughter?

Nothing wrong with socializing with a women's netball group.

not sure what your daughters name is............ ?????????

You were mugged but you wre able to keep your wallet and money? Go figure, even the thieves are polite in Geneva.

Yep.. I mentioned the Burgers.

Disclaimer: you might be jumped on during or after the match and this may result in you breaking your arm and wearing a cast that people sign with abusive comments.

(although that shoujldnt stop you from partying the rest of the night

i would love to forward this story to any movie writer ;)  

Amen.

Strong possibility he's British. After all, our dancing has been known to annoy people...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQXy72PByQU

Well, our friend has now restricted access to his profile, so perhaps that’s a start.

But I hope it’s not because he’s been mugged online.

R. 

Ritchie. I think he has unsubscribed from the thread but it was a weird post which raised many questions. 

"Determined not to let that get me down i went to the club anyway, i told myself, it's a one off let just go and have fun in the club" - I admire, really.

Me also, sometimes I go out alone and sometimes it s not so fun as I d like. It s my second year here and I got used already that my real friends I left in my home country. Impossible to find smb as closed to you as ur friends with whom u grew up or studied together...

But I started for example going to fitness, it s a quite normal place for relaxing and making friends.... or at least tolerant people...

Sorry for you it it s really happened to you....

with all existing clubs in Geneva, why did you choose that one? I mean, you said you live in Ferney and have no car,La graviere is an alternative club in Acacias, totally opposite where you live. It s very hard to find,totally unknown by the expatriate community and mainly attended by teenagers.You cannot pay with credit card there, without money, how did you pay the entrance fee and get in? If you fought hard as you could, I imagine you were in bad look, the guy at entrance were very nice to let you in.... Also, Where you not afraid to meet your burglars again inside?

About Pickwick, on rugby day it is mainly filled by english tough guys, only a suicide man or a group of french hooligan will dare to provoke them with racial insult, I didn t hear from the boss ( who is a friend) that they had a fight recently. I also know the team there, most of the barmaid don t speak french and are from UK, knowing the manager, he won t let this kind of insult allowed in his bar, and when you see his strong arms, I dare you to piss with him...

Finally about taxi, they love to bring people from Geneva to France, just because when you pass the border, the price increases sensibly....

So once again, sorry for you, if all this happened to you, you were definetly in wrong place at wrong time, did you try voodoo to get rid of bad luck?

On a side note, it appears that it is illegal for taxi drivers whose cabs are licensed in Switzerland to pass checkpoints (into France) after 10 p.m. They may do it to be nice if you live really close on the other side, but the fine they can receive if they get caught is huge. I have not checked whether this is true or not, but I had that problem once coming back from Cointrin in the middle of the night. The cab driver was nice enough to drop me off at home, but he really was not happy about it. Of course, he did not mention the "rule" until we were at the border in Perly!