Travel and Personal

Off to Zurich

By Dweep Chanana ⋅ April 4, 2006 ⋅  Email this post ⋅ Post a comment

Just arrived in Zurich. The nature of my work means I will be spending the rest of the week here, so I had better get acquainted with this largest of Swiss cities. It is Swiss-German and I will be working in a bank, but I’ve heard a lot of good things too. Still, the prospect of no coffee breaks scares me. And some interesting events indicate what is to come.

On the train, one of my co-passengers tried to be smart - buying a half-price ticket without the accompanying half-price card. When queried, he came up with the brilliant explaination that he had left the card home. The ticket checker however was no slouch. Very politely, but curtly, she got the guy’s name, date of birth, and postal code. Then, as others waited, she called HQ on her cellphone to verify the card details. Just as curtly she told him that his card had expired a year ago and made him buy another half-price ticket. What is wrong here? No penalty for traveling without half a ticket? And who pays for the phone call?

If there was any doubt it was dispelled when I reached work. At the security station to get my entry card activated, I listened to the guard as he told me that I had to do it myself. Then he explained that he would buzz me in, but I would have to activate my card once I got to my desk, by calling the HelpLine. Note that this argument took 10 minutes, while he could have activated my card in 10 seconds. Not that he could not do it, just that he wouldn’t. Because that was not the way it should be.

The way I see it the Swiss (not all mind you) are sticklers for rules, but only if they know you don’t stick to them.