Swiss Work Life

10) The crazy company-wide vacation policies

Every employee is required to take at least one continuous two-week vacation annually.  Three vacation days are gifted simply for moving apartments.  Although I only started in June, I get 13 days of vacation – 3 more than I got for the whole year in my old life. 

Team Basel standing in front of the $300M Frank Gehry building

9) The fake bird nests that house the fake bird noises

Yes it took us about a month to realize that the birds’ nests dotting campus were fake.

8) The genuine approach to work/life balance

Nobody calls or emails you on the weekend.  Campus closes at 8PM - I’ve been kicked out of the building multiple times by the security guard. 

7) The reading and reflection spots

At a minimum, most buildings have an atrium.  Then there’s the bamboo garden, Japanese reflecting pool with rare fish, North American forest, hidden away libraries, rooftop reading nooks, etc. 

Imported Japanese fish

6) The company wine

What company doesn’t own several of their own vineyards?  And yes, their wine is delicious.

5) The suited guards who greet you in the morning

Some mornings I wonder if I’m going to my office or the White House.

4) The lunching/coffee culture with a smorgasbord of international dining options

Should you take your morning cappuccino at the French café or would you rather sip Turkish coffee while sitting on Moroccan rugs?  Lunch brings new decisions – Indian?  Thai?  Tapas?  Sushi?  Italian?  Four different ice cream carts magically appear during lunch.

Clarke has a Moroccan coffee

3) The other ridiculous amenities

Let’s see besides the previously mentioned wine, ice cream carts, & culinary tour of the world, main campus has a dry cleaners, several libraries, grocery store, several physicians, fully stocked pharmacy, and post office.  Did I mention the archeological dig site?  What about the five saunas at the gym?    

One of the reflection spots with an imported bonsai tree

2) The altruistic arm

Novartis continues to do great work eradicating diseases such as malaria

And the #1 reason I love working in Switzerland is …

1)  Novartis Day

I think I may be spoiled for life.

Fête des Ménétríers

Two American, two Indians, & a German went to a Renaissance festival in a little village in France.  Though it sounds like the beginning of a joke, a few Sunday’s ago we rented a car and wound up as probably the only tourists at a local Renaissance festival in Ribeauville, France.  Luckily my lovely German friend Tanja translated everything for the language impaired amongst us.    

Me & Tanja overlooking the parade

The Fête des Ménétríers seemed to involve the entire town.  Men in tunics chased corseted young maidens around cobblestone streets.  The royal sound of trumpets filled the air as the king and queen made their entrance.  Jesters and fire breathers took turns exciting the crowds.   

How does one realize they're a talented fire breather?

Wood carvers peddled their wares.  Women stirred cauldrons of stew over open flames.  A pig was roasted upon a spit.

Just like a southern pig pickin

Later in the day, an endless parade of competing, costumed marching bands commenced.  The bands were interspersed with the villagers and elaborately constructed floats. 

Medieval marching band

We enjoyed the music, food, regional wine, and general ridiculousness of the festival.

Art Basel

From the organizing website, "The world's premier international art show for Modern and contemporary works, Art Basel features nearly 300 leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. More than 2,500 artists, ranging from the great masters of Modern art to the latest generation of emerging stars, are represented in the show's multiple sections. The exhibition includes the highest-quality paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, video and editioned works."

Though I'm not usually a big art person, my friend Julia and I went to check out the show and were dutifully impressed. I loved the variety of the sculptures.  

Best European Work Week Ever

As the title suggests, I recently had my Best Work Week Ever!  Not only did I have the opportunity to go on a company financed trip to Austria to see my classmate Bayan (see previous post) but I also had a breakthrough with my co-workers. 

In my old life, I baked personalized birthday cupcakes for my department, threw baby showers, and had a few lunch time running & happy hour groups.  Middle-aged co-workers invited me to their kids’ birthday parties, tried to set me up with their nephews, and occasionally cried on my shoulder.  After two and a half months of trying to befriend my new co-workers and majorly striking out, I’d grown accustomed to the cordial but distant Swiss work environment.  I’d acquiesced to the fact that my workplace was just that - all work & no play.

Then out of the blue after a brief and sterile discussion on cost accounting:
French co-worker Christine: “Are you going to the futbol game tonight?”
Me: “What futbol game?” (Wondering does she need a ticket, does she think I have extras?)
So I accompanied Christine to the game that evening and had a blast cheering on Novartis.  A few nights later, we went to the spa together.

The next day after a brief and sterile discussion on forecasting:
Swiss co-worker Sasha: “My wife’s birthday is this weekend”.
Me: “Oh that’s nice.  What are you doing to celebrate?” (Hmmm that’s strange, Sasha barely says good morning most days.)
Sasha: “Do you like children?”
Me: “Um yes.” (Wondering, is he going to ask me to babysit? Wow he must be desperate since I didn’t even know he had children even though we’ve sat beside each other for 2.5 months.)
Sasha: “We’re going to have a BBQ, let me give you details”.
So I went to Sasha’s wife’s birthday party BBQ and had a great time eating bratwursts, playing futbol with the kids and charming guests with my appalling command of the German language.   

A few days later:
German co-worker Gayog: “Emily, come look at this.” pointing to his computer screen
Me: “Sure.” (Oh no, there must have been an error in the file I sent Gayog since he normally doesn’t speak to me unless he needs me to do something.)
Gayog: chuckling “Look at this cool car.”
Me: Wow I’ve never seen this guy crack a smile let alone chuckle.  He normally stares at me blankly when I make jokes.

It’s continued this way ever since.  Though the Europeans may be a bit slower to warm up than Americans, when they do warm up its genuine and I’m enjoying reaping the much improved workplace benefits.   

Where's the Factory?

Ah the smell of cow dung & ammonia – last week on a business trip to Kundl, Austria I learned that rural manufacturing is strikingly similar across industries and continents.  Need to locate a rural factory?  Just follow that prognostic smell. 

Another comforting similarity was the friendliness of the locals and their eagerness to make sure all your needs were attended too.  I found the Austrians warm, inviting, amazingly accommodating, and zealous to share their country.  They wanted to walk me to and from the train station, watch my delight at sinking my teeth into the first bite of Mozart chocolate, tell me the best places to try Wiener Schnitzel, and teach me about the traditional style of dress.  

Bayan with Kufstein fortress

I also had the pleasure of getting to catch up with my friend Bayan who lives nearby in Kufstein.  Bayan came to my rescue Sunday night when the only hotel in the village was closed and the factory guard couldn’t find the key that was supposed to have been left for me although that may have been partially due to my limited German and minimal charades ability.  I was beginning to have visions of sleeping in a hay bale or barn.  Thanks Bayan!

Innsbruck

Innsbruck is an hour and a half from the factory by train.  Bayan generously took an afternoon off and we walked all around the old city, visited the town’s cathedral, ate lunch at an outdoor café, and people watched in the main square.

Innsbruck square

One of my favorite events of the day was watching an oversized game of chess in the park.  The two men playing attracted quite a crowd and it was a lively atmosphere.

Chess in the park - the farther gentleman emerged victorious

American business trips will never quite feel the same.