Title: Take off Your Coat and Stay Awhile - The Geneva Expat Life
Description: Planning on expat Geneva living? Then you’re going to have quite a lot to get used to. Moderate temperatures, historical relevance, mountainous backdrops, reflective waters, rich art and culture, extraordinary institutions of enlightenment, and booming business and commerce are just a few of the lifestyle changes you’ll find yourself “enduring.”

Whether your [Geneva expat][1] stint finds you moving from harsh winters or sweltering summers, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the temperate climate you’ll find while living in Geneva. Temperatures rarely drop below freezing and seldom spike above 80 F. In Geneva, chattering teeth and sweat stains are out; comfort is in.

<a href="http://animalhospitalsgeneva.com/" title="Animal Hospital Geneva by GenevaExpat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5537137567_70fcc1a9cd.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="Animal Hospital Geneva" /></a>

With history that runs as deeply into the past as 121 B.C., Geneva’s heritage is evident in its art and celebrated antiquity. The Conservatory of Music, Grand Theatre, and Victoria Hall are just a few of the places one can go to enjoy choral, operatic, and orchestral performances. The Natural History Museum offers a look at all that’s indigenous to Switzerland while a trip from the Rath Museum to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will take spectators from the classic to the cutting edge.  

Only in Geneva will you find a gorgeous assortment of classic architecture, including French, German, Gothic, Roman, Medieval, Neoclassical, and Neo-Baroque styles backdropped by the majestic Alps and Jura Mountains and trimmed by the Rhone River and Lake Geneva. 

If your school age children will accompany you to Geneva, you’ll have your choice of public or private schooling. Expats and residents alike are delighted with Geneva’s selection of notable colleges, including the University of Geneva, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Webster University, the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations, and the International University in Geneva.   

The majority of Geneva’s residents speak French, though German, Italian, and English can also be heard regularly. About one quarter of Geneva’s populace speaks English fluently, while the majority of Geneva expats and tourists do so. Geneva’s bilingual average makes fluent interactions in everyday necessities like healthcare, shopping, [veterinary][2] care, and schooling more comprehensive than in many other European cities. 

Of course, if you’re planning on traveling to Geneva for business, you already know that finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, and other fields are booming. However, what an expat may not realize is that Geneva boasts the shortest city commuter times in the entire world. Additionally, it’s less than two hours’ fly time from all major European cities and is connected to Spain, Germany, Paris, and Milan by train. Isolation is rarely a concern for those living in Geneva.

<a href="http://www.genevaexpat.org" title="Geneva Expat by GenevaExpat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5537128875_fd9e108ef2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Geneva Expat" /></a>

Geneva, Switzerland is about more than cheese, banks, and neutrality. It’s the hub of international relations in Europe and welcomes 40 percent of its population from outside its borders. It offers a Geneva expat the communication, mobility, entertainment, and professional opportunities that make an overseas move the next best thing to a trip home.

Planning on living in Geneva? Then get ready to take off your coat; because as an expat Geneva, you're bound to want to stay awhile.


  [1]: http://www.genevaexpat.org
  [2]: http://animalhospitalsgeneva.com/
Subjects: Geneva expat
Places: Geneva