{"id":91710,"date":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-01-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/candice-winterboer-expat-life-in-bern-switzerland\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:52:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:52:32","slug":"candice-winterboer-expat-life-in-bern-switzerland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/candice-winterboer-expat-life-in-bern-switzerland\/","title":{"rendered":"Snapshots Of An SA Business Owner\u2019s Life In Bern, Switzerland"},"content":{"rendered":"

The amazing thing about living in these digitally advanced and highly mobile times, is that a business owner can base themselves almost anywhere in the world and experience a much wider market by trading in the online space. SA entrepreneur Candice Winterboer is an online marketing expert and presently runs her business Alfalfa Content Generator<\/a> from the Swiss capital of Bern. Is she living the dream, or are there aspects of Cape Town that she misses from a leisure or business perspective, asks Vanessa Rogers.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a one-hour difference between Switzerland and South Africa in the winter, so Candice\u2019s typical working day starts as early as possible to ensure she doesn\u2019t miss too much of what\u2019s going on with her numerous clients back home. \u201cWorking from home is a challenge in the winter,\u201d she says, \u201cbecause there are days when it feels like I never leave the apartment.\u201d Right now, it\u2019s approximately 7 \u00b0C each day \u2013 chilly with light drizzle.<\/p>\n

\"Views<\/p>\n

Cost of living \u2026 gulp!<\/h2>\n

Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in which to live. Besides the 12:1 Rand-Franc exchange rate, items are up to three times pricier there than back in SA. \u201cA coffee that you\u2019d pay R25 for at the Vida would cost R75 over here,\u201d she explains. Because most of Candice\u2019s income is earned in Rands, enjoying a good standard of living can be quite a push; it helps that her Swiss husband, Steve, earns Francs.<\/p>\n

To make living in the Swiss capital more affordable, Candice aims to acquire a few Swiss clients so that she can earn some of the local currency to live off, but this is a slow process. She believes that having a local language would definitely be an advantage, as the Swiss \u201cseem inherently cautious and mistrusting of anything non-Swiss. I\u2019m sure if I spoke German I\u2019d have a foot in the door, however I\u2019ve opted to learn French since my in-laws ONLY speak French, so it was either more business or a connection with the new in-laws \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bern<\/p>\n

Although the official international business language is considered English, in Switzerland business communications take place in German, and sometimes French. \u201cWhile many German-speaking Swiss can speak English well, business is still conducted in German unless you\u2019re based at a big multinational.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meetings with her SA clients take place via Skype from her home office, but meetings with potential Swiss clients \u2013 this is done over lunch: \u201cThe Swiss have their main meal at lunchtime and we have fondue, as one does.\u201d Sometimes Candice will venture out and work from a coffee shop \u2013 her favourite is the local Starbucks because it has a warm, loungy atmosphere. \u201cMost coffee shops don\u2019t actually offer free Wi-Fi to customers \u2013 you have to pay for it \u2013 but it\u2019s an expense worth taking on if you want to be around people and perk yourself up after weeks of grey weather,\u201d Candice explains.<\/p>\n

While the weather might be a downer at times, Candice cites the Internet speed and a lack of power cuts as two of the benefits of living in Europe. \u201cI also feel like I\u2019ve achieved something here because it\u2019s not common for people to have their own business. Entrepreneurship is not encouraged or inbred like it is in SA, so when people hear that I\u2019m running my own enterprise, they\u2019re genuinely interested and impressed, which does wonders for the ego.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n