No one takes naps on campus. Nor, have I yet to catch someone falling asleep in class. There are plethoras of tables and the library is a perfect place to take a nap, but nope. No one. My impression is that people don't have time for them and/or it looks "silly" to take a nap in public.
It’s not typical for Swiss people to study at night or do all nighters. The building where my program is in is dead by 5:00. The library is only open until 9:15. Everyone goes home, and I doubt they study there. They all have trains to catch or do a market run or make dinner for that matter. I can see why the Swiss love schedules... it's because they have to be on one here. Between commuting, studying, grocery shopping... you really don't have time to just take a breath sometimes.
The Swiss students LOVE office supplies. I’ve never seen so many students obsessed with multi-colored post-it notes, highlighters, and cylindrical pencil cases. They’re so organized, but sometimes, to me, it appears that they’re just doing it for the sake of doing it. I mean, do they REALLY need to post-it note EVERY chapter? Just the important stuff, right?
I’ve never noticed so many students type with just one finger, or what I call, bird typing. That’s because I picture a bird swooping down on the keyboard and pecking each key with their beak when I watch these girls type.
Some of these girls come to school because it’s like their own fashion show. It’s crazy to see what these girls wear to uni. However, imo, their sense of style is underwhelming. Again, when I wear something that isn't typical, I get negative, judging stare most of the time. Since when was it frowned upon to express your individuality?
Why don't people wear PJ pants in public? It's a staple item back home and the most comfortable thing a student can wear! Although, the sweatpants style is in, so that could be a thing.
No one has decorated laptops. I look around and 95% of students have the aluminum Macbook Pro or Macbook Air. I bust out with my first generation white one, with my Lego Darth Vader decal, a Futurama one that says, "Alt Shift Kill," and a Harry Potter one that says, "I Solemnly Swear I'm Up To No Good." People stare at my laptop like it's a red-headed stepchild! Excuse me for not conforming! Ha!
If I had to visualize a volume bar when I hear crowds talk, it'd be somewhere below the middle and right above mute. Everyone speaks at the same decibel. Quiet. When I asked Patrick and his friend, they tell me that the Swiss are always worried about their image, so that's why they act like that. Which was probably why my friend and I received peculiar looks when we were laughing out loud and saying stupid things at the train station.
In other words, individualism is something that people here don't strive to have. Everyone comes from the same cookie cutter. Le Sigh. I'm a little disappointed at this statement. A country that is so innovative, I would hope they would burst out of their comfort bubbles and change with the times.