I have just moved here and am very frustrated with garbage disposal. I know where to recycle plastics, glass, and aluminium but I have tons of junk from moving and have gone through all old clothes, mine and my child's, to donate. I also have cardboard from Christmas stuff. I have tons of garbage bags piled up in my living room because I am scared of getting it wrong. I don't speak any German so the dumpsters confuse me. I can understand the Kompost one. That's pretty easy. Any advice?

Hi and Welcome!

You need to go to your nearest collection point (sammelstelle), here is the list in German (sorry) maybe you recognise the areas?
Zug Online: Sammelstellen

You need "Karton" for cardboard and "Textilien/Schuhe" for cloths and shoes.

YAY! I have been so worried about what to do. I have heard how strict they are with everything. I have already been yelled at by an old swiss man for taking my son's stroller through the wrong entrance at our building. Is it just me or do the swiss stare you down more than most people? Maybe it's just me but I can't be that paranoid.

The Swiss staring thing is well known, it's pretty odd because I find it like somebody invading my personal space, people stare on a train and will not look away even when you stare back at them.

Ignore the old Swiss man, I've thought about similar encounters I had when I moved here and I think that in fact the Swiss are no worse for this kind of moody old b'stard than any other nation it's just that add the confusion of not understanding the language gives it more impact, i.e. you concentrate and they have your full attention by the time you realise what they are saying whereas at home you would immediately write them off as a nutter.

Ha awesome! I got stared down yesterday on the train and from what I read is that I was sitting where she wanted. She was making it pretty obvious with her sighs and everything. I am really trying to hide my american in me. I want to just say "hey lady, do you have a problem?" I just keep thinking... don't give it away!

You can always try the overt "one eye" stare, I have had some success with that.

On the other hand if somebody does have a problem/see something worth staring at they will generally come and tell you.

A few weeks ago a beautiful lady stood in front of me at Uster station and smiled. I had my headphones on so when I didn't respond she waved at me (from a meter away) I removed my headphones and she apologised that she had just spilt coffee down my leg.

Last year another (different) beautiful lady giggled at me then looked away when I met her gaze, on arriving at work I realised I have a massive lump of shaving foam on my ear.

In short, it's pretty much the same as everywhere else when you get used to it.

Well it's good to know that it's not paranoia. I'll have to remember it's not personal. I will just have to avoid the old people and learn the language so I understand when I am being told off.

For the rubbish, go to the Brokenstubli neat the station, apart from the paper man, the rest of the staff are fabulously helpful. He is psychotic. Ignore the stares. I do. We have a lunatic living upstairs from us, she loathes me with a passion and I think would kill my girl with a rusty knife. We are leaving for borders new and it is mainly down to her.

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Fantastic. I love the type of replies I get on this site.

Yes it'll help to learn the lingo here but on the other hand, I do think I was at times blissfully ignorant of what was being said which extended the honeymoon period. Now that I can understand it, I'm increasingly concerned that the locals are just really miserable, young or old...

Welcome, by the way, good to have you here!

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