Question for Chris68

Nil d · Guru

Question for Chris68

Chris68 · Veteran Member

Nil d wrote:

I notce that some of the Swiss players have French names (e.g. Vauclair), and some sound German (Blindenberger). Am I correct that Switzerland has two "parts", one French and one German? There is no "Swiss" language, is there? I am a 100% French-Canadian, but there is some belief among geneologists that my ancestry is actually Swiss. My last name is d'Entremont, which literally means "from between the mountains" and I know there is a "Val d'Entremont" in Switzerland. Could you give me a quick geography/sociology lesson on your country, please? Nil d

In Switzerland, there are 4 official languages ... German (60%), French (30%), Italian (9.9%) and Romanic (0.1%), however the German spoken is a dialect. The two most important languages are German and French. In school we have to learn one national language apart from our mother tongue, so I chose French (I'm from the German speaking part). Important cities in Switzerland are Zürich, Bern, Basel, Genève, Lausanne or Lugano. I live in a small village (1000 inhabitants) about 20km from Zurich, and 10km from Zurich airport, and only 15km from the German border. Are you from Montréal?

Nil d · Guru

Chris68 wrote:

Nil d wrote: I notce that some of the Swiss players have French names (e.g. Vauclair), and some sound German (Blindenberger). Am I correct that Switzerland has two "parts", one French and one German? There is no "Swiss" language, is there? I am a 100% French-Canadian, but there is some belief among geneologists that my ancestry is actually Swiss. My last name is d'Entremont, which literally means "from between the mountains" and I know there is a "Val d'Entremont" in Switzerland. Could you give me a quick geography/sociology lesson on your country, please? Nil d In Switzerland, there are 4 official languages ... German (60%), French (30%), Italian (9.9%) and Romanic (0.1%), however the German spoken is a dialect. The two most important languages are German and French. In school we have to learn one national language apart from our mother tongue, so I chose French (I'm from the German speaking part). Important cities in Switzerland are Zürich, Bern, Basel, Genève, Lausanne or Lugano. I live in a small village (1000 inhabitants) about 20km from Zurich, and 10km from Zurich airport, and only 15km from the German border. Are you from Montréal?

Thanks, Chris.

I'm born and raised in Nova Scotia; one of the small number of French-Canadians not from the province of Quebec - a so-called Acadian (Figaro is one also). I spent about three hours in Bern once, in 1986, on a stopover from Innsbruck, Austria to Barcelona on a Eurail train. Switzerland was beautiful, but unfortunately most of what I saw was from the window of the train.

Chris68 · Veteran Member

Unfortunately I have never been to Nova Scotia. Each time I go to Canada I (of course) go to Montréal to watch the Habs playing. Apart of that I went to Ottawa, TO, Calgary and Vancouver. I would like to go once to Halifax (Peggy's Cove, to watch the sight of the sadest accident in Swiss Aviation history). It's cold there in winter, isn't it?

Nil d · Guru

Chris68 wrote:

Unfortunately I have never been to Nova Scotia. Each time I go to Canada I (of course) go to Montréal to watch the Habs playing. Apart of that I went to Ottawa, TO, Calgary and Vancouver. I would like to go once to Halifax (Peggy's Cove, to watch the sight of the sadest accident in Swiss Aviation history). It's cold there in winter, isn't it?

It's sure cold today! About -31 with the wind chill. I put the dog out and he was peeing icicles!

I live about 30 minutes from Peggy's Cove; a lovely area, and very close to the place where Swissair Flight 111 went down......................

Chris68 · Veteran Member

wow, that's coooooold indeed!!! Next year on my annual NHL trip, I probably will make a side trip to Halifax. Enjoy the Olympics ( you can be sure I do)!!!