A TALE OF 2 ORDERLY NATIONS - Part 2

🌿 Obsession with Botanical Beauty

Swiss and Japanese homeowners treat gardens like tiny works of art, but the expectations come with different levels of pressure.

• Japanese gardens strive for zen-like tranquility, featuring rock arrangements, koi ponds, and perfectly raked gravel that looks too flawless to be accidental. But of course, these serene wonders require space, and that is a rare commodity in metropolitan areas – so unless you’re secretly a billionaire, good luck fitting a garden between your front door and your neighbour’s fence.

• Swiss gardens, meanwhile, are meticulously manicured, featuring surgical precision in flower placement and lawns so neat they could pass a military inspection. And don’t even think about skipping your floral displays – because if your balcony isn’t bursting with flowers, expect a politely passive-aggressive letter from your neighbours, encouraging you to "contribute to the community’s aesthetic standards."

🏔 Nature Worship

• In Switzerland, hiking isn't just a pastime – it's a national duty. Swiss people treat the Alps like a beloved grandparent they must visit regularly, stomping up mountains as if they have been summoned, enjoying breathtaking landscapes while greeting every single fellow hiker with an enthusiastic "Grüezi". It's etiquette but just as exhausting as the hike itself. And if you fail to acknowledge a fellow hiker, expect silent judgement so intense it could trigger an avalanche.

• Meanwhile, in Japan, nature is elevated to poetry. The fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms sparks nationwide existential reflection, as people gaze at the delicate petals and whisper profound thoughts about the impermanence of life. A single autumn leaf drifting to the ground? That calls for at least a couple of haiku. But don't be fooled – Japan also loves an organised trek. Mt. Fuji, once a sacred pilgrimage, now comes with an online booking system to regulate the sheer number of climbers. Word of advice: Take your litter home with you. Littering on nature's grand masterpiece is not tolerated.

So, while Switzerland treats hiking like a high-altitude social event, Japan turns a simple walk into either deep existential contemplation or logistical wizardry. Either way, both nations prove that mountains aren’t just there to look at – they’re there to be conquered, meditated upon, and, of course, properly scheduled.

🚦 Social Etiquette: Silent Judgement, Maximum Impact

Both Switzerland and Japan maintain social order with the precision of a Swiss watch and the quiet intensity of a Japanese tea ceremony. However, the ways in which they enforce these unwritten rules differ slightly:

• Switzerland: Dare to cross the street before the pedestrian light turns green, and you will immediately feel the heat of "the Swiss silent jury". Nobody will say a word, but their disappointment will radiate toward you like Wi-Fi signals. It's less about safety and more about social discipline – because if you can't wait an extra five seconds, what does that say about your patience? About your character? About Swiss society itself? It's an existential crisis disguised as a traffic rule.

• Japan: Stand on the wrong side of an escalator in a busy city? Congratulations, you've just committed a cultural felony. Expect impeccably polite but devastatingly disappointed stares – like you've single-handedly disrupted the ancient harmony of society. But don't assume you've cracked the code just by understanding one city's escalator logic. In Osaka, the correct side is right. In Tokyo, it's left. Mess this up in the wrong city, and you'll create a ripple of confusion so profound that tourists and locals alike will question reality itself. Meanwhile, if you decide to ride your bicycle against traffic like a rebel with a basket, no one bats an eye.

💼 Customer Service: Excessive Warmth vs. Efficient Detachment

• Customer service in Japan feels like being welcomed into a sacred temple – bows, formal greetings, and a deep, unwavering commitment to ensuring your happiness (whether you asked for it or not). If something goes wrong, expect multiple rounds of apologies, possibly a follow-up apology via email, and an entire ritual dedicated to making sure you never experience mild inconvenience again.

• Meanwhile, in Switzerland, service is efficient, precise, and straight to the point – you get what you need quickly, without unnecessary pleasantries. It’s not unfriendly, just highly professional, like Swiss timepieces: flawless, but emotionally distant. If there’s an issue, they will fix it – calmly, practically, without fanfare – but you certainly won’t receive a nationwide apology for a slightly lukewarm coffee.

Japan’s customer service philosophy: "Your happiness is our mission."

Switzerland’s customer service philosophy: "Efficiency is happiness."  

Two countries, one common rule: Precision mandatory, chaos not allowed.