A Delicious Swiss Office Tradition

Feeling a bit homesick on your birthday? I’ve been there. When I
first moved to Zurich, nobody knew it was my birthday, and I
missed my family and traditions terribly. That was before I
discovered the Geburiznüni. In this episode, I share a Swiss
workplace tradition that will not only ward off homesickness but
help you make new friends. 





Key takeaways:


The Birthday Twist: In Switzerland, the birthday
rule is reversed: you bring in the treats for your colleagues,
not the other way around!





Minimal Effort, Max Effect: You don’t need to
spend hours baking. A bag of Gipfeli (croissants) from the bakery
or a couple of small cakes from Sprüngli is the perfect way to
show you appreciate Swiss culture.





The Magic of Connection: Embracing the
Geburiznüni breaks the ice. Not only will it create space to chat
with colleagues, it can even lead to lifelong friendships.





Phrases to try:


Ich hätte gern 20 Gipfeli und einen Schokoladenkuchen. (I would
like 20 croissants and a chocolate cake.)





Ich würde gern einen Schokoladenkuchen bestellen. (I would like
to pre-order a chocolate cake.)





Ich würde gern etwas abholen. (I would like to pick something up,
please.)





Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! (Happy Birthday!)





Ready to try these out?


I've included all of today's examples, plus my personal
recommendations for the best bakeries in Zurich, in my
ProDeutsch Everyday Guide here.





Work With Me Learn more about my tailored language coaching for
busy professionals at sandra-wood.com





Key Moments:


00:00 Missing home and surviving my first birthday in Switzerland


00:45 What is a Geburiznüni? (And when does it actually happen?)


01:30 What to bring: The Gipfeli vs. Sprüngli cake debate


02:15 How to order your treats like a local in German


03:00 Why you don't always need to say "bitte"


03:30 How a birthday snack led me to a party and a lifelong
friendship


04:45 Heads up, parents: The school Geburiznüni is a thing





Work with me


Learn more about my tailored language coaching for busy
professionals at sandra-wood.com


Share your story


Have you tried a Geburiznüni? I'd love to hear about it! Share
your story by leaving a review wherever you listen to this
podcast or by contacting me at sandra-wood.com


Credits


Produced and hosted by Sandra Wood


Podcast artwork by Beryl Kwok


Post-production by Communicating for Impact


Danke fürs Zuhören und bis bald. Ciao!