You can actually take it pretty far verbally , anything goes as long as you don ' t actually touch them . I hear you can even accidentally knock their hat off by the brim if you ' re wagging your finger in their face , though I wouldn ' t test that one . <| sep |> Expat from Atlanta living in Geneva . In my opinion it ' s a character issue . If you are in need of constant stimulation , disingenuous attention , shallow relationships , the trendiest topics , . you may not enjoy it . If on the other hand you appreciate sincerity , an underlying trust , quality , efficiency and are in good company when you ' re alone or with a small group of real friends you will appreciate it . As far racism , since I am black , Switzerland , in my opinion is the least racist country I ' ve lived in . In my experience it ' s pretty much nonexistent . Most visitors project their personal issues on others and make assumptions racist , boring , cold , . before taking a moment to go below the surface . One thing I definitely don ' t miss about America is the fake smiles . The thing I do miss is the shopping and variety in general restaurants , products , . On the flipside I ' ve learned to cook and minimize .