Diccon Bewes “Swiss Watching”: The Swiss are very much a product of their geography. Separated by mountains, the valley communities developed in semi-isolation, as shown by the many distinct dialects and customs still in evidence today. It was a case of local things for local people, helping your neighbours, being wary of foreigners and trying not to be different. Some Swiss, particularly those on the right, see that as a lost ideal; for others it’s an outdated view that belongs in the past. The funny things is, they don’t always realise that today it’s largely true for Switzerland as a whole, though in a much watered-down form. But keeping yourself to yourself, either as an individual or as a community, is very Swiss — and it’s all down to the Swiss being a bunch of coconuts. (…) This doesn’t mean that they are small, brown and hairy, though some might be, but that they make a clear distinction between public and private spheres of their lives. Breaking through a coconut’s outer shell isn’t easy. For the Swiss it’s clear that most people belong in this outer shell, where surnames are used and private details are not shared. The inner part is reserved for closest friends and family. This private sphere often includes the home, which is rarely opened up to strangers, rendering a Swiss home more fortress than castle. All this can make the Swiss seem cold and distant, but what to outsiders appears unfriendly is them actually respecting personal space and taking time to get to know someone.