Slavic Cultures and Languages

Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory slowly returns, he soon discovers he must solve the riddle behind a mysterious substance that's causing the sun to die out. As details of the mission unravel, he calls on his scientific training and sheer ingenuity -- but he may not have to do it alone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Hail_Mary_(film) Staring Ryan Gosling

As it is sometimes difficult in Switzerland to practice high german, in 2010 we decided to organize a conversation group that is free to everyone who wants to practice german and socialize. WhatsApp group for easier contact: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KmMkpiQxs291vTPv2RBNm4

A decade. Hundreds of conversations, ideas, and inspirations. And we're celebrating with a meetup that truly delivers. Three exceptional speakers, topics that matter, and plenty of room for what has made this meetup special for 10 years: real people, real conversations, real networking. **The Evening at a Glance** 17:30 Doors open, first drinks, familiar faces and new ones 18:00 Welcome and a brief look back at 10 years of DevOps Meetup Zurich 18:15–18:45 **Claws in the Dark: Bringing DevSecOps to Legacy Hardware with Robotics and Playwright** by Alexander Friesen 18:45–19:15 **Beyond Agile: Structuring Organizations for Real Autonomy** by Lea Düker 19:15–19:25 Short break 19:25–19:55 **From Bottlenecks to Flow: OKRs, Value Stream Management, and Governance Done Right** by Vasileios Konofaos 19:55–20:15 Panel discussion with all three speakers 20:15 Networking, Open Space, snacks, drinks, and anniversary cake 🎂 **Claws in the Dark: Bringing DevSecOps to Legacy Hardware with Robotics and Playwright** What do you do when your software’s "deployment target" is a piece of security hardware embedded in a concrete wall for 20 years? In the world of access control, we don't have the luxury of "move fast and break things"—if the integration fails, the door stays locked. For decades, hardware development at Primion relied on manual bit-shifting, incomplete specifications, and the "read, write, and pray" method. When the pandemic decentralized our R&D department—scattering 60 developers across Europe—the traditional model of physical bench testing collapsed. We couldn't send a lab to everyone’s home, so we brought the developers to the lab through robotics. In this session, we deep-dive into how we bridged the physical-digital divide by building a fully automated hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing farm. We will explore: * The Architecture: How we orchestrate GitLab CI, Azure ephemeral environments, and Playwright to drive physical interactions. * The Hardware Hack: How a 200 CHF robotic claw replaced manual testing, allowing developers to "touch" hardware from anywhere in the world. * The Shift-Left Strategy: Moving from "praying for compatibility" to robust integration testing that catches bit-level errors before they ever hit the factory floor. * Scaling on a Budget: How a single working student scaled our setup to 20+ (and rising) automated test cells. Join us to see how "claws moving in the dark" turned hardware debugging from a nightmare into a breeze, and learn how to apply DevSecOps principles to the most stubborn, physical environments. **Alexander Friesen** Aexander is a **Lead IT Architect** with over a decade of experience in software architecture and technical leadership. He specializes in building and scaling modern ecosystems for major enterprises like **Swisscard** and **Siemens**. DevOps & Platform Engineering Highlights * **Platform Leadership:** Directed technical strategy for Siemens’ IoT flagship "BuildingX" and managed multi-million dollar budgets for large-scale SAFe trains. * **Automation & Compliance:** Expert in **DevSecOps**, achieving ISO27000 compliance through automated CI/CD pipelines and security scanning. * **Efficiency Gains:** Improved software team productivity by **30%** through the implementation of AI Ops and Internal Developer Platforms. * **Cloud Native Stack:** Certified **AWS Architect** with deep expertise in Kubernetes, Terraform, Serverless, and **Data Mesh** architectures. * **Global Teams:** Proven track record of leading cross-functional engineering teams across Switzerland, Germany, the USA, and India. **Beyond Agile: Structuring Organizations for Real Autonomy** Many organizations invest in agile methods, DevOps, and new technologies, and yet the desired impact on collaboration, accountability, and decision-making often fails to materialize. A key lever for change lies in how organizations are structured. This talk provides an introduction to Holacracy as a model for radical self-organization and places it within the broader landscape of organizational development. It explains what defines Holacracy, the principles behind it, and the problems it aims to address. The focus, however, is not solely on the organizational model. The talk also presents concrete tools and practices of self-organization, such as clear role definitions, structured decision-making processes, and transparent governance, that can be applied regardless of the organizational structure in place. **Lea Düker** * Since 2024: IT Project Manager and Scrum Master at digital agency Unic AG * 2021–2024: Project Manager and Deputy Head of IT at the Building Department of the City of Zurich * 2018–2021: Consultant for Process Management at Join GmbH * 2016–2018: Master's degree in Business Management with a specialization in Process Management **From Bottlenecks to Flow: OKRs, Value Stream Management, and Governance Done Right** In our session, we'll be delving into the advanced flow engineering practices we've implemented at KPMG CH for our Cloud Platform. These methods have truly transformed how we deliver outcomes—faster, safer, and with an even greater level of satisfaction. During the session, we'll take a closer look at how we leverage OKRs to align teams and drive strategic goals, and how Value Stream Management helps us optimize workflow and eliminate bottlenecks. Our robust Governance model will also be discussed, highlighting how we maintain compliance without sacrificing agility. Beyond sharing the technical details, we'll reflect on the lessons learned and valuable insights we've gained throughout our journey. Our goal is to provide actionable takeaways that will benefit the DevOps community and inspire organizations seeking to enhance their delivery pipelines and nurture a culture of continuous improvement. **Vasileios Konofaos** Head of Business Services CH Group Digital Vasileios Konofaos is a seasoned technology leader with more than 20 years of experience driving large‑scale software engineering, cloud infrastructure, and digital transformation initiatives. As Director of Business Services CH Group Digital at KPMG Switzerland, he leads high‑impact programs that advance innovation, operational excellence, and AI‑enabled capabilities across the organization. His career spans senior roles in global financial institutions and consulting firms, where he has successfully delivered complex projects in software development, automation, DevOps, and machine learning. Certified in Azure, ITIL, PMP, PRINCE2, and Scrum, Vasileios is recognized for his strategic mindset, strong leadership, and ability to empower teams to achieve exceptional results. He brings deep expertise in systems analysis, project delivery, and process improvement, consistently enabling organizations to scale technology solutions with quality and precision. Many thanks to our **sponsors**: * Catering and Location Sponsor: **KPMG** https://kpmg.com/

Welcome to the Winterthur Badminton Meetup! 🏸👊😉🍻 We’re an international group created for badminton fans in and around Winterthur. Open to Expats and Swiss folks who want to train and socialise with fellow ‘badmintonists’. Or perhaps you’d like to learn the sport and meet new people? Whether doing it for fun or fitness, the idea is to enjoy and have a great (kickass) midweek. And everyone is welcome to join us for a postgame drink or two! See yah! 😊 Important: We ask everyone to respect others who wish to play. That means dropping out if you won’t make it to the game by updating your RSVP. Keep in mind: RSVPs close at 21:00 two days before the event to give others enough time to plan. Anyone on the RSVP list who did not show up at the event is considered a "no-show". No-shows will still have to pay the shared cost of the court and shuttles. We keep track of no-shows and deprioritise them in future games. Please try your best to pay on the same day by Twint or in cash. With Twint, write in the comment the date and your name for reference. Cost will be around 12-20 CHF, depending on the amount of players joining and if we have to rent 1 or 2 courts. Note: If it's your first time joining, please send me a message for more details and to confirm your spot in the game. Otherwise, regular players will be given priority. Cheers, Elias

"Behind the Curtain" is a women’s group built around real conversations and genuine connection. It’s a place where you can show up as yourself, talk about the things that actually matter, and feel truly heard — without pressure and without judgment. We intentionally leave work, small talk and our phones at the door, making space instead for honest stories, thoughtful questions and meaningful connection. To keep the space intimate and make sure everyone has room, spots for each gathering are limited. While each event stands on its own, the hope is that familiar faces will return over time, allowing trust to grow and real friendships to form. Whether you come with something on your heart or simply to hold space for others, you’re welcome here exactly as you are.

Join us, once a month, on a Wednesday afternoon for an easy-paced walk by the lake — a midweek pause to breathe, move, and connect. We’ll meet in front of the Opera House and take a walk along the lake, letting conversation flow as naturally as the path. These walks are about more than slowing down — they’re a way to clear the noise and make space for new perspectives. Sometimes it’s in motion that the mind finds its calm and ideas come into focus. A simple hour to refresh, connect, and perhaps see something familiar in a new light.

We keep it a fun and practical language exchange. First thing you'll notice is we match you with **fluent speakers** in your target language. **Event Flow** **18:45–19:15** → Registration Scan the QR code to tell us your fluent and target languages. **19:15–20:30** → Language Exchange Powered by our **Learn by Flipping** method. **20:30 onwards** → Stay, chat, or head off — totally up to you 😉 **What is "Learn by Flipping"?** **Practical** → You speak with fluent speakers in your target language. **Collaborative** → Every 5 minutes, you switch roles: learner ↔ helper. **Fun** → Small groups, good energy, and a bar atmosphere — without the chaos. Save some time by [Signing up to our web app](https://fliplingoes.com/) beforehand. **Entrance:** 10 CHF (includes a tapa) Please note, event registration closes after 7:15PM

Join the Language Exchange to meet new people, practice your foreign languages and spend a good time together. We will serve free tapas such as Bruschetta, Wedges, Nachos or similar. **How it works**: Choose the country flag sticker of the languages that you speak or want to practice! Seat on the right language table and start your conversation with our conversation topic cards. Average group size: 25 participants **When**: Every Saturday, 20:00 - 22:00 **Where**: 2.Akt Zürich **Price**: 10.- incl. Snacks **Tickets**: https://tinyurl.com/LX-11-04-26 (please buy ticket online) **WhatsApp Group**: https://chat.whatsapp.com/8jkvEUJ5jLp75fYglQFCNJ (join for updates & pics) **After the Language Exchange:** Pub Crawl! For those who want to continue the night, we have a Bar Tour starting from the same place at 10PM. Language Exchange participant get a 10fr discount when buying the combo-ticket online. Your Event Hosts Didem, Sébastien & Katja, Fernando More info: [https://www.pubcrawlzurich.com/languageexchange](https://www.pubcrawlzurich.com/languageexchange) Event pictures? Follow us on [IG](https://www.instagram.com/languageexchangezurich) and [FB](https://www.facebook.com/zurichlanguageexchange)

Join us for an unforgettable night of bar-hopping with some Beer Pong to get started! Get ready to meet new people and have a fantastic time with our Pub Crawl Tour this Saturday. **What to expect**: Watch this short [Youtube video](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VrBFWgXQNhw) to know it all! In a group of expats, locals and tourists, you will experience Zurich's nightlife in a unique way. Tour-guides will take you to 3 different venues and make sure you spend a great night out! **When**: Every Saturday - Meet @ 9pm **Where**: 2.Akt Zürich **Price**: Early-Bird 25.- / 30.- incl. nachos, beer pong, shots, entrance to Club (pls buy ticket online) **Tickets**: https://tinyurl.com/PC-11-04-26 (please buy your tickets online) **WhatsApp Group**:https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dttaz9sydMZ0tSqX2MgVjb (Join for updates & pics) **Before the Pub Crawl**: If you come 1 hour earlier, you can participate to the Language Exchange. We encourage you to join both to have more time getting into the atmosphere and for the ease to meet new people. Looking forward to seeing you all again!! Sébastien, Fernando, Didem More information: [Website](https://www.pubcrawlzurich.com/) Event pictures? Follow us on [IG](https://www.instagram.com/pubcrawlzurich) and [FB](https://www.facebook.com/pubcrawlzurich)

Please contact me if you want to join the class. Добрый день! This class is for learners with a level B1 or higher. We will learn Russian rock songs and do exercises and discussions based on them. We will use the book Russian rock and Russian Grammar. We will meet one time per week. Below is an information about the class. Cost: 2 students 35 chf per hour, 3 or more student 25 chf per hour per person. Class Length: 1 hour Class structure: • We read a text or a chapter from a book, discuss new words. We learn part of grammar and practice using it. • After that we discuss the topic and answer the text follow-up questions. • I also give homework tasks to make sentences with new words or do a grammar exercises. • If we finish the exercises earlier, we play word games or have a free chat. If you have questions send me a message or post it in comments.

Złość to dla wielu z nas trudna emocja. Albo czujemy, że nie potrafimy nad nią zapanować albo boimy się jej. Złość kojarzy się nam z agresją, krzykiem i krzywdzeniem innych ludzi. Ci, którzy się złoszczą uchodzą za nieobliczalnych i nieprzyjaznych. A przecież zdrowo wyrażana złość jest potrzebna! Uwalniamy w ten sposób nagromadzone napięcia, zmniejszamy poziom stresu, a zwiększamy poziom energii życiowej. Metoda Lowena daje nam skuteczne narzędzia do oswajania złości. WARSZTATY O ZŁOŚCI: CZEGO SIĘ SPODZIEWAĆ? **Zrozumiesz** Sprawdzisz, jaką masz dziś relację ze złością. Porozmawiamy o tym, jakie są odcienie złości, jak często złość przykrywa nam smutek i odwrotnie. Zrozumiesz, dlaczego dopuszczanie zdrowej złości jest ważne i potrzebne. **Poćwiczysz** W kameralnej grupie i bezpiecznej przestrzeni nauczymy się podstaw pracy z emocjami w ciele. Aby bezpiecznie wyrażać złość musimy mocno stać na ziemi i zwiększać świadomość ciała. Poprzez praktyki ekspresyjne będziemy pozwalać sobie na wyrażanie złości. **Wyregulujesz** Jednym z celów ćwiczeń bioenergetycznych jest regulacja emocji i poprawa samopoczucia. Dzięki regularnej pracy ze złością możesz zmniejszyć poziom stresu, poprawić jakość snu a nawet wzmocnić pewność siebie i odzyskać ochotę na seks! Warsztaty są otwarte dla wszystkich bez względu na płeć. Możesz potraktować je jako warsztaty rozwojowe lub dodatek do psychoterapii opartej na rozmowie (o ile czujesz się stabilnie). **Przeciwskazania** Warsztaty o złości nie są odpowiednie dla osób, które są bardzo wrażliwe na hałas i krzyk (niektóre osoby głosem wyrażają swoje emocje). Inne przeciwskazania to m.in. ciąża i epilepsja, stany psychotyczne. Jeśli masz silne napady złości połączone z agresywnymi impulsami, lepsza będzie terapia indywidualna. Jeśli masz jakieś poważniejsze dolegliwości, skontaktuj się ze mną aby się upewnić, że te zajęcia będą dla Ciebie OK. Bilety: są bezzwrotne. Jeśli się rozchorujesz i przedstawisz zaświadczenie lekarskie, mogę przepisać Cię na kolejne warsztaty w kolejnych miesiącach. Uwaga: Podana cena 62 CHF nie jest ceną ostateczną, w kasie powinno wyjść ok. 65 CHF. To jedyny sposób, żebym mogła wziąć na siebie koszty obsługi płatności na tym portalu. Liczba zajętych miejsc może nie odzwierciedlać realnej liczby zapisów, gdyż warsztaty są ogłaszane na wielu portalach. Kto pierwszy ten lepszy. W przypadku przekroczenia liczby miejsc otrzymasz zwrot pieniędzy lub zaproponuję dodatkowy termin. Miejsce: przytulne studio niedaleko Triemli. Sala ma ograniczenia dostępu (schodki).

Herzlich willkommen zu unserem wöchentlichen Deutsch-Konversations. Der Fokus liegt auf freiem Sprechen in einer lockeren, freundlichen Atmosphäre, ohne Druck und ohne Unterricht. Das Meetup ist ideal für Lernende ab Niveau B2 bis C2, die ihr Deutsch aktiv anwenden möchten. Die Themen entstehen spontan aus dem Alltag, aus aktuellen Ereignissen oder aus Vorschlägen der Teilnehmenden. Komm vorbei, auch wenn du nur zuhören oder langsam anfangen möchtest! 📢 Hier ist die WhatsApp-Nummer, um in Kontakt zu bleiben: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JoQufaeFR2GBXKdt3nSE2I 🤳 Bitte teile es und folge uns auf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deutsch.sprechen.zurich 📅 Hier ist der Veranstaltungskalender: https://fasthub.wixsite.com/deutsch/treffen 💬 Hier ist der temporäre WhatsApp-Link, falls du kommst und chatten möchtest: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HmHEWIJ16or1qRqXVyvipe

Abonniere meinen [Whatsapp-Kanal](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb72OOCEKyZ9YmR6Xq2u) für regelmässige Tipps rund ums Schweizerdeutsch. **Lust auf Bewegung an der frischen Luft und dabei locker (Schweizerdeutsch) plaudern?** 🚶💬 Dann komm zum Walk and Talk! **So funktioniert’s:** **Wir treffen uns am Treffpunkt Zürich HB und gehen gemeinsam los** **Damit wir uns finden halten wir ein Plüschtier auffällig in der Hand.**** Jede und jeder bringt sich ein – Gesprächsthemen entstehen unterwegs von selbst Im Anschluss können wir, wer Lust hat, noch gemeinsam irgendwo einen Kaffee trinken ☕ **Der Organisator ist nicht zwingend jedes Mal dabei – die Idee ist, dass das Treffen auch selbstorganisiert funktioniert** Hinweise: Bequeme Schuhe & wettergerechte Kleidung Findet bei (fast) jedem Wetter statt Wasser/Getränk nach Bedarf mitnehmen Jede und jeder darf gerne Freunde mitbringen

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Pay attention! We’re delaying a week for those of you who may be on Spring break and/or celebrating the holiday. Ok, no pancakes, but waffles-a-plenty. Join the local UX and Digital Design community for a casual monthly breakfast. Look for us upstairs!

Inspired by our successful events like "Saturday Mornings @ East Market" and other "Pot Luck in the Park" lunches, this gathering promises to be a blend of fun conversations, language exchange, and cultural insights, all while sharing wonderful foods with each other. Please bring a dish to share and anything you would like to drink. We will provide plates, plastic silverware and napkins. So, come hungry and ready to chat! Note: Since the weather is unpredictable in April, we have a couple of places in mind for the Pot Luck. We have reserved a room in the Dublin Library from 1-2:30 PM for the meal, if necessary. \* But if the weather is nice on April 12th, we are planning to meet in Bridge Park, possibly in the covered shelter area at 12:00 Noon. We will update the details closer to the date of the Pot Luck but wanted to get this out to everyone so that you can make plans for that day.

The aim of this group is to get together and practice our German. Doesn’t matter if are a beginner or a native speaker. The goal is to speak and improve our German. Everyone is welcome! If the weather is good, look for us in the Biergarten. Pro Tip: Get there before 6:00 for happy hour pricing.

While some are still meeting online, this is an in person event. Please note that we have attendees of all levels of speaking, including some native speakers. All are welcome! Also, as we meet at the same time and place each week, many don’t RSVP on the app, so we will likely have more attendees than noted here. Note: if you are asked to pay and upgrade the Meetup app, this is not necessary. You can ignore this and still attend our meetings. Find us on our [Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EKw86WJCp/?mibextid=wwXIfr).

This event is 2:30 - 4 pm Sunday. Conversation tends toward intermediate/advanced, but everybody is welcome. If you come and don't see us right away, keep looking. We could be anywhere in the restaurant.