By Olena Krylova
Every Thursday evening, something unexpected happens in Bern. Four teams gather around tables, debate Swiss history, argue over geography, laugh at impossible logic questions and celebrate every correct answer as if they had just won a championship.
The USB Brain Club is not a language course. It is not an ordinary quiz night either. It is a place where learning, curiosity and belonging come together.
Since December 2024, Ukrainians living in Bern and beyond have been meeting here to play—and, almost without noticing, to discover more about the country they now call home.
Each game consists of 36 questions. One round is always dedicated to Switzerland: its history, literature, traditions, inventions, landscapes, famous people and even its favourite dishes. The goal is not to test what participants already know, but to leave everyone knowing a little more than they did when they arrived. If a team cannot find the answer, they learn it before the evening ends.
Today, the club has nearly 40 registered members and four established teams. The competition has become fiercer, the questions more challenging and the discussions more animated. Yet one thing has never changed: every answer is a team effort. Listening, debating and thinking together matter just as much as getting the answer right.
In February, the club celebrated its tenth game. The winning team received a unique trophy created by Ukrainian engineer Mykhailo Mishutin, but the real achievement was something less tangible. After work, university lectures or German classes, dozens of people still chose to spend three more hours together—learning, laughing and building friendships.
The questions are written and hosted by Lily Bauer, whose creativity keeps every game fresh. Together with Ievgen Hnytskyi, who coordinates the club behind the scenes, they have created something much bigger than a weekly quiz.
They have created a community where knowledge becomes confidence, strangers become teammates and Switzerland becomes a little more familiar every Thursday evening.
Think your team could do better?
Come and play with us!
