In the US, "Swiss cheese" is a mild alpine cheese with holes in it. (Science only recently found out WHY it has holes.) 

But this kind of cheese is made in the US and Canada, and it resembles only one kind of cheese made in Switzerland, namely Emmental cheese. 

In reality, Switzerland has a breathtaking variety of cheeses -- which makes sense, given that the country draws heavily from German, French and Italian food cultures and also has its own distinct food culture. 

Amira and I visited a wonderful "cheese humidor" in Zurich, and it was cheese heaven. 

This is why you have to travel. For the cheese. - Mike