I feel like I’ve been down on Zurich for a while now. It started in the summer, with the ridiculously hot weather (and total lack of air conditioning), and just never quite recovered. I was looking forward to a cold, snowy winter to renew my love of this little country, but instead I’ve been given one of the warmest Decembers in history (but there’s no such thing as global warming).
I’m tired of living in a place where the food sucks and you’re overcharged for it. Where you’re overcharged for everything. I’m tired of our tiny apartment, and our freezer that’s the size of a shoebox. I’m tired of the fact that we would each have to learn not one but two foreign languages to begin to feel at home here. And I’m tired of being a foreigner among such a xenophobic people (seriously, the Swiss make the Germans look like the Ambassadors of Warm Fuzzy Acceptance of Foreigners).
BUT, there are plenty of positives about Switzerland, too. For example, it just legalized civil unions for gay couples (although these couples might run screaming in the other direction when they realize how ridiculously high the tax penalty is on dual-income families here). And have I mentioned how very clean and safe it is?
So for 2007 one of my resolutions is to spend more time reveling in the good things about this country – the extreme natural beauty, the efficient public transportation, the cleanliness and safety. I know we won’t be here forever, so I need to appreciate it while I can!
I’m sorry you get the impression that the Swiss are xenophobic. I am Swiss/English and grew up in the UK. I was never made to feel less than welcome in Switzerland, although I couldn’t speak a scrap of German or even Schwyzer-Dütsch at first. Being here for the long haul, though, I made sure to learn it as quickly as possible. I feel that if you speak high German and have no or little comprehension of Swiss-German, it’s more difficult to feel really at home. So I do sympathise with you over the double language learning issue.
Same as you… 2 years in ZH and definitely not feeling at home…
I hope the ski season will make you feel better soon 🙂
Caroline
I’m not sure I agree with you about the Swiss being xenophobic. Sure there is that guy Blocher and his minions but regular people really aren’t, in my experience. And, I am short, round and yellow so I should notice it more if they were. (On the other hand like some parts of Italy, Austria and Germany I’ve felt the eyes of disapproval for being non-Aryan.)
Also…I hated the lack of air-conditioning for the first couple years, but now I go to other countries that blast it out and feel it’s so unnatural. Other places I haunt a lot, like southern France, don’t go for air conditioning either, and it’s quite hotter there than here. Nowadays I am okay with getting by on the hottest days with the fan. Granted, I live in a rather breezy house with a garden…which makes a difference.
But the next couple months are the most depressing around these parts so…here’s hoping we both get through it without slitting our wrists. 🙂
Maki (damn blogger won’t let me log in, grr)
I hope you enjoy all that’s lovely about Switzerland while you’re still there!
I’m so happy to hear that you guys will be coming over here for a visit. It’s been way too long since I saw you!
Hi Jul,
your post sounds rather frustrated. Maybe it’s what we call ‘winter depression’? I can feel for you very well, because I have difficulties with this kind of winter as well.
Cheer up and try to enjoy your time abroad. Better times are going to come soon…
I am glad to hear that other foreigners have had very positive experiences in Switzerland. It’s not so much my own personal experiences (although I do know several foreigners who have unfortunately been treated badly here) as the recent immigration-related headlines that I had in mind when I wrote this.
Stefan – I think it’s more likely to be depression caused by the lack of winter. As soon as we have some real cold and snow, I’ll be back in love with this country again…
hi jul. i’m in a similar boat. expat in zug, vegetarian, non-schweeeeetzer-dootsch speaker. and i’ve got similar reactions to this country, though i’ve only been here a couple months. a couple things:
1. i found your blog searching for how to say “happy new year” in swiss german, not how to say “peeing on japanese people.” for real, i swear.
2. you’re not alone in the feeling of outsiderness. i’ve written about the same thing on my own blog. i’ve got two kids, though, and i think they contribute to the xenophobia. i think they’re louder than swiss kids. not that i’ve actually seen any swiss kids, but whatever.
3. i have the same resolution — to be more positive about the swiss.
4. i need to go to the frog museum.
5. happy new year from a stranger.
dan at cheeseblogger.wordpress.com
Hi Jul,
I can sympathize with your situation as an american living in england..and with dan’s comment above–my son was born in scotland, but lived the first 4 years of his life in america and even though we’ve been back in England 2 years, he’s very american and I do feel so un-english even though we speak the same language!! My daughter was born this year and I think she will be more english… also our flat is so tiny and we have a shoebox frig! but also have a deep freezer in our living room!! no other place for it..ugh but hoping to move on to bigger & better things this year. It is important to appreciate where you are, as some folks would probably give thier left arm for it!! Happy New Year.
Shuddup about your so-called small apartment.
*rolling eyes*
My sister and I both had horrifying experiences in Swiss / German schools when we lived there, until we ended up going to the international school. Xenophobic? Yes, indeed! It’s difficult not to feel isolated when people just speak German around you as if you’re not even there.
It’s been over 10 years since I left Switzerland, and I miss it now. I like reading your blog because it reminds me of both the good and the bad – and I like to see your photos of things I now remember fondly.
I hear ya! I’ve been feeling the same way lately…
During the latter part of 2006, I was REALLY breaking bad on Switzerland. My friends were accusing me (rightly so) of having “one foot out the door.” However, I’m going to make a real attempt, from now on, to focus on the good things CH has to offer, and not let the daily irritations get to me.
I’m going to be the big, HAPPY Finn in 2007, dammit!