Why Move To Switzerland?

I believe my sense of adventure and travel comes from my parents, as they were always planning our next vacation - usually somewhere warm and around lots of water and beautiful vegetation (rivers, lakes, oceans, sometimes mountains and national parks - it really didn't matter.) So Zurich, Switzerland, although never a country I dreamed about visiting much less living in, is reallythe ideal location for me to now live. Residing just up the hill from Lake Zurich, with a fantastic view of the Alps, Lake Zurich, boats of all sizes and the sourounding villages is definitely a dream come true (growing up I just didn't know Zurich would fulfill that dream.)

When I was in middle school and high school different languages and cultures intrigued me the most. I think this interest came from my grandparents speaking German around the grandkids when they didn't want us to know what they were saying. And since my personality is one of always wanting to know what's going on, I really wanted to learn other languages. I chose French in school, but now I get the opportunity to learn German and learn about a culture that I believe is very similar to that of my grandparents (whose parents came to the States from the Bavarian part of Germany.)

It's really been exciting to learn about the Swiss culture and begin to realize why my grandparents did things the way they did them. Just little things, like stocking their fridge with Fanta, and finding Fanta to be so prevalent here in Switzerland. The food tradiditons of the meats and cheeses and baked goods my Grandmother would prepare are coming back to me as I experience the Swiss foods. I don't think my Grandparents ever got to see Bavaria and have these types of experiences, so hopefully my experiences will somehow be shared with them in heaven.

It's been amazing meeting people through the kids new school (Zurich International School; ZIS) and finding out where they are from and where they have lived. In one family the mother is from Moscow, the father is from Tel Aviv and their two sons were born in Houston, TX! Another family is originally from Switzerland, lived 10 years in the USA, 10 years in London and now has returned to Switzerland. Many people from the East Coast have reached out to me just to offer their help, in any way, as they know what's it's like to move to a foreign country trying to figure out how to acheive the day to day tasks. There are so many support organizations through the web, the schools, Mike's work, and in the community. This has somewhat surprised me, even being in a work environment where this is basically what I do - help people adjust/adapt and live better in the midst of cultural differences.

After having been here for just two weeks, I feel very comfortable and contented (but have an even stronger desire to learn German!) Learning the language will help me integrate more with the Swiss, without the language knowledge, the Swiss are very helpful and kind, but I am still a foreigner.