About Me
- Kristi
- The Boy, 2 Muttleys and I have finally realized our dream of living 1 mile from the Lindt Chocolate Factory. Leaving Atlanta (the World of Coke) for Zurich (the World of Chocolate) hasn't come without challenges, incredible fun or giggles. Follow along as I chronicle our adventures as we acclimate to this new Swiss lifestyle.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Guest Post: What is the difference between expats and foreigners in Switzerland?
By Chantal Panozzo
A few days ago, I was preparing for a radio interview and one of the questions was “what is the difference between expats and foreigners in Switzerland?” At first, it seemed like a trick question—I mean, aren’t they the same thing? But then I got to thinking about some of the discussions we had a while back on my blog One Big Yodel and on ACC about expat life, which led me to answer the question like this:
An expat is someone who puts their life on hold. They put things off like getting a dog or a house or a piano because they are here temporarily. They also don’t fully commit to the Swiss way of life because they know they won’t be here for an extended period of time. Often, they may act more like tourists than like locals although after awhile, they’ll start to try to fit in. Another sign of an expat in Switzerland? They often don’t know where to call home.
A foreigner, on the other hand, is someone who is committed to being in Switzerland for the long-term and therefore someone the Swiss People's Party fears and for whom they target their poster campaigns towards. A foreigner in Switzerland becomes a part of the culture, whether it’s through a job in a Swiss company that’s not temporary, putting a child in a Swiss school instead of an international one, or renting a real garden plot and planting their own vegetables.
Of course, some expats are also foreigners or sometimes turn into them when they realize they may stay or be here much longer than they thought. I think I am one of those hybrids. Especially since I have to do things these days like hang out at the Swiss unemployment office. You can’t get much more inside the culture than that.
But enough about what I think. What do you think is the difference between expats and foreigners in Switzerland?
Chantal Panozzo is a writer and blogger. Besides keeping her own blog, One Big Yodel, she also blogs for a new expat community blog: www.affordablecallingcards.net. This blog offers affordable calling cards in Switzerland as well as information about living in abroad in Switzerland and many other countries.
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Chantal will be contributing to "From A to Z" on a monthly basis until she just doesn't wanna anymore. She offers up key insights into Expat living with humor and grace. Please give her a warm welcome and definitely check out her blogs!
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6 comments:
Thanks for posting, Kristi. Looking forward to writing for your blog!
I don't know what to call myself now. Though I use it, I don't really like the term "expatriate" because for me it has the connotation of being a former patriot, like I no longer pledge allegiance to my home country. This couldn't be further from the truth, as I now have a greater love for the States after living in Switzerland. Just call me in limbo...
Hmm... I think I am an expat, considering we are leaving soon as well... but I did have a garden! Despite that, I never really fully integrated. It is really hard in Switzerland though - harder than other countries I have lived in. I was happy to be an expat tourist. It is/was all good. ;)
I think it's semantics. I'm not a foreigner, I have a Swiss passport and Swiss citizenship, but I consider myself an expat. Not because I put my life on hold, but because I don't feel Swiss and I don't think I ever will. I like it here (kinda), my husband is Swiss, both my daughters were born here, I speak enough German to get by and know my way around Zurich and the surround area, but it never quite feels like home here.
But then again, home (Italy) doesn't feel like home either :-)
Hi Jessica (thought of you and the garden plot) :)
Elisa, I know what you mean. As an expat, it's hard to know where I feel more at home. That is the curse of becoming an expat I guess.
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