Shifting residence and moving home: relocation--it's not just about moving to a new place, but more about making a fresh start and integrating into the new system to make your house a home.
| Auteur | Sethi, Aradhna |
| Fonction | Relocation |
It wasn't too long back that I shifted to Switzerland to make it my new home. Though fraught with many a challenge--once integrated the move was worth every, effort put in.
The land of the Alps is alluring to many, but not all know of the little issues an 'auslander' or foreigner can face here, and how to go about resolving them. A majority of people seem to undergo four stages. Swiss News takes a closer look.
The Excitement
Making a fresh start in a new place is always exciting. When your boss tells you that you are being transferred to Switzerland, or if your business brings you here, you may go into a momentary trance. The snow white Alps, clean blue rivers, cows with bells tinkling around their robust necks, green meadows with the smell of freshly mowed lawns, a low bustle of work life in towns and an exceptional work-life balance beckon you.
However, there's more to the real move. You wonder about what some call a 'regimented' lifestyle--beautiful but too organized You may be concerned about the housing and schooling arrangements here. Yet, you brush it aside, thinking, "It can't he that difficult. I am a global citizen ..."
Difficult it isn't--but different and trying, it can be.
Real Problems
If you move here from a non-German, French or Italian speaking part of the world--language could very well be your first barrier to integration.
Information and correspondence with regard to looking for a house or a school for the kids; shopping at the local stores (what is 'corn flour' in German?); deciphering the post and bills; comprehending and filling out bank/house/work/phone contracts, knowing the various insurance/car/phone deals and other facilities available to you could pose a big problem.
Although many people today understand and speak the English language, forms and documents are mainly supplied in the national languages of the country. Thinking about hiring a translator? Not a viable idea for, this is not a one-time occurrence.
You drop in at your friendly neighbour's place for a brief introduction and realise you can't Communicate. Conversation in trams and trains is something you suddenly turn a deaf ear to. In addition, there are not too many English channels available on TV, unless, of course, you find the right cable network.
Go around your neighbourhood. See those silver and green containers for your garbage? Yes, you have to sort out your biodegradable and non-biodegradable rubbish. And just buying bin bags is not enough...
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