Over the course of the last ten years, I've come to appreciate more and more how being connected to other people is an absolute necessity for my well-being and enjoyment of life. However, when one moves to a foreign country, it can seem a little daunting at first as to how one goes about finding and making such connections - especially somewhere like Switzerland, which is notorious for the fact that people, generally, do not socialise here with their work colleagues. Rather, the Swiss Germans, at least, are generally known for keeping their social connections limited to those that they grew up with ...
But, of course, not everyone in Zürich or the Swiss-German part of the country is like this ... especially with the onward march of the global and globalised generation, and with the high number of international citizens in this country - either by residence, work or marriage. If you speak to long-term residents of this city, they will tell you that it was not always like this - Zürich has, apparently, undergone a massive shift in its demographics in the last five to ten years.
The fact that so many people, in Zürich at least, now speak English as part of that global connectivity and integration, certainly contributes to a more welcoming feel in the city for overseas nationals. However, while the English language may have become more and more prevalent here, it does not immediately mean that one is going to be able to settle and connect to others in this wonderful city.
I have been living here for almost six months now, and in that time have begun to make and meet some great friends, both Swiss and non-Swiss. The key to that has been to be open, curious, and to take my opportunites to meet others when they have arisen. In this city, many such opportunities exist, whether it is for social events like cooking clubs, for sports societies, or for professional and work-related gatherings. However, in order to be able to enjoy the company of all the wonderful people I met, it first took a little courage on my part to get over my initial shyness, which was compounded by the fact that I was new, that I work in an 'unusual' profession and also that I do not really speak the local language ...
Once I had taken the plunge, and I've found the more times that one takes it the more enjoyable it becomes, I have started to feel comfortable in my individuality and my difference - not least, because I realise more and more how we are all different in our own way ... and so there is no need to be shy or to conform to anyone's expectations in order to fit in, the only real necessity seems to be oneself.
As I am more and more true to that, I am finding more and more people who are like-minded and like-hearted ... I wish you all the same joyous discoveries and experiences, which will for sure happen if one courageously takes that initial leap.
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