Were it not for my husband struggling for several years to find a full-time job in the UK, predominantly London, I would not have relocated to Switzerland and now be known as a ‘trailing spouse’. Not the sexiest of titles I know, but as the saying goes, ‘If the cap fits …’
Switzerland brings prized job security
Following a 20-minute phone conversation, not so much an interview, more a lengthy-getting-to-know-you chat, my husband was offered an eight-month contract in Zürich, Switzerland. At the time I was working in a lettings agency in a role I loved. “It’s only eight months,” he said. “It’s better than nothing,” he said. “It beats Sydney,” he said. Seven years later the job proved to be the best move my husband ever made.
Unbeknownst to me and seven months after that 20-minute chat my lovely husband had applied for a full-time position as one member of the team was moving back to the Netherlands with his young family.
My husband told me when the new job deal was done. Moving seamlessly from a one-year ‘L’ permit to a much prized ‘B’ permit, allowing us to live peacefully in Switzerland for the next five years following years of job uncertainty, was a glorious moment for us both.
Packing up our life and home
In preparation for relocation I handed my notice in at work, and started clearing the home we had lived in for 20 years. Have you ever cleared 20 years of your life in a few months? Take it from one who knows … it’s daunting!
The house was completely renovated for potential tenants. We couldn’t sell it in case we moved back. We could not leave it empty; the neighbours would not have liked us very much. Renting really was the only option. Most of our stuff was donated to charity shops or sold. As for the rest, my darling daughter, also working in Zürich, said: “Oh, don’t get rid of that, I need it.” “What about these?” I asked. “Keep.” “And these?” “Keep.”
My darling son on the other hand, when asked, “Do you want any of these?” answered: “Nope.” “What about these?” “Nope, just get rid of everything.”
Ah, the difference between them!
Less than five months later and the proud renter of two tall storage units at ‘Storage Units RUs’ and a whole garage (my parents’) full of boxes of books, pictures, photos and paperwork, I was finally ready to move.
Grappling with Swiss German
So there I was in the lounge at Gatwick sending a message on Facebook: “New life here I come,” whilst raising a glass of Prosecco: “Yay to me!” Little did I know.
My first several weeks in Switzerland were spent in an intensive German lesson every morning in a classroom trying to learn, well…German. “It’ll help you settle,” my husband said. “It’ll help you understand what is being said around you,” he said. Guffaw! When travelling around on public transport, shopping or just visiting, well, literally anywhere in Switzerland, the first thing to understand is the people don’t chat in German; they speak Swiss German, a language vastly different to German. I am just not even going to try to explain, except to say it is a uniquely beautiful feeling when sitting in a German café in Konstanz and finally understanding the people speaking around you.
My narrow job options: what do I do?
My husband always tells everyone I retired seven years ago. In reality, while I applied for many positions, a) I’m no longer 20-40 years old (the older you are the more expensive you are to the employer) and b) I don’t possess a degree (education rules here). While in the UK I am eminently employable with huge experience in the lettings/property industry, that carries no weight in Switzerland.
Realising my options were limited, and the fact that my husband chanced upon work based on a 20-minute chat, I answered every request I saw on Facebook and ‘ExpatsRUs’ in Zürich for dog-walking or cat-sitting. In Switzerland, animals are not allowed to be alone for longer than a few hours, so having animal care when you are working full-time is important. I took an Aussie Shepherd for several swims in the lake at Chinagarten; was cat sitting one Christmas for two beautiful and playful cats and for another cat who hissed and swiped at me every time I moved. What can I say? It was an adventure, but I was determined not to sit at home all day.
Mixed reviews of Swiss life
Living in Switzerland has been an incredibly fortuitous and eye-opening experience. New Year’s Eve here, especially in Zürich, is like taking a trip back in time. We happened to be living very close to the lake one year, and about 11:55pm we went out to see the fireworks around the lake. Little did we know how dangerous it was going to be. In all honesty, I was transported back to the UK in the 1970s when fireworks were lit with no thought to their explosive quality; the fireworks were literally exploding all around us. I don’t think I have ever moved so fast to leave a park before. I was terrified for my life!
I should tell you all about my experiences of the Swiss rental market and health care system too. I miss the NHS and its freedoms and finding three months’ rent for a deposit in addition to a month’s rent before you can move into an apartment is intense … but they’re another story.
