tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726108441348262210.post842806973056737416..comments2023-10-18T04:08:41.048-04:00Comments on Robin M Anderson: How Adventurous Are You?Robin M Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702955349781701549noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726108441348262210.post-81344288737897648742014-01-27T06:23:13.089-05:002014-01-27T06:23:13.089-05:00Do it! ;) it will if nothing else make your kids w...Do it! ;) it will if nothing else make your kids way more open and better their chances in all kinds of ways. <br />I say that as someone, who has not got kids yet, so bear with me. I have lots of friends with kids though in multinational families, e.g. being serbian, greek, agyptian, eastern european, german, american, what not living in London or Berlin. They all face certain challenges like the kiddos starting to speak later and sometimes being confused, in the long run, they understand different situations and reflect any other being so much better than just being all american, english or german etc in the first place. English may not for all eternity be such a dominating language. And especially in Switzerland out of all European countries you will have to make an effort of learning/ using the language(s;b).<br />As a German, who has lived in Ireland, London as well as Switzerland for quite some time. I have to say, the Swiss are special, they tend to be conservative and very proud, but they back it up in most ways. Once I proved I can "engineer" and therefore am not the secretary in the big Engineering practice, I was treated as an equal and all respect I sometimes miss in a very rough German construction business. Swiss are very classy but in mostly the good sense and not so much the annoying way. Plus you would be in such a pool position for holidays down there (not just the beautiful lakes/ mountains in your fore or backyard but the mediterraineans just around the corner and all the different other European cultures just a hop on a plane away. Dont wait any longer. We keep up great friendships with Eastcoastamericans easily over here and it sounds like you may even have some family of your husband there you can support and ease your transition.xgGardisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13941334774127309241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726108441348262210.post-73006027007064060612014-01-26T17:21:18.957-05:002014-01-26T17:21:18.957-05:00I moved to the UK from the States so we could be c...I moved to the UK from the States so we could be closer to my husband's family, and am so happy we did. It was a bit of culture shock at first, but I really enjoy the better work life balance here, and all the Continental travel. <br /><br />My grandparents were Swiss, as was my father...the impression I have received is that women are In a more traditional role there...they were some of the last to get the vote in the developed world...just saying. Beautiful country, high standard of living, but something to mull over. Maybe an extended visit before the big move?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726108441348262210.post-41740754987096686882014-01-25T20:48:53.670-05:002014-01-25T20:48:53.670-05:00My husband is also Swiss, as is my son, and we liv...My husband is also Swiss, as is my son, and we lived there for 4 years. Make no mistake, it is a wonderful place, but it is very isolating for an American that is used to having everything at her fingertips.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726108441348262210.post-21848653298428643002014-01-24T02:34:08.528-05:002014-01-24T02:34:08.528-05:00Hi - I am afraid I can't write from the perspe...Hi - I am afraid I can't write from the perspective of someone who has moved but from the perspective of someone who has spent a long time thinking about the ramifications of moving! Hah - so typical me.<br /><br />We have the opposite; the possibility of moving to America - San Francisco to be more precise - has come up many times because of my husband's job. When our kids were small I completely baulked at it as I could not imagine being without the support network of my Mum and friends. Now though, they are grown up and I see that actually - brace yourself - we should have done it when they were younger! With Boo especially - nearly 13, we have missed the boat of it being an easy move. We could do it - but it would cause her such heartache. Partly for leaving her friends but also because she worked hard to get into the school she is at, she would feel that we were making her start again. Even with our younger child, 8, it would be a wrench. Whereas when your kids are under 6, they are SO much more pliable and open. I can't tell you how their world shrinks to friends and familiarity when they get on in school. This is good as these friendships will last them a lifetime, as will the friends we have made through their schooling. BUT, it does lessen our chances.<br /><br />So all I would say is - don't hesitate too long. My sister in law did it was two under 5 - moved to Dubai and has never looked back. Now is the time!!! Hmmm - food for thought. As for Switzerland - yes it is LOVELY! Lou xLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13457538074763854583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726108441348262210.post-14693275033685566502014-01-23T21:39:23.107-05:002014-01-23T21:39:23.107-05:00My family lived in Lausanne, Switzerland for two y...My family lived in Lausanne, Switzerland for two years when I was in 5th and 6th grade in the early 80's (my dad taught advanced business management programs for European execs). I probably have a romanticized view of the country, but it always struck me as stylish and orderly and I loved learning French. My sisters and I initially attended a British/American school, but switched after 3 months to a private Swiss school that had an immersion program. <br /><br />My mom was very active in the American Woman's Club, and all her friends were mostly American or English-speaking Europeans. She loved it, although this was 30 years ago. We always thought the Swiss were difficult to get to know, but if you're married to one it might not be so complicated! <br /><br />I now live in NYC (but grew up in and around Boston) and would have loved to live abroad with my own family! I let that dream go a while back, however, since two of my kids were extremely late talkers, so introducing another language wasn't advisable. <br /><br />All I can say is that if your spouse is from the country you're moving to, you've got a real advantage. I have no idea what it's like to live in Switzerland these days, but I loved it when we were there. To this day, my family refers to events in our history as "before Switzerland" or "after Switzerland." Wishing you all the best!<br /><br />SueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726108441348262210.post-54175246726789512622014-01-23T17:08:00.031-05:002014-01-23T17:08:00.031-05:00How exciting!
I relocated my family two years, fr...How exciting!<br /><br />I relocated my family two years, from Australia to Seattle and it has been the best thing. It was one of those fate moments where we told ourselves, even though we were happy in Australia, if we passed up an opportunity like that what else would we do? Just go along in our daily lives doing the same things that we could easily do elsewhere. Opportunities like that don't come up all the time and I personally think you should grab them when you can. <br />What's the worst that happens? You stay a year, decide you hate it, and come home. Nothing lost. :)<br /><br />We moved when we my daughter was 10 months old and I can happily say that making friends in other mothers was so much easier than I expected. I did some research into online mother's groups before we left, and I would strike up conversations in cafes and at parks. It took a few months before I made some real friends, but until then we were so caught up in settling in that I never felt lonely.<br /><br />It's true what they say, about how you gravitate towards other expats. About 60% of my friends here are Australian, and the rest are Americans that are not locals to Seattle. There's something about being able to talk to someone from your own country that is so comforting, I didn't even realise I was craving another Aussie until I met one.<br /><br />Be brave and go for it if the opportunity arises - you'll show your boys what a real adventure is about. Nothing is ever permanent and you can always (and probably will eventually) come home.<br /><br />Oh I should add! A good friend of mine relocated from Australia to Sweden some years ago and she doesn't plan to ever leave - the work/life balance there is fantastic, it is one of the best countries in the world to have children in.<br /><br />Good luck! (and apologies for the uber long post)Christie.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05917887396110860559noreply@blogger.com