We are Swiss abroad

Previous Next

Agnès Parodi, France Since 1993 I have always attended the Congress of the Swiss Abroad. Today I am here with my friend Verana, who was a consul in Nice, and Madeleine Soldati, also from Nice. But we did not travel together; I flew to Zurich on my own, and on Monday I will fly back from Basel alone. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Ida Mihelcic, Grosuplje, Slovenia Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Gilberte and Umberto Silvestri, Monaco, since 2005 Monaco is so safe, my wife can go to the theatre at midnight and come home alone - that's no problem. In Geneva, my wife was afraid that would no longer be possible. We really believe that Switzerland has lost its security. In addition, the climate in Monaco is much more pleasant. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Gian Franco Definti, Italy I live in Milan, and I represent the Swiss abroad, because yesterday I was elected to the Council of the Swiss Abroad. I am on the foreign affairs committee, which meets three times a year in Bern. We do everything else with Skype. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Elisabeth Schär, Portugal In Portugal, I'm enjoying retirement after 42 years abroad. I lived for 25 years in Thailand, after seven years in Brazil and two years in Venezuela. During this time I always remained Swiss - with a Swiss husband and Swiss children, who all speak five languages now. I always say my home is where my family is, and right now that is Portugal and Switzerland. Why did I move around so much? My husband worked for Ovomaltine. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Irene Keller-Bachmann, Costa Rica My husband had a job in Costa Rica, which brought us there in 1982. We return to Switzerland once or twice a year. In Switzerland it is simply beautiful. Here I enjoy the culture, while in Costa Rica I am still amazed by the diversity of nature. I work as a primary school teacher at the Humboldt School in San José. Another point: the Swiss club in Costa Rica needs more life! Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Raoul Thoos and Etha Thoos-Struick, Holland We have lived on the coast of the Netherlands for 16 years. When we think of Switzerland, we think of mountains first. From the outside we have the impression that the divide between the left and the right is getting bigger and bigger. The battles are becoming more bitter. What makes Switzerland different from other countries? It has preserved its own identity. Here, Switzerland can be an example for other countries, especially in a globalised world. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Theres Prutsch-Imhof, Austria I live in Graz - love brought me there in 1973. I am here because I am increasingly homesick the longer I am away - for family, home and my hobby, which is shooting. Not even as president of the Swiss Marksman Society in Vienna could I get an exceptional license for my Sturmgewehr 57, a type of assault rifle. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Youth Parliament of the Swiss Abroad, from several countries I am from Canada, I am from Chile, I am from Italy, we two are from Tunisia. We represent the spirit of the young Swiss abroad. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Silvia Schoch, Canada I am the Swiss Abroad delegate for Western Canada. Yesterday I was elected to the Swiss Abroad Council. I am the regional editor of Swissrevue. For this I have my own website, swisswanderlust.ch. The site is intended for Swiss citizens, but contains information about Switzerland. It is a type of travel blog for homesick Swiss. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Ruth Eversdijk, The Netherlands I represent the Swiss abroad of the Netherlands, where 7,500 Swiss live. E-voting is very important to us. Another issue: We are getting rather old. It is not so easy to appeal to the many young Swiss people living in the Netherlands. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Daniela and Jaromir Radecky, Czech Republic My husband is Swiss and we have been coming to the Congress for seven years. Since 2010 we have been living in the Czech Republic. We are pensioners. We live in a small village, and we love the peace. When I think of Switzerland, I think of kindness. All the people here are so friendly. If you compare it with the people in other countries, you feel very welcome here. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Anita Fahrni-Minear, Frauenfeld, Swiss Abroad Council Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Pierino Lardi, Venezuela I am a member of the Swiss Abroad Council and I live in Venezuela. At the moment it is a disaster. Those who are able are going home. I remain. I am a member of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce. We have a mission, we cannot simply leave our members . We have also founded a school, which we cannot leave. We do not abandon a sinking ship. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Elisabeth Rorrison, Wagga Wagga, Australia Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Ralph Steigrad, Netanya, Israel I lived in Australia for 22 years, and have been in Israel for one year. I wanted to be closer to Switzerland. I have a green energy idea and I see opportunities in Israel. I am an active member of a guild in Zurich, the Schwamendingen Guild, and so far I have travelled home every year for that. Switzerland is an example for me. If everyone could work together like we do in Switzerland, that would change a lot. Switzerland's direct democracy system is a healthy model for humanity. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Annette Aerni Mendieta, Bolivia I am a delegate for Bolivia in the Swiss Abroad Council, which is why I am here. I am in Bolivia because of love. If I had known then that it would be 18 years, I might not have gotten onto the plane. Now we have three school-age children, four cats, a house and a garden. Living somewhere else is therefore not an option. When I think of Switzerland, the first image that comes to mind is of Elfenau in Bern. I grew up there. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

Philippe and Lynn Magnenat, Canada I am an OSA representative of East Canada, and the 30,000 Swiss citizens living there. The AHV state pension scheme is a big issue with us, as are banks, social security and a possible return to Switzerland. Most of our members are first generation expats, like me. Lynn and I left in 2002. Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

• Picture 1
• Picture 2
• Picture 3
• Picture 4
• Picture 5
• Picture 6
• Picture 7
• Picture 8
• Picture 9
• Picture 10
• Picture 11
• Picture 12
• Picture 13
• Picture 14
• Picture 15
• Picture 16
• Picture 17
• Picture 18

swissinfo.ch brought along a mobile photo booth to the Swiss Abroad Congress in Basel, allowing journalists to capture portraits of people with very different backgrounds. What connected them all: a great love for their homeland, and honest, diverse perspectives on recent developments in Switzerland.