Swiss perspectives in 10 languages
Login
Life & Aging

Swiss or Tamil? Caught in the middle

Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Sometimes she doesn’t know where she belongs. But then she also feels like this makes her more open-minded. In her quirky, fun and thoughtful video series, we meet Tama’s family and friends – and find out what it’s like to be caught between two worlds. Join the journey! (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

This content was published on
1 minute

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

More

Debate
Hosted by: Samuel Jaberg

How should Switzerland relieve congestion on its motorways?

On November 24, Swiss voters will decide on a government proposal to expand the motorway network. What do you think about this?

Join the discussion
78 Likes
85 Comments
View the discussion

More

Debate
Hosted by: Benjamin von Wyl

What could Switzerland and the United States learn from each other today?

What could the two democracies learn from each other?

Join the discussion
105 Likes
81 Comments
View the discussion

More

Debate
Hosted by: Matthew Allen

How can we avoid AI being monopolised by powerful countries and companies?

AI has the potential to solve many of the world's problems. But the wealthiest countries and tech firms may seek to hoard these benefits.

Join the discussion
14 Likes
11 Comments
View the discussion
More Debates

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

Read more
<Niguela stands behind Tama

More

Congolese do it in sunglasses

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She talks to a comedian about how Congolese Swiss differ from Swiss natives.

Read more: Congolese do it in sunglasses
Tama points at jazzed up car

More

Tama and the car freaks

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week she visits a show organised by Tamils for car freaks.

Read more: Tama and the car freaks
Tama holds her nose

More

When commuters are smelly, loud and rude

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Tama looks at the downsides of commuting here. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: When commuters are smelly, loud and rude
Tama makes Albanian eagle sign

More

Why do ethnic Albanians do the double-headed eagle?

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Sometimes it’s hard for Tama and her friends of different ethnic origins to stay true to family traditions. She asks Arjeta what being an ethnic Albanian means to her. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: Why do ethnic Albanians do the double-headed eagle?
Close-up Tama s face

More

Skin lightening: why do Tamil women do it?

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, she investigates why Tamil women want to look paler. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: Skin lightening: why do Tamil women do it?
Tama dances with Aceko, her friend

More

When your parents hate your career choices

This content was published on Swiss-born Tama Vakeesan has Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Both she and her friend from Cameroon had trouble with their parents and career choices.

Read more: When your parents hate your career choices
Tama, her brother, and the child asylum seekers at a refugee centre take a selfie

More

Re-visiting a refugee centre

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan visits a refugee centre for the first time since she herself was an asylum- seeker. Her Tamil parents fled the war in Sri Lanka.

Read more: Re-visiting a refugee centre
Tama and her mum sit laughing

More

Me and my mum

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to parents from Sri Lanka. She speaks with her mother who explains what it was like to leave her home country.

Read more: Me and my mum
Vlogger stands back to back with friend

More

Under suspicion

This content was published on Tama meets her friend Mondher, who is Swiss with Tunisian roots. He tells how not looking Swiss has got him into trouble.

Read more: Under suspicion
Tama s friend sings into a microphone

More

Let the beat go on!

This content was published on Tama's friend Priya Ragu, a Swiss-born ethnic Tamil, explains how hard it is making her way in the music world without her parents' support.

Read more: Let the beat go on!
Why women are marching in Zurich.

More

Tama and the #Pussyhats

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. In this episode, she takes part in the Zurich Women’s March and finds out why demonstrators are wearing pink “Pussyhats”, and how their four-legged allies are protesting too. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: Tama and the #Pussyhats

More

What our food says about us

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan meets up with her friend Zoe, born in Switzerland to Greek parents, to find out whose mum is the best cook.

Read more: What our food says about us

More

So what if I wear a headscarf?

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan finds out how wearing a headscarf affects the lives of some of her friends. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: So what if I wear a headscarf?

More

My town – ordinary but extraordinary

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She shows us her favourite places in her home town.

Read more: My town – ordinary but extraordinary

More

My big fat Tamil wedding

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Tama and her best friends have a clear vision of their dream man.

Read more: My big fat Tamil wedding

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR