Out and about is a column where we chat to people who currently live abroad, or who used to live and work there, but are back in South Africa. We would love to hear from anyone who wants to share their experiences with us.

This week, we chat to Christine Scholtz, who lives in Switzerland.

Hello, Christine! From where in South Africa are you originally and why did you decide to come live in Switzerland?

My husband and I lived in Centurion before we emigrate. At that stage, he worked for an international company that first sent us to Houston in Texas (we lived there for nine months) and thereafter to Switzerland to establish an office here. Eight years later and we are still here.  

Tell us more about your family.

My husband and I met at university (NWU Pukke) and later got married and settled in Centurion. Hy is a lawyer and I a teacher, although these days I am a housewife. Our son was born in 2015 and four months later we move lock, stock and barrel to America, with Switzerland begin the end destination.

How did you experience the emigration process to Switzerland and what was the one thing that non-one has told you about the emigration process?

The excitement of moving to Switzerland was great. My husband’s company handled most of the arrangements on our behalf; the physical move was therefore less troublesome. Arriving there, however, we realised how much paperwork had to be done before we could really start living – residence permits must be requested and granted immediately; medical aid is compulsory; and although we lived in a temporary flat, we quickly had to find another one. The greatest issue is that there are not many flats available, while you have to ensure you will be living there for a number of years, because your permits (and later your passport) depend on this: you have to live for five consecutive years in the same Gemeinde (English: community) to qualify. In this way, you comply with the principle of integration, which is quite important in Switzerland.

No-one had told me how much I would miss sitting at the playground with my son while chatting to the other mommies – I could not speak German and did not know how aloof the Swiss could be. But living here now and being able to speak German I have come to realise that the Swiss are just shy and will come out of their shell once you get to know them better.

How did your son fit into the new country?

My son is now nine years old, but he was only 13 months old when we arrived in Switzerland. Because he had spent the first few months of his life in Texas, he never knew cold. We arrived in Switzerland in the middle of January, in the middle of winter. It was a great adjustment for him to suddenly have to wear layers of clothing and shoes. But once he became used to it and as the seasons came and went, he started enjoying it a lot. He skis every winter and this is his home. He even thinks and acts like a true Swiss. 

How does the school system differ from that in South Africa?

It works completely different than in South Africa. Here you have two years in kindergarten (of which one is compulsory) followed by six years in primary school. You remain in the same class and only the teacher changes every second year. At the end of your grade 6 year, they determine which other school you will be attending. Children who want to follow the academic route go to Kantonsschule (English: canton school) up to grade 12. At the end you write an exam (the so-called Matura) and follow the university route. If you do not want to follow the academic route, you can complete three years at the Oberstufenschule (English: upper-level school), after which you complete your vocational training. Most children finish their school career at 16. You can also transfer from the Oberstufenschule to the Kantonsschule if you achieve the desired marks within three years.  

How do you maintain the relationship with your family in South Africa?

With the technology we have these days, we have weekly video calls with the grandparents. We have done so since my son was toddler, and he has a fantastic relationship with all the family in South Africa. We are also privileged to spend Christmas in South Africa every year, which means we see the family once a year.  

Do you still speak Afrikaans?

Our home language is Afrikaans and we peak it daily. My son grew up in Afrikaans and although his school language is German, Afrikaans remains his mother language. Hy knows rugby and plays it at a club here. Saturday evenings’ braai and rugby are still tradition in our home. I bought a host of Afrikaans DVDs that my son watched or listened to almost every single day (Lollo’s and Carika Keuzenkamp). We are fond of listening to Afrikaans music on Spotify.

How does the working culture differ from that of South Africa?

I am a housewife, which is completely normal here, as the children return to their homes for lunch. My husband works as a compliance officer for Kuehne & Nagel, a logistics company.

Over here, weekends are considered family time, and hardly anyone works over weekends. Since Covid, home offices have become more popular, and my husband is allowed to work from home once or twice a week. The general principle here is: “Work to live; do not live to work.” Balance is important.  

How do living costs and housing compare to that of South Africa?

Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in. Everything is much more expensive, and everyone is shocked when we tell them what everything costs here. Nothing is cheap, but you get used to it and learns how to buy cleverly and what to save on.

Housing is drastically different:

• There are not many alone-standing houses here; most people live in flats.
• Homes are spacious, but for us, who are used to gardens and space, this was quite an adjustment.    
• Blocks of flats have communal parks where children can play and make a noise.
• There are stricter rules about noise, though: no noise between 22:00 and 07:00, or during afternoon silence (13:00–14:00).
   

What lessons have you learnt?

1. Stop converting everything to rand. If you do that, you will never buy anything or go anywhere.
2. To fit in here, you must learn German.
3. Your community will be small. The Swiss are friendly, but they do not go out of their way to make friends. Most of our friends are also from South Africa or other places in the world.  

Any last thoughts?

Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries to live in. Even though it was a difficult adjustment, we are very happy, and my son grows up in a safe environment. He has been walking to and from school since kindergarten and plays outside without any supervision with his friends from the area. We see and experience so much here – and although missing our family in South Africa does not get easier, we know we have made the right decision. 

Also read: Out and about: An email from France

Write to us

Do you live abroad, or have you recently moved back from abroad? You can also write an Out and about article. Send an email to wereldwyd@afriforum.co.za and we will send you some questions to answer.