Who I am and why I love going off the beaten track in Switzerland
In Appenzell – A place that reminds me of New Zealand
Switzerland, New Zealand and me
My husband and I are New Zealanders, although we have lived in Switzerland’s Zürich canton for over 10 years, along with our two Swiss-born children and two rabbits.
I grew up on a sheep farm in the middle of nowhere. In fact, if you can imagine the middle of nowhere, I was in the middle of that. I started planning my travels to Europe from a young age – the internet wasn’t around back then, so travel brochures, pamphlets and articles were my main source of inspiration.
After doing my “Overseas Experience” in London and travelling around Europe, China and Nepal, we felt like we were ready for a new adventure, and luckily, a job opportunity came around in Switzerland for my husband.
Even with my travel experience, moving to Switzerland was still a bit of a shock – we are now living in a country where the lyrical, and sometimes guttural, Swiss German is a spoken language and many unfamiliar traditions, rules and cultural quirks are a part of life that don’t exist in New Zealand. These challenges will probably always be part of our lives, but we really can’t complain. We are now in the middle of Europe, surrounded by everything I dreamt about as a child.
Similarities and Differences
There are definite similarities between Switzerland and New Zealand, mostly geographical. They both have stunning, dramatic scenery and remote, quiet corners (although I think New Zealand tips the scales on that last one).
However, there are some obvious differences. New Zealand is surrounded by the sea with beaches and wild coastal weather, whereas Switzerland is landlocked with alpine lakes and iconic rivers. New Zealand’s history is very short compared to Switzerland, where the past has been well preserved. It is evident in the historical villages, where you feel as if you have stepped back in time and the many rich traditions and practices that go back hundreds of years, such as the Fasnacht carnival with music, confetti, and fancy dress, the Alpzeit processions that move livestock up and down the mountains, or the Scraffito carvings on houses in Canton Graubünden. The list goes on…
Since I have been here, now over 20 years, I have found Switzerland to be truly refreshing and fascinating, with plenty of awe-inspiring moments. Now I would like to share my discoveries with others, especially people who prefer getting away from the crowds to find the quieter, more remote spots. I will continue to explore (lucky me) and write. I hope I can do Switzerland’s off-the-beaten-track justice.
