TALKING TIME
WE ARE TALKING TO: SUSANNE
WELLE-SIEGLER
Susanne Welle-Siegler has lived 12 years in Romandie (French part of
Switzerland). She originates from Norway and despite better conditions
for single mothers in her home country, she decided to stay in Switzerland
with her two children after divorcing her Swiss husband.
Q: Why did you move to Switzerland?
Susanne: I moved to Switzerland to study Hotel Management, since the
schools here have internationally a very good reputation. The school
I applied to was in taught in German so to improve my language skills
I work as an Au-pair in Zürick for one year before starting at HTF
in Chur (Hotel -und Toursitfach Schule Chur).
During my studies I had to do two internships, and in order to pass the
French exam, I decided to do one in Montreux. Here I met Serge, who I
married two years later. We lived first together in Chur then later in
Interlaken before we decided to move to Norway. After three years we
moved back because my husband was Swiss and we thought Switzerland was
a safe
place for our children to grow up in.
Q: How does the Swiss French part differ from the Swiss German part?
Susanne: The atmosphere is more relaxed in Romandie, the influence from
France is quite strong, as the influence from Germany is quite strong
in the German part. The German part is more efficient than the French
part, but maybe the French part is more flexible and more willing to "bend
the rules". When it comes to work I cannot really tell, since I
only worked a short time in the German part, but here in the French part
women are more or less supposed to stay home with the children, and I
often feel guilty for working.
The school system here is quite pushy
at an early stage. The kids have tests with results given as letters
(not numbers) already at the age of 6 and the kids start school at the
age of 4. It is already real school, but no homework. It is not compulsory,
but highly recommended. By the end of the two first years (4-6), the
children should be able to write, and children who have not been in Kindergarten
will have a lot to catch up on. Otherwise I have the feeling that the
Swiss system is very focused on learning by heart, and less on group
work, critical thinking and problem solving.
Q: Being a newly divorced, full time working mom with two children, how
do you manage your days?
Susanne: I am quite dependent on outside help. I have an au-pair, a maman
de jour and good neighbors. Furthermore I have a job, with a certain amount
of flexibility and the days normally finishes around 17:00.
Q: Why do you choose to stay in Switzerland now that you are no longer
married to a Swiss?
Susanne: I do not want to pull up the kids by the roots, and I feel that
after having lived here for more that 12 years, this is my home. I like
the people, I like the climate and I tried to live in Norway from 1998
- 2000 and found out that I prefer Switzerland.
Q: What do you like the most about Switzerland?
Susanne: Hard to say, but I think it is the mentality. I find they are
more polite than for example Norwegians, more service minded and less
self-centered. There are a lot of "rituals" that I found very
strange in the beginning, but that i like now, and that I miss when I
go home to Norway. Like the way the Swiss greet each other with 3 kisses
or the way you are greeted when you enter a shop or restaurant. I also
like the climate as well as the mix of nationalities. Another thing I
appreciate is the way everything seems to work and be on time.
Q: What do you like less about Switzerland?
Susanne: The fact that you are all by your self, no one will inform you
about your rights, and you have to pay for every service, even though
they are provided by the state or gemeinde. Another thing I do not like
is that Switzerland seems to be one generation behind the rest of Western
Europe, especially when it comes to how they view the woman’s role.
Q: How do you preserve the Norwegian culture and language while you live
in Switzerland?
Susanne: It's not always easy. I talk to the kids in Norwegian, Sébastien
was enrolled in Globalskolen (Internet school for Norwegian) for a year,
but the workload was too much and the motivation was lacking. I try to
buy Norwegian films and read Norwegian books.
Q: What advice on integrating
would you give to foreign newcomers with Children?
Susanne: It's quite hard to get to know Swiss people, most of them already
have a good network of friends. I suggest that you try to find out if
there are any playgroups that you can join. It is important to take initiative;
no one will do it for you. My experience is that it is easier to get to
know other foreigners.
| Susanne Welle-Siegler Born: in Norway Family: mother to Sebastien and Celina Occupation: CHE Programme Leader |
 |
| SHMS, Swiss Hotel Management School | |
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