Expat communities

When I was in graduate school, I knew some Chinese students who came to study music yet never learned English and only associated with each other. It just seemed lazy, especially since my roommate was from Hong Kong and was one of the most open, constantly learning people I've ever met (one of my favorite things she ever said was early in her time in the U.S.--"I'm hungry, Sarah...hungry of dictionary!").

That said, now I totally sympathize with those students! It's hard to move to a new country. It's harder when the new country speaks a different language and you're constantly being flooded with text and noise that the brain does not compute. What's even harder is having others with whom you can insulate yourself from the wash of new language, because then you'll never learn it. I do kind of believe if you're not forced to speak the new language, or at least have many daily opportunities to speak it and speak it conversationally, you won't. I study Alexander Technique with a British man who knows even less German than I do. My boyfriend studies at a music school where there are so many nationalities represented (Portuguese, Spanish, German, American, English, Slovenian, etc.) that it's usually easier to speak English. Thus, we use German in the grocery store and the post office and in restaurants and to get cheap hair cuts, but that's about it (and that's more than many expats do).

I don't have much advice about how to remedy this. I'm not actually sure that in Switzerland it even needs to be remedied. Basel especially is so international, it's easy to live here and know few or no native Swiss people. There is a vibrant expat community. But for it to feel like home, you do have to make an effort--you'd do well to learn enough of the new language to get around town without having to switch into English. But I will also say that you shouldn't feel bad for associating with other people who speak English. It's actually vital for sanity! And it may actually make life a whole lot easier to go out of your way to make those expat connections. For me, expats (and indeed expats specifically through Unitarian Universalists of Basel) are responsible for every lead on jobs I've gotten since I've lived here.

Many expat parents want their child to have an English-speaking babysitter, or they just don't know many native Swiss people. The going rate, so I'm told, is CHF 20/hour, but you could probably get away with charging even more. People who make nannying their livelihood, I've heard, make up to CHF 60/hour. Families who are here because of work likely can afford it and are willing to pay for quality childcare. I've also heard of nonprofessionals charging CHF 45/half hour for children's piano lessons. I used to charge $30/hour in Bowling Green, OH.

It's easy to get stuck only talking to and working for other English speakers, which can be disappointing. But at the same time, foreigners are often some of the most interesting, stimulating, adventuresome people you'll meet abroad. Natives are great, too, and help you learn about the culture like you never could from travel books. But people who live somewhere for a reason that's important enough to uproot their lives usually have fascinating stories to tell.

James Joyce was an expat, after all.