New Home: Switzerland

The country you were born is an important piece on whom you become as an adult, but sometimes the circumstances will lead you to another path. So, what happens when you grew old in a country and all of a sudden you leave the place you called home for 39 years and start a new life in Switzerland?

Rosario de Araya is a woman who married a Colombian man, Jorge Araya, and has been living in Switzerland for twelve years. This brave and warm woman has experienced many changes in her life including weather, a foreign language and relationships. While her lifestyle in Guatemala consisted in a full time work, Switzerland has given Rosario the opportunity to enjoy other things in life such as parenthood.

After a year, Rosario finally got used to this new part of the world. The difficulties had not only affected her, but the way she has raised her daughter. One of the most relevant differences is that for Rosario it was very difficult to get used to a new language, while Laura, Rosario´s daughter, grew up learning Spanish, English, French and German. This barrier has also prevented Rosario from participating in her daughter's school activities. But not everything is blue, Rosario highlights the good education in Switzerland and encourages her daughter to do her best in school. Laura has plans to stay there and study at the University of Fribourg.

For Rosario and her family, Switzerland is great place to live. She also emphasize that the public transport, the safety system and public politics are high quality services.

Even if Rosario misses Guatemala, it would be really hard to come back to and face the insecurity and other deficient systems. Since there is a huge distance between Switzerland and Guatemala, Rosario has not traveled for six years. But her daughter would still enjoy coming back to Guatemala and meeting their family once again.

Home is not about a country or certain habits. Home is where family is, where you enjoy your life and you can build a future. For this international family Switzerland is a new place to call home.