My Story’ shares the experiences of an Indian living in Switzerland. Meet Kirti Sharma who has lived in Switzerland for 4 years.  

Q: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?

A: Well, I am an ‘unbored’ housewife and a proud mother of two.

I came to Switzerland four years ago with my husband and our one-year-old daughter. Three years later, our son was born.

Before that, I was in India and taught at  N.I.T for 3 years. It was truly a learning and joyful experience for me as, the highlight was, that within those 3 years, I collected Rs 4 lacs for an operation for a little girl from a poor household. This child had a hole in her heart and doctors expected her to live only up to 9 years of age. Today, the girl is 12 – and healthy. I think, enabling this has been the biggest achievement of my life.

Q: WHAT DO YOU DO?

A: These days, I spend most of my time in taking care of my kids and cooking new dishes to hone my culinary skills. In addition, I paint, dance and meditate.

Q: WHERE DO YOU LIVE AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE TO SWITZERLAND?

A: Six years ago, my husband and I had visited Switzerland as tourists with a Europe tour. At that time, we simply said, “Wow! We wish we could have a home here” –  and this is how sometimes words turn into reality! Two years later, my husband got a job here and we moved . Since then we are  in Nussbaumen  (Baden).

Q: DO YOU LIKE IT HERE, WHAT DO YOU LOVE AND WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

A: YES.  I like the pleasing nature, delightful Alps, and clean environment of Switzerland. As I am fond of eating, I miss my Indian ‘chaat’ stalls, ‘tikki’, ‘garam jalebi’.

What would I like to change… the fact that though people love nature here,  they seem to be turning artificial in the materialistic race of life. We should love, live and laugh more. We need to dig into our souls and feel the true bliss of life.

In this context,  I have written few words:

” Zindagi kuch udhaar si lagti hai

kahin kuch pukaar si lagti hai,

udhaar  liya hai sab ye roop

nahin lagti apni ye chav ye dhoop,

hassi apni khud hum pehchante nahin

zameer apna ya paraya abhi ye jaante nahin,

guftgu kabhi khud se humne ki nahin

mehkaane to bahot gaye par khud me hi kabhi pee nahin,

khud me khud ko dhunde kaise

tu hi bata hum to na the kabhi aise,

aasman nahi lagta kabhi ye apna

na lage apni ye zameen

humne apne me kabhi pee nahin,

rooh kuch pukaar si rahi

pukaar uski jo ik baar sun lenge

fir na hum kahin rukenge

rukenge na fir kisi aalam me

na kaanto bhari zameen na phoolon ki haandi me

jo hum sun lenge wo pukaar

tabhi chukenge sab udhaar

tabhi chukenge sab udhaar…”

 

Q: HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR NEW SWISS LIFESTYLE?

A: Learning Deutsch and pre-planning things help a lot in adjusting here. It’s important.

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM TO HELP FELLOW EXPATS INTEGRATE?

A: Be simple and manage your time. Yes, time management is the biggest tool by which you can become the Baahubali in ‘der Schweiz’.

Love, live and laugh more!

– Kirti Sharma

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed belong solely to the content provider. Namaste Switzerland does not undertake any financial/reputational/legal/misrepresentational impact or other obligations/ liabilities that may arise from the content.