Welcome May 2020, and behold, a new normal!
Most of us are entering May with some trepidation, some hope, some confusion and perhaps some relief. With schools reopening all over Switzerland, shops and businesses set to open in stages, we are still living under a cloud of uncertainty about what the future holds. After spending nearly 2 months in an official lockdown, we hope that you find comfort in this new normal while adhering to Government officiated safety measures. Stay safe, stay healthy!
This month’s issue has a little of everything – from cooking in the quarantine, to spring photo essays, to reflections and reminiscences, insurance, profiles and more.
Gayatri Muthukrishnan interviews Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at World Health Organisation. She talks about her role and work at WHO, life in Switzerland, and dealing with the current situation of COVID-19 and preparedness for the future.
Krithika Natarajan narrates her first-hand experience of travelling back from India to Switzerland on board the repatriation flight to Geneva. It was a phase of limbo and excitement, anxiousness and a whole lot of mixed emotions. But what didn’t leave her side was the feeling of ‘hope’.
Aradhna Sethi interviews Anjali Keshava, the daughter of legendary dancer and founder of Kalari, Dasappa Keshava and Esther Jenny. Anjali, who is following in the footsteps of her parents, talks about her childhood in Switzerland and how she is carrying forward her Indian heritage.
In April, we celebrated the International Dance Day with Sowgandhika Krishnan’s tribute to the legacy of dance, drawing parallels to our unique circumstances and how we can thrive despite them.
We take you on a visual tour of Spring in Switzerland through the lens of two photographers, Basel-based Amruta Iyer and Zurich-based Banu Balaji.
Chetana Parameswar takes us to the seaside to come to terms with a creative stay-at-home summer vacation that looms ahead. She shows us how to weave sea creatures with paper, and create a sense of summer by the beach without leaving our homes.
Vantika Singh shares how her love for cooking, food photography and family time – and the quarantine period – helped her start her food blog on Instagram.
For respite from the current reality, explore mythology with Samvidha Srinath, who reviews Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology – a collection of stories popular in Scandinavian countries. Elegant prose that flows seamlessly, the book is a ‘must-read’ for those who want to be whisked away into the world of mythology.
Insurance columnist Ritesh Sood gives us pointers on how we should optimize our savings and investments, especially during the pandemic.
And while you’re still reading, don’t forget to check out the interesting May quiz presented by Qwizzeria. Try it out! It’s worth the attempt, and there’s a learning in place.
We wish you safe times and interesting reading moments.
Illustration by Sumana Roy Choudhury
Disclaimer: Namaste Switzerland does not undertake any financial, reputational, legal, misrepresentational or other obligation or liability which may arise from the content of this article.
