[Voices of Japanese Parents Abroad_Switzerland Vol.1] A Multicultural Society: Embracing Differences and Living Together

We spoke to Ai (not her real name), who is raising four children in Switzerland, about her experiences raising children there. (This is the first of a six-part series.)

"Living in diversity " is a daily routine

--You've been living in Switzerland for a long time. Tell us about your life now.

Yes, I've been living in Switzerland for 14 years now. I'm raising four children here, and living amid diversity is truly a part of everyday life here. In

the area where we live, people of various nationalities and cultural backgrounds mingle naturally. My family is a perfect example of this. My husband is Swiss but also holds American citizenship, and my brother-in-law is married to a Brazilian and my brother-in-law to a French woman. Our cousins' skin colors and languages ​​vary, so it's like "one family has a whole world."

We currently live in a complex of more than 10 buildings. My brother-in-law's family and parents-in-law also live on the same property, so we form a kind of "extended family community." Cousins ​​play together well, and grandmother is close enough for a quick visit. It's truly an ideal environment for raising children. The

overall atmosphere in Switzerland is also very tolerant. For example, if a child is making noise in a supermarket, an elderly person will kindly say, "It's okay." There is a culture of tolerance and warmth towards children even in public places.

*The photo above is for illustrative purposes only.

"Rather than looking for commonalities, it's important to get used to our differences"

You seem to live in a wonderful environment. Has your way of thinking changed while "living in a diverse environment"?

Switzerland has always been a country with a large immigrant population. It has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. In urban areas, the languages ​​you hear and the faces you see are truly international. You rarely have to think about the nationality of your neighbors. This culture is deeply rooted, and it's very comfortable. Living in

this country, I've come to believe that it's more important to get used to differences than to seek common ground. It's a sense that differences are natural. That was a huge learning experience for me.

In Japan, we're expected to harmonize with those around us and "read the mood," but in Switzerland, children are taught that it's okay to be different and to have different opinions. Seeing this, I find it reassuring and a little envious.

At the same time, I think the conservative Swiss national character remains strong.

Swiss cityscape (provided by Ai-san)

There are obligations that must be observed in order to be a part of the local community

-What do you think is conservative about Switzerland?

While accepting differences from others, I think that as someone living in Switzerland, there is a strong expectation that you make an effort to integrate into Swiss society. For example, you must separate your trash and not make loud noises after 10pm. There are many immigrants, but not everything can be dismissed under the word "diversity" - there are obligations that must be observed in order to become a part of the local community.

The school consistently sends the message that "everyone should be respected no matter what country they come from."

--I see. That may be the secret to building a stable society while accepting so many immigrants. Are there any conflicts or challenges unique to a multicultural society?

Of course there are. For example, in families from the former Yugoslavia, the history of conflict between the parents' generation may influence them, leading to things like, "You can't play with children from this country."

However, schools are very sensitive to the reproduction of such discrimination and constantly send out the message that "everyone should be respected, regardless of their nationality."

Perhaps thanks to this, discrimination based on nationality or other factors is rare in urban areas. As a neutral country, Switzerland places great importance on neutrality, so I think it is very sensitive to domestic conflicts caused by immigrants and is working to prevent such things from happening. For example, newspapers do not display the nationality of criminal perpetrators.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there seemed to be severe discrimination against Asians in other European countries, but at least in my circle, I never experienced any of that.

I think Swiss society strikes a delicate balance between tolerance, neutrality, and discipline.

[Overseas Child Rearing Column_Switzerland]
Vol.1 A cosmopolitan society - accepting differences and living together
Vol.2 Experiences of pregnancy and childbirth - "Postpartum at home" supported by rational and warm care
Vol.3 Education that fosters "independence," "self-assertion," and "creativity"
Vol.4 Daily life in a "multicultural" and "natural" world
Vol.5 Firmly deciding "family rules"
Vol.6 Rethinking “Work” in Everyday Life

Family Dialogue・Column