Swiss Autumn is alive. The colours and tastes of the season are pure magic. From cold foggy mornings to toasty sunny afternoons; from fresh pumpkin soup to warm apple strudel; from cycling along lakes and rivers to hiking mountain trails... there is little to dislike about this spectacular season.
At this time of year, the evening sky seems to be painted in vibrant red, pink and orange with crunchy golden leaves lying like blankets on the ground. The air is crisp, the type that makes you feel really alive when you breathe it in. The smell of wood smoke flows through the forest and the taste of apples, pumpkins and roasted chestnuts are never far away.
Autumn is an excellent time to live and visit Switzerland. Summer is a non-stop, unbearable heatwave for two months and by the end of August I'm already on the look-out for the change in the leaves. Early September sees the arrival of autumn, and in November, winter usually starts its descent upon us; although this year the colourful season has decided to stick around a little longer.
It has been surprisingly warm, but I’m not complaining. My daughter who is in her second kindergarten year, finishes up by midday so afternoons are always spent outdoors, running through fields or cycling the roads with friends, her little brother frantically trying to catch up. On the weekend, bike trails and hiking routes are filled with nature lovers wanting to catch as much autumn sun as possible.
We live in a village with a population of around 2,000 people, just a little bigger than my hometown of Belturbet. But with only a school, a playground, one shop, two restaurants, a bar and a bakery, ten years ago I could never have never pictured myself living in such a small community.
But I have everything I need here; the area is very child-friendly and the kids have a lot of freedom. Plus, if I really need to get of the sticks for a day, Zurich and Luzern can be reached within a half-hour. On a clear autumn day, a trip to Mount Rigi or Pilatus is a nice day out, offering views to Lake Luzern and The Black Forest in South Germany.
Halloween is gradually making its mark here but the national celebration in early November is Räbenliechtli. This is a tradition where children carve and decorate a turnip then parade though the towns and villages using their lit up turnip as a lantern. It’s a bit like carving a pumpkin, just not as scary. The biggest parade is in Richterswil, about 40 minutes from Zurich, where they use 30 tonnes of turnips to bring light to the town.
Now, at the end of the month, Christmas markets are setting up across the country with the smells of cinnamon and mulled wine filling the air.
It is at this time of year that I think most about my time in Switzerland. Like the change that autumn brings, I think too about the transitions I’ve made since moving here eight years ago. How I’ve evolved.
Integration is no walk in the park and building friendships with locals takes time and effort. I believe showing a good attempt to learn and speak the language is key. The Swiss are private people and must trust you alot before they consider you a true friend. Still, friendship here appears to have a bigger meaning and depth to it than in other countries so when you finally seal a friendship you can be fairly sure it’s for life. Over the years, I’ve made some solid friends, who I’m very thankful for.
But there are times when I get apprehensive realising what else integration means. For every bit of me that assimilates into Swiss culture, another little bit of the Irish me slips away. Maybe it’s just inevitable though after so long here.
During the week, I’m so saturated in the Swiss German language that I even feel my English starts to suffer, never mind my use of Irish expressions. They’re lost here. I obviously keep them stored somewhere though, because after a few days on Irish soil, they find their way back to me again.
I love going back to Ireland. The spirit of the people, the copious cups of tea and playful banter is so refreshing and does wonders for my soul. But I also really look forward to returning to Switzerland. Even though the two countries are like day and night, they are each fantastic in their own way, and I feel incredibly lucky to be connected to both.
