Hi,

I have been given the opportunity to move to Switzerland for my work. I like the country as I do a lot of business there.

My only worry is that I have heard Swiss people are not very open-minded to other nationalities and races (I do not want to offend anyone so please do not take this wrong). I am European but married to an Indonesian woman, with 2 mixed-race children.

Is any one in a similar situation and could they give me some insight as to how they got accepted in Switzerland (eg neighbours, schools etc).

Does the region make a difference (eg Vaud, Zurich etc)?

Thank you.

In my son's classroom, more than half the kids are 'mixed-raced', and nobody bats an eyelid at it.

When I was at school myself, I've often been the only Swiss child of the class.

We are used to a multicultural life in Switzerland, especially in cities. I would be very surprised if your child encountered the kind of discrimination you fear. At least in Vaud, as I'm speaking about what I know about.

to some extent it's true that the swiss are narrow-minded. but don't worry about your mixed-race children because i myself got accepted into society after a while as a foreigner and made some friends at a very young age. i have to say swiss kids here get well along with foreign children until a certain age. the older they grow the more they distance themselves from the foreigners. and the education system does the same. after 6th grade the children are split up into 3 different groups and it's a decision made by teachers here who think they know best for your children than you do because the state allows them to do so. and i find that discriminating because those in the first group which are about 20% are graded as high achievers and obtain admission to public universities (higher education) after completing their A-Levels and the 2nd & 3rd about 80% are ''forced'' to enroll in a 3 year apprenticeship program combined with courses which is ofcourse lower education. so getting into universities for the 80% can be a life time of struggle as the system makes it nearly impossible for them. unfortunately people blindly accept what they're being offered. as a foreigner i've realized it would've been better if i studied somewhere else than being forced into something against my will. i'm considering going to uni in the states soon. anyway, how old are your children?

you're right. the french speaking part is friendly towards foreigners than the german.

From my experiance, in parts of eastern CH, only if they are white enough to be taken home.

The bigger cities should be ok, but the more rural parts could be a problem.

Not here, only up north.

They aren't forced to do so (at least not here), i.e. it isn't obligatory.

Back to the original question, my wife's kids are half Vietnamese, my step-son's child is half Thai, and I see lots of mix-race kids around, never have known it to be a problem.

Tom

Its not true that the students that do not attend gymnasium are forced into "lower" education, as they have the possiblility to do a vocational matura (Berufsmatur) alongside their apprenticeship, which entitles them to study at an university of applied science (Fachhochschule). This can also be done in an extra year after finishing the apprenticeship, or at any other point in ones professional career. If sombody with a vocational matura wants to study at a full university, he has to do an additonal year (Passarelle). To demand that in Switzerland every studend should be entitled to study at a full university is equal to demand that in the UK everybody should be admitted to Camebridge (or an equivalent university).

I strongly recommend the Op's children join local clubs: football, ice-skating whatever.

This is the face of Switzerland in the 21st Century:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6063/6...21a78f73_b.jpg

My boy is in that picture and he is one of 7 mixed-race kids there.
There's Algeria-Swiss, Portugal-Swiss, Italian-Swiss etc.

They all get on.

Teachers at school? Can be a different story. I either hear very good or very bad stories about how they treat "non-white" (excuse the expression) kids.

Make the move. Don't be worried about the possible negative opinions of people toward 'mixed race' children or adults.

Some people are always going to have something negative to say, but it's not exactly a case of being the first white man with a brown woman, with brown children.

You, your wife and your kids will be absolutely fine here.

honestly the op shouldn't be worrying about his kids receiving bad treatment from teachers and the kids. as already said if the children are young enough they got on really well and the teacher will see to it. they'll be just fine. but what i'd worry about is their education. afterall the teacher is going to decide where the children should go which will probably not fit the parent's concept of education as compared to where they come from where every child is probably entitled to go to university.

I grew up being half-Asian and half-Swiss, and must say,yes sometimes you can Face discrimination but not because you're mixed,"only" because some consider your Kids foreigners. And:as the other postings Said,depends extremely in where you want to live. Avoid rural areas, as People are Not that Open-minded if possierlich.

I work part time Skating Hall ( Wädenswil, ZH ) frequented by kids from 10 up to 18, some with mixed heritage ( it shows on their appearance ). The facility is open to public and on some days, private schools use it to teach kids. All in all, almost 3 thousand kids have passed through this facility since 2009.

I have not seen one untoward incident for the past 3 years, owing to their ethnicity. Kids pick up the language much quicker than us adults, and it helps make it all transparent.

I still smile to myself when seeing zebra couples and families, local teachers with groups of all kinds of kids going on excursions etc. as it reminds me that everyone is treated properly ( all of us are homo sapiens ).

I am not involved in primary school here directly, but I know several parents who have remarked that teachers tend to give a slightly better treatment or attention to kids who stand out.

Meanwhile ... in Germany...

And ,may i add , the swiss people can learn some tolerance doing so

Second that.