HI

This is my first post on here but have been reading the threads for a few months now as my hubby has been offered a job in Luzern and he wants us to relocate to Luzern with our 4 year old daughter. I've found this site a wealth of information and invaluable to me so thanks everyone.

I have many concerns about taking my daughter away from family , especially grandparents that she is close to and putting her into an environment where she does not speak the local language (nor do my husband or I) and has no friends.

I would like to hear from anyone who has moved into Luzern with younger children and the experience they have had, good reports, bad reports, issues that have arisen.

We are thinking of staying for 5/6 years may be longer if we really like it but we can not justify the Private School fees so would have our daughter go to a local school - any feed back on the local schools would be really appreciated ie - are they helpful to non speaking Swiss German children, do they give help, have yourr children made friends easily.

What experiences as a whole have people had intergrating their young children into the 'new world'.

My daughter is a bubbly and social 4 year old and I would hate to damage this lovely quality about her by being responsible for putting her into an isolated situation so I am looking for some confidence that should we take the plunge and move experiences of other people have been more on the positive side then the negative.

Education is important to us for our daughter and we do not want to put her at a disadvantage by using the local schools if it is going to be difficult for her to progress with the language barrier and so this thread is to get some feed back to help our decision

I am also interested to know if there any clubs for children in Luzern or in areas not to far a field, my daughter likes ballet, drama but generally playing with other children and making friends and I really want her to feel she can do that in Luzern rather then feel we have taken her away from all the good things she has grown up with and loves.


I sound paranoid I know !!!! but I really want to make the right decision for my family. -

Hope there are a few people out there that may be able to give some advice and share experiences.
Thanks

x

Welcome to the forum.

Don't have kids myself, but speaking as someone who moved to a foreign country at 3 years old, kids that age pick up new languages very quickly indeed. I was started off in a local school and didn't have any trouble, but when I was a little older, I was sent to the local lycee once a week for english lessons too.

Oh my god, I could have written this same Thread a year ago. We moved here almost a year to the day with our then 3 year old son (now 4) with all the same worries as you. We left behind a loving family, grandparents, good friends etc and not seeing them on a daily/weekly basis is still the hardest part. We are all English and struggling with the language although we do get by. We live about 20 minutes outside of Luzern so really have to make the effort to speak German as we are 'the only English in our village' (in my best Daffyd voice). My son goes to local Spielgruppe one afternoon a week (to get friendly with the local kids, I am hoping) and also to a Kinderstaggestate two days a weeks as I have a part time job for 10 hours a week. He seems to understand more of the language than he will speak but we have started a star chart for learning new German words and 'touchwood' it seems to be working. My son has lost a little of his bubblyness and is not as confident as when we were in the UK but I am hoping this returns (this could also be some of my insecurities rubbing off on him! bad mother). He is due to start Kindergarten in August at the school in our village and depending how that goes, we'll make a decision on International school then. In general life is okay, very different to the UK. We have done some fab things while being here and I am really pleased for the opportunity (and my husband has a good job which helps financially). Whenever we do go back to the UK, my son is very pleased to get back to Switzerland so something is going right. Despite all not being perfect out here, it was the right decision for us to come here and who knows what the future will bring. All I can say is Best of British

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the wonderful city of Luzern.

Me and my wife live in Cham near Zug but I work in Luzern and can't think of a better or more beautiful place to bring up kids or to live.

Have been in almost the same situation as you, my daughter was four when we first came here (same area as well!). Now she is at the swiss equivalent of Grammar school, and is doing very well, has absolutely loads of friends & speaks Swiss-german like a native. Will pm you in case you want to ask for further info.

Thank you to everyone that has responded to my message.

Reading your differenct experiences and advise has been a great hlep to me over the weekend and my fears on how well my daughter will intergrate are getting less and less !

As I've said before this forum has been fantastic for me and thank you for taking the time to respond.

Any futher responses are gratefully received. ! x