Hi there!

I recently stumbled across this forum while doing some random reading up on Switzerland, and it looks like a great community.

I am a 27 year old South African living in Pretoria, South Africa. I studied as a systems/business analyst and is currently working as a software developer, particularly on the iOS platform. My wife studied as a physiotherapist through a military bursary and currently works at a prestigious school in the east of Pretoria as the sport physio, as well as at private physiotherapy practice.

In December 2010 we visited Switzerland on holiday and fell absolutely head over heels in love with the country. We stayed in Interlaken and travelled through the country. We had an amazing time. So much so that at least twice a week since then we talk about moving to Switzerland, while we are still young, but it feels like such a pipe dream...

Anyways, I hope to make some good contacts via this forum, and to keep on learning about Switzerland and its people!

Hi Piet, welcome to the EF!

Glad to hear you had a great time over here on holidays! While I can't help you as a contact for getting a Visa to move here, I can understand why you're keen to come back!

Welcome to the Forum, Piet,
from an South African, Switzerland is great for a holiday, but NOTHING compares to home

Hallo Pietsous,

Our story is much like yours, except that I have a bit of Swiss blood in me, but born and raised in South Africa. My love affair with Switzerland started on my first family visit there and I'm happy to say my wife also loves everything about it. We can't get enough of the spectacular scenery, public transport (Swiss pass, I love you), the cobble stoned Altstadte, the rivers, the Alps, the neatness...

What I am trying to say is go for it if it is your dream. We are leaving our sunny shores end December and starting a wonderful new life/adventure in a country that agrees with our value system (not South Africa), and gives us that unquantifiable tingle - that feeling when you really really know something agrees with you. I hope to see you and your wife in Switzerland one day soon and we can have a celebratory braai - of sausages in the woods of course!

You haven't been reading the news lately. That's very debatable if you have a family.

Thanks for the replies so far!

If my wife and I even consider moving, I'd have no idea where to start. We don't have a lot of fixed assets keeping us here, at this stage only our furniture and cars (no property yet), as well as jobs and friends that we both love. It would be a big sacrifice.

But life is an adventure, and you need to grab the days you have!