„But the Rhine is beautiful!“ Or, as they said on South Park, „Look at the silly monkey.“
Dear Auntie SAM: Is there demand for people speaking English fluently in Basel?
My husband is an engineer; I am not. His world is often black or null; correct or not. Mine skirts in between his world, & on its edges. Where we meet, and understand each other, things go well. The rest of the time, once one of us recognizes communication has failed, we say, „Abble Flabble Klabble“. A made-up phrase designed to bring us back to humor and love, because that is where true communication among friends resides.
Now, imagine you are in a relationship with a city: Basel, specifically: population approximately 165, 489. And every person in Basel is as different to you as an engineer is to an artist. But this time, darlings, your relationship is not guided by love & humor. It’s a commercial interaction. Even a potential threat to some people’s values & desired ways of life.
There is no „Abble Flabble Klabble“ for communicating in Basel.
Now, further, dear English speaker & those who want to care about us, imagine you moved your family here to Basel or that you came here all alone. If so, you likely signed up for the only game in town: Big Pharma.
Why would you do that?
Because they wooed you hard. They flew you to Switzerland, bought you fancy dinners, showed you the Rhine or the Alps, and sweet talked into your ear about how you & your family’s lives would be vastly improved by the safe environment, healthy outdoor activities, excellent schools … & these things are not necessarily untrue.
Many expats you’ll meet during this seduction will tell you the same: The quality of life is so much better here.
So long as you don’t want to escape.
Changing jobs here is not a usual custom. Even the unemployment program in Basel is designed to help people find a job that fits their personality so they can stay there. As such, locals take their time testing waters, testing themselves, allowing this downtime to heal wounds from disappointments and decide where they need to be.
And, once they’re ready for a job, they have more options than you. Most locals speak the dialect of their city, German, some French, and English. They understand the economics of Basel in ways you can’t negotiate. They grew up hearing stories of what it is like to work in Big Pharma. And they have families whose lives already are integrated and working in Basel.
Their spouses aren’t „tag-alongs“. Their kids not „auslanders“. Their support network, near. Their options: vast. And, unlike you, they are not going to bear the sole financial responsibility for their entire family.
Because: no. There is not a demand for English speakers in Basel. Some of us only-English speakers have found work. But, if Big Pharma doesn’t seduce you like a teen at prom, you’d be lucky scraping by with part-time gigs tutoring teens.
That’s why, whether you hurtle yourself down an Alp once a week, fly off to Barcelona every month, or start each afternoon with Mommy’s Little Helper, having a „better quality of life“ here for expats often simply becomes escapism.
Aside from moving, that’s the only way you can leave Big Pharma.
xo
AS
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There are many language schools in Basel, but only one that I know of that incorporates art, music, cooking, tours, and interactively designed courses in small groups, individuals, & even parents with children. http://www.ELO-BASEL.com/
And for activities that speak more universal languages:
This FRIDAY, 13 MARCH join me at „LA RECHERCHE DU TEMPS PERDU“ a PHOTOGRAPHY EXPO by JUDIT HERO. SPALENVORSTADT 13, 6-8PM.
Then, SATURDAY, 14 MARCH dance until your soul’s content with DJ ANTOINE at VOLKSHAUS. The party kicks off at 10PM with DJS LITTLE MARTINEZ, NICK BEROLA, MIKE KAY, MR. LU-WI, & GINO G OFFICIAL. DJ ANTOINE will begin at 11:30. Tickets 39 SFr at the door.