“I grew up in France as a Swiss abroad. My parents left Switzerland shortly after I was born and settled in rural Burgundy. There, they bought an old farmhouse, which they renovated over the years. I spent my childhood surrounded by nature, animals, fields, and forests.
When I started kindergarten, I didn’t speak a word of French, since we always spoke Swiss German at home. So, getting into the school system wasn’t easy. For a long time, I just listened and watched. Over time, I managed to find my footing, but I always remained “le Suisse” – the Swiss guy. This sense of being different followed me throughout my school years and shaped how I saw myself. I belonged, yet I was never quite the same. It wasn’t until I received my high-school diploma that I realized the French school system didn’t really suit me. It’s highly elitist and heavily theory-oriented, with vocational training—apprenticeships especially—given far less importance. I increasingly missed the practical focus. In hindsight, this proved to be a defining moment in shaping the path I would take.
At age 15, I experienced a profound turning point in my life: my father passed away unexpectedly. This event changed many things and strengthened my desire for a fresh start. After completing my French high-school diploma, I decided, at age 18, to leave France and return to Switzerland.
Although Switzerland was my native country, it felt foreign to me at first. While I had been “the Swiss guy” in France, here I suddenly became the French guy”. I began an apprenticeship as a carpenter and earned my vocational high-school diploma at the same time. Those years were intense but formative. I not only learned a trade but also discovered my passion for working with wood. I was particularly impressed by Switzerland’s sustainable management of its forest resources, which I remain very conscious of to this day – especially when I’m out in nature.
Comments