- Puzzle
Marc Wiederkehr, Spain
The “Fifth Switzerland” is a colourful, varied and multilingual puzzle with well over 800,000 pieces.
Today’s puzzle piece is …
… Marc Wiederkehr, 1966, in Madrid, Spain since 1995. Freelance financial services provider.
Married, two adult children.
How and when do you show your Swissness in your everyday life?
In Spain, the Swiss have the reputation of being thrifty. I live up to that in my work and often apply the brakes when deciding on new investments or expenses. Saving and having as little debt as possible also stem from that.
If your friends asked you to make them a typical Swiss meal, what would you cook?
I usually make a raclette or fondue with cheese that I bring home from a village dairy in Switzerland. My guests always enjoy these dishes.
What do you miss the most about or from Switzerland?
I miss my family the most. Parents, siblings and nephews, and my friends from when I was young. I also miss the bright forest colours in the autumn.
Do you maintain personal contacts with other Swiss Abroad?
Yes, I cultivate contact with other Swiss Abroad living in Spain. We meet regularly for a meal and organise outings. However, I do not usually attend official events (for example the 1 August celebration in the Madrid Swiss club).
Is everyday life with your family multilingual?
Our family is multilingual. I speak Swiss German with my children and they answer me in Spanish. I speak Spanish with my wife. Often the two languages get mixed up, with Swiss German words coming up in Spanish sentences.
Did you teach your children one of the Swiss national languages?
I would say: not enough. I probably should have spoken High German more consistently with my children instead of Swiss German. Although we sent them to a German school once a week, they have not retained much of it. They can make themselves understood with their family in Switzerland but their English is better than their German.
Do you maintain contact with people in Switzerland through your work?
Very much so. I currently work solely for Swiss companies in Switzerland and I visit my clients regularly.
If someone raves about Swiss democracy, how do you respond?
I think Swiss democracy has always provided (and still does provide) a very good basis for the country’s development. The political processes are centred on compromise and as many opinions and sensibilities as possible are taken into consideration when making decisions. People talk to each other and respect other viewpoints. Discussions are fact-based and not just ideological. Things may have changed from how I knew my country as a youth, but the political processes are still considerably stronger than in my adopted country.
I think fondue is ...
... mandatory once a year.
Being Swiss means ...
... nothing more than being a person from another country.