- Puzzle
Alexander Paul Burton, Canada
The Fifth Switzerland is a colourful, varied and multilingual puzzle with well over 800,000 pieces.
Today’s puzzle piece is ...
… Alexander Paul Burton (born Künzli), 35, living for 6 years in Toronto, Canada. He is an author, composer and queer/gay rights advocate.
What does ‘homeland’ mean to you?
For me, 'homeland' evokes a deep, almost ancestral connection to Switzerland. It's about the roots, the cultural bedrock, the shared history, and the landscapes that are etched into my earliest memories and family stories in Canada, the UK and Switzerland. It's the place where a fundamental part of my identity was forged, even if I no longer live there. It's less about a physical address now, and more about a feeling of origin and belonging to a specific heritage, the feelings that it evokes.
In which location or country do you say, ‘This is my home’?
Toronto, London and Zurich.
Is a sense of belonging a matter of age?
I think a sense of belonging certainly evolves with age. When you're younger, belonging might be more tied to immediate family, school, or a very specific peer group. As you mature, your understanding of belonging can broaden. It can become more about shared values, intellectual connections, professional networks, or even a sense of global citizenship. For expats, the process of finding and establishing a new sense of belonging in a different country can be a lifelong journey, constantly adapting as one's life circumstances change.
What is it like for you being connected to more than one country?
Torn. I am very torn, especially as I have so many creative pursuits and projects on the god. I feel obliged to bring my Swissness into my work, my everyday life.
Do you ever feel like a foreigner when you visit Switzerland?
Yes, somewhat. It’s always changing and so fast. But the people remain the same in a good way.
Is regularly meeting other Swiss people important to you?
Not particularly but I do like the invitations. I am just very busy with writing books, poetry and music!
Has your attitude to (Swiss) traditions changed since you emigrated?
Yes, my mother limited me in talking about being Swiss. She didn’t like me discussing it. So now I have embraced it fully and wholeheartedly.
What is your native language, and which language do you speak the most often?
English. But I have made effort to learn Swiss German and French. I now incorporate French into songs and have produced one song in German.
Do you participate in votes in Switzerland? If so, why?
Yes I do, attentively. Because it’s important not to waste our democratic right to vote. By ignoring the vote, we are dishonouring many Swiss who came before us who fought for freedom and rights.
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