Becoming an Immigrant, Again

30 October 2026

Stories of Movement and Love. Who moves to Switzerland? Bankers. Superaccountants. Crypto bros. And women who fall in love with Swiss diplomats. In 2022, a work trip to Switzerland changed my life. During a week-long tour focused on crypto (I told you) and international trade, I met a funny, handsome man. Fast-forward three years and just a few short weeks ago, I left the (not-so) good old U.S. of A and moved to Switzerland to live with my husband. Now, I’m writing a newsletter to share my experience with all my loved ones (and the strangers I know they will forward it to). Beginnings are hard. Moving around is not new to me. I lived on three continents before I was 8 years old. Three. My parents were immigrants several times over. Each time, with a new hope, a new dream. And now it’s my turn. I suppose for the first time, I moved continents by my own choice. For love. The movement of my body from place to place, space to space, is part of what defines me. Those early, hazy years of being the new kid somehow still color and shape how I see and move through the world. The last time I clearly remember is moving to the United States when I was 8 years old. As I sit here, at 39 years old, I have become an immigrant, again. But starting over is so hard. I’m not a young kid fresh out of college, fueled by curiosity and desire to prove myself in the world. I turn 40 in a few months and I’ve left everything I know in a teetering democracy. The only people I know in Switzerland are my husband, and the 6 people he knows. How do I become part of the community when I don’t speak Swiss-German? How do I find friends who share my values when I’m still learning Swiss values? How will I find someone to braid my hair?! Building Community Immigration is nothing new, human beings have been moving for thousands of years (see Mansa Musa and the Roman soldiers in Britain). It feels like being an immigrant in 2025 is a [dirty] word. Acknowledging the privilege of my experience, it feels like a good time to share the experience of immigration, albeit from a specific perspective. One of my favorite authors, Jhumpa Lahiri, often writes about the immigrant experience. The loneliness, the fear, the joy, the confusion. I’ll be sharing these notes, thoughts, and musings on my experience as a way to honor the way her writing made me feel, and maybe, as a way to build the community her characters often struggle to find. What to Expect I’ll be posting regularly on the Spectrum Blog and on my Substack. I include stories of my adventures in Switzerland, and all the feelings that come with them. If you’re more of a visual person, be sure to follow along on Instagram. Thanks for reading Becoming An Immigrant, Again! I look forward to sharing this adventure with you.