Crossing Borders Into Switzerland, Research Paper Example

Crossing national borders is an exciting experience that educates an individual in a variety of ways. Understanding what motivates people to cross national borders is significant for how people comprehend their sense of belonging and identity. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, there has been an escalation of ethnic conflicts as well as civil wars, thereby resulting in an increase in internally displaced persons as well as of refugees. Switzerland has increasingly implemented strict immigration laws, as only a lucky few from nations belonging to the European Union such as Russia are allowed in. Nonetheless, Switzerland remains one of Russia’s most stable and important trading partners When I was ten years  old, I left Russia to attend boarding school in Switzerland, where I studied for six years. The experience of leaving my home country to live in Switzerland enriched my life in ways that cannot be quantified. While nations have strict immigration laws in place as a result of the escalation of refugees and internally displaced persons, such laws do not take into account how the migrant experience can also be a positive one. Immigrants can make positive contributions in foreign countries, which  is why such stringent immigration laws should be curtailed. The foreign exchange student program is an important one because it not only made me more independent, but also because it teaches various life lessons, including the importance of diversity and tolerance for foreign customs and cultures.

The experience of migrating from Russia into Switzerland was scintillating and life-changing, especially moving from the German part of Switzerland where I attended boarding school for six years to the Italian area where I attended University. When I first arrived in Switzerland, there was a long period in which I experienced some level of depression, as the acculturation and acclimation processes occurred over a protracted period of time. I was afraid to engage in new activities and socialize with others because I lacked the knowledge of Swiss culture and society. Linguistic barriers emerged right away, and because I spoke with an accent and I could barely understand when the locals spoke, I felt myself become more introverted even though I have been an extrovert my entire life. As such, the adjustment period and being social with others worried me, and I missed my mother’s cooking and playing sports with my dad  in the afternoon once he came home from work. Moreover, I lived in a part of town where Italian people resided and was not exposed to the other parts of such a beautiful country. Nonetheless, because Switzerland was so foreign to me when I first arrived, I was forced to learn how to navigate the city on public transportation, which is how I developed a knack for using public transportation and developed the ability to read maps and learn how to get around a city and a country I hardly knew anything about. Experiencing Europe in Switzerland was far different than experiencing Europe in Russia, and I am grateful that I was able to be a foreign exchange student starting at a very young age.

Growing up without parents as a migrant cultivated a sense of individualism and responsibility and enabled me to experience different cultures. I learned how to cook my own meals, wash dishes, do laundry, and other important domestic tasks. Crossing the border into Switzerland as a young student helped me become more organized and autonomous as it propelled me to step out of my comfort zone. In addition, the experience propelled the process of naturalization as I increasingly grew fond of Switzerland and Swiss culture. Living separate from my family forced me to grow up quickly because I had to take care of myself, a process that usually does not happen to students until they become “adults.” In addition, living in country so different from my own propelled me to learn how to live in harmony with others who speak a different language and are a part of a profoundly different culture. However, I also learned that there is value in tolerance, and I quickly learned the value of diversity in promoting such harmony within an increasingly crisis-ridden world. As a foreign student, I was able to gradually be able to understand the cognitive processes of people from other nations and the manner in which they live.  Moreover, many people from Russia have skewed perceptions of Switzerland and the people who live therein. As such, moving to Switzerland helped me see that the pejorative stereotypes that were so ubiquitous in Russia about the Swiss was flat out incorrect, especially with regards to religion and Swiss culture. This experience made me realize the currency of foreign exchange student programs, as they facilitate a greater understanding and appreciation for cultural difference.

In conclusion, crossing borders helped open up my eyes to the world and developed me into the person that I am today. I have a great respect for foreign cultures and values, which has added meaning to my life and has helped me mature throughout my adolescence and young adulthood.

References

Castells, S. (2003). Towards a sociology of forced migration and social transformation. Sociology, 37(1), 13-34.

Glick Schiller, N., Basch, L., Basch, L. G. and Szanton Blanc, C. (1995). From immigrant to transmigrant: theorizing transnational migration. Anthropological Quarterly, 68(1), 48-63.