tips for spouses
What to Expect
Life as an expat is an exciting and adventurous experience - but it may not always be easy.
You may have given up your job and career in order to move to a foreign country and support your spouse’s career. Be prepared to feel a bit disoriented or isolated - no matter how happy you are to be here. Your spouse will probably work long days with colleagues who share his or her interests and passions, and who speak English or your mother tongue. You, meanwhile, will not have your normal routine, support network of friends, family, familiar stores, familiar surroundings… Try to make it an adventure – do volunteer work, visit new museums and cultural sites in Geneva, attend concerts and theatrical performances, read every book you’ve always wanted to read, take French classes, and cooking classes, etc.! If you have small children, take day trips by car or train to the many historical sites throughout France and Switzerland.
Living in the Pays de Gex (neighboring France) is not like living in Paris, although the small French villages in the countryside can be really beautiful and charming. However, you can be living in a subdivision (lotissement) with a life that looks much like your life at home - but isn’t really. That can be a culture shock at first. Having a fast speed computer connection at home (and your own computer) will help a lot to keep you connected – with people and events, here and at home.
Locals will often assume that you know things that you don’t know. Keep asking questions because people don’t know what you don’t know! Don’t expect people to offer more information without being asked - most of them just did not go through the "expat experience" and don't know which background you are coming from. The process is complicated but rewarding as items get checked off. There are a lot of details - just stay positive and keep going/asking!
And remember - you are not alone. Try to meet others in a similar situation so you can exchange tips and information and build a new international social network.
Additional benefits of living in this region:
Life as an expat is an exciting and adventurous experience - but it may not always be easy.
You may have given up your job and career in order to move to a foreign country and support your spouse’s career. Be prepared to feel a bit disoriented or isolated - no matter how happy you are to be here. Your spouse will probably work long days with colleagues who share his or her interests and passions, and who speak English or your mother tongue. You, meanwhile, will not have your normal routine, support network of friends, family, familiar stores, familiar surroundings… Try to make it an adventure – do volunteer work, visit new museums and cultural sites in Geneva, attend concerts and theatrical performances, read every book you’ve always wanted to read, take French classes, and cooking classes, etc.! If you have small children, take day trips by car or train to the many historical sites throughout France and Switzerland.
Living in the Pays de Gex (neighboring France) is not like living in Paris, although the small French villages in the countryside can be really beautiful and charming. However, you can be living in a subdivision (lotissement) with a life that looks much like your life at home - but isn’t really. That can be a culture shock at first. Having a fast speed computer connection at home (and your own computer) will help a lot to keep you connected – with people and events, here and at home.
Locals will often assume that you know things that you don’t know. Keep asking questions because people don’t know what you don’t know! Don’t expect people to offer more information without being asked - most of them just did not go through the "expat experience" and don't know which background you are coming from. The process is complicated but rewarding as items get checked off. There are a lot of details - just stay positive and keep going/asking!
And remember - you are not alone. Try to meet others in a similar situation so you can exchange tips and information and build a new international social network.
Additional benefits of living in this region:
- close proximity to many neighboring countries for easy international travel
- incredible food, wine and culinary delights
- skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering in the winter
- hiking, mountain biking and touring in the summer
- international colleagues, neighbors and friends
- Europeans are very social people – easy to make new friends and a new support group
What You Can Do
Explore the region and travel: Check our Activities & Travel page.
Join business clubs: Here are the main ones. You can find more on our Self-Employment page or at AngloInfo
Join social clubs
AngloInfo lists social clubs in Geneva. The CERN Women’s Club (CWC) offers monthly coffee mornings to meet new people and lots of activities you can join.
Launch your own project or group
Is there anything you love to do and are really good at? For example cooking Indian food, doing handicrafts, reading thrillers, performing on stage? Try to find like-minded people and launch a monthly cooking meeting, a handicrafts group, regular reading meetings, a theatre group.....
Learn a language
Take language and conversation courses - you will learn the language and meet other people. Teachers recommend reading newspapers and magazines, going to movies and try using your French whenever possible.
Even if you don't understand what you're reading keep going. Eventually your mind will start picking up familiar phrases, and once what starts happening it will become easier to learn. Another tip - singing along with music will help with enunciation.
Private lessons: Contact us - we'll try to help you find a private tutor.
Learn something new
What about learning something new or broadening your skills and knowledge? Check out our language & education page.
Explore the region and travel: Check our Activities & Travel page.
Join business clubs: Here are the main ones. You can find more on our Self-Employment page or at AngloInfo
- American International Club of Geneva
- Executives International - business networking
- Internations - social and business networking
- International Financial Management Association
Join social clubs
AngloInfo lists social clubs in Geneva. The CERN Women’s Club (CWC) offers monthly coffee mornings to meet new people and lots of activities you can join.
Launch your own project or group
Is there anything you love to do and are really good at? For example cooking Indian food, doing handicrafts, reading thrillers, performing on stage? Try to find like-minded people and launch a monthly cooking meeting, a handicrafts group, regular reading meetings, a theatre group.....
Learn a language
Take language and conversation courses - you will learn the language and meet other people. Teachers recommend reading newspapers and magazines, going to movies and try using your French whenever possible.
Even if you don't understand what you're reading keep going. Eventually your mind will start picking up familiar phrases, and once what starts happening it will become easier to learn. Another tip - singing along with music will help with enunciation.
Private lessons: Contact us - we'll try to help you find a private tutor.
Learn something new
What about learning something new or broadening your skills and knowledge? Check out our language & education page.
- Look for a job
- Continue your education
- Take a fun class
- Volunteer - see our Internships & Volunteer page for ideas
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