A Guest Post By Sandipta Jadhav, Immigration Lawyer, and Global Mobility Specialist Since its introduction, the Blue Card program has been a resounding success, attracting highly skilled workers from around the world to Germany. With high numbers of Indians, Chinese, and Turkish nationals also have a deep interest in relocating to Germany. The program has contributed significantly to the German economy, with BlueCard holders bringing their expertise and innovation to various industries.  As you are aware, nationalities like Indian, Chinese, and Korean are always looking for overseas options in the dream of an advanced lifestyle. I believe this is the best program to achieve your European job dreams. Few examples of success stories of people who have used the Germany […]

The holiday season tends to bring up a lot of existential issues and old wounds. We might be missing loved ones and we might feel a bit more low than usual. If you are about to embark on an international assignment or project you could also experience cultural adjustment. Acclimatizing to a new locale, new cultural norms and social practices, ever-changing pandemic rules, children with identity issues, an injury, or an elderly relative, who just fell a third time and needed to be hospitalized.  These challenges bring with them additional levels of stress and dealing with them every day inevitably results in mental exhaustion, especially if you cannot be there in person and have to support through WhatsApp calls. You […]

Getting out of the November Blues is an annual exercise for me. I’m sure you’ve noticed the arrival of winter by now – the avalanche of brilliant red-golden leaves falling from trees, the shortening of precious daylight hours, and the sudden briskness in the breeze. While the beauty of a European fall is unparalleled, the shorter days and cold weather herald a period of demotivation and negative feelings for some people. For me, the “Zurich fog” in November can get to me.  The thought of November Blues could be overwhelming. So, I have thought about ways to make November bearable for all of us. Dealing with loneliness is doubly challenging when you are an expat who has just arrived here. […]

Moving to a new country can be an exciting adventure, offering the promise of new experiences and opportunities. However, along with the excitement comes unique challenges, particularly for expat partners who often find themselves navigating unfamiliar territory personally and professionally. In a recent conversation, we delved into the three “I’s” that shape the expat experience: Identity, Isolation, and Influence. Identity: One of the fundamental challenges expat partners face is maintaining a sense of identity in a new environment. The familiar roles and routines they once had may no longer apply, leading to feelings of disorientation and loss. As one participant highlighted, the influence they once held may diminish as they adapt to their new surroundings. However, finding ways to redefine […]

As I mentioned in this post during the early days of the pandemic my mother could not find yeast. Her village in Southern Germany had a yeast shortage. We don’t have a shortage of anything here in Zurich, neither toilet paper, nor yeast, even though demand for both was higher than in “normal” times. My mother likes to bake in normal times but I felt she needed to bake even more in these times.