Hi
I am an Englishman a full time dad and am 32 years old with two children aged 2 and 9 and married to a swiss. I will be moving to Winterthur late in July after many years in Ost-Schweiz. Whilst living in St.Gallen I have managed to meet the grand total of 0 other expats, now with our move closer to Winterthur area I'm hopeing to meet other Expats in my local area. My life has taken a change in direction at the moment and I have given in working after putting my wife through University for several years and am looking after my two children full time alongside doing some further education. I'm looking to make some friends and meet up on say Wednesday afternoon's or on Sundays with my wife for a coffee/beer and letting the kids play with other English speaking kids which they have never done before. I thought I'd post a new thread s it's unusual me being a man/dad and at home.
After all it is 2007.
Hi Remo, I am an English guy and you will be living about 10 minutes from where I live ( Bassersdorf) Let me know if you want to meet up some time?
Yeah I'd like to meet. I tried to write back last night but the forum seemed to have crashed. We can meet at the Irish pub in Winterthur if you want to for a few pints ? I'll be in and around Winterthur today and tomorrow otherwise next weekend.
look forward to it...
that is so cool!
Two guys meeting for pints!!! so did you meet finally?
Dad at home, lucky kids!
ha ha, yes we did thanks. We went for a couple of pints in the Irish bar in Winterthur. Come along next time. It's good to chat with people in the same boat.
So guys, I have to ask. As a man where his wife has a better career (as she is Swiss and we are in the land of cheese, blah blah blah)
How is it being a dad @ home? I mean I really like the idea of being a houseman as i didnt get much time with my father due to his work and wanted to have something different when I have children.
What's it like? Do you miss working? or do you work part time etc?
p.s. i hope you dont mind me asking.
No I don't mind you asking at all. Having worked and been away when my first child was born till he was five, I enjoy being at home with our newest child who is now two. It make me realize how much of my first born's life I missed. Whilst our oldest was growing up both me and my wife worked or studied so we both kinda missed out. Now me being at home gives me a chance to study and be with the kids. I would find it hard to be at home if I didn't study at the same time. No I don't currently work full or part time as I am studying. I find it hard to take my kids to day care at the moment because there are no places where I live right now, hence the move to Winterthur soon. Then I hope Zürich kanton has better Block zeit for child care which is also an issue where I am now. I think having children is a life choice and they are nearly always inconvenient when they come along. You just have to put your life on hold and take time out in your life and spend some time bringing them up. If you don't then you'll miss alot. I don't pretend it's easy and have a better respect for what alot of women do.
Plus having BBC Radio 2 makes life alot easier...
Hi Remo & Branston, Let me know when you plan to meet up again either in Winti or in Bassersdorf - I live in Nuerensdorf so we're virtually neighbours. It would be good to share a beer or two on a hot summer's evening!!!
Sure, I am in touch with Branston still and ill send you my e-mail. Anyone else is the Winterthur area fancy going for a pint or two is also welcome.
We are a British family with three kids, (4,4 and 2) I work from home, partner in ZH. We are 15 minutes away near Frauenfeld. Would be good to meet up.
more the merrier, wife and kids are a bit busy this weekend so it's just me at the moment. I was thinking about meeting up on Saturday early evening around 5 to 6 pm at the Irish bar for a few ?
we'd love to join you, but we'll be there only in august....
till then, keep the beer in the fridge!
Will do, look forward to seeing you..
Cool thread, dudes.
We are coming over in August from the US. My wife's firm is bringing us over, so the future is uncertain for me career wise. I've subscribed to your post, so hopefully I'll get a chance to meet up with y'all when we make the move.
(And, no, it was not just the beer at the Irish pub that tempted me. I have two kids, too.)
Cool, look forward to seeing you. Are you moving into Zürich city or near to Winterthur where I am ? Not that it's that far away actually.
August ey not that much longer....It's a great place when you finally settle in. Nice and clean and safe place to bring your children up.
Actually, we're not quite sure where we are going to be living. I am assuming it will be close to central Zurich because that is where my wife's work is. I have been scouring this site, homegate, and others to get a better idea. We have a school /house hunting trip scheduled for the coming weeks, so I'll know more then.
Assuming I can't work out a transfer with my current company, I will be a stay-at-home dad at least for the first couple of months.
For cheaper tax look for a cheaper tax village to move to. All county's are split up into area's of administration and they all compete with each other for people to live there. So they all have different tax levels. Bruton, Kloten, Bassersdorf, Niedersdorf, (
Are you moving with a relocation agency...?
Yes in fact Homegate is the best to find a house.
We went to Switzeralnd last week (without the boys!!!!) to find a home, not that easy...
And I know that Zurich is pretty expensive, maybe look a bit outside of the city...
We'll be there in August also, but the Lucern area.
Hi all, I have spoken to Remo. We are both up for another drink or "two" so give us some feed back when others can make it. We had a good time in the Irish pub. It,s like a proper English boozer.