We got a flyer in the mail the other day about the SVP’s (political party) initiative to remove foreigners from Switzerland.
Since our German is at a children’s level we don’t always understand everything we read. When I first read the flyer and saw the picture of the white sheep kicking the black sheep I had the impression that the Swiss wanted to get rid of all ‘Foreigners’.
It was quite bizarre to be on the other side of the immigration debate. Here I am, the outsider, and the local government is debating if I can stay, or if I should go.
One thing that this experience has done for me is shown me that being the foreigner is not easy. It is not easy to follow the rules, and get the proper forms, papers, and permits to live in a different country. This is especially hard when you don’t speak the language. But, as a guest, I feel it is my responsibility to respect the local rules and recognize that I am a guest, and I don’t the same rights when I choose to live here.
At second glance, I realized that the note we received was really not against me at all. It was actually focused on the true black sheep in Switzerland. Those foreigners that had entered the country without the proper permits, or who had criminal records. For now, I am safe. But, I surely have some more German to learn.