Being an American Expat in Switzerland
About Maura Lucke
If you need to find Maura Lucke, look for a tall woman walking in Wollishofen with her dog by her side. She will wear a big smile and be ready to tell you all about the American justice system. Even after living in Switzerland as an expat for 11 years, being American is still a big part of her identity and she isn’t afraid to show it.
Could you start by telling me a bit about what it means to you to be American?
“It means sharing a culture that embraces friendliness and looking out for other people and looking out for other countries in the world. I would say in general I'm very proud to be an American.”
Can you give me an example of things you experienced in America?
“Well, I lived there for a very long time so I’ve experienced a lot of things in America. I worked for the u.s. government for a while and for local governments so I believe very strongly in American institutions…I think it's the best in the world and of course…there's no perfect judicial system but I feel very proud that I was a part of that judicial system that believes in innocent until proven guilty I think that's really important…when I go back to the US I see a lot of friendly open faces, of course the country has a lot of problems but I always feel that sort of big cultural hug”
Do you consider Switzerland your home?
“Yes, I consider Switzerland my home. I still consider myself to be American but I do consider this now to be my home. It doesn't mean it'll be my home forever but yes I would say that now Switzerland is my home.”
How has moving to Switzerland changed your life?
“Well moving to Switzerland has changed my life a lot, I have really enjoyed it. We've lived here a long time, 10 years now. I moved here when my children were very small and I thought that [was the right thing to do]…Swiss culture is very different from American culture, but some of the ways the Swiss raise their kids I think the American could learn from and vice versa. So I really appreciated being able to raise my children under…two [different] cultures, because I could see the benefits to both kinds and…pick from each culture which styles and parenting skills I liked…I think it’s great I really enjoy living in Switzerland I think it's a wonderful place and there are so many wonderful things about the culture as well.
“Of course the country has a lot of problems but I always feel that sort of big cultural hug.”
-Maura Lucke
How important is being from American to you?
“for me being American is really important I think most people feel a quite a strong Affinity toward their native land and I definitely having been raised as an American…I feel very proud to be an American”
How has being American changed the way you see the world today
“I think the United States is a very large country so it's hard to sort of stereotype…I'm from the middle of the country and the East Coast so I think I have both parts of of that in me and so…in Europe I have the East Coast
…view of the world, the liberal viewpoint but I also think that because of my middle of the country upbringing before that I have a very friendly attitude.
“I could see the benefits to both kinds and…pick from each culture which styles and parenting skills I liked.”
