Here is the second of the Living in Nyon interviews with influential individuals who live in the La Côte area. See previous interview with Daniel Rossellat (Nyon mayor and head of Paléo) here. Here we speak to Philip Jennings - Jennings, Welshman, rugby lover and former volunteer firefighter – was listed in Bilan magazine as one of the 300 most influential people in Switzerland.Posting regularly to the social networking site Twitter, he has over 70,000 readers following his account - @PJenningsUNI. Philip Jennings is the General Secretary of UNI Global Union, an organisation with over 20 million members, representing 900 unions in over 150 countries and with its head office in Nyon. In May 2013 UNI Global Union was at the centre of worldwide press coverage, as the “Bangladesh Safety Accord ”, a legally binding agreement by major US and European clothes manufacturers to raise safety standards in Bangladesh factories, was negotiated in Nyon by both UNI Global union and Industriall. Read on to find out more about Uni Global Union, about the "Nyon Spring" in 2011 (the threatened closure of the Novartis factory in Prangins), the Bangladeshi safety accord which was signed in Nyon, how Jennings became a Swiss citizen, and details of the upcoming public debate organised by Uni Global Union in Nyon on October 3rd. Photo above: Philip Jennings outside the Buffet de la Gare in Céligny Living in Nyon went to meet Philip Jennings over lunch at Buffet de la Gare in Céligny earlier this year. This restaurant was an appropriate venue for an interview; it used to be the favourite watering hole of the Welsh-born actor Richard Burton. Burton lived and died in the village, and his final resting place is in the graveyard in Céligny. Read more about Richard Burton and his time in Switzerland here. We began by asking Jennings about his firefighter role. “I live in Cheserex and back in 1986 I used to play football with a local team. As the guys in the team were also in the fire brigade, they sent the captain round to my house one night to sign me up. He appeared at my door wearing a uniform covered with medals – at first I mistakenly thought he’d come round to enlist me in the Swiss army! Once I realised what it was all about, I signed up, but I’m not sure how useful I was. Initially when a fire started, the alarm would ring out across the village and the pompiers who were closest to the fire would get there as fast they could. The system then changed to a call-out system by phone. As I was often travelling or at work I didn’t get too many calls, but I do like to think that during my time there I helped a little.” Helping the community, whether on a local basis or on a global one, is what drives Jennings. A sense of justice and doing what’s right is at the very core of his work. Having just returned from Zimbabwe, he showed me a photo on his phone of a badly beaten Zimbabwean worker. “I keep it on there to remind me that situations like his and of many others continue around the globe. Workers who protest, purely because they want fair working conditions or simply to be a member of a union, can be subjected to all sorts of pressure and violence. “I’m proud that from UNI Global Union right here in Nyon we can step in and help in various ways. We can respond quickly to such situations, we can give messages of reassurance, intervene and let them know they are not alone. Sometimes it’s as simple as embarrassing the employer into changing their attitude, policies or anti-union stance. We’ve achieved a lot so far yet there’s still much to do. Some multinational companies still don’t see the benefits of having good management/employee relationships and working practices. Photo above: The Uni Global Union building in the centre of Nyon Hear Philip Jennings on Euronews - "Retailers back safety initiatives in Bangladesh factories" “Here in Switzerland union representation is not bad, but there’s an increasing problem in the country on the intimidation of people elected by the union. The protections in Switzerland are not in compliance with global standards. Union representation is strong in the public sector, in industry and in construction, but representation in the financial sector could be better.” The “Nyon Spring” A great example of how the influence of unions, plus discussions with management, can work together to provide a solution that is acceptable to all, was shown with the relatively recent threatened closure of the Novartis factory in Prangins. The closure and subsequent loss of jobs not only would have been extremely detrimental to the town, but it was also completely unnecessary. The factory was profitable and had a good future in Nyon. The community rallied around, as the workers and the unions came out in force on one day to protest. It was even labelled the "Printemps Nyonnais". Thankfully Novartis completely reversed its position, the factory remains open and one year later they have a completely new policy. They are continuing to invest in Nyon, so this is all great news for the town. Such a happy conclusion doesn’t always happen elsewhere. Photos above: Protests against the Novartis closure in Nyon 2011, by many members of the community. Jennings has a heavy travel schedule in the course of his work. “I visit Japan one a year, and I attend the World Economic Forum at Davos. It’s a great opportunity to meet world leaders, and we can get a lot of work done under one roof. I travel to Latin America twice a year, and I try to visit the USA, Africa and Australia at least once during a twelve-month period. There’s really no lull in the rhythm of work, and working on a global basis means that if I’m not careful I could be working seven days a week.” This work pattern is in total contrast to the working life of his own parents growing up in Wale s. “My mother worked in a shop and my father worked on the night shift in a car factory. He would leave every night at 17.00 to go to work. His routine never altered, and there was a definite sense of a weekend to his and our lives back then. With my current travel schedule and work pattern the lines have become blurred, but I’m careful to manage it all and look after my health. I exercise early in the morning before leaving for the office. It’s always a full day when I’m in Nyon, although I do try to leave the building by 19:00. If I see anyone else still working late I tell them to go home. Balancing work and home life is important. I’ve also insisted on a morning coffee/tea break for staff. I encourage them to leave their office and meet other staff during this time. Perhaps it’s my one British influence on the organisation, but I feel it’s important that employees take the time to chat and discuss issues face to face instead of endless email communication.” In 2005 Jennings was diagnosed with throat cancer. After an operation and a course of radiotherapy he is now recovered. “If I was determined to achieve many things before, I’m even more determined now. My sense of purpose of doing the right thing has been strengthened in the knowledge that every day counts.” Regarding his own safety when entering into potentially combative situations, he says : “There are times when it’s been tricky in countries such as Colombia, South Korea or Nigeria, but what I occasionally experience is nothing in comparison to the threats and intimidation that workers and elected union members around the world can encounter on a daily basis. “Outside work, I like to help on a personal level by sending Twitter messages of support to many people in difficult situations around the world. The protests earlier this year in Turkey are a case in point. I was at home one Saturday night a few weeks ago and I started to see thousands of messages coming through from Turkey, many of them asking: ‘Does the world know what’s happening to us?’ I responded with one Tweet in support and in return received messages and images, all telling me about the rubber bullets and the protests. Just getting into a dialogue with them gives them a sense of not being alone.” UNIGlobal Union, situated a few hundred metres from Nyon railway station, was purpose-built for the organisation in the town – on time and under budget. “UNIGlobal Union was the result of the merger of four organisations: FIET (International Federation of Employees, technicians and managers), MEI (Media and Entertainment International), IGF (International Graphical Federation) and CI (Communications International, formally PTTI). When we merged we needed a new home. We were initially in Geneva, where we had a piece of land on which we wanted to construct a brand new building. But we knew the wheels of development run very slowly in Geneva. It would have taken over 10 years to build! So when someone told us there was available land in Nyon we investigated further. I realised then that this current location would be perfect for our needs. It was near all the good transport links, and in addition Nyon council and the canton of Vaud were very open and welcoming to us. So we went ahead. The building was constructed on time and under budget. We now have an excellent office space with a large conference centre, interpreting booths and media centre. There are nearly 50 staff working here (around 25 nationalities among them), and about 200 in the building itself. Funding for our organisation comes from members fees from around the world – it costs just two francs a year to be a member.” In October 3rd the conference centre in the UNI Global Union building will be the venue for the 4th edition of the “What Next?” debate. Note to readers - These debates are open to the public and held in French but there will be simultaneous translation facilities available on the evening. “These debates are a way to open the doors of UNI Global Union to the general public and the local community. It’s an opportunity for them to have their say. In addition, a variety of important players in various fields are invited to speak to discuss the issues on the agenda. Our first debate focused on Corporate and Social Responsibility. The second debate was on the growth of the Lac Léman region. Leaders from Copenhagen and Utrecht were invited to speak on their experience in city growth and how to manage it. Our third debate was focused on young people". The next debate on October 3rd will be entitled ‘Liberty and Security’. How safe do people feel in today’s age; how do you define security; what do people feel threatened by? This debate will be held in the evening, which we hope will enable even more members of the public to engage in the conversation.” More details of this debate coming up on this site. In 2009 Jennings became a Swiss citizen and was proud on the day he attended the ceremony to confirm his citiz enship. The application process was not without its humorous points. “The day before my official interview (when I knew I would be asked a lot of questions and facts about the country and this area), I decided to conduct a final bit of research by heading off to the Abbey of Bonmont near my village. I thought I might be asked at what height the Abbey was situated. I was hunting around for a plaque or a sign with such information but I couldn’t see anything. So I asked a woman nearby reading a book in the Abbey grounds if she knew the height of the abbey. She turned round to me, smiled, and said: ‘Don’t worry, I won’t be asking you that question tomorrow.’ It transpired she was going to be part of the citizenship interview committee! I love it that so many things here are decided on a local and communal level. I was very pleased the day I could vote in Switzerland. I don’t want to be disenfranchised; I want to use my vote. “I very much feel part of the community here and have watched Nyon develop and change over the years, a lot of it for the better. I live in the area, and my wife is a teacher at La Chataignerie. I try to attend local festivals and local events. Having said all that, there’s a small part of me that will always have a passion for Wales, particularly during rugby matches. There’s a Welsh expression called Hyraeth. It’s difficult to define, and it certainly can’t be translated into French – but it means a sense of yearning for one’s homeland. I do have Hyraeth, but essentially Switzerland for me is home and I hope it stays that way.”

The 1st August is date of the Swiss National Holiday (the Fête Nationale) and this year as in every year, there will be a ceremony in Nyon followed by a parade in the town finishing with a firework display across the lakeside. This year 2013 Raphaël Domjan, Swiss eco-explorer, founder and skipper of PlanetSolar (completion of the first round the world in a solar boat) project, will deliver the traditional speech at the official ceremony which takes place at the Esplanade des Marronniers (the area where the Roman columns are to be found). Also, don't forget the parade is for families and children can take part too! (see below). If you don't live in Nyon, check out on your town or village's website or noticeboard to see what is going on in your area. More info for Nyon on its own site here Photo below August 1st in Rolle The schedule for the 1st August is the following19:45 Aperitif and music with Nyon's Fanfare (official brass band) 20:20 Ringing of bells 20:25 Presentation of flags 20:30 Official ceremony begins chaired by municipal councillor Stephanie Municipal Schmutz The official Swiss pact of 1291 will be read by Ms. Madalina Lazar (a citizen who has recently become naturalised) Patriotic prayer Address by Mr. Raphaël Domjan, eco-explorer, founder and skipper of PlanetSolar project Message from the Nyon Ministry of Churches by Pierre-Yves Paquier 21:15 Procession through Nyon taken by the Municipal Band and local companies. Departure from the Esplanade des Marronniers down Grand-Rue, St-Jean de la Colombiere, and then down to the lakeside, finally arriving at the des Fêtes de Rive. Note for families , children are welcome at this parade, they carry "lit" paper lanterns through the street as the parade winds it way through the town, (see photo below) You can find these lanterns on sale at local supermarkets. Also, check out the burning bonfire on the lake! 22:15 Fireworks on the lake

Living in Nyon and OffThe Shelf English Book Shopare delighted to announce the book launch (the first in Switzerland!) and reading of Slow Train to Switzerland - One Tour, Two Trips, 150 Years and a World of Change Apartby Travel Writer Diccon Bewes (Author of Swiss Watching/ Le Suissologue) On the occasion of the 150th anniversary Thomas Cook’s pioneering trip to Switzerland, Diccon will talk about how he embarked on a historical train ride following the first ever conducted tour taken by Thomas Cook in 1863, a three week trip from London to Lucerne. It’s a tale of trains and tourists, of the British and the Swiss, of a Victorian traveller and a modern-day Englishman abroad. It’s the story of a tour that changed both Switzerland and the world of travel forever. Come join us for an apéro, to hear stories and anecdotes about the book on MondayNovember 25th at 19:30 at the Ferme du Manoir, Rue Maupertuis 1, 1260 Nyon (Off Place du Château) Nyon Reservations Required - CHF 10 including apéro Email info@livinginnyon.comto reserve or via OffTheShelf English Bookshop

Free entry to local places of interest It's the "Journeés Européenes du Patrimoine" - "European Heritage weekend" on Saturday the 7th and Sunday 8th September. Many local buildings in Nyon and in other towns and villages open their doors free of charge to enable the public to discover the rich heritage of the area. Even the Centre for Fire and Rescue is open to the public on Saturday 7th. There will be demonstrations on fire safety from 09:00 -16:00 there will also be a chance to check out some of the old fire engines! The CRDIS is in Route de Champ-Colin 4 in Nyon. For details of all the buildings taking part in this heritage weekend and opening times see official Nyon site here Music school open for registrations The Conservatoire de l'Oeust Vaudois (COV) is now open for the "Rentrée" (back to school). This music school set along Nyon's lake side, offers music courses for all ages from learning guitar, piano and other musical instruments to singing lessons, choral work, jazz, theatre etc. Many of the teachers at this prestigious school speak English. The COV hosts regular performances by visiting artists and by its own students. If you walk along the lakeside in front of the building you can often hear music wafting out of the windows from someone playing the piano to playing the drums!

Cruise along the lake listening to writers talk about their work Photo above: Le livre sur les quais 2012 From Victoria Hislop to Douglas Kennedy to John Boyne, there will be over 20 English speaking authors and almost 300 writers in total at "Le livre sur les quais" this weekend the 6th to 8th September. This book fair and literary event takes place in Morges and last year's fair attracted more than 40,000 visitors. Tents are situated along the lakeside with authors all on hand to sell their books and to talk to members of the public. Literary events are held around the festival area including literary cruises. These cruises are a great opportunity to relax on one of the belle epoque CGN ferry boats while listening to debates among authors and to hear about their work. There will be dedicated events in English, including a discussion and screening of the film of The Boy in Striped Pyjamas in the presence of the author, John Boyne. Photo above: Douglas Kennedy in conversation on board a CGN ferry at the fair 2012 Entry is free of charge. Easy access to Morges by train from Geneva and Lausanne, by car by autoroute A1 or by a festival boat from Geneva. The Geneva Writers' Group will be hosting a cruise on the Henri Dunant Boat which will leave Geneva on Sunday 8 September at 09:45, it will stop in Nyon at 10:50 and return again to Geneva at 10:55. For the full programme of the festival see here For a list of the English authors see here For the literary cruises see here .

Far° - the final festival of the big four festivals in Nyon, starts today the 7th August and continues until the 17th August. (The other three festivals are Visions du Réel, Caribana and Paléo) Far° is the acronym for "festival des arts vivants", (festival of the living arts) and there is a lot on the programme over the next 10 days for lovers of performance art. Living in Nyon spoke to Véronique Ferrero Delacoste, the festival art and executive director, who explained that this year the festival will focus particularly on audience participation and performances that will take place outside the theatre space itself. She also highlighted three events that do not require a knowledge of French to understand them. The first, which sounds very intriguing is called "Strasse" (Street) Book a ticket to this performance and you will find a car waiting for you somewhere. A driver will take you through Nyon and its surroundings in a way that only he knows. En route, anything can happen! This unusual performance takes place every day from Friday 9th to Saturday 17th at the following times, 20:00, 20:45 21:30 22:15 23:00. The drive takes 30 minutes. Read more about the artists here Details of tickets and booking herePhoto below: Strasse - courtesy Far° The second event on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th August is "This is not a Love Story" by Gunilla Heilborn which tells the story of two reluctant heroes known as Vera and Kowalski. In this performance they speak and dance together and ask questions continuously: Who has done what? When? Where? And why? Both heroes look somewhat lost and overtaken by the course of events. Even their own fragmented speech seems to escape them. This choreographed road movie, developed over several art residencies from the North Cape to Lisbon, loosely reports the journey. Details here Photo below: "This is not a Love Story" - courtesy Far° The third arts performance that the festival director recommends to Living in Nyon readers, will be performed on the 9th August at 19:00, Monday 12th and Thursday 15th August at 19:00 and will take place in the small building called La Léproserie to be found just behind the Musée du Léman. The museum used to be the old hospital of Nyon and the Léproserie was the annex for patients suffering from leprosy! This piece will be performed by two dancers - Bastien Gachet and Gregory Stuaffer from Switzerland. Details hereFull programme of the entire festival here Apartment to rent in Geneva Photo below: Street view of flat/apartment For sub-let in Geneva, a furnished three room apartment ideally located (Servette) a few minutes from the UN and train station. On 3rd floor, composed of a living room with balcony, new fitted kitchen, bathroom, bedroom. Rent is CHF 2,300 which includes Wi-Fi, all bills and charges. Availability: September 1 2013 – March 31 2014 (with possibility to extend to July 31) You will need the following documents: ID, Resident permit for foreigners, Wage certificate, Letter from the Debt Enforcement Office Contact mobile number 079 527 6151 or e-mail v.landon@bluewin.ch Photo below: Lounge

Whether you are new to Switzerland, or have been here for a while, it's well worth visiting the Léman Expat Fair. There is always lots of useful information for the international community at this fair which will take place from 11:00 -17:00 on Sunday 3rd November in the Beaulieu in Lausanne This fair is now in its seventh year and gets bigger and better each year. Living in Nyon will be there with our own stand (booth 54) so come and say hello! It's also a good opportunity to purchase a copy of the book Living along Lac Léman (while stocks last!) Competition Entry is free to the Léman Fair but if you register in advance, you can enter a draw to win a range of prizes ranging from a voucher for one night and two dinner and breakfasts at the lovely Hôtel Palafitte on the water in Neuchatel, CFF vouchers, entrances to spas and more. You can register here for the draw English Book Exchange There is also an English book exchange too at the fair. Bring your used books and CDs and OFFER them to other expats! Full details hereLots of exhibitors Take a look at all the exhibitors at this fair from A-Z here Workshops and Presentations There are will be a range of presentations and workshops at the fair including a short presentation by Diccon Bewes on his book "Slow Train to Switzerland" - reminder Diccon will also be coming to Nyon on the 25th November for a fun evening event plus apéro see here. One of the presentations at the Léman Expat Fair at 13:30 -14:00 will be on "What steps are needed to start your own business?" by Julien Guex - Chamber of Commerce Vaud This presentation will give an overview of what one needs to know before setting up their own business in Vaud. Our speakers of the day, from the CVCI (Chamber of Commerce of the Canton of Vaud ), will cover the technical and legal aspects involved when setting up one's own business. Information will also be provided about the different existing organizations specifically dedicated to supporting emerging businesses and start-ups in the region. There will be another presentation from 15:00 - 16:00 on the "Canton of Vaud School Education System", followed by CVCI with a presentation on apprenticeships in Vaud. See you there at the fair! - Directions on how to get there by public transport and bus here

On Sunday afternoon at 15:00 during the last press conference of Paléo 2013, the storm clouds were already beginning to gather over the L'Asse grounds. A massive storm then arrived a couple of hours later just after the last violinist had played the last note and clarinettist Paul Meyer had taken a bow at the classical music concert which is a Sunday tradition at the festival. The heavens then opened. Everyone ran to shelter to escape the strong winds, rain and hail. This particular storm had been predicted over a week ago and Paléo was prepared. This was in contrast to the sudden and unexpected storm on Tuesday night in which the festival organisers were only given 30 minutes warning. Nevertheless, despite the obvious difficulties of the disruption to public transport on Tuesday, and the subsequent cancellation to the final concert of that evening, Paléo has announced that this has been another successful year. The New Arches stage. The installation of the new Les Arches stage worked well, and the feedback from the public was good. The bigger stage meant that smaller groups could have the chance to reach a wider audience. There were a couple of issues with sound at one or two of the concerts, and a few teething troubles with the circulation of the public between the stage and other areas. They felt that perhaps because of this big new stage, the Detour tent tended to get forgotten so perhaps this area needs to form its own identity a bit more, but the organisers were, on the whole, happy with the new Les Arches. Photo above: A Paléo crowd listening to Paul Meyer and Le Concert Européen in front of Les Arches, the new Paléo stage Music selection Jacques Monnier, Paléos music programmer (you can read more about him in French in a Swiss Info interview here), announced that the big headline acts this year had been very successful. Neil Young (particularly when he played "Like a Hurricane" through the Tuesday storm!) Dizzie Rascal, Blur, Smashing Pumpkins, Arctic Monkeys and Nick Cave were well received. Also generating a lot of buzz were acts such as the "Bloody Beetroots" concert who played late on Thursday night, along with the concert of Makoomba who played in the Dome and also Les Tambours du Burundi with their electrifying drumming. Photo above: Jacques Monnier - Music Programmer of Paléo Keeping the balance of music right to suit all generations was important to Paléo. Daniel Rossellat explained that the dates of other music festivals in Europe usually coincided with the end of school or university, so the age profile of festival attendees tended to be younger, but as many Paléo lovers have grown up with the festival and faithfully return each year, their music tastes change as they grow older. Rossellat also pointed out that when visitors come from other festivals to Paléo they are astonished at the relaxed ambiance (mainly due to the thousand of volunteers who work there) and that there are sit down restaurants at the festival with a wide choice of food on offer. The Weather at Paléo 2013 The subject on everyone's lips this year at Paléo was of course the weather which ranged from tropical heat to tropical storms. Not only was it a talking point amongst the public but also amongst the local police who witnessed some amazing scenes on Tuesday night as they directed fans back to their cars and onto the public transport. Apparently many fans got so completely soaked they stripped off all their wet clothes down to their underwear to head off home, so there were interesting sights to be had! Photo above: Cooling off at the Swisscom water spray There will be a selection of images of the bands and the sights and sounds of Paléo 2013 posted on this site over the next couple of days. We hope you have enjoyed the Living in Nyon coverage and in particular, the articles written by Jonas, our resident writer at Paléo. Next year Paléo will be from 22nd to 27th July 2014, the line up will be on April 1st and tickets on sale from the 9th April.

The Usine a Gaz (Nyon's permanent cultural venue) kicks off their new season of music, theatre, dance and art and comedy performances for 2013/2014 beginning with a Café Concert on Friday 13th September featuring the band "Profile" (see their video below). These free Café Concerts take place on one a Friday a month at the Usine and focus on up and coming artists. Note: the UK singer Wayne Paul will be performing on Friday 4th October, doors open at 21:00 concert at 21:30 Never been to the Usine before? Find out more about it in this previous Living in Nyon interview here with director Pierre Yves Schmidt. Theatre for Children There are also 5 performances scheduled for children over the coming season. These theatrical pieces will take place on selected Wednesday afternoons at 15:00. More on this here on this site nearer the time of each show (the first one will be on January 29, 2014) Flamenco star in February Also on the programme is rising Flamenco Star Rocio Marquez from Andalucia (see video below) she will be performing at the Usine on Saturday 1st February 2013. For the full Usine a Gaz programme see here Above "Profile" playing on Friday 13 September Above Rocio Marquez - she will playing at the Usine a Gaz on Saturday 1st February Above -Wayne Paul with "God 'Aint Ready" he will be singing at the Usine on Friday 4th October

The Open Air cinema is back in Nyon this year from 30 July and continues until the 25th August. The first film to be screened will be "Les Schtroumpfs" (the Smurfs!) Although films do not begin until 21:30, the terrace is open from 19:00 for snacks, "grillades" and drinks. Note - tomorrow Weds (the 31st July) the film will be "Now You see Me" (in English (details here) and on the 1st August (note: at the later time of 22:15 due to the National holiday) the film will be The Rolling Stones film "Live in Texas '78" . This film was released in 2011 and was filmed in 16 mm during the US Tour 1978. This live performance was recorded and filmed during one show at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas 18 July 1978 during their US Tour 1978 in support of their album "Some Girls" (details here). Ticket prices and more details here

Have you recently arrived in Switzerland as an expat? Here is a short article written by Melina Hiralal on how to cope with this exciting and challenging time. Melina is a cross cultural consultant and lives near Nyon. She works with companies, families and individuals offering training and assistance during both the expatriation and the repatriation process. She will be writing a series of articles for this site on expatriate issues and says that sometimes, "living in an unfamiliar culture is like watching a foreign film without sub-titles". If you would like advice from Melina you can contact her at hiralal.wolf@bluewin.ch The Swiss Honeymoon is over … now what? If you arrived at some point in Switzerland during the summer, you were probably basking in the knowledge that you made a good call when you or your family decided to become expats for a while. The country had all its finery on show, you may have spent lovely afternoons down at a lake, or been on beautiful walks up in the mountains or even participated in some of the many festivals that were going on during the summer break. Beautiful, clean, well-organised and safe, these things come to mind when we speak about Switzerland and they are the reasons that may have encouraged you to take the plunge. A few weeks down the line and real life has taken over . The children are possibly settling down in their new schools, the spouse is investing a lot of time and energy in the new job which brings its own challenges … and the accompanying spouse is left trying to build a life that feels “right” for everybody. The way we go about tackling the challenges of every-day life in a new location will influence our experience of living abroad. It can be nerve-wracking to drive the car on the “wrong” side of the road and everyday tasks take so much longer and can be a source of much frustration when you don’t speak the language. What might have seemed quirky and fun, now feels strange and decidedly “un-fun” as we try to get a handle on creating a new life in a new location. Frustration, confusion, tension and embarrassment are all normal reactions to our cross-cultural encounters. We let ourselves be fooled into a false sense of security by the fact that the population around us looks and lives in a way similar to the one we left behind without realising that it is in fact very different. The choices we make at this point will influence our expat experience. Is it helpful to withdraw from our host country’s society, criticising and rationalising what we see? Was it part of our plan to end up seeking comfort in the more familiar expatriate community? Probably not - so what can we do in order to avoid the downward spiral of loss of confidence and comfort and turn frustration into hope and resentment into trust along the way. Observe: just for a moment, imagine you have moved to Outer Mongolia, or another culture very different from your own. How would you go about learning about this culture and the best way to fit in? Be curious: try the new food, participate in the new customs and experience new ways of doing things. Inquire: ask a local why they do things differently, ask a local to explain what the tradition and customs you are observing means. Listen: Listen to the explanations you are given, they are the key to the code to understanding your environment. Living in an unfamiliar culture is like watching a foreign film without sub-titles. These simple tools can hopefully increase your understanding of what is happening around you and help you to feel more connected to the place you have chosen as your temporary home. Melina Hiralal - Cross-cultural consultant

Monday night is "Movie in English" night in Nyon and the new Woody Allen Film "Jasmine" will be shown tonight 23rd September at Nyon's Capitole Cinema at 20:30. The film stars Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin (see poster below). See the cinema's website here for info on their other films