In my opinion it is much more dificult to make a living in Switzerland as an illegal alien than it seems to be in the US. It is almost impossible for Swiss employers to employ people without papers and people of color really stand out much more than they would in the USA. Life is very expensive and unless you make a half way serious living you will end on the street, be picket up and get deported. Language(s) is an other issue. So maybe it is not so attractive and/or the visa issueing consulates can handle are smaller flow of people in a less defensive way.
The wast majority of Dominicans in Switzerland are females. Some got there on a "dancing" visa (which allows them to work in a night club for a resticted time per year) and married there, others came already married with a Swiss husband directly from the island. Some brought their kids along, some created new families. Most seem to have adapted quite well to a very different environement, but never seem to forget their roots (luckingly
). Not only large cities like Zürich, Bern, Lausanne and Geneva have bars and clubs where they can found dancing bachata and having imported Presidentes and talking
ai mi tierra linda stories and trading the latest secrets to perfect
concon and
arroz con habichuelas using Swiss ingredients, all under a big Dominican flag. Most seek employment after a while and many started their own little (hairdresser or ropa linda) business, attitude which I have great respect for... most Swiss people would not have the guts to get into business on their own in such tight business environement as Switzerland. Interestingly they do not mutate like DomYorks. Still, when coming back most will have to discover that they have changed in mentality somewhat.
It's only after having been introduced into that cyrcle that I developed my interest for the island.
... J-D.
(11)
dominican visit to Switzerland
