Mary Braun and her husband, Sébastien, have been navigating a new chapter of their lives in Switzerland for over two years. Their journey began in September 2022 when Braun was faced with a career ultimatum: return to the office full-time or lose her position as a social media manager for a Swiss company. Her boss’s inflexibility towards remote work catalyzed their decision to move abroad. This choice was further complicated by Sébastien’s job transfer offer to Germany, which Braun found unappealing. In March 2022, the couple solidified their partnership by getting married, setting the stage for a series of life-changing decisions.
Initially, Braun and Sébastien moved into Braun's parents' apartment in Zurich while awaiting the completion of necessary paperwork. Eventually, they settled into their own space—a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in Zurich's Enge neighborhood. As they adjusted to their new surroundings, life brought another surprise; Braun became pregnant in January 2023 and later welcomed their daughter into the world. With this new addition to their family, Braun took maternity leave, stepping away from the workforce temporarily.
During this period, Sébastien focused on securing a transfer to his company's European offices. The couple eventually relocated to a town outside of Fribourg, just under two hours from Zurich's city center. Here, they pay 2,630 francs, or $2,883 a month, for their spacious apartment. For Braun, the move has brought a remarkable sense of safety and well-being.
"The safety level is so different here that honestly, as a woman, I just feel safer doing things that I would probably think twice about doing in the U.S." – Mary Braun
Braun expresses appreciation for the security that life in Switzerland offers. She finds comfort in the peaceful environment and natural beauty of their new home.
"It feels very secure and safe while still being beautiful at the same time." – Mary Braun
The transition to Swiss life has not been without its challenges. Braun reflects on the logistical hurdles they faced and the surreal nature of their relocation.
"How are we in Switzerland? How did our dog make it here? How did everything fall into place?" – Mary Braun
Despite these challenges, Braun acknowledges the necessity of adapting to their new reality.
"This was our real life now and we had to deal with it. It was just surreal." – Mary Braun
The move has prompted Braun to consider her daughter's cultural identity and connection to her American roots.
"I never want our daughter to feel like she's not American and I want her to culturally identify with the U.S., at least the good parts of it," – Mary Braun
Braun also contemplates her future career opportunities, recognizing the potential for leveraging her journalism background if they were ever to return to the U.S.
"It's also tempting because for me, it would be easy to get back into the job market with my journalism background, especially as a freelancer, which isn't really a thing in Switzerland." – Mary Braun
Moreover, Braun is committed to learning French to enhance her career prospects should they move to Sébastien's home country. This linguistic pursuit aligns with her broader goal of expanding her professional opportunities in Europe.
Despite the distance from family support networks in the U.S., Braun finds solace in the support system they've built in Switzerland.
"To have the ability to have help and have someone to rely on and watch our daughter is amazing," – Mary Braun
However, she admits to missing aspects of their previous life in America.
"I miss it so much. It was a really cute building that still had brick walls and Chicago character but was gutted and renovated," – Mary Braun
Braun reflects on the choices they made that led them to Switzerland and acknowledges the challenges they left behind.
"There's too much uncertainty in the U.S." – Mary Braun
The couple's decision to move was driven by a combination of professional opportunities and personal safety considerations. As they settle into their new life, both Braun and Sébastien continue to balance their aspirations with their current realities. Their journey underscores the complexities of making significant life changes in pursuit of safety, stability, and opportunity.
"I was starting to get concerned about just balancing life," – Mary Braun