Daily Life in Zürich

Parliament - Der Geminderat

Daily Life in Zürich is a class that is offered to women that moved to Züri. The course is given in many languages. Every Wednesday morning from this week until the middle of December I am attending. The concept is to help newcomers understand Züri and Switzerland to some extent. The courses will cover everything from history, government, school and everything in between. We go on a walking tour, state museum and even the incinerator.  Under normal circumstances we even attend city government meetings, but COVID- 19 does not mean normal - so no class trip there. The classes are divided by language preference. I think I saw at least nine different languages groups walking to their classrooms.

I admit I find it odd that it is for "women only." But , that is not an uncommon experience here. Remember women did not get the right to vote in Switzerland until 1971.  The city subsidizes this program substantially. And for those that live in the city if they complete 12 of the classes, they get language vouchers.  

And the funny thing - the woman I sat next two - had just spent 5 years in Chapel Hill for her husband's Ph.D. (I admit I got a pang of homesicknesses as the conversation took me back to Franklin Street).

Fun Facts of the Day:

26 cantons (like states) in Switzerland

Kindergarten is mandatory

There are 7 member of the Federal Council. The President of Switzerland holds that position for one year. There is a VP and then 5 additional members. Each political party takes a year to hold the presidency. The council is made of seven political parities. (Even has to sit in the sandbox together) At one point there were 2 women in the Council. One was stepping down - as was another man. The council realized only 1 woman would be represented. The parties decided that was not appropriate and informed the 2 parties needing to pick a new representative that at least one woman would need to be included. As a result both parties selected a woman. So the council is not 3 women - 4 men.

Ruth Dreifuss was the first female president.

The current president of Swiss Confederation is Simonetta Sommaruga.

The current and first openly gay mayor of Zürich is Corine Mauch (And was an American citizen).

3 women in Parliament, a woman in charge of the country and the largest city  - that is a big change from 1971!