Posted by catswalks in The Filipina | 10 Comments
On being Filipina in Switzerland
In a lot of countries, the word Filipina is synonymous with domestic helpers, nannies, mail-order brides and prostitutes. This we have to accept. I have nothing against people engaged in these trades, hey prostitution is the oldest profession in the world. I cannot argue with that. Obviously, it’s necessary for the existence of mankind.
With a risk of sounding like Malu Fernandez, I have to admit that in the beginning of my stay in Switzerland 4 years ago, I did not appreciate to be asked if I was a mail order bride or if my husband bought me (yup!) or if I take care of children. I was trying to be a scientist but all I got was judgmental stares as I walk along Zurich’s streets. I felt that I was being dismissed and belittled just because I was Filipino.
Just paranoia? I don’t think so. Once, while collecting insects in a field just outside Zurich with my husband (who is Swiss) for a biological experiment (we used to work together), a Swiss farmer on a tractor saw us. He immediately jumped out of his tractor and ran towards my husband. The farmer while staring at me, excitedly asked my husband where he found me, if I cook well and if I have a sister! I felt like a cow for sale getting appraised.
In Rome while on vacation, I was refused entry to a McDonalds! I felt so humiliated when a crew pushed me out the door while shouting at me in Italian. I bit back the tears as I went back to my husband waiting outside for his food. I couldn’t comprehend why I was treated that way. Is it because I was Filipina?
For a few months, I resented Filipino mail order brides and OFWs all over the world who I thought was responsible for my difficult time in Switzerland. I resented them for not being proud enough to refuse to sell their souls only to be second class citizens of another country. I blamed them for my inability to get respected in my new world and for being stereotyped as a domestic helper. I went as far as to pretend to be South American!
Please don’t burn my blog just yet and continue reading.
i gotta admit, reading your blog made my blood boil on how foreigners treat filipinas. maybe i’m bit sheltered since i live in california, and believe me, there’s a lot of chinese, filipinos, russians, indians, basically just everyone. i had those green card jokes but not as harsh as the experiences you’ve had. we shouldn’t blame ourselves for other people’s ignorance. more power to the filipina.
It is also quite international here (30% of the population of Zurich are foreigners) but somehow the people are still a bit xenophobic. I actually experienced other events in other European countries:
Vienna, Austria – an old woman shouted at us ” go home foreigners” in German while on a bus.
Zurich- saleswomen gossiping about me that I am not nice and impolite in their language (what they don’t know is that I understood everything they said)
Spain- my cousins were also thrown out of a shop with the saleswoman shouting “pobre” (beggars or something)!
etc etc.
Now, actually, I just hold my head high and not care.
Wow, I think I may have laughed off some of the situation as just some culture clash with a dash of ignorance, but the McDonald’s thing? I don’t know what that bugs me more than the rest. How strange! What made you think it had to do with your being Filipina? I’m curious because I’d like to visit Rome one day.
Hi Alice,
Because the McDonalds was full and I was the only one stopped and pushed out… By the way, I love Italians (have many Italian friends now)! It only happened once to me in Italy, I had been to Italy several times after that and it has always been pleasant aside from that one time…
Cheers!
Cathy
Thank you for sharing your experiences. You have just contributed to the upliftment of the Filipina by sharing your story to the word.
Hi Noemi,
Thanks! =) I am very happy to share it.
Cheers!
cathy
hi guys,
i really felt bad after reading about this……i know what other countries
saying about the philippines and filipinos/filipina but i am still proud to be a filipina……..nway thanks for posting this atleast we are more aware on how to handle things like this. more power to all filipino and keep it mind
dignity is far more important so don’t give foreigners reason to put us down……Mabuhay everyone…..
why to said to proud to be? sound like alienated, or suffering of psychological prob…(show bisness must be out, stop to dance and think)
to be pinay in switzerland sound already two things
to have contact with agency to have visa to enter in switzerland
i know agency near former hyatt regency who help so many filipina to enter in switzerland( in touch with russian mafia for seamen business….)
or in second, have a contact with the old pinay working in swiss embassy in 90s who sold so much visa to other agency, and directly
thats the first story
nowadays nothing change only in swiss embassy ….ehehe they realize the danger to have filipina- os worker and …
in short nowaday a visa to enter in switzlerland cost in manila agency and visayan agency 10 000swiss francs
sheila can confirme isnt it(a filipina listened by police for …)
yet there are
of course they are slavery allowed with Vienna convention application
remember in 2001 when a pinay diplomatic in Meyrin…(she was proud to be pinay with diplomatic passeport)
at least to sum up too,
they are traffic and use of metamphetamine and usure
wake up with foreigner or without foreigner but
dont be pound of that
be pround to respect swiss penale law
inspite walang pera for casino and maniac buying!!!!
about foreigner: my sweet poor alienated: dont give reason to illegal smuggler, drug dealer(the shabu is very very dangerous drug)
mabuhay to social progressive force in philippines
not to cbn abs show business
Hello! I am so sorry to hear your story. I also live here in switzerland and so far I have never experience what you had. I thought swiss are nice people but like you said I am sure not all. I hope your doing well now and if you like to meet let me know. maybe I can take you to a pinoy sociaty here which I am sure you will like. just be strong and make sure no one steps on you. cheers!!!
.-= Lamielle´s last blog ..Being a housewife =-.
I live in Switzerland too and I ‘m very sorry to hear this. I ‘m European, but my best friends are Filipino. They are very well integrated and among the friendliest people I ‘ve ever met. But as it seems, there are still prejudiced people in some places, which saddens me. As for me, I could easily imagine to live with a wife from the Phillipines and nobody of my friends or relatives would have any problem with that.