Life in different countries as a teenager

Comparing life as a foreigner in different countries.

Our school is an international school, with people of different cultures and nationalities and people who have lived in many countries. I am writing to share my experiences living in 3 countries (Switzerland, Turkey and Russia) and their cultural similarities and differences.

Life in Switzerland

I was born in Switzerland. I do not remember much of my time there because I was young. However, I can say that, compared to Italy, Switzerland is clean and costly. It is a land-locked country and its capital is Bern.

Switzerland has 4 official languages:

Italian
German
French
Romansh

I used to live in Lugano, in the canton (region) of Ticino, where people speak Italian and the culture is similar to Italy's. Swiss people celebrate holidays such as Easter, Christmas and New Year, and the majority of the population follows Christianity.

Despite this, Swiss people tend to look down on Italians who live there, describing them as “mice stealing their Swiss cheese”.

Life in Turkey

I moved to Istanbul, Turkey when I was 2 years old and lived there for 8 years, so most of my childhood memories are from there. I grew up in a lively neighbourhood with many people of different nationalities.

A difference is the religion and holidays celebrated. Turkish people are mainly Muslim, so they don’t celebrate holidays like Christmas or Easter. Instead, they celebrate Muslim traditions such as the Ramadan Feast, a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. They also take national holidays, like Republic Day, very seriously; everyone raises the Turkish flag.

Despite these differences, Turkish people are very kind and outgoing, especially towards foreigners. They have a generous spirit and are hospitable and friendly.

Life in Russia

I moved to Moscow, Russia, in 2019 and lived there for 3 years. When I arrived, I first noticed the cold weather and the amount of snow. It was completely different to what I was used to in Turkey.

The harsh climate influences the way people act. For example, during the Winter, there would be approximately 7 hours of sunlight daily. This can cause people to be depressed and feel down. I remember taking the bus every morning for school, and it would still be dark outside. It is quite repetitive. Also, the amount of snow could get quite frustrating.

Russian people are far less outgoing, probably because of Russia's history of being under a dictatorship during the Soviet Union. Russians tend to avoid foreigners. They are not as friendly or hospitable as Turkish people are.