From Sardinia to Geneva: Cinzia and her suitcase full of determination and curiosity

Leaving Sardinia out of curiosity, almost for fun, and then staying abroad. A bet won by Cinzia Cadeddu, 30 years old who grew up in Assemini, started eight years ago and now lives in Geneva. One of the most international cities that welcomes cultures and citizens from all over the world.

But she, the only child of parents who let her go - even if her father with some doubts later dispelled - looking for her future by looking at her from afar, has never put aside her determination and the desire to always learn something new. and to improve within each experience.

If you ask her which "home" is, she no longer knows: it is not that of Assemini because it has been missing for too long, it is not the one in the United Kingdom where she lived during Erasmus, not even the one in Spain where she was for a master or the one in France where she stayed for a year. In Geneva he found permanent jobs, almost a chimera in Italy: "But it is also true that in Switzerland the dismissal is not so complicated to sign, there are not too many protections".

What do you do?

“Now of accounting for a company that transports oil, until five months ago I was in the tourism-hotel sector, for three years I worked in a large 5-star hotel. It was a very nice experience then Covid and the crisis arrived, there was less and less to learn, while I was 'hungry' for new things. I started at the reception then I grew up and was able to contribute to other departments by receiving two promotions ”.

Two totally different fronts.

“Yes, on the positive side there is the fact that now I have a more regular life, with office hours, but it is certainly less 'vibrant', less dynamic, less creative. The other job was perhaps more stressful but constantly in contact with people from many different cultures ”.

When did you leave Sardinia?

“In the last year of my bachelor's degree in political science and international relations at the University of Cagliari, I won an Erasmus scholarship in Great Britain for 10 months and practically never came back. I submitted my thesis and after the summer I went to Spain, then since I also wanted to learn French (he speaks English, Spanish and is taking a German course, ed) I packed all the books, despite being enrolled in the specialist , and I went to be an au pair in France. The second year I spent in Geneva and every two or three months I returned to Cagliari for the exams ”.

Is Switzerland still one of the big dreams and the country of big earnings?

“When I arrived, the situation was very different from 10 years ago when everything was more accessible when it comes to work or renting a house. Today Geneva is competitive and it is difficult to find your own space. Many are forced to live in France because salaries have shrunk, they are not what they believe and the expenses are many: let's think not only of the rent but also of the medical insurance which here is mandatory and in reality covers little or nothing . Of course young people are given the opportunity to grow, in Italy this is not always the case. But one thing makes me angry ”.

Thing?

“Here my qualification is not as valid as in Italy, my degree is not recognized because there is no such thing as 'equivalent'. While the situation is different, for example, for those who have a degree in medicine and therefore have a more 'practical', 'operational' title ”.

How are we Italians seen in general?

“This is a country of frontiers, there are the UN, many banks and international organizations, people who come from every state, it is very difficult to find Swiss. Perhaps this makes it easier for you to feel foreign. I have worked a lot with the French, they are experts in making you feel uncomfortable because you do not speak their language, which here is the 'official' one, but in the world of work, Italians are considered those who roll up their sleeves, who adapt to schedules, we receive many compliments. The French, on the other hand, are the grumblers ”.

And during the pandemic? The Italians were judged as "carriers of Covid".

“I remember very well when the emergency broke out. It was the time when the Motorshow was organized and everything was canceled. For weeks the most affected countries were China and Italy, I felt a little pointed at by my colleagues but it didn't take much to see that France, and therefore the frontier workers, had come to count more infections and victims. The situation then spread to other states, in short, I was symbolically targeted for a short time, and only at the beginning ”.

How did you live those months?

“Here we never had the obligation to stay at home, nor curfew times and we could travel throughout Switzerland. A fortune. The fear was there, we limited the movements, but knowing that we could go out for a walk helped a lot psychologically. I spent two and a half months on layoffs, from March to June, then I started again but never 100 percent ".

In a globalized world, do you feel "emigrated"?

“A little bit yes, because I am. And it has been like this for eight years. Returning to Sardinia is increasingly difficult, considering that from October to April there are no flights available, luckily technology helps a lot and with video calls, photos, etc., distances are reduced ".

Would she go back to the Island?

“If I found a stable and safe job I would think about it, or at least I don't rule it out. But I hear many former colleagues, friends or relatives who at my age are still struggling to find a permanent job. And without it I couldn't do anything, not even buy a car. In short, to change it must be worth it ”.

In Geneva there is a community of Sardinians, do you frequent them?

“I had approached the Sardinian club shortly before the coronavirus, then all the events were gradually canceled. Now slowly they are starting again and I too have resumed contact. Initially, in the past years and in the other cities where I lived, I tried not to hang out with Italians because I ended up not learning the local language, now the perspective has changed, perhaps because I have many international friends, I am engaged to a Frenchman and a few times ago it is good to surround yourself with the scents and flavors of your land. Also for this reason I participated on Saturday in the conference on the enhancement of the cultural heritage of the island in the European context. A very interesting experience ".

What did we talk about?

“In the meantime, seeing the three Italian, Swiss and Sardinian flags close together gave me a good feeling, and this was just the beginning. My surprise was great when I realized how beautiful Sardinia is and the fact that even if there are many places I have seen, there are many others that deserve to be known, cultural and archaeological beauties to be discovered. And I cannot forget that I greatly appreciated the refreshments based on typical products and the music of the guest group who sang various songs that inevitably brought my mind back to my land ".

An environment that intrigued her ...

“A lot, I could also commit myself to this reality, why not bring ideas, contributions, other young Sardinians? It is true that each of us is immersed in his own reality and everyday life but I think that occasionally meeting between Sardinians is a great pleasure ".