A decade has passed since I moved to Asia. It’s incredible how quickly time flies. Ten years ago, I booked a one-way ticket to Hong Kong with my 14-month-old son. When people ask how long I’ve lived in Asia, I often reply, “I came to Hong Kong with a 2-year contract—and I never left.” That’s probably because I have heard this sentence so often from other expats. The years have flown by. After three years here, I wrote about my experiences in a German blog post.
Three years have now passed since I started living in this special city. Many experiences have stuck in my memories. I’ve learned that I’m not supposed to put X marks on form fields, but rather make a “tick” (✔️) instead. I was compared to “emigrants”, or in german language “Die Auswanderer”, on german television and had quite a few problems with my Swiss accounts at Google, Apple, Spotify, and PayPal during the move. And last but not least, there were all those little things every day that challenged me.
I certainly also had problems adapting to the new world. At some point, I realized that while returning to Switzerland remains an option, it’s not easy. This is especially true when you have a child. Seven years ago, I knew that already.
My son (4 years old) speaks English with me and regularly explains Cantonese or Chinese words to me. And during our Sunday drawing sessions, he asks me why the house I drew only has only two floors?! This makes me realize again how long we’ve been living in Asia among skyscrapers.
His roofs were always flat, and his drawings always had multiple floors.

And today? My son is now 11 years old, speaks English and Chinese, plays football, and is fully integrated into the school. Would I now come back to Switzerland? Most probably not. But this isn’t just about my son. Returning would present many challenges, the biggest being my own feelings—I’ve grown distant from Europe while falling in love with Asia.
- I feel that Europe’s mindset is completely different from Asia’s. From my experience, Asians tend to be more carefree and find more joy in life. While this is a personal observation rather than a universal truth, that’s how I feel today. Sometimes, I wonder which would be the greater challenge—leaving Europe for Asia a decade ago or potentially returning after all this time to Switzerland.
- I read in a German blog post about digital nomadism from 2019: “And if you’re gone too long, you’re losing touch. Then, for example, you can no longer fully understand what ‘First World Problems’ are in Switzerland.” And that’s quite true. After a decade in Asia, witnessing the struggles of Southeast Asia’s poorer communities, I find it difficult to relate to these “First World Problems.”
- Switzerland is beautiful, and the people are friendly. But my body has changed. I eat more Asian food than Swiss dishes, and when it’s 15 degrees cold outside, I immediately put on a hoodie—plus a jacket. The jacket I used to wear in Switzerland at 0 degrees is now worn at 15 degrees. Ten years ago, I never could have imagined this.
- Hong Kong and Asia have so much to offer. The nature is magnificent, and you can hike between (small) mountains and beautiful beaches. Yes, Switzerland has a lot to offer, too. However, probably because I grew up in the Alps, I’m fascinated by “the other side.”
- Last but not least, other metropolises like Taipei, Manila, Ho Chi Minh, or Bangkok are only 2-3 hours away. Perfect to explore other countries.


Ten years ago, my life changed a lot. Moving abroad was a huge step for me—my first time living outside Switzerland (for a longer time). Shortly before departure, I wrote this post:
Especially during your last days in your old homeland, you suddenly perceive ordinary things quite differently.
- Meeting friends for the last time
- Taking the train in Bern for the last time
- Attending a Tweetup or BLGMNDYBRN for the last time
- Spending the last night in Switzerland
- Having a final latte at your favorite coffee bar
- Going to the old office one last time
- Turning the key in the old apartment’s lock for the last time

Where will I be in another 10 years? I don’t know. Asia has become my new home. I come home to Hong Kong, and I go home when I leave Bern. Nevertheless, Bern and Switzerland will always be my homeland. The place where I was born and spent the first 35 years of my life will naturally remain unforgettable.
Will I be back in Switzerland in 10 years? Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t have any plans. Not today. Maybe tomorrow. And in July, for sure, but only for a few days.

Are the opportunities of living abroad worth the challenges?
Yes, I believe so. At least for me. Of course, it was a challenge to leave the “safe harbor” Switzerland. But there are opportunities. You can do so many great things in Asia. It’s also actually pretty easy to adapt to Hong Kong for western people.
Or let’s turn it around. What are the risks? What could in the worst case happen to me? There is always a last option available: going back to your home country! At least in Switzerland, we do have this safety net. Maybe I would loose money, but you gain for sure experiences.