« The New Nomads »

"Home is not a place, but the relationship you have with people"

Geneva, Switzerland

Katharina has a room of six squared meters on the edge of Geneva. She shares the apartment with five other international people. Before she arrived to Geneva, she lived in Germany, Australia, and France. Initially she came to Geneva to do an internship with the United Nations. She loves the city and its international character but she becomes sad every time a friend leaves - and that happens regularly. She sees her future in a place where people will stay a little longer than six months. Katharina, Germany (27)

Estelle came to Geneva after having lived in the Netherlands and the United States. There she lived in New Jersey, Ohio and New York City. The lake, the mountains and the plenty music festivals in Switzerland make her happy, but she misses the Mediterranean sea and lifestyle. The central location of Geneva makes it is easy to travel to Lyon, Paris and Marseille. In two years from now she wants to be “in the field” in Africa or Southeast Asia where she can work on deforestation and forest degradation issues. Estelle, France (39)

Paulo arrived in Geneva to work for the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations. Now he is a human rights activist. Previously, he lived in Brasil and Finland, and studied in The Netherlands and Belgium. He enjoys the calm and international atmosphere of Geneva, but he does not like the fact that the city is very expensive. In two years from now he would love to live in Brasilia or Rio de Janeiro and defend the rights of people living in the Amazon. Paulo, Brasil (38)

Lusia lived in the Netherlands, South Africa, Namibia, Italy and Cyprus before coming to Switzerland. Because she has been in Geneva for quite a long time, she feels at home. She is lucky with the reasonable rent for her large room, which is original retro. It are the high living standards, the international people and the lake that make her happy. She has never had the opportunity before to spend her free time on a lakeside. The only thing she misses are proper bike lanes. Soon after being photographed Lusia left for Madagascar to realise her dream and work for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Lusia, The Netherlands (28)

When he was 20 years old Jamie left Canada. Ever since, he lived in Finland, Denmark, Ghana, Italy and Barbados. Although he misses a cornerstone in his life, a safe group of friends, he enjoys the intensity of friendships with people in Geneva. He feels special to have been in the city longer and to have friends who haven’t moved yet. Even though he lives with his girlfriend he does not feel at home, rather ‘in-between’. He calls Geneva home just because he lives there. Jamie, Canada (31)

Marcelo arrived to Geneva for an internship and now works for the same international organisation, realizing a much wanted opportunity. He misses the scala of cultural activities (theatre, cinema, exhibitions, nightlife) that he enjoyed most when living in Paris. Compared to previous experiences in United States, France and Lithuania he loves the comfortable life, the good public services and well preserved nature in Geneva. He says that the high turn over of people in the city do not create superficial contacts, but “holes” when they leave. Marcelo, Mexico (29)

Andrea came to Geneva for work and sees herself in the same city in two years from now. She lived in France, Namibia, Botswana, New Zealand and Australia before coming to Switzerland. In Geneva she misses a mixed population and easy going culture. At the same time she likes having lots of work options and the central location of the city in Europe. She lives together with her partner Suddha, but due to a recent move within Geneva she does not feel at home quite yet. Andrea, Germany (31)

Suddha came to Geneva to do his Master degree in International Relations and intended to go back to India but then changed his career path and met his partner Andrea. He likes the city, because one does not need to belong in Geneva to feel at home; one does not need to integrate. Geneva is for everyone and as such it is very much home to Suddha. He does miss aspects of India: he misses spicy food, people moving quickly, not having a permanent residence and no anonymity. Suddha, India (30)

Jurabek came to Geneva to do a Master degree in humanitarian law. Now he is in-between jobs and waiting for replies. He feels like he has not spent enough time in Switzerland to call it home and he misses family and friends. He does not like the fact that time passes by so quickly in Geneva, but he does like to meet people from everywhere, especially in the student residence where he lives. Jurabek, Uzbekistan (31)

Lana is a human rights activist who works for a non-governmental organisation in Geneva. Before coming to Geneva she lived in Croatia, Italy and Australia. She moved recently to Switzerland and gave her room a make over by buying some new furniture in colors she likes. She has not found anything that she does not like about Geneva, except for not having direct flights to Croatia. She loves the lake and the nature, the international vibe and French influence on food in the city. Lana, Croatia (32)

Roshni came to Geneva to study international relations and was photographed five days before her permanent departure to Sweden, adding another place to her nomad living. Roshni lived in Australia and France before and would like to be in either Afghanistan, Brazil, or Norway in two years from now. She loves Geneva for its combination of human species and dislikes it for people’s disposable attitude towards the city. She feels at home because she is able to bike and has wonderful friends, but she misses India for its noisiness, food and the feeling of being powerful in a heterogeneous crowd. Roshni, India (24)

Three years ago, after having lived in Denmark, the United States and Argentina Brian came to Geneva for a girlfriend and a Master in International Law and “now they are both done”. His current girlfriend lives in New York City and they meet regularly half way: in Iceland. A week after he was photographed he moved to The Netherlands. Brian learned to like Geneva with its clear air and rivers. The longer he stayed in Geneva, the more difficult he found it to make connections. As he was born and raised in one place, he feels disconnected from his home, he does not relate to other nomads. Brian, United States (33)

With a French mother and a Palestinian father Eric grew up in different places, but mainly in the United States. He likes that Geneva is a cosmopolitan place and he relates to the many transient people in the city. It is the first time he has met people with a similar upbringing, which makes him feel at home. He finds the winters miserable, the cultural life not spectacular and the elite obscene. He misses the diversity of food and people most. He would like to move to the Middle-East next, but he will go wherever the job takes him. Eric, United States (28)

Bérénice is of mixed descent: France, Martinique and Togo. Bérénice lived in France, Sweden, the United States and Guadalupe Island and now undertakes a PhD in Geneva. She remains close to her African roots. She likes small cities where one can travel in an environmental friendly way, consequently she feels at home in Geneva. It are food and family that she misses the most. In two years from now she hopes to be in the United States doing research or back in Guadalupe Island. Bérénice, France (29)

Alexis identifies himself as a nomad who has lived in eight different countries before arriving to Switzerland: France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Syria, Congo, Kenya and Cambodia. He works in the international development sector and likes Geneva for its opportunity to develop his career. He also likes the nature and being close to his family. He misses Africa and Cambodia because life is more colorful and bright over there. Alexis has felt home in all places where has lived to date, on the other hand he does not have a place that he can call “home”, he identifies as a world citizen. Alexis, France (27)

For the last 10 years Helen has lived in Colombia, Mozambique, Angola, Peru, Madagascar, South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe. She had been in Geneva for nearly a year when she was photographed. She dislikes Swiss customer service and misses some vibrancy, but the lake and the mountains make her happy. She loves hiking and skiing and the fact that she has her own apartment. She travels and has traveled a lot for her work in the sector of humanitarian demining. In two years from now, she may be following an arts education or be farming in Africa. Who knows? Helen, Scotland (33)

Eva likes Geneva for her work in the humanitarian sector, the student residence she lives in and the nice weather. She feels at home. Previously, she lived in Luxembourg which she did not enjoy. In Geneva she misses her friends, but other than that she is quite happy. In the future she would like to do something valuable for stateless people or she may also settle for a possible relationship - anywhere in the world. Eva, Slovakia (26)

Rakan has Jordanian ancestors and grew up in the United States but identifies as Canadian. He came to Geneva to do a MBA. He quit his full time, permanent, well paid job for the Canadian government because his dream was to work for an international organisation in Geneva. Currently he works for the United Nations and lives in a students’ residence. Being very happy because Geneva is like a home, he enjoys the diversity of people but he would like to improve his french to better integrate. Rakan, Canada (29)

Kostandina recently obtained a Master in International Relations and now works in the sector of humanitarian assistance. She likes the wealth and luxury in Geneva, but does absolutely not feel at home. The superficial relationships with people and language barrier make her wretched. Kostandina feels discriminated against as a citizen from Albania - a non European Union country - by local people and the local authorities. Consequently she does not feel welcome and would like to move away once her job is finished. Kostandina, Albania (25)

For Pooja home is not a place, but about a relationship one has with people. She increasingly feels at home in Geneva but she does miss people of her “own community” especially for celebrations. She loves her work as a human rights activist and would like to continue doing the job for a different organisation in Asia or Geneva in the future. Pooja likes the city for its art scene and space to exercise certain types of freedom, it is a safe place where human rights activists face less barriers in fulfilling their job. Pooja, India/Thailand (30)

Laurie first moved to Australia for an exchange programme during secondary school, but she never returned. She since moved on to live in Costa Rica, The Netherlands, Ethiopia, Italy and recently arrived in Switzerland. However, home is still where her parents live. She likes the international atmosphere in the city and the multiple languages spoken. She would like to continue to travel and sees herself working “in the field” in the future. As a result of her constant moving, Laurie has no constant connections. Her friends from university are most important to her. Laurie, Germany (23)

After Jean’s experiences as engineer in Senegal, South Africa, Angola, Ghana and Italy he decided to move to Geneva to do a PhD in Anthropology. He almost feels at home, because he is close to his roots: Geneva is close to Chamonix, the place where he was born and raised. In Chamonix he does not feel at home anymore. He likes the local pier (Bains des Paquis) on the lake best. He used to like the mix of international people in Geneva, but he is getting bored of that. Leaving the city to move somewhere else is an issue again now he is finishing his PhD. Jean, France (32)

Arunabh has been in Switzerland for three years and feels very much at home. He likes how well organized bus services and health care are. The work culture and mix of people are appreciated by him. He misses good, affordable street food and sometimes thinks the city is a bubble: the life people live and the work they do for international organisations is distant from “real life”. Eventually, Arunabh would like to work in the tech-sector in a Nordic country, elsewhere in Switzerland or Ireland to set up his own firm in green energy or big data work. Arunabh, India (25)

Nancy likes the fact that one can meet a Korean defecter, Bosnian refugee and American banker on one day in Geneva. Nancy lived in Australia, Laos, Cambodia, Palestine, the Occupied Syrian Golan heights, France and Northern Ireland, but she cannot get used to European winters. She loves Geneva, surprisingly, and it is a place where she would like to come back to in future. Home is the place where she spent most time and where her parents are from: Ireland. Even though she has an Australian passport, she doesn’t feel Australian. When her work in Geneva finishes, she would like to work for a humanitarian agency in Sub-Sahara Africa. Nancy, Ireland (27)

Home to Ting is a place where you can talk to people and do what you want without being weird. He feels comfortable in Geneva because he does not feel like he is from elsewhere. The best aspects about the city is the easy transportation, but at the same time the high level of organization and living standards make the place predictable - without surprises. He feels privileged and too distant from the rest of the world. Ting lived in England, Malawi and Zambia earlier, in the future he would like to return to Africa or the Middle-East as a water sanitation engineer. Ting, China (27)

After living in Venezuela, the United States and the United Kingdom Tatiana came to Switzerland to do a Master’s degree in translation and interpretation. There she met her partner José. She likes that Geneva is peaceful and calm, for its beautiful landscapes in the surroundings and the possibilities on the labour market. She dislikes the Swiss customer service and says that it proves that money does not equal good services. She has the feeling life in Geneva always is a competition. Thanks to her adaptability she feels at home. Tatiana, Venezuala/Italy (36)

55 José came to Geneva to also do a Master’s degree in translation and interpretation. There he met his partner Tatiana. He likes the security and personal safety in Geneva and its multilingualism. He misses Christmas with his family most. As a trumpeter he also misses the presence of live Latin music, but luckily he can listen to it at home. He has the feeling one is excluded when he or she does not have a good job in Geneva. Despite the different life and values in the city, he feels at home. José Fernando, Colombia (25)

59 Frances was born in Canada, grew up in Argentina, the Netherlands, studied in England and France and now works in the private sector in Geneva. Next she would like to move to Singapore to do a MBA. Geneva seems a fair city to Frances, a city that takes well care of its people. Life is easy and international, it is almost the best of two worlds combined: working with Latin American people in the heart of Europe! She likes the people she is surrounded by and she feels happy within. Yes, she feels at home. Frances, The Netherlands/Canada (24)

It is difficult for Claudia to think of positive aspects of Geneva: she likes its small size and the possibility to cycle everywhere. Other than that she misses the Sicilian sun, food, vital energy and joyful people. In Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, France, Belgium and Spain she has felt at home because she enjoyed those places. In this city she only sometimes feels at home. She hopes to be back in Italy soon and then start traveling again. Claudia, Italy (33)

François is a lawyer, it is the first time for him in Europe and he appreciates how life is organized. He even feels at home, thanks to “the brothers and sisters” in the building he lives in. There is nothing François misses, but he does not like the homeless people, drug addicts and prostitutes around the neighborhood where he lives. He might come back to Geneva later in life to continue his career as a human rights activist. François, Burundi (29)

Evan came to Geneva for “family reunification”, after having had a long distance relationship she finally settled with Michiel in Geneva. She loves living with her partner and connecting with the nature. She misses her native language and going to a shop without having to look up words. For the most part Evan feels at home, but profound connections she has with other people such as family and friends, in other words ‘roots’, are poor. She often speaks about when and where they will start a family, she is flexible with the opportunities. Evan, United States (30)

Michiel came to Geneva for a job in the second biggest office of his company. He loves being with Evan and living in a city that is so close to nature. Although, he would appreciate a bigger, more anonymous city with shops open on Sundays too. Now his parents become older and his friends start to have families, he misses them. Their next move will be career related, it could be The Netherlands, it could be somewhere else. Michiel, The Netherlands (32)