Striking camp - "Ich meld mi ab!"

I have never been a fan of dealing with administrative necessities such as taxes and insurances. However, despite trying to avoid any binding ties here in Switzerland, I still signed up for the necessary things... because I had to.

So all these things I currently have to cancel or take care of.

When you leave Switzerland for two years or longer, and you don’t plan on returning any time soon (or at least not in said two-year time period), giving notice of leave to all the authorities is the obvious thing to do. You don’t want to return home just to do your taxes, right? You don’t want to keep paying for health insurance when you are covered through your university or through your employment. You also don’t want to keep your Swiss phone plan. And you’re technically not allowed to keep your Swiss bank account(s) since Swiss banks are “not doing business with the US anymore” (“d ZKB het kei Gschäftsbeziehige mit de USA meh.” imfall.).

Now that school is out, I can finally focus on the things that need closure before I move (I have luckily lined up everything as soon as I knew I would leave for Ohio again). 

Ich meld mi ab!

I have compiled a list of everything I could think of (and that applied to my situation in particular, too, so different points may apply to different cases) in the hopes that this might be useful to anyone who will leave one day as well:

1. You need a visa, obviously. Mine is a non-immigrant F-1 student visa, valid for 5 years or for as long as you are enrolled.
   
   
2. You need to let the municipality of your place of residence (die gute Gemeinde) know that you are leaving (at least 8 weeks prior to your departure). They will provide you with an official certificate of departure (Abmeldungsbestätigung) after you have turned in your tax declaration of the current year (unterjährige Steuererklärung, sieht genau gleich aus), see point 3. (Unless you’re as small of a fish as I am, then they know your tax declaration won’t be really worth any money and give you the certificate right away. Yet I still have to hand in the declaration, this is Switzerland, after all)
   
   
3. You need to fill and hand in your tax declaration of the current year. Make sure you have all your salary statements.
   
   
4. You need to let your health insurance know that you are leaving the country. Usually, they just need a copy of the municipality’s certificate of departure along with a written and signed notice. Off you go, without Swiss health insurance for the first time in your life (quite a scary feeling!)
   
   
5. You need to let the SVA (social security bureau?) know that you are leaving. While you are enrolled as a student, you can still pay into the AHV through the SVA of the canton where you last lived. You will need to give someone the power of attorney so they can pay in your name. As soon as you are starting employment in the US, you will have to let SVA Geneva know that you would like to continue to pay into the AHV, as they are responsible for Swiss citizens abroad. 
   
   
6. You need to either switch from your current phone plan to a prepaid plan (if you want to keep your number) or cancel everything. Bye 07x.
   
   
7. You need the final bank statement(s) for your tax declaration and since you are technically not allowed to keep your Swiss bank accounts when you move to the US for a longer period of time (and thus have no official place of residence in Switzerland anymore) for reasons that have made the press various times in the recent years (let’s say Swiss banks have become very careful), you get those statements anyway once you have cast your accounts. Let’s say Swiss bankers have become very careful.
   
   
8. You need to cancel everything that involves your living situation (obviously).
   
   
9. You need to cancel any other insurances you may have.
   
   
10. You need to cancel your credit cards (or let them at least know you are leaving the country. I am canceling everything so I am not sure if you can keep them).

And upon arrival:

• Register with the Swiss representation responsible for the state you are going to live in. Switzerland wants to know where you are after you have officially left the country ;)

• Send a confirmation that you have enrolled with university to the SVA so you can continue to pay into the AHV.

Here’s one major piece of advice for you: START EARLY! Nothing is dumber than to procrastinate these things. I know it sucks but it really needs to be done. Most Swiss authorities and companies have certain periods and deadlines you should not/cannot miss.

Two more weeks to go until I am back in Ohio and even though I have everything lined up, I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly until I board the plane. And finally get back to Ohio.

Stay tuned! 

Jen


Ps: Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @swiss.in.ohio

Why Ohio? - Part Two: After

This is Part Two of Why Ohio? For more context on why Why Ohio?, read Part One here.

Now that I have lived in Ohio for half a year, my reasons why I chose Ohio (and choose it again!) have changed. They have become a matter of heartfelt feelings rather than of rational decisions.

Long before I left northeastern Ohio, I knew I would come back. After all, I have found love there, why would I not want to return?

This love came in many forms:

- New friends, some more grumpy than others.

- Critters, of whom a cat who tolerated me (but probably plotted to assault me in my sleep one night), a dog who fell in love with me, and a horse who discovered dressage through me.

- Horace, my first own car, an old stick shift Honda, who has never let me down (yet), despite having some 300,000 miles on his engine.

- And, of course, J., who is my best friend, fiercest supporter (and motivator), and partner (in crime, too, he is that awesome).

My beloved critters.

My Morgan.

Alright, now you’re probably thinking “but this could have happened anywhere in the world, so why Ohio?”

Yeah. Why Ohio?

While most think Ohio is not worth a visit, I have made great experiences there. Here are my personal highlights.
(List is not conclusive, I will continue to make more great experiences)

Kent State University:

The school, at which I spent a big chunk of time, obviously.

Despite losing my sense of direction for some reason, I felt very comfortable at Kent State University. I may write a separate post about KSU, so I won’t spill the beans in this one. Let’s just stay with “I liked it” so far.

Liking KSU, experiencing a sudden ambition career wise, and wanting to return to my loved one(s) made me decide to apply for graduate school there. And I got accepted with a stipend. So why wouldn’t I want to return there?

One of the many gates on the KSU campus.

KSU's Taylor Hall in fall.

Northeast Ohio:

The area I lived in (and soon will be living in again!) is rural and thus beautiful with many lakes, forests, and trails. However, for Ohioans, a trail that leads you through the woods for a mile and circles back to your car is apparently considered a ‘hike’. I would have to walk 10 miles to consider something a ‘hike’, probably even more so I could avoid shaming my Swiss heritage. And then it is not even walking up a mountain, it is walking in a flat area. Short distance strolls through the woods.

Northeastern Ohio may have some hills, but they are not very tall. At least not tall enough to impress a Swiss, anyway. (When someone pointed out the Appalachian Mountain range in West Virginia to me a couple years ago, I really asked “What mountains?”)

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park

West Branch State Park

West Branch State Park

Cleveland:

Urban life is not that far away, and even though I usually prefer to stay out in the country, there are a few occasions when it is nice to go to the city. Cleveland is about an hour away and offers several things to participate in. I know, Cleveland is known as ‘the mistake on the lake’, yet it is really not as bad as most claim.

http://clevelandphotos.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/cleveland-skyline-sm.jpg

Personally, the Cleveland Museum of Art is my favorite. Its art collection is world-renowned, and they have changing special exhibitions that make the museum worth a visit even though you have been there a thousand times (which is not a valid argument anyway because how can you get tired of looking at all these pieces?!). The museum is free to the public (thanks to a successful family of bankers), their special exhibits will have some admission fees. When J. took me there for our very first date, we were lucky enough to get tickets for an exhibition of impressionists called ‘Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse’. We saw Monet’s Apaganthus Triptych, I mean, how awesome is that?

http://exploregram.com/monets-water-lilies-agapanthus-triptych-is-reunited-for-the-first-time-in/

Cleveland is not only famous for its art, it is also famous for music. Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is definitely worth a visit. I have yet to go there though, it is still on my bucket list.

Then there are live sports: the Cleveland Cavaliers (basketball), the Cleveland Browns (American football), and the Cleveland Indians (baseball) all play in the highest league of their respective sport, more or less successfully (I can hear ya, evil voices. Yet the Browns probably have the truest fan base. You would not find many fans who jumped on the bandwagon with this team). The Cavs are currently in the NBA Finals for the second year in a row (facing the Golden State Warriors once more) and will hopefully have won by Sunday. If you can get tickets, go see a game! The vibe in Cleveland rocks.

When we went to a Browns game in Cleveland.

(PS: For hockey, I recommend the Detroit Red Wings. Michigan is not too far away. And they have the best team. Not debatable, even when loving Ohio.)

Hocking Hills:

About 3.5 hours south, in the southeastern part of the state, you will find the enchanted area of Hocking Hills, a very hilly area in the Allegheny Plateau. Voted as the most romantic spot in Ohio by many travel sites, it offers an abundance of wilderness, waterfalls, and wooden cabins with hot tubs.

I definitely recommend renting a cabin with friends and/or your significant other. There are cabins in all sizes and price ranges, so everyone will find their perfect one. Ours was tiny, but it had everything the two of us needed, with the hot tub being the highlight, of course.

The area offers a lot of ‘hikes’ (or short distance strolls for some people), truly beautiful nature, and impressive waterfalls. Among the most famous places are Cedar Falls, Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave. We went there in January, so most trees had no leaves. It must be stunning in fall, when all the leaves take on their bright red, orange, and yellow colors.

Just make sure you plan ahead and stock up on groceries in the last town (most likely Logan) before the woods, or else you may have to drive 30 minutes to get food. Or something else you forgot. Although the ride up and down these steep hills, and around the tight curves, is an adventure and a highlight, too.

Cedar Falls, Hocking Hills State Park.

Cedar Falls, Hocking Hills State Park

Why Ohio?

Because, as I hopefully was able to show you a little, Ohio offers more than meets the eye of someone who hears or reads about it (if at all!), or is passing through on their way to a ‘better’ place.

This blog is meant to keep you up to date on what is up with your Swiss in Ohio, but I would also like to show you that ‘boring, empty, quiet, ugly, you name it’ Ohio has places worth visiting. I hope I will make you so curious about Ohio that you decide to pay this state a well-deserved visit and some appreciation.

After all, I have decided to stay in this state for a while, so why not visit your Swiss in Ohio?

I hope you do one day.

Love, Jen

PS: You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram

Why Ohio? - Part One: Before

“Why Ohio?” - This is probably my most heard question, asked by Swiss as well as by Americans, from when I first stated that I will attend Kent State University in Kent, Ohio for my 2015 Fall semester abroad up until today.

Most Swiss had never heard of Ohio before and/or had no idea where in the United States it was located. When they heard “Ohio”, there was no image appearing in their minds like it would when they hear the names of places like New York, Florida, Miami, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and maybe Washington (the D.C. one, not the state).

And there I was, telling them I was going to spend my 2015 Fall semester in the United States and answered with “Ohio” when they asked where.

“Why Ohio?” (...and not somewhere cool [where most Swiss go on vacation])

...there certainly is a grain of truth ;)

Most Americans - non-Ohioans, that is - imagine Ohio as pretty much empty.

Flat. Not much happening there. No one wants to go to Ohio.

They are not so wrong about all of the above. Yet, from what I have seen on my short visit to Northeast Ohio in 2014, it does have pretty spots: lots of farmland (I consider that pretty), lakes, woods, hills. Yes, hills. A northern Midwestern state, as beautiful as it could get.

Still, Americans were quite confused why someone would deliberately go to Ohio.

“Why Ohio?” (there is nothing there…[or is there?])

Before I actually spent half a year there, my explanation usually went as follows:

1. Kent State University has a special arrangement with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and KSU’s Translation program has a good reputation. 
I never actually found out what that “special arrangement” was, but oh well. It was worth the money anyway. And the program really is good.

2. I really liked the Midwest and its rural areas when I was traveling there in summer 2014. And I really loved Michigan.

Alright, the last part is not taken well at all when talking to an Ohioan. Even if they’re not into sports, the despise of Michigan seems to run in their blood. And vice versa.

3. There will probably be no Swiss there.

Let’s be honest, you really don’t want to hang out with people of your own nationality/continent when abroad. At least not when you’re only there for a semester and want to get the “American” experience, not the “Swiss abroad” experience.

Despite all the confusion among both my Swiss and American friends, I was very looking forward to spending half a year in Ohio.

My reasons and explanations definitely have changed a little by now, I will list them in my next post, Why Ohio? - Part Two: Now [coming soon].

Thank you for reading, stay tuned.

PS: You can now follow me on Facebook and Instagram, if you’d like!