The Swiss Test!
Well, after a year of filling out swiss citzenship forms and proving that we aren't debters, criminals and of course that we can speak German, then waiting.... today was our "Big Test Day" at the Stadthaus in Zürich, which is a lovely place to visit anytime!
Mr.ncot and I have been swatting up over the last months. The preparation book from the Kanton is excellent and covers everything you need to know. Plus I used a couple of excellent apps: "die Schweiz verstehen", "Canton Quiz" (to learn those flags!), "Swiss Cantons - Map & Capitals"
We already knew quite a lot of the content, but it has been a really interesting exercise. Final prep session this morning and Alan asks: "What are the 9 rights of the swiss citzen?" Me: "they won't ask me that!" - 3 hours later, that was the first question I was asked!!
Anyway, we had a joint interview first with the very nice lady from the Stadthaus - about why we live here, why we want to become citizens, children, school, free time etc.
Then we are split up for the test... Alan kindly throws me under the bus offers that I will go first and he goes to sit in the hallway.
The questioning was about 15 minutes and I could see that she was ticking the questions on her clipboard :-) So, starting with the "9 freedoms of the Swiss citizen", followed by 29 other questions on history, politics, media, geography, customs etc. The only question that she prompted me on was about where I would take visitors in Switzerland. I named loads of things to do in Zürich, and she then gently nudged me to mention the rest of the country!
Then we swapped and I sat outside in the hallway and admired the architecture and exhibitions etc. All I could hear was Alan and the nice lady laughing!
Then I was called back in and the nice lady basically hinted that our portfolio was good, that it would take 6 months and lots of bills, then we'd get the official letter next summer :-)
So, we're on the road.... watch this space