“PARADISE (APPARENTLY):
WELCOME TO SWITZERLAND!”

EDMUNDO MURRAY, WTO

What is the contribution of Flo Regina’s “Paradise (apparently)” (author’s edition, 18.90 Swiss Francs)? Perhaps the confirmation that new clichés are made of old clichés. In her case ¹there are so many prejudices in Italy about her hometown and Southern Italians that it is easy to adapt them and throw them back to the Swiss.

Back in 1976, Jonathan Steinberg asked himself “why a place as idiosyncratic as Switzerland existed, and why non-Swiss should care.” He went ahead and developed a learned critique of Swiss core features like the army, direct democracy and the institutions. Flo Regina seems to ignore this reading (and many other good books about the Swiss), and only trusts her direct experience in Switzerland.

“You will fi nd yourself chuckling” promises Off The Shelf bookstore “at the author’s attempts to adapt to this unique place! [Switzerland]”. And Mark Butcher guarantees that “this book will help you to develop [sense of humour]”. I wonder why, frankly. I did not laugh, giggle or even smile reading “Paradise”. Quite the opposite, I was taken aback by the abusive series of offences and mistreatments directed at Switzerland and the Swiss. It would be interesting to see the reaction of traditional Italian institutions like the Camorra, the ‘Ndrangheta or the Cosa Nostra if such insults were aimed at Italy or the Italians by a foreigner living among them.

“Paradise” is dull and boring, including too many supposedly real-life examples of what she considers strenuous relations with her neighbours and the Swiss authorities. Some expressions are bigoted and xenophobic. The language reminds me a number of 1920s-30s texts about the Jewish communities in Europe. The author does not make any effort to explain or to analyse. It suggests frustration, which is not related to her life in Switzerland but to the lack of capacity to develop a professional career and to foster social relations. And it implies a serious lack of appreciation. I wonder if she was enjoying the benefi ts of Swiss unemployment insurance when she wrote the book. Revenge. That is the only contribution of “Paradise” to the literature about Switzerland and to the collaborative work of authorities, civil associations and international organisations to encourage la Genève Internationale. Hopefully, it will not be taken as an example.

¹ Off The Shelf (http://www.offtheshelf.ch/$logosimages/home/authorevents_arch.html).