SAMARA WEISSMANN

When I turned 13 years old, my family picked up everything and moved to the small landlocked country called Switzerland. Up to this point, I was a strong Californian; born and raised, never imagining myself to live anywhere else but in the comfort of the Bay Area. That place was my home, my family and friends were there, it felt comfortable and normal. Switzerland, was the complete opposite of that. My small family of four was starting over.

During my time in Switzerland, my Dad decided to explore the opportunity of getting our German citizenship back, which was ripped away from his family during the Holocaust. My dad, sister and I were all granted citizenship again, and I was able to explore a side of me that I never had been in touch with, and experience a culture I always dreamed about knowing more about.

My time growing up in Switzerland was an opportunity of a lifetime. I traveled across Europe; seeing 16 countries and 35 cities, as well as South Africa and 11 states. The school I attended was an international school, meaning kids from all over the world enrolled. I made friends with different backgrounds, some having lived in 8 different countries in the short span of 14 years. I learned about their culture and experiences, and even had the opportunity to visit the places where some of my friends were from. 

However, despite this amazing feeling of a five year abroad experience, I never felt like I could belong in either place. However, belonging to me was complicated  to define. I wanted to feel like everyone else, to be able to say I was excited to go “home” after a trip, or simply after a long day. Whenever I said “home” about either places I would get a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn’t feel connected to California as much as I once did, and I was still developing a relationship with Basel. When I would come back to visit California from time to time, people would criticize me saying how much I have changed, how “un-american” I now was, that I was now a German above anything else. When I was in Basel, people would force me to believe that I was a loud obnoxious American and nothing else, that I didn’t belong in Europe either. For five years, I debated where I belonged and which place I resonated more with. I wanted to have a sense of belonging, that I could call a place my home and feel like I could stand by that forever. I hated when people would ask me where I was from, even sometimes embarrassed, because it forced me to say two places. 

By the time I was about to graduate highschool and made the decision to come back to the states to study at Syracuse University, I was finally able to realize something that has confused me for five years. I wasn’t just from California. I wasn’t just from Switzerland. Both of these completely opposite places had a spot in my life, bringing me a new meaning of belonging and so many different experiences, cultures and lessons I would of never received if my family didn’t take the risk and start all over. 

The experience I now carry makes me an ideal candidate for any job, especially in Public Relations. Having experience living in a different country, I have improved and broadened my communication skills because I have worked with different types of people, giving me knowledge in fields that I never would have understood if not for being immersed in all of these different cultures. Public Relations works with all types of clients and people, and I am ready to expand and use my skills to not only teach but to learn more by working with more diverse people.