The Zurbuchen Nation

I just did a search in what must be Switzerland’s version of Whitepages.com.

I searched for Zurbuchen. And, as I write, I go back to the webpage where I’m on page 18 of people with my last name. 913 results pop up.

When I asked for a search of just Habkern, from where all Zurbuchens come, there are 84 results with my last name.

Seaching I see someone named Margrit Zurbuchen who has typical chalet for rent in Wilderswil.

How do I not know but one or two of them?  When will I go to see my Swiss roots?

This is an amazing  journey I’ve discovered thanks to my position at the Swiss Center of North America.

Another Health Care Commentary

Is the Swiss system better?

You know–the health care debate going on in the United States? Doctors are bad–no it’s the insurance company–no it’s big pharma.

Tell me what you think about this article in Forbes.com.

Have the Swiss figured it out?

Launching the Swiss Connection

What an exciting time it is at the Swiss Center of North America.

Staff has been busy working with Makin’ Hey out of Madison, Wisconsin developing our new 2.0 interactive website.

Today, the first e-newsletter, The Swiss Connection will go out to our earliest supporters who have already registered.

I’d like you to sign up–not only for the newsletter, but to become a partner.

There are so many of us who are Swiss, or of Swiss descent,  or enjoy learning about the Swiss that together we can connect the bloggers, with the jodel clubs and the tops in bio technology!

www.theswisscenter.org is our stage to celebrate!

The traditions

The heritage

and contributions of the Swiss.

Become part of it today!

8th Soiree Suisse

8th Soiree Suisse September 23, 2009

It was an amazing event.  I was honored to be invited to attend the Swiss Embassy’s 8th Soirre Suisse at the Ambassador’s residence in Washington D.C.

This was an evening of food, entertainment and fellowship given in honor of the many people, companies and organizations that the Swiss Embassy has worked together with over the years. Ambassador Urs Ziswiler discussed Swiss innovation and how Switzerland is working with American counterparts in science, technology, research and more.

While my video doesn’t do the night justice…enjoy from the Swiss Center’s YouTube page.

Swiss Model for Health Care

The New York Times has one of the best analysis of the Swiss health care system.

“By many measures, the Swiss are healthier than Americans, and surveys indicate that Swiss people are generally happy with their system. Switzerland, moreover, provides high-quality care at costs well below what the United States spends per person. Swiss insurance companies offer the mandatory basic plan on a not-for-profit basis, although they are permitted to earn a profit on supplemental plans.”

Read it today.  Tell me what you think?

I know we can do better.  Is this the model that would work for us?

Reunions–What do they mean?

It’s probably been 30 plus years since I went to the “big” Zurbuchen family reunion.

I needed my arm twisted–and for that I thank my second cousin Gene Dahlk. He said he brings home-made ice cream!

This past Sunday, my daughter Molly and I traveled the few miles to Verona, WI for the reunion of the Christian and Barbara Zurbuchen family.

As I’ve written in earler blogs, my great-grandparents were Swiss immigrants.  They had 16 children.  My grandfather, Bartol was the oldest.  His youngest brother, Garfield, was 22 years younger.

I’m not yet sure how I feel about this reunion. Perhaps a bit melancholy?   

So much time has passed, as for years I walked in another direction, away from all these people to whom I’m related.

Faces I could remember–some of them anyway.  I suspect my dad was the oldest as he’ll be 88 next month.  I met the youngest Zurbuchen–a beautiful 3 month-old girl wearing a red outfit from Switzerland.  Her mother was beaming.

I was drawn to take video.  I knew I wanted to share this family. Click on the link and tell me your thoughts.

Is it true you don’t know who you are until you know where you’ve been?

The De Buren Family

Finding the story of family has led Jean-Francois de Buren of Novato, California to me.

We are not related, but both want to learn more about our Swiss roots.  I have a few photos and family left to tell stories.  He has a 150 year old diary.

Jean-Francois is retracing the two-year long voyage through the Americas of the 1850s of his Swiss Great-Great-Grandfather, Henri de Buren.

This is a magical story of past and present.  It’s the “what if”…..

“What if you were lucky enough to hold a genuine 150 year old diary of a world explorer in your own hands? What if that explorer was one of your ancestors? You would likely re-experience the same journey over and over by reading it, wondering how the world traveler felt at the time, what were his joys and his fears.”

There is no way I do this story justice in a few paragraphs.  So let the following links be your guide to this story of discovery.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jdeburen#play/all/uploads-all/0/b1oEVcr4C44

An overview of the project can be found here:

http://vodhdb.blogspot.com/2009/01/grand-tour-overview.html

Additional information and thoughts can be found here:

http://vodhdb.blogspot.com/

Emily’s Song

Molly and Grandma Z spent the day together yesterday.  My 11-year-old wanted to learn how to make a carrot cake, and knew Mom (me) never had time to bake.

Grandma’s always make time.

My mom also taught her granddaughter how to embroider.  My grandma Emma taught me how years ago.

This teaching from generation to generation is not a Swiss thing.  It’s done out of love.

The love of family was experienced this past weekend at Volkfest in New Glarus.

Emily Streif and her grandmother Doris were part of the entertainment.  I shot video which you can see on the Swiss Center’s YouTube site.

It was joyous to to watch this little one standing proud and singing her the music of her Swiss heritage next to someone she obviously trusted and loved.

I can’t show you Molly’s embroidery.

I can show you Emily singing with her grandmother.

Please..take a look at the YouTube video.

Sign up Today! Become a Partner

Switzerland has many faces.  You can see them at the new www.theswisscenter.org.

With your help, we can all experience the magic of Switzerland through the Swiss heritage that is alive and well in North America.

As President of the Swiss Center of North America for nearly a year now, I am continually made aware of just how much Switzerland is a part of our daily lives.

Take a look at this video and tell me if you are not surprised.

Our friends at Swiss Roots created that video. Imagine New York City without Othmar Amman.

theswisscenter.org would like to become THE website where “all things Swiss” exists.  We can’t do it without you.

Sign up today to become a partner and tell us, and the world, what being Swiss means to you.  What is your organization doing?  You will soon be able to create your own home page promoting what it is you or your organization, club or business is doing through the event calender, and ultimately through a monthly newsletter powered in part by the news from you.

Sign up now.  We’ll get back to you shortly on when to create your own Swiss page.

In anticipation of what can be–I thank you.

Swiss National Day

Happy Holiday!!

Yes, the Fourth of July has come and gone, but for the Swiss of the world—August 1, is a huge day.  It’s Swiss National Day.

This past Tuesday, I celebrated Swiss National Day with Consul General Giambattista Mondada and probably 200 or so of his Swiss friends including Hans Lenzlinger, owner of the New Glarus Hotel, and the Zgraggen family—Tony, Esther and their delightful daughter Yvonne.

Check out the Swiss Center’s You Tube video of the Jodelchorli Alpsteinblick performing in the Edelweiss room of the Swisshotel.

The Jodelchorli will be performing in New Glarus this Sunday, as the local Swiss celebrate National Day at the Tell Shooting Park, ½ mile north of New Glarus on County Highway “O”. The music and fun begins at 1 p.m.

I’ll be there celebrating my heritage, as well as enjoying music in celebration of an important union more than 700 years ago.

In 1291, three Swiss republics, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, signed an agreement to protect each other.

That initial agreement paved the road for 26 additional cantons, or federal states, to join what became the Swiss Confederation in 1848.

It took another 100 years, and a public referendum, before it became a recognized federal holiday in 1994.

I hope to see you at the Tell Shooting Park!

If I don’t—perhaps you’ll want to bake or cook something Swiss this weekend.  I just found a marvelous blog, Rosa’s Yummy Yums.  Rosa shares some of her favorite Swiss recipes.

Try perhaps the TATSCH FROM GRISONS…this recipe comes from Graubünden.