Random, Random 2.0

[Suliso]

I was browsing through a Swiss statistical data. Some interesting factoids regarding the population (2021 data):

- 39.5% have a migration background (at least one parent born abroad)
- 31.1% are first generation immigrants (like me)
- 26.5% hold foreign citizenship (including some in the 2nd generation)
- the most common nationalities other than Swiss are German, Italian and Portuguese. This must be very unevenly distributed - I know a ton of Germans and Italians here, but just a single Portuguese

In general the immigration pressure here is among the highest in the world. Lots of jobs natives are unable (higher end) or unwilling (lower) to do and one could double a salary from already rich France or Germany.

[ponchi101]

Lucky to be there, then.
I remember you mentioning that when you reach retirement age, you will return to Latvia. Is that still the plan, or will you remain? You said that you would not have the money to afford the same quality of live in Switzerland than you will back home.

[Suliso]

Who knows, but I doubt it. My girlfriend not from Latvia, wouldn't fit in there easily. It's true though that costs are high. Real advantage in income is not 2x, I'd estimate 30-70% depending on your family situation.

[Suliso]

[skatingfan]

I thought that was some sort of meat at first.

[meganfernandez]

I thought that was some sort of meat at first.

Rotten and burnt at the same time

[dave g]

Suliso:
I appreciate the map, but I am wondering if there was a reason you posted this particular map.

[Suliso]

Suliso:
I appreciate the map, but I am wondering if there was a reason you posted this particular map.

No particular reason except that I found on TW a guy regularly posting relief maps of various countries and regions. Thought you likely not familiar with a geography of Poland. Poland is bigger than Italy and UK by area and only a bit smaller than Germany, but foreigners tend to be far less familiar with it.

[ponchi101]

One of those tiny European countries
(312,722 sq Km, less than one third of Vennnieland or Colombia).

[Suliso]

More people than in your Vennieland

[ponchi101]

I am usually surprised by the area of European countries, because they are indeed usually smaller than our countries here in S. America.
Of course, a couple of thousands of years of fighting made all the splits possible, but on the other hand, you guys are wealthier. By a lot.

[mmmm8]

One of those tiny European countries
(312,722 sq Km, less than one third of Vennnieland or Colombia).

It's all in perspective. Coming from the world's largest country and living in the third largest, I sometimes catch myself thinking very hegemonically about other countries, that almost all of them are tiny.

[ponchi101]

Indeed.
It is one of the reasons I find borders to be silly, on many occasions. For example, there is no reason for Venezuela and Colombia to be split; it was petty infighting in the 19th century. Ecuador and Peru are the same; Bolivia and Paraguay another silly split.

[ashkor87]

In many countries, borders were created by some Brit arbitrarily drawing a line...leading to decades of misery thereafter...

[ti-amie]

In many countries, borders were created by some Brit arbitrarily drawing a line...leading to decades of misery thereafter...

Thus making the resulting countries ungovernable. Nigeria comes to mind. Muslim north, traditional religion in the south.