Swiss Review 3/2018

25 Swiss Review / May 2018 / No.3 This interview was published on swissinfo.ch, the online service of the Swiss Broadcasting Company, which is available in ten languages. Do you live abroad too? Then tag your Instagram photos #WeAreSwissAbroad. From sport and nutrition advice to Insta star Doris Hofer believes keeping fit was the best investment she has ever made in her life. The 42-year-old reinvented herself in Turkey, where providing tips on fitness and healthy eating has turned her into a much sought-after expert. My Job: My fans on social media say I inspire them to eat a health- ier diet and be more active. Many have written telling me that they love my short videos because the exercises are fun and my cheerful nature is infectious. My Turkey: People love you if you speak Turkish. That’s very useful and stands me in good stead, particularly when appearing on TV. I’ve never received hate mail in Turkey, in stark contrast to Switzer- land. That’s either because of my accent or that people here are less frustrated. My Switzerland: I’m very proud of Switzerland. Politically in par- ticular, we act as a role model. If someone thinks differently, they can also express and defend their views as long as they are reason- able. I love Switzerland’s public transport and recycling system. My heart: I miss my friends and family most of all. In terms of food, it has to be the wonderful cheese I miss most. After my divorce, I became self-employed and founded the company Squatgirl. I would love to visit Switzerland more often again and work with Swiss com- panies. But we probably wouldn’t move back because we have a patchwork family: the father of my children is here and I don’t want them to grow up without him. THE SWISS ABROAD ON INSTAGRAM OSA advice How can you find information on the conditions applied by the banks to the Swiss Abroad? The easiest way is to contact the banks directly. Following dis- cussions with systemically important banks (Credit Suisse, Raiffeisen, UBS, Zürcher Kantonalbank and PostFinance), the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) has provided inter- ested parties with advice and contact person details on its web- site. This can be found at: www.aso.ch > Consultation> Living abroad > Swiss banks. The OSA has also entered into a partnership with the Ban- que cantonale de Genève (BCGE). The BCGE has undertaken to provide and maintain banking relationships with the Swiss Abroad under similar conditions to those offered to persons re- siding in Switzerland subject to the applicable regulatory pro- visions in Switzerland and abroad. This is the Xpatbking.ch pro- gramme which is aimed specifically at the Swiss Abroad. The services, conditions and charges that apply can be found on the BCGE’s website at www.bcge.ch. Thank you, TimGuldimann! Tim Guldimann was our OSA National Councillor from Octo- ber 2015. He unexpectedly stepped down on 15 March. That is regrettable but, of course, we must respect his decision. In his role as National Councillor, Tim Guldimann was a stand- ard-bearer for the Swiss Abroad, a visible symbol playing an extremely important role for us which he carried out impec- cably. He campaigned tirelessly on our issues, including e-vot- ing, social insurance, bank policy andmanymore besides, and initiated and followed up many matters in cooperation with the “Swiss Abroad” parliamentary group and the OSA office. I wish to thank Tim Guldimann, who will continue to serve on the Council of the Swiss Abroad, most sincerely on behalf of the OSA. REMO GYSIN, PRESIDENT OF THE OSA The OSA’s Legal Service provides general legal information on Swiss law, particular- ly in areas which concern the Swiss Abroad. It does not provide information on foreign law or intervene in disputes between private parties.