First Month at ISAP Zurich

Where do I begin?

This first month was one hell of a roller coaster. So many feelings, emotions, and experiences followed me through it. Emotionally packed lectures and seminars—especially on topics like grief, loss, death, anxiety, and identity. I felt like I was living these topics, personally confronting areas of myself I hadn't yet met. Good thing we have our analysts, who we see regularly, to help us through these journeys that truly feel like soul journeys. We also have a supportive bunch of students who often offer plenty of encouragement.

New activities we’ve done this month:

• Poetry night

• Singing / acting

Both have been fun and engaging. We continue to swim in the river—even now, with the water raising to 8 degrees - feels like spring is arriving. The lecture room is bathed in sunlight most of the time, which makes me think it’s going to be extremely hot in summer since there’s no air con.

Beyond activities, I’ve bonded more with students and started noticing their personalities and quirks. While we’re all on this journey of finding ourselves, we inevitably face ups and downs. These become part of a collective “soup” we’re all in, which reminds me of the ceremonial circles I’ve been part of before. In those, we brought our experiences and shadows into the circle—and when we did, we all felt it. Sharing our shadows was powerful. I feel we have similar experiences here at ISAP, and it’s a beautiful phenomenon to witness.

It really echoes the saying, “Calm seas don’t make seasoned sailors”—and there are plenty of stormy seas here. Learning to hold these experiences—openly, empathetically, without succumbing to blind projections—is a deep lesson.

While I still feel huge enthusiasm about studying here, I can also feel “energy-saving mode” creeping in. With all the lectures and reading we have to do, one must become wise about time commitments and social engagements. After all, we’re here to go to the deepest level of our own beings. Still—some downtime is essential! For me, nature is the place for deep recharge and contemplation. I’m lucky to live right by beautiful hills and forests. After intense days, a long walk fills my lungs with fresh air and helps walk the intensity away.

Living in Zurich – Health Insurance

Living in Zurich isn’t cheap. Many students, myself included, face financial struggles. I didn’t come from riches—I had to work hard and save money—but in Switzerland, that money burns like coal. You have to manage finances wisely and find ways to earn income.

As a European citizen residing in the UK, I was able to get an exemption from the mandatory health insurance thanks to my EHIC card, under the condition that I won’t be working. So make sure to inquire with your local canton within three months of arrival if you're in a similar situation. Normally, the minimum health insurance costs around 350 CHF per month, with a 2k deductible—not something I’m keen on paying when unemployed.

If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you might be eligible for SwissCare, which offers affordable coverage for non-working students (around 90–160 CHF/month). It seems to be the go-to insurer for overseas students who don’t work.

Also, don’t forget to go to your local Rathaus to handle your migration and residence permit within the first two weeks of arrival!

Work

Unless you have tons of savings, you’ll most likely need to work. If you’re already seeing clients and working as a therapist—great. That’ll make your transition smoother. I, on the other hand, come from an IT background. While Switzerland is eager for IT talent, that’s only part of the picture.

I tried finding work in IT but quickly learned that employers aren’t keen on hiring part-timers for just 15 hours a week. And honestly, I don’t want to work more than 15–20 hours while attending classes. Psychologically, that’s already a lot. Outside the semester, maybe—but that would require a level of employer flexibility I haven’t yet found.

Some students work almost full-time and attend classes occasionally, but that’s not my path. My priority is study—and my personal journey.

So, I said goodbye to the luxuries of my IT management job and now live a more humble, happy life, fully surrendering to this process.

Since IT didn’t work out, I found a job in a café where I’m not expected to know German (though I’m learning). It gives me some financial stability and complements my savings. It was definitely a shock to the system—going from managing teams in government and banking to making coffee for 26 francs an hour. Ego was humbled.

This café job became the “kitchen work” Robert Bly talks about in Iron John, and I feel like I’m living that. It’s a profound step in my individuation process.

Outside of ISAP

For the extroverts out there who love meeting new people and trying new things, Zurich has a few gems.

One is the Ice Ice Baby meetup group for cold plunges. A lovely bunch of people—we do Sunday plunges in Lake Zurich, followed by a warm cuppa.

Another is the improv theatre group - anundpfirsich. They run short workshops and full immersions where you can play, explore, meet people, and definitely step out of your comfort zone. I hadn’t done improv before moving here, but I fell in love with it—and I want to continue when time and finances allow.

And that’s the first month at ISAP Zurich.