Living abroad often comes with stories of adjusting to a new culture. But sometimes, those stories are far from pleasant.Indian-origin entrepreneur Vasundhara Oswal recently shared one such experience from Switzerland, where she says a neighbour made a remark that left her questioning how welcoming the country really is. Her video has now gone viral, with many people saying they could relate to what she went through.
It Started With a Lawn Mower
According to Vasundhara, the incident happened on what seemed like a perfectly ordinary Thursday afternoon.She said a man walked up to the gates of her family’s home and demanded that they switch off their lawn mower. When she asked why, he allegedly responded with a comment she wasn’t expecting.“You are not in India.”The exchange was recorded on video, which Vasundhara later shared on Instagram.Throughout the conversation, she calmly asked whether they had broken any local rule. She also pointed out that there was no restriction on using a lawn mower at that time of the day.For her, the issue wasn’t really about the noise. It was about the comment that followed.
“This Happened in Switzerland”
Sharing the clip, Vasundhara said most people associate incidents of racism with countries like the US or the UK.She said she never imagined she would experience something similar in Switzerland.Her post quickly attracted thousands of comments, with many people saying they had faced subtle forms of discrimination while living in Europe. Others thanked her for speaking openly about something they believe often goes unnoticed.
“Being Developed Isn’t Just About Roads and Buildings”
The incident also made Vasundhara think about how countries are judged.She questioned whether development should only be measured by clean cities, efficient transport systems and strong economies.According to her, the way people treat someone who looks or comes from somewhere else is just as important.She wrote that a country can have world-class infrastructure and still struggle with prejudice.
She Says Her Family Has Faced Similar Experiences Before
The Oswal family has lived in Switzerland for nearly eight years. A few years ago, they bought Villa Vari, one of the country’s largest private homes, reportedly worth around ₹1,649 crore.But Vasundhara claimed this wasn’t the first time her family had experienced discrimination.She said racism and xenophobia exist in Switzerland more often than people realise and that families from different ethnic backgrounds can sometimes find themselves treated differently.According to her, these experiences are rarely discussed openly.
Her Post Has Sparked a Wider Debate
Along with sharing her own experience, Vasundhara also spoke about reports on racial discrimination in Switzerland. She argued that official figures don’t always reflect the full picture because many incidents never get reported.Whether or not everyone agrees with that view, her video has clearly touched a nerve.Some people said the neighbour’s words crossed a line.Others felt the incident highlighted how everyday racism often shows up – not through dramatic confrontations, but through small comments that make someone feel like they don’t belong.The discussion has since moved well beyond one disagreement over a lawn mower.For many people watching the video, it has become a conversation about identity, prejudice and the reality that even countries known for their high quality of life are not immune to bias.