Hi! I’m Irina — legal & compliance expert by profession, expat by nature, and slightly overwhelmed mom of two cool kids.

My own expat story began when I was 12, moving from Eastern Europe to Germany. I spent my teenage years in the border region near Basel, just a stone’s throw from Switzerland (which means I’ve been navigating cross-border life since my teeenage years!), survived German high school, studied law in Munich, and somehow made it through the German bar exam — which may or may not have involved bribing myself with chocolate.

In 2014, I moved again — this time to Switzerland. Zurich, to be exact. And because I clearly enjoy legal masochism, I went back to university and completed an LL.M. in International Business & Finance at the University of Zurich. That makes three countries, two legal systems, and way too many footnotes.

I worked for PwC Zurich and have now spent nearly a decade as a legal and compliance officer at a Swiss asset management firm — so yes, I speak bureaucracy — fluently. I’m also fluent in German, English, and Russian — which comes in handy when you’re explaining Swiss pension rules over school pick-up.

Since arriving in Switzerland, I’ve lived in more than one canton (because why make things simple?), navigated everything from childcare waitlists to school registrations, permit renewals, local quirks that no one tells you about and survived multiple tax seasons with my sanity only slightly frayed.

I’m married to an Irishman (yes, more expat energy!) and together we’re raising our kids in the land of fondue, folders, and fines for putting your recycling out wrong — with a healthy mix of Swiss structure, Irish humor, and Eastern European resilience.

I’m also a member of the parents’ council at my kids’ school and volunteer at a so-called Schreibdienst (writing support service) near Zurich — you can read more about that here.

Why I created Helvetia Happenings

I created Helvetia Happenings because every expat I’ve ever met has asked me some version of:
“Why is this so complicated?”
And my answer is always:
“It doesn’t have to be — you just need the right guide and someone who speaks ‘Swiss system’ fluently.”

I remember wishing someone had just handed me a checklist and said:
“Do this, this, and this — and you’ll be fine.”
That’s the resource I’m now creating for you.

I’ve combined my professional knowledge with years of real-life trial-and-error — and packed it all into this platform. Most relocation blogs tell you what to do. I’ll show you how it actually feels, what really matters, and what to ignore completely.

This platform is my way of sharing everything I’ve learned — the systems, the shortcuts, the survival tips — so you can spend less time googling and more time enjoying your life here.

Whether you’re planning your move, just unpacked your boxes, or have been in Switzerland for years and still feel like you’re missing half the puzzle — Helvetia Happenings is for you.

Because let’s be honest — no one warns you that “Wir bitten um Ihr Verständnis” is polite Swiss German for “Tough luck.”

Let’s make Switzerland feel a little less foreign — one honest, helpful step at a time.

XOXO,

Helvetia Happenings