“Up and Away New Zealand”: Mona Vetsch spent around three weeks visiting adventurous Swiss people who had found happiness on the other side of the world.
For example Hanni Padrutt from near Winterthur. She met her husband through a newspaper advertisement and emigrated with him by ship after three months in 1961.
The Padrutts: Hanni with her grandchildren Mia (l.), Moritz (2nd from left), Julia (2nd from right) and Leo (r.).
The Padrutts are Kiwis in the third generation: Mario (r.) and Anja Padrutt (2nd from right) with their children Leo (3rd from left), Julia (3rd from right), Moritz (l.) and Mia (2nd from left ).
The Bätjer family from Gams SG has never been to New Zealand, but they have thought about emigrating for a long time and have now seized the opportunity – the world belongs to the brave: Abish (l.) and Chris Bätjer (m.) in front of their motorhome with Mona Vetsch.
The Bätjer family and their three children Aiven, Riley and Ruby searched for and found the perfect spot for their new start in New Zealand in a caravan.
From Valais to New Zealand: The twins Sabin (l.) and Susan (m.) Imhasly. Today they produce felt from the wool of their own sheep.
The Imhasly twin sisters Sabin (r.) and Susan emigrated together from Sitten VS; they wanted to stay together.
An incredible love story: Sibille Schmid from Winterthur ZH met Josh Komen on a plane. Josh had cancer and was on his way to Australia for treatment. The former top athlete is doing well today. They are the proud parents of a daughter.
Josh Koman was New Zealand’s fastest 800 meter runner in 2011 before falling ill. Today he works as a coach and speaker. His secret weapon: ice bathing.
Annette Meyer from Herrliberg emigrated all alone, first earned her money with a food caravan and now runs a magical café at the end of the world.
Annette Meyer has also found happiness in love with partner Ed Briem.
Theres and Hannes and Theres Krummenacher in front of their house in New Zealand. They emigrated from Zug with their four children.
The Krummenachers have built a unique business: they are the only ones in New Zealand to grow wild mushrooms. To achieve this, they planted 5,000 trees.
Mona Vetsch on emigrating: “Anyone who emigrates to New Zealand is not looking for a cheap life. People go because of the quality of life and the chances of building something of their own.
Mona Vetsch returned after three weeks in New Zealand with a special feeling: “Now I have found the country that I would be drawn to if I wanted to emigrate.”
“Up and away New Zealand: Swiss emigrants on the other side of the world”
“Up and Away New Zealand”: Mona Vetsch spent around three weeks visiting adventurous Swiss people who had found happiness on the other side of the world.
For example Hanni Padrutt from near Winterthur. She met her husband through a newspaper advertisement and emigrated with him by ship after three months in 1961.
The Padrutts: Hanni with her grandchildren Mia (l.), Moritz (2nd from left), Julia (2nd from right) and Leo (r.).
The Padrutts are Kiwis in the third generation: Mario (r.) and Anja Padrutt (2nd from right) with their children Leo (3rd from left), Julia (3rd from right), Moritz (l.) and Mia (2nd from left ).
The Bätjer family from Gams SG has never been to New Zealand, but they have thought about emigrating for a long time and have now seized the opportunity – the world belongs to the brave: Abish (l.) and Chris Bätjer (m.) in front of their motorhome with Mona Vetsch.
The Bätjer family and their three children Aiven, Riley and Ruby searched for and found the perfect spot for their new start in New Zealand in a caravan.
From Valais to New Zealand: The twins Sabin (l.) and Susan (m.) Imhasly. Today they produce felt from the wool of their own sheep.
The Imhasly twin sisters Sabin (r.) and Susan emigrated together from Sitten VS; they wanted to stay together.
An incredible love story: Sibille Schmid from Winterthur ZH met Josh Komen on a plane. Josh had cancer and was on his way to Australia for treatment. The former top athlete is doing well today. They are the proud parents of a daughter.
Josh Koman was New Zealand’s fastest 800 meter runner in 2011 before falling ill. Today he works as a coach and speaker. His secret weapon: ice bathing.
Annette Meyer from Herrliberg emigrated all alone, first earned her money with a food caravan and now runs a magical café at the end of the world.
Annette Meyer has also found happiness in love with partner Ed Briem.
Theres and Hannes and Theres Krummenacher in front of their house in New Zealand. They emigrated from Zug with their four children.
The Krummenachers have built a unique business: they are the only ones in New Zealand to grow wild mushrooms. To achieve this, they planted 5,000 trees.
Mona Vetsch on emigrating: “Anyone who emigrates to New Zealand is not looking for a cheap life. People go because of the quality of life and the chances of building something of their own.
Mona Vetsch returned after three weeks in New Zealand with a special feeling: “Now I have found the country that I would be drawn to if I wanted to emigrate.”
A new beginning on the other side of the world: After two leukemia diagnoses and a hard battle against the disease, Josh Komen found the love of his life in Sibille, a Swiss woman.
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- The love story of Sibille and Josh is incredibly beautiful. The woman from Winterthur met Josh, who had cancer, on a trip around the world, fell in love with him and, against all odds, moved to New Zealand to be with him.
- Josh Komen was New Zealand’s fastest 800 meter runner in 2011 before he was diagnosed with cancer.
- Today the two live happily on the South Island with a baby. And thanks to Sibille’s love and support, Josh is doing much better. Josh Komen is a coach, speaker and motivator. His secret recipe: ice bathing.
- “Up and Away New Zealand – New Life on the Other Side of the World” – runs Saturday, November 16th at 8:10 p.m. on SRF1.
Josh Komen’s heart beats for running. In 2011 he was the fastest 800 meter athlete in New Zealand. His sports career is on the rise.
But a diagnosis abruptly stops the course of his life: at the age of 23, he learns that he has cancer. “In a split moment” – that’s how he describes the moment – Komen’s life is turned upside down. Coma is diagnosed with leukemia not once, but twice.
This stroke of fate leads Komen into a ten-year battle: an allogeneic stem cell transplant, an induced coma, graft-versus-host disease, numerous complications and five years of treatment in Australia – all accompanied by several heart attacks.
Sibille Schmid found love on the other side of the world. She lives on New Zealand’s South Island with Josh Komen and their daughter Maja.
SRF
Give up? Not an option for the former athlete. Although a deep depression grips him. “I was in a very dark place,” is how he describes this time.
Komen is fighting. His treatments take place in New Zealand and Australia. A flight to Australia in 2017 turns his life upside down again. He gets to know the Winterthur oncology health care specialist Sibille. A love story emerges between the sick Komen and the globetrotter from Switzerland that Hollywood couldn’t have written more beautifully.
blue News spoke to Josh Komen in New Zealand. Today he is doing well thanks to breathing techniques, ice baths and the love of his family. Sibille and Josh are parents of a sweet daughter. Josh Komen works as a coach and is a sought-after motivational speaker.
Josh, how are you now?
I’m not feeling too bad, my little daughter keeps us busy. She puts a smile on our faces with her lively personality.
You met your wife Sibille on a flight in 2017. You were only together for a few days in Australia and then had a long-distance relationship for six months. Afterwards, Sibille emigrated to you in Greymouth at Christmas 2017. How did the environment react?
Those around me were skeptical, especially because of my health. My family was also skeptical that I met a Swiss woman. But they knew that Sybille was a very special person. My family was comfortable with the idea that this woman would be part of my life.
How would you describe Sibille?
She is extremely sensitive. She sees the person in me, not because of my appearance or my body, but she sees me for who I am, because of my values and my personality. And through her job as a nurse, she understands that many people are suffering. She works in palliative care and cancer treatment. Sibille sees most people’s pain – and she’s incredibly funny; has a good sense of humor.
Do you follow typical Swiss rituals?
Yes, we speak German, Swiss German with our daughter. Maja has to answer my wife Sibille in Swiss German – she speaks English to me. And we like fondue.
Can you find real fondue cheese in New Zealand?
It’s not the right cheese, but we get some from Switzerland and bring it home. I don’t know if this is a Swiss ritual, but the Swiss are very orderly. My wife likes to have a very neat and clean house. We are both very proud of our daughter’s Swiss origins. She has a Swiss passport and we have a flag hanging there.
Do you speak Swiss German?
No, I can speak some standard German, but Swiss German is too difficult for me.
You were visiting Switzerland with your family this summer. How do you like Switzerland?
I love Switzerland! I think it’s an incredible country. When it comes to nature, it is very similar to New Zealand. But New Zealand is a bit rougher. And the infrastructure, some of which is in the middle of nature in Switzerland, is something I have never seen before. This Jungfrau Railway, which goes up the mountain, is unique. It’s a beautiful life in Switzerland and we enjoy it very much.
What gave you the most strength during this difficult time?
I hoped to be able to walk again at some point to get my life back. The book “Still saying yes to life” by Dr. Reading Frankel helped me a lot. It gave me hope that something really good could be waiting for me. And that was Sibille.
Did Sibille bring light into her life?
In any case! She changed my life by seeing me as I am and allowing me to live a real, true, authentic life. Through her, my life – despite the pain – made sense again.
Today you work as a coach and speaker. What advice do you give to people who are faced with a stroke of fate?
I think the first part is to stop, breathe, make space for yourself, be patient and then endure the pain itself, the pain itself never lasts forever. Things are constantly changing, and the fact that we are human gives us possibilities that we do not know. Even though our lives have changed, we hold on to these unknown possibilities that can bring us love and life.
What do you want for the future?
Hopefully a life that is as healthy as possible.
