I cover topics related to the Swiss Abroad and Swiss specialities, also producing a daily briefing for the Swiss Abroad community.
I studied communication sciences, then worked as a reporter and video journalist for private radio and television. I have worked for SWI swissinfo.ch in various roles since 2002.

Reaching someone by phone in Hawaii from Switzerland takes some coordination. I call her at 8am on a Thursday morning. Where she lives, it is still Wednesday evening – and already 9pm.

A native of Bern, Desai has lived in Hawaii on the island of Oahu for 36 years. She studied architecture at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich and worked in the field for many years. At 64, she is now in the process of winding down her career in the property sector.

Since 2010, Desai has been volunteering as Switzerland’s honorary consul. “I like helping people. It is deeply rewarding,” she says. “And I am happy to give something back to the country that gave me an excellent free education. Living abroad has made me appreciate that now more than ever.

When the Swiss foreign ministry originally contacted her about the role, Desai had to ask what an honorary consul actually does.

“I knew my predecessor, Niklaus Schweizer, who held the post for 38 years until he reached the age limit. But I had no real sense of what the job involved,” she says.

It took almost a year before she was formally appointed at the end of 2009. The entire process involved applications, personal interviews, and approval by the Swiss embassy and the US State Department. “Approval by the US authorities is by no means a given,” she says.

The day-to-day reality of the position is demanding. “I thought I had seen it all, but there is always something new. It is incredible what has happened over the past 15 years, from accidents involving tourists to social problems affecting the Swiss Abroad that live here,” Desai explains.

The chain of islands that make up Hawaii form the 50th and southernmost US state. Many Swiss visitors who come are here for a language course. Desai points out that 6.6% of international students in Hawaii come from Switzerland, ranked fifth behind Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and China. “That is quite something,” she says, comparing “little Switzerland” to the much bigger countries.

Most of them come to the tropical paradise for just three months to learn English.