Claudio Sieber (41) has saved years for his hammock life: St. Gallen immigrants still work one day a week

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Palm trees shine through Claudio Sieber’s (41) window. When Blick reaches out to her via video call, she’s tanned, her hair disheveled from the high humidity and daily swimming in the sea.

st. Everyday life for a native of Gallen. Since 2020, it has found a new home on the Philippine island of Siargao. Before that, he lived a modern nomadic life that took him around the world for years. “I didn’t want to base my whole life on Swiss ideals,” he says. To fulfill his dream of emigrating, he spent seven years – a true Swiss – preparing intensely for it.

minimalist lifestyle

Sieber decided to leave Switzerland behind in 2007. At that time still St. Gallen and worked as a key account manager. “I was a career man. I worked hard, I had very little free time,” he says. Even after work, he mentally carries his work home. “When you work for a big company, it’s never enough. As an individual, I felt trapped in this concept.”

Sieber takes a rigorous approach to the migration project. The goal: the biggest financial cushion possible. “I wanted to live as carefree as possible,” she says. For this, he accepts concessions. Gallen and moves to Appenzell Ausserrhoden to save on taxes and rent.

It is better to cook at home than go out. Tap water instead of branded drinks. New clothes from H&M, if available. “It was the little things I saved,” says Sieber. But over time, many things come together. Sieber had saved 150,000 francs when he left in 2014. He deposits 50,000 francs of it.

More than 20 countries in six years

The first six years are in constant motion. During this time, Sieber traveled to more than 20 countries in Asia, South and North America, most for several months. He prefers to travel by unusual means of transport. She tours Myanmar on a river in a motorboat and East Timor on a small horse.

He documents his experiences with the camera and writes about his thoughts on the camera in a blog. The first reports will come soon. Today, photojournalism is her main source of income. Immigrant even published a book recently.

Sieber says his marketing training has definitely helped him sell his reports. And since he mostly broadcasts in well-paid Europe, his income is enough for a modest living. “I’m working 20 percent now,” says Sieber. In order not to get bored, you need good hobbies.

“Maybe I would like to join again sometime”

There are enough. Sieber surfs, rides a bike or spends time with like-minded people living on the island. He built a house with money from his pension fund. Looking back, he says, “I am much happier today as a person.”

But looking to the future, the Swiss security idea comes to the fore. Because he regularly pays the volunteer AHV and the third column. “Maybe at some point I would like to be part of the Swiss team again.”

Claudio Sieber: “Stranded in Paradise”, Conbook. Available in bookstores.

Source :Blick