Swiss perspectives in 10 languages
Login
Culture

Tamil street food, all chopped up

Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, she meets up with Thileeban, who talks about his difficult start to life here in Switzerland. These days, apart from selling Sri Lankan street food, he's also involved in film production. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

This content was published on
1 minute

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

Read more
Ugur and Tama together

More

Hip-hop: a migrant thing?

This content was published on Tama talks to Ugi, an ethnic Kurd born in Switzerland, about the links between hip-hop music and migration. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: Hip-hop: a migrant thing?
Hama Raya and Tama

More

A Swiss-Lebanese-Iraqi stand-up comic

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week she meets comic, Hamza Rya. Everyone's a target for his jokes. (SRF Kulturplatz/ swissinfo.ch)

Read more: A Swiss-Lebanese-Iraqi stand-up comic
Tama and a People s Party representative

More

Is Switzerland being ‘Muslimised’?

This content was published on This week, Tama attends a conference of the conservative right Swiss People’s Party and finds out why they want to stop 'Muslimisation'.

Read more: Is Switzerland being ‘Muslimised’?
Tama with Max Urban, close shot

More

Flat tops, braids and corn rows

This content was published on Max Urban, a rapper, is Afro-Swiss and he can do things with his mouth that most white people can only dream of. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: Flat tops, braids and corn rows
Emily and Tama together in kitchen

More

What does it take to feel Swiss in Switzerland?

This content was published on Tama was born here to Tamil parents. Emily has Polish/Chinese roots and grew up in Canada. Emily feels Canadian but Tama doesn't feel that Swiss.

Read more: What does it take to feel Swiss in Switzerland?
Tama talks to Tri, head of a Vietnamese summer camp.

More

Why language is not just about talking

This content was published on Tama visits a summer camp for young Vietnamese people growing up in Switzerland and finds out how language helps to unite the participants.

Read more: Why language is not just about talking
Tama with Kidswest project children

More

A life-changing art project

This content was published on This week, Tama visits the Kidswest Association set up a decade ago in Bern, which introduces art to disadvantaged children.

Read more: A life-changing art project
Tama and Marco Kunz on the grass

More

When Swiss kids are forced to go hiking

This content was published on What makes Swiss kids different from foreign kids growing up here? Tama Vakeesan discusses this with singer, Marco Kunz, from Lucerne.

Read more: When Swiss kids are forced to go hiking
<Niguela stands behind Tama

More

Congolese do it in sunglasses

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She talks to a comedian about how Congolese Swiss differ from Swiss natives.

Read more: Congolese do it in sunglasses
Tama points at jazzed up car

More

Tama and the car freaks

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week she visits a show organised by Tamils for car freaks.

Read more: Tama and the car freaks
Tama holds her nose

More

When commuters are smelly, loud and rude

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Tama looks at the downsides of commuting here. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: When commuters are smelly, loud and rude
Tama makes Albanian eagle sign

More

Why do ethnic Albanians do the double-headed eagle?

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Sometimes it’s hard for Tama and her friends of different ethnic origins to stay true to family traditions. She asks Arjeta what being an ethnic Albanian means to her. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: Why do ethnic Albanians do the double-headed eagle?
Close-up Tama s face

More

Skin lightening: why do Tamil women do it?

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, she investigates why Tamil women want to look paler. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: Skin lightening: why do Tamil women do it?
Tama dances with Aceko, her friend

More

When your parents hate your career choices

This content was published on Swiss-born Tama Vakeesan has Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Both she and her friend from Cameroon had trouble with their parents and career choices.

Read more: When your parents hate your career choices
Tama, her brother, and the child asylum seekers at a refugee centre take a selfie

More

Re-visiting a refugee centre

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan visits a refugee centre for the first time since she herself was an asylum- seeker. Her Tamil parents fled the war in Sri Lanka.

Read more: Re-visiting a refugee centre
Tama and her mum sit laughing

More

Me and my mum

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to parents from Sri Lanka. She speaks with her mother who explains what it was like to leave her home country.

Read more: Me and my mum
Tama s friend sings into a microphone

More

Let the beat go on!

This content was published on Tama's friend Priya Ragu, a Swiss-born ethnic Tamil, explains how hard it is making her way in the music world without her parents' support.

Read more: Let the beat go on!
Vlogger stands back to back with friend

More

Under suspicion

This content was published on Tama meets her friend Mondher, who is Swiss with Tunisian roots. He tells how not looking Swiss has got him into trouble.

Read more: Under suspicion
Why women are marching in Zurich.

More

Tama and the #Pussyhats

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. In this episode, she takes part in the Zurich Women’s March and finds out why demonstrators are wearing pink “Pussyhats”, and how their four-legged allies are protesting too. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: Tama and the #Pussyhats

More

What our food says about us

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan meets up with her friend Zoe, born in Switzerland to Greek parents, to find out whose mum is the best cook.

Read more: What our food says about us

More

So what if I wear a headscarf?

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan finds out how wearing a headscarf affects the lives of some of her friends. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Read more: So what if I wear a headscarf?

More

My town – ordinary but extraordinary

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She shows us her favourite places in her home town.

Read more: My town – ordinary but extraordinary

More

My big fat Tamil wedding

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Tama and her best friends have a clear vision of their dream man.

Read more: My big fat Tamil wedding
close up Tama

More

Swiss or Tamil? Caught in the middle

This content was published on Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Sometimes she doesn’t know where she belongs.

Read more: Swiss or Tamil? Caught in the middle

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR