【明報專訊】“About myself
I am Merlin Fallahpour from Switzerland. My first language is German, but I am also fluent in Persian (波斯語). I've learnt French and English at school.”
Switzerland is a country with beautiful landscapes and four distinct seasons. Summer is usually very hot and rainy, and the temperature can go up to 32℃, while in winter the temperature can be as low as -10℃, and snow can pile up to a metre high. We are surrounded by mountains that are home to the best ski resorts during winter where most people spend their weekends.
Switzerland is quite a small country and has pretty much the same population size as Hong Kong does. Most of us speak German, but some of us also speak French and Italian. Most of the Swiss do not drive, thanks to our well-established transport system. Individual rights are highly respected in Switzerland, and we get to do whatever we want.
Basel, where I live, has a population of about 250,000. It is the second most populous city in Switzerland. A major industrial centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical (藥劑的) industry, young people from all over Switzerland come to Basel to study. Our city boasts one of the most successful football clubs in Switzerland-FC Basel. That's why football is extremely popular among local young people.
People in Basel love nature, and we strive to live a greener life. There are lots of parks and open space in the city, and forests and farms that surround our city are usually minutes away from our homes. That said, we do have many buildings. In fact, Basel is home to the Basler Messeturm, the tallest building in Switzerland. However, this 32-storey tower is nothing compared to Hong Kong's 2 IFC.
Different regions of Switzerland celebrate their own traditional festivals. The most important festival of all should be Fasnacht ("Fasting Eve" literally). It is a three-day carnival that takes place before the Lenten period. During the festival everyone gets dressd up and wears a mask. The entire city would be in a festive mood and everyone is ready to party. Besides Fasnacht, we also celebrate Christmas, New Year and Easter.
