On Thursday the UK was the Future. On Friday it was the past

“Switzerland has excellent universities, but studying here will not offer the understanding of the world that studying in the UK will. With its strong international population, the UK is more likely to demand broader thinking!” (…) “Coming from a cosmopolitan family, I have always been open to cultural diversity and I do not think of myself as “Swiss”, though that is what I am.”

I am 24 and the above excerpt was written by me aged 17 when applying to British universities.

I ended up studying economics in Switzerland for various reasons but convinced that London was the most diverse and forward thinking place on earth I moved here after a short bound in Hong Kong. I have been working in e-commerce for an American Fortune 500 company in London for close to 2 years now and embrace the British sense of humour, culture, people (and even food).

When people would ask me why I had moved from safe, stable and wealthy Switzerland I always answered that London was the capital of the world and who wouldn’t want to be in the most cosmopolitan, tolerant and innovative city on the planet?

A year ago I nearly died from pneumonia and was in ICU for a week at St Mary’s hospital. I was lucky to be looked after by an incredible team of both British and foreign doctors. From the minute I was admitted to the moment I was discharged no one asked me for proof of identity or credit card. They just wanted me to get better regardless of my nationality, race, sexual orientation, beliefs or wealth. I was amazed by the level of care and the experience was, in my opinion, a great representation of what the UK stood for.

On Thursday evening London was the place of entrepreneurship, opportunities, innovation, a melting pot of cultures and ideas. At dawn London became a place of fear, cruelty, and close mindedness.

Now everything is on the table, while I am not even European and certainly do not fear to be sent back I am considering exploring new territories.

On Friday morning for the first time since moving here I woke up anxious and felt let down and rejected by this country I cherish.

In the street and then in the office I couldn’t stop thinking that some people were resenting my presence in this country.

During the morning our boss came to each and every floor to say we shouldn’t fear for our jobs. What I would have wanted to hear was that the vote was not representative of how the company felt, that we were a global multicultural company built on diversity, differences, and respect and that we should continue to embrace idiosyncrasy.

Later that day I even found out on Facebook that the girl at the end of my bench was proud to have voted “leave”.

While the future is unpredictable at this stage. Great Britain you have broken my heart.

No Man Is An Island. No Country By Itself.