YBI BASEL
You belong in Basel.
We started this project as a way to further build the Basel community and to help newcomers settle. Many people come here having to learn a new language, discover a new culture and find a new purpose. We want to help with that process and work to strengthen the bond between Swiss and foreign national communities.
Our Story
The YBI Basel story began in 2018. Meaghan Renner Ofori and Ariana McBride didn't know each other before moving to Basel, but became fast fiends over a shared sense of adventure and love of exploring.
They faced many challenges in those first few months and realized that other newcomers had common experiences. From small details like having to buy light fixtures for your apartment, to bigger challenges like learning a new language or even finding a new sense of purpose after a personal or career change, they realized the process of settling in can be formidable.
During this time they also began to discover why Basel is such a great place to live! With museums and festivals, lively neighbourhoods, some fantastic restaurants and the perfect location for travel throughout Europe, they felt Basel was the best kept secret in Europe.
In an effort to share their love for this city, help other newcomers settle and further build a community that included both expats and Swiss, they formed YBI Basel. Since then they have been working hard to reach out to other community organizations, while producing interesting content to highlight the many varied facets of life in this region.
In 2022 Ariana's time in Basel came to an end, but Meaghan is committed to keep the project going, hoping to find some like-minded individuals to help her along the way.
So, whether you've been here for two months, twenty years or your whole life, the hope of YBI Basel is that by showing you how much this city has to offer, by introducing you to some of the people who live here, that can you feel like Basel is your home and that you truly belong.
You Belong in Basel.
YBI Community
Meaghan Renner Ofori
Founder, Creative Director
Home country: Canada eh!
Been here since: 2018
Basel Favourite: Grocery shopping in 3 different countries
Cheese or chocolate: Chocolate!
Meaghan has lived in Basel since 2018 with her husband and two children. After going through the process of settling in and finding a new purpose in Basel, she grew to love this city and all that it had to offer. She wanted to help others find their home here as well. A former fundraiser, event planner
and graphic designer, Meaghan has a passion for sewing and dancing and enjoys cooking, hiking and yoga.
Contributors
Salina Berg
Writer
Home Country: USA
Been here since: 2016
Basel Favourite: Infinite hiking possibilities
Cheese or Chocolate: Always chocolate
Johanna Bousfield
Writer
Home Country: USA
Been here since: 2012
Swiss Favourite: Amazing nature
Cheese or Chocolate: Cheese, especially the hard stuff
Stefanie Busse
Swiss Education Consultant
Home Country: Germany
Been here since: 2011
Basel Favourite: Hiking and swimming in Switzerland's beautiful lakes!
Cheese or Chocolate: Chocolate
Stefanie' s background as a German teacher working in both Swiss public and private schools, as well as being a parent that has moved internationally, has given her valuable insights into the Swiss education sector and a passion to help international families settle into their new school life. Her mission is to assist expats in navigating the Swiss school system and empower them to make well-informed choices regarding available educational options.
Andrea Cristancho
Personal Health Coach
Home Country: Venezuela
Been here since: 2019
Basel Favourite: Floating down the river
Cheese or Chocolate: 100% a chocolate gal
Website: www.andreacristancho.com
Andrea is Personal Health Coach with a passion for supporting startup founders and teams optimise their health for ultimate success. She has a background in International Studies, Masters inInternational Business and is also a yoga teacher and certified integrative nutrition coach.
Antara Das
Writer, Student
Home Country: India
Been here since: 2013
Basel Favourite: The museums and Rhein river
Cheese or Chocolate: Chocolate
Antara is from India and has lived in Basel since 2013. She is currently studying psychology in the UK.
Sabine Erker
Writer, Podcaster
Home Country: Austria
Basel Favourite: Along the Rhein, Unternehmen Mitte
Cheese or Chocolate: Chocolate
Website: www.schoenesdeutsch.at
Sabine is an online German language teacher, content creator, editor and podcaster. She holds several examiner licenses for TELC and ÖSD and prepares students for all common German language exams and more. Her podcast focuses on interesting topics for German learners and reaches listeners in over 80 countries worldwide.
Catalina Escalante
Photographer
Home Country: Columbia/USA
Been here since: 2018
Basel Favourite: It's so clean and accessible
Cheese or Chocolate: can't decide :)
Vanessa Gatelein
Writer, Health Coach & Yoga Instructor
Home Country: New York City (USA)
Been here since: 2003
Basel Favourite: Schoggi Wegg with a Schale from Sutter Begg
Cheese or Chocolate: Cheeeeeeese!
Website: www.foodchangeseverything.me
Vanessa arrived in Switzerland in 2003. Straight off the plane from New York City, the city of pizza, burgers, bagels, and dirty water hot dogs, it was a shock to land in the country of milk, cheese, and chocolate! Even though she struggled at first adapting to the food in Switzerland, she can now say her diet (and lifestyle) has shifted for the better. She loves to help people find ‘their food’ that they love in Switzerland, and the food that loves them back.
Ariana McBride
Co-Founder, Writer
Home Country: USA
Time in Basel: 2018-2022
Basel Favourite: Neatly tied recycling
Cheese or Chocolate: Cheese
Ariana lived in Basel in from 2018- February 2022 with her husband, two daughters and two cats. While going through the experience of moving to a place where she did not know anyone or anything, Ariana thought a lot about the value of community. She is a city planner by training, a lover of well-organized closets, and an aspiring gardener.
Megan has been in Switzerland since 2010. After working in the medical device industry for 17 years, she started her own business. She is a wellbeing and personal development coach, but she also helps female solo entrepreneurs build their online businesses with digital tools. She’s always ready to meet new people.
Megan McCrory
Personal Development Coach
Home Country: Indiana, USA
Been here since: 2010
Basel Favourite: Markthalle
Cheese or Chocolate: Cheese
Website: mybestself.fit and meganjmccrory.com
Asha has lived in Basel-Stadt since 2018 but has previously lived in England, France and the US She loves exploring Switzerland with her husband, two children and dog. Her hobbies include hiking, travelling, spinning and reading.
Asha Mentzer
Writer, Neighbourhood Mapper
Home Country: UK
Been here since: July 2018
Basel Favourite: Rhein swimming followed by an Aperol Spritz
Cheese or Chocolate: Cheese! especially fondue
Jakob was born in Basel and grew up in Rome, Wimbledon and London. He returned to Switzerland for university and after began an interesting career in international marketing in the pharmaceutical industry. Jakob is now retired and is passionate about showing people Basel. He realizes how lucky he is to be born Swiss and since spending 5 years in Tokyo, he fully appreciates this beautiful, smooth-running, little country even more.
Jakob Mettler
Tour Guide, Historian
Home Country: Switzerland
Been back since: 1971
Basel Favourite: The old city – ideal for a tour guide
Cheese or Chocolate: Both (at their respective opportunities)
Website: www.jamix.ch
Jamie is an American by way of the UK and Hong Kong. She has lived in Basel Land with her husband, two children and two dogs since October 2021. She loves coffee, travelling, being outside and animals. Her hobbies include skiing, obstacle course racing and reading. She is very competitive and always up to try a new outdoor activity.
Jamie Nunn
Writer
Home Country: USA
Been here since: October 2021
Basel Favourite: Schoggiwegglis from Confiserie Bachmann
Cheese or Chocolate: Chocolate!!
Christine Pesold
Co-Founder, Basel Life
Home Country: Canada
Been here since: 2002
Basel Favourite: The abundance of culture packed into this perfect-sized city!
Cheese or Chocolate: Both
Website: www.basellife.com
Originally from Montreal, Canada, Christine moved to Basel with her family in 2002 and has been an active volunteer in the expat community since her arrival in Switzerland. She is responsible for selecting, researching, and writing most of the content of Basel Life.
Peggy Sacotte
Writer, Neighbourhood Mapper
Home Country: France
Been here since: 2022
Basel Favourite: charming, cultural, green, international, riverside, Swiss pocket-size city and top quality of life!
Cheese or Chocolate: Both!
Peggy is a French-Luxembourgish entrepreneur living in Basel with her husband and three kids (if her dog counts as one). As a ski lover and passionate traveler, Switzerland is for her a paradise on Earth. Always eager to learn more and meet new people, she enjoys sharing the greatest insider knowledge about the best places to discover and things to do!
Kripa Samant Parulekar
Architect, Artist
Home Country: India
Been here since: 2019
Basel Favourite: Cycling along the Rhine, swimming, vibrant art, picturesque mountain hikes
Cheese or Chocolate: Chocolate indeed
Kripa is from India living in Basel with her husband and daughter. For years, she served in the field of Art, Architecture and Design as a professional architect. Painting has always been her passion; she mostly works with watercolours. She actively participates in Art and Architectural events in Basel. She started artstudio21k for sharing her art, thoughts and connecting with you all. You can view her work @artstudio21k on Instagram.
Steve Sanderson
Writer, Neighbourhood Mapper
Home Country: USA
Been here since: 2018
Basel Favourite: Sense of community, great architecture and Döner Kebabs
Cheese or Chocolate: What are you kidding? Chocolate, always.
Steve writes fiction and nonfiction. He is very dedicated to giving back to the writing community. He grew up in Queens, New York where he worked in film as a camera assistant, then switched careers to work as a Technical Writer for two decades. He's a book obsessive, loves running, satire, and walking everywhere. He has no sense of direction, and gets lost in most places except for cities which somehow make sense.
Melinda Taylor Schoutens
Author, Fresh Air Kids Switzerland
Home Country: USA
Been here since: 2007
Basel Favourite: Our proximity to the Alps...pure bliss!
Cheese or Chocolate: Chocolate...always chocolate!
Website: www.freshairkids.com
Melinda is an American who lives in Basel. She loves exploring the Alps with her husband, two children and anyone else who is up for an adventure. She writes, reads, listens to podcasts, hikes and enjoys sweating at her local gym. She’s passionate about sharing her love of nature with others and has a dream of having a little chalet in the Swiss Alps!
Natasha Scott
Writer
Home Country: Canada
Been here since: 2019
Basel Favourite: floating down the Rhine on a hot summer day.
Cheese or Chocolate: Cheese.. I can get Swiss chocolate anywhere
Tegan Smedley
Pharmacist, Writer
Home Country: USA
Been here since: 2022
Basel Favourite: Self-pick flower fields
Cheese or Chocolate: Chocolate
Tegan is a pharmacist and medical writer. She is passionate about communicating information in a fun
and informative way. Exploring the abundant nature near Basel has made her feel more at home since
moving here in 2022. You can often find her on a hiking or cycling trail with her family in tow.
Alison Waterfield
Writer
Home Country: UK
Been here since: 2011
Basel Favourite: Tri-regio location, Nature, Gabriella Gelato
Cheese or Chocolate: Läderach fresh Schoggi everytime!
Alison is a Brit who has been in the Basel area for over a decade. She currently resides in Oberwil, where she enjoys having countryside on her doorstep as well as town being only a short tram ride away. She loves cooking, baking and anything food-related and is a beginner food stylist and photographer. She enjoys being in nature and relaxing doing anything wellness-related, as well as engaging in creative activities such as abstract and fluid art, and crochet.
Partners
You Belong in Basel is proud to partner with the following organizations.
Inspiring families to connect with nature one outdoor experience at a time.
Fresh Air Kids Switzerland is on a BIG mission to start an outdoor revolution that connects as many families as possible to the natural world. By breaking down the barriers of spending quality time outside, we hope to inspire, motivate and encourage more outdoor adventure in the lives of families across the globe. www.freshairkids.com
While relocating to another country can be one of the most rewarding, enriching, and exciting experiences you can have, the language barrier and cultural differences can also, at times, make it a somewhat challenging and even isolating time. As expats themselves, the creators of Basel Life have made it their mission to help the English-speaking community of Basel make the most of their stay in this
beautiful, vibrant, and culturally rich city on the Rhein. www.basellife.com
Centrepoint is a well-established, English-speaking community, located in the heart of Basel, where all nationalities are welcome. It aims to be a friendly, evolving community providing an inclusive, multi-cultural and safe environment, where members have a sense of belonging both to Centrepoint and the Basel region through participating in a diverse range of activities and social events. www.centrepoint.ch
The Basel Children's Trust, where families find their friends in Basel.
Basel Children’s Trust (BCT) is a volunteer-run organization that provides community and information to expectant parents and families in the Basel area.