I haven't been travelling alone though! I have made awesome friends here from all over the world. They are spontaneous and adventurous, and exactly the right type of people I want to surround myself with. Almost every night someone says "Hey do you want to go to ___ tomorrow?" paired with a screenshot of our train itinerary.
I do not know what we would do if it weren't for the excellent train system here in Switzerland, along with my unlimited train pass, thanks to Rotary. In one day, I can cross the entire country and return home before 10pm. For example, my friends and I hiked in Zermatt, which is about 4.5 hours of travelling by train:
I do not know what we would do if it weren't for the excellent train system here in Switzerland, along with my unlimited train pass, thanks to Rotary. In one day, I can cross the entire country and return home before 10pm. For example, my friends and I hiked in Zermatt, which is about 4.5 hours of travelling by train:
| Legs were most likely fading away at this point. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. |
| Ideal lunch spot I'd say... |
I’m doing really good here. I try not to waste any days, because I always hear that exchange students waste too much time.
Lately my interactions with customer service workers have greatly improved. One month ago I answered “credit” when a woman asked me in Swiss German if I needed a bag. Now, I can smoothly say “No, I am not a member. I don’t have time to make an account to save 10%. I have my own bag, and yes I would like the receipt.” I would call that an upgrade.
On a serious note, I have an upcoming A2 test on October 30th. I have already passed A1, and in January I will take B1 level, if I then pass B2 level in June, I can then display this on my resume, as i is internationally recognized. Although I am not worried, exchange students who do not pass will receive a "yellow card." If a student receives 3 yellow cards, they are sent home. I am still going strong with 0 yellow cards, no worries, everyone.
On a serious note, I have an upcoming A2 test on October 30th. I have already passed A1, and in January I will take B1 level, if I then pass B2 level in June, I can then display this on my resume, as i is internationally recognized. Although I am not worried, exchange students who do not pass will receive a "yellow card." If a student receives 3 yellow cards, they are sent home. I am still going strong with 0 yellow cards, no worries, everyone.
So far, I have no close Swiss friends. The Swiss people are very reserved and hard to get in with. They aren’t unfriendly, though, in fact everyone is very nice. The fact that I bike home for lunch everyday doesn’t allow me to really interact with the other students a lot, but I think it will come with time. Almost every exchange student I talk to has the same issue, and in the end everyone ends up with friends at school.
I have taken up a new sport, as well. Unihockey! Which I would say is ball hockey with a funky variation of a lacrosse stick. It’s a very interesting sport, but I don’t understand all the rules yet. I will start playing games after the Christmas holidays, but for now only go to practice on Mondays until I get a license to play. Then, I guess i will invest in a stick.
And now, as I conclude this blog post, I will share some pictures of my adventures! (In absolutely no order at all)
| Château Chillon, Montreux. |
| Bern, that unofficial capital of Switzerland. (There is no official capital) |
| Bern Old Town |
| Melchsee Frutt, two weeks ago. Now covered in snow. |
| Boat ride on Lake Zurich this week. |
| Beautiful day in Zurich. |
| Tour of the town with my local Rotary Club! Great view of the old town! |
| A picture with all my closest friends from the Rotary weekend in Solothurn! (Very sunny) |
Funny moment:
Today while my friend Magnus and I were eating lunch in the cafeteria of a department store, we ran into two other Rotary exchange students who happened to be eating there too! They then showed us around Bern, which is good because naturally, we were there with no real plan.
