REPORT FROM SWITZERLAND

Here’s Alex’s report for October and November. He has been busy with school and several Rotary engagements. Hard to believe that he has under 40 days left in his exchange!! He has been a great ambassador for the Rotary Club of Berwick, his family, school and community.

I went into Zurich early Saturday morning to complete my B1 test. It was difficult to say the least. I am not sure If I will pass or not but I will find out in 8 to 10 weeks. For some reason the test has to go to Germany and get corrected.

Saturday night we had a bit of a party together with some other exchange students to celebrate the finishing of the test. Monday and Tuesday I had school and it felt good not using every spare minute I had trying to learn German. It was definitely a nice feeling. Thursday I went into Zurich to meet with one of my fellow exchange students from Australia. Unfortunately, she was getting sent home on Saturday and I wouldn’t be able to make it to the airport. So I spent the afternoon with her reflecting back on the 8 months we had shared together. I then went and visited another friend while I was in Zurich and we spent a couple hours together before I headed home.

 

Saturday I had an 80th birthday lunch to attend to. It was my next host dad’s mother and I was invited as the whole family would be there and I would then be able to get to know them. It was a lunch in the Swiss Alps which was very nice. There was traditional Swiss music and Swiss food. Then go back down the mountain, instead of taking the chair lift, we went by billy cart. This was good fun as we got a lot of speed up and had fun at the same time. Until my 11 year old host brother hurt himself. My host mom then tried to help him but she didn’t make sure her billycart was going to stay in one spot. Next minute it was tumbling over the edge. Thankfully it did not hurt anyone. That night I then went and meet some friends and we spent some time at a bit of a carnival. Sunday I helped my host dad in his bakery. He had to clear part of it out as some other people were going to rent part of it. Monday I had school but it was a special week.

 

It is a week where we had successful business people from around the canton come and speak to us and teach us for the week. It was kind of boring as I did not understand it all but a lot of it was still interesting. Wednesday we went to a big factory which makes and distributes mineral water throughout Switzerland. That was good to see as it was a major factory but only operated by two people as it was all automatic. Thursday we had a presentation night, to show our 30 second ads which we had filmed. Out of 9 groups my group came 2^nd. So I was pretty happy with my group. Friday we presented our finished product to our class and the teachers.

 

Saturday I went for a bike ride to the Klontal Lake. It was a nice ride as the tops of the mountains had snow over them now. Then in the night I went into Zurich and met with some friends. Monday I went to Zurich with my host sister and her friends and we saw a movie at the cinemas, I also packed my bag and got it ready for the next day. Tuesday we left early in the morning to London, I went with my host mom and 2 younger host siblings. We spent Tuesday walking around London and seeing the city, we saw things like Big Ben, the London Eye and of course the Buckingham Palace. Wednesday we went to a shopping centre and had a look around there, then we went to the airport and left to go back to Zurich. We only spent a night in London but it was really amazing. I then spent a few days at home before soon heading off for a tour of Switzerland. I went with my host mom and host brother for 3 days. We spent the first night in Delemore and then the 2nd night in Geneva. We also visited places like Montreux and Zermatt. I saw the tallest mountain in Switzerland which was around 4600m and also Mt Matterhorn, one of Switzerland’s most iconic mountains. We returned late Friday night.

 

Saturday it was my host sisters 19th Birthday, so we celebrated that by having dinner together. She then went out to the club for the night while I went to Zurich and had a party of my own to attend too. Sunday I spent the day packing as my next host family came over for dinner and I then went home with them. I arrived at their house and was amazed by how big it is. Not going to lie, it is nice having a queen sized bed for myself and my own bathroom. They also have a pool but unfortunately, I am unable to use it because it is now nearly winter and it is just way to cold. Monday I then returned back to school after being on holidays for 2 weeks. Thursday I finished school at lunch time so I went to Zurich and meet with some friends, I then continued to Aarau to meet some other friends.

We are getting hoodies made with the Swiss mountains on the back and “Rotary Youth Exchange” on the front. It is going to look amazing but now we just have to wait until they are made. Saturday I went to Basel and we had a party there. I then stayed at a friend’s house the night and returned home Sunday. Monday I went to a Rotary club meeting and we had a tour of a museum. The museum was about Anna Goldi, she was the last witch to be killed in Europe. Wednesday I didn’t have school so I went into Zurich for the day with some friends.

 

Saturday I spent some time with some Swiss friends in Zurich but came home relatively early, for Sunday we had the country fair. Sunday some of us exchange students were selected to represent our countries and portray them across to the new exchange students. Our job was to represent our countries and essentially convince them to want to come and see our beautiful land. It was an amazing day spent with some really good friends. Monday I went to my local Rotary club meeting. Wednesday I went to a dinner with the rotary, here I meet with the Rotary world president Ian Riseley and his wife. I was able to talk to him for a little while and I asked him a few questions like “how did you become Rotary world president?” And “what you made so far?” He was a very interesting man to talk to and I felt incredibly privileged to have that opportunity to meet with him. Friday I went to stay at a fellow friend’s house as I had no trains going to Geneva that early on Saturday. changes have made so far?”.

 

We went to Geneva together on Saturday morning at 5am for the Rotary international peace conference at the United Nations. This was truly an incredible day. I learnt a lot and got to meet so many incredible people. They planned on having 600 people but instead they had 1500 people. It was truly an incredible experience and I was so thankful to have been selected to participate in this event. Sunday was an easy day spent at home. However for dinner I did return to my first host family. I had raclette with them which was really nice and then left at around 8pm. When I left though there was about 15cm of snow which had fallen. It was the first major snow which had fallen for the season. Monday was just a normal day in school, in the afternoon though I did receive some good news. I had discovered that I passed the B1 exam in German which I was very happy about, as I thought I would fail. Tuesday I had a presentation in my school about Australia to my fellow exchange students and some friends. Thursday after school I went into Zurich and decided to spend some money. I had only 2 months to go so I thought I will by myself a nice watch. Friday I went to the airport to meet my previous host mum. We then went to her mom’s 75th birthday and we stayed there the night. I then returned home Saturday afternoon for I had to go to a book opening. One of the Rotarians in my club was releasing a new book.
 

Then Saturday night I meet with some friends and we went to the club. Wednesday I had a meeting with my YEO as I have had some problems with my new host family and we came to the conclusion that it would be best if I moved back to my old host family. Thursday I had a friend come and visit and I showed her around my canton. Friday I went to a friend’s house in Aarau and stayed there the night for we had to leave early in the morning to go to a Rotex weekend. We left early in the morning playing music for the whole 4 hours on the train. It was a really good weekend with all the exchange students. Seeing the Matterhorn and experience the wonders and joys of Switzerland. We then returned home Sunday evening, this time I went directly to my new/old host family.