rye-student-holly-fredricksons-second-email-jun-2018

Hi Kim,

 

Hope all is going well for you and also the club!

 

I’ve almost been here for 5 months now and with this time I’m finally used to the Swiss lifestyle! I have had not so much school lately as many classes have been canceled because the teachers have to supervise the Matura (final year group) exams. However, I feel really settled in my class now and am finally feeling comfortable with understanding the lessons properly!

 

My German had thoroughly improved in the last month and I’m at a point where it’s much easier to communicate certain things in German rather than English. It’s crazy how many times I have switched to German in my thoughts because of how often I hear and speak German now.

 

I‘m well underway with the Swiss Rotary‘s B1 preparation course which we have for 3 hours every Wednesday in Zürich. I really enjoy spending this time with the other exchange students, and I also find myself learning so much more in every lesson. The B1 Exam is in mid-September, and we have two more lessons before a 6-week break for Summer holidays.

 

This month I have been lucky enough to see so many beautiful parts of Switzerland! A couple of weeks ago I did a hike in Glarus, which I would say is my favourite place in Switzerland so far. I went with two of my exchange student friends Molly and Tatum (from the US) and we did a five-hour hike, rewarded with a swim in the most beautiful lake called the Klöntalersee.

  (Hiking in Glarus)                                          (Made it to Klöntalersee!!)

 

Last Weekend we had a Farewell weekend for the August inbounds, which was held in Tenero, in the Italian part of Switzerland. It was so beautiful in Tenero, and we were so lucky to be treated to warm weather (31/32*C). We stayed in a large sports camp which is home to many of the National Swiss Sporting teams and is where they train. There were almost 90 of us altogether as Switzerland does its Rotary Youth Exchange events as a multidistrict meaning that the three districts (1980,1990,2000) all participate together.

 

We spent our time on Saturday playing beach volleyball, badminton, basketball, and swimming, before having dinner and spending the rest of the night doing singalongs, playing games, or just relaxing and enjoying our time together. Later in the night, we retired to our tents, which slept 18 people and earlier belonged to the Swiss Army. 

 

On Sunday, we hiked from Tenero to Locarno and spent the day exploring the Town. It was so gorgeous and had a wonderful view over the Lake. It was sad to say goodbye to the Oldies (August inbounds) at the end of the Weekend, but we knew we would see each other again on the Eurotour.

  (All of the Swiss exchange                       (Tatum, Molly and I in Locarno)

      students in Locarno)                 

 

Our Eurotour starts on the 23rd of June and I’m so excited! I’ll be sure to let you and the club know all about it later this month :)

 

A few other exchange students and I have planned to visit Geneva on the 21st of June to visit the Pope when he comes to Switzerland, and also to explore the city! I’m really excited for this cultural experience, and also the visit the French part of Switzerland as I haven’t been there yet.

 

 

                                     (Photos from Locarno)