Switzerland: The Hills are Alive!! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really enjoyed the very varied component of education where we were able to listen to various reputable NGO's and renowned international organizations. The lectures we received were by far the most interesting and exciting. It was a very different experience from going to the classroom and listening to professors. We went to the places where important people discussed and resolved important global issues.

On-site administration of your program

The Academic director was going through a transition into his position because it was his first time, which to some extent is understandable. However he really had no communication with students in the program and we were left in the dark about a lot of important things. He struggled in giving us information regarding instructions on assignments. He was very subjective about certain information and not very willing to see other points being made. He was available in my case, for my independent research project but I know that for other students in my program he was not. He did not seem very prepared to me for this position, he was very hot-headed and very infantile when dealing with situations or problems. As the program progressed he seemed to get less and less supportive.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I felt like a member of the family my whole entire stay there. They were absolutely wonderful and very attentive to me. I really did not have to provide anything- I even received towels and wash cloths to use during my time there as well. It was always very clean and very close to my french course at Ecole Migros as well as the train station, in order to go to lectures in Geneva. In regards to nightlife it got kind of difficult there is a local pub in my town of Nyon however if you were looking to go dancing you had to go kind of far to neighboring cities but according to others in my program it was doable, you just have to check the train schedules.

Food was great. It is expensive, if this is a concern. It was doable if you went to the grocery store and split ingredients to make sandwiches with baguettes. There are public water fountains everywhere with delicious tasting filtered Alp water. It was crisp and cold and so refreshing. So make sure to have a reusable water bottle because the water is wonderful even the tap. Food portions are modest- they are on the small side, rather than the typical "huge" American portions, but I found it to be enough. The quality is great all of it is organic, and very fresh and very tasty.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I loved going to a local chocolate factory as well as going to a local co-op farm. These were the most memorable because we were truly seeing some awesome things like chocolate (seeing how the best chocolate in the world is made!). It was incredible to see the sense of pride the Swiss feel in relation to their food and the environment. They feel deeply connected to all of the wonderfully fresh things that they produce. The best was being able to go to the UN headquarters as well as have access to the UN library!!! The realization that we are going to have lectures with important reputable organizations around the world is amazing,for example, WHO, WTO, UNAIDS, ILO, Doctors Without Borders, & Medecins du Monde, just to name a few.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Switzerland is very safe there are no problems with safety. No special vaccines, everything is very accessible.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Americans