Switzerland- It’s more than just chocolate

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Published on Monday, December 28, 2015

Submitted photos.Nikki in front of one of the many mountains in Switzerland.

Submitted by Nikki Tomoniko

Rotary exchange student from Neepawa

I sit here in my less than impeccable room and think to myself, “Will I ever be Swiss?”

I arrived in Switzerland in the beginning of August, worn shoes slapping on smooth concrete as I made my way to my host family. Thoughts raced through my head, butterflies dizzied themselves in my stomach and freshly applied deodorant battled against my ever-active sweat glands. Naturally, going away on a Rotary exchange made me nervous.

A full year away from home wasn’t an easy decision and this Swiss airport with its Swiss clocks, Swiss German and Swiss air was quite nerve wracking for this small town girl! When I first looked upon the people I would call family for the next six months, a ripple of excitement punched my already bunched nerves. This was the moment where my exchange began, the start of a new year to find a new me.

Pathetic procrastination

I’ve got to say, I was pretty pathetic when I first arrived in Switzerland. I relied fully upon smiles and nods whenever I was spoken to and had a vocabulary that consisted of “Hallo!” (which is German for hello). The Swiss Rotary Youth Exchange is incredibly organized and they ensure that incoming students (those arriving in Switzerland) have the means to experience life in Switzerland to the fullest. So, while I did an online German course before I came (courtesy of Rotary Switzerland), my knowledge of the language was primitive (Note: Laws of Procrastination were in effect). However, as time passed (and with the help of a German Crash-Course) my German slowly improved. In Switzerland, they have their own dialect, often referred to as Swiss German, or Mundart, and this dialect varies vastly in the 26 Swiss regions. I’m now four months into my exchange and it’s only now that I understand a little of this Swiss German. Swiss “Es bizzili” compared to German “Ein bisschen” is a little bit different (both translate to “a little bit”). Living with both languages makes them easier to learn and easier to ask where the toilet is.

Switzerland sights

I am currently living in a small “Dorf” (village) just outside a city called Wil. Züberwangen (my small Dorf)has around 5,000 citizens and is considered very small by Swiss standards. I live in the east part of Switzerland, so in under an hour I can travel to Germany, Lichtenstein, or Austria! Want to see France? It’s only an hour and a half away. It’s very beautiful here and I have a choice of views: one of glorious mountains, the second of quaint colorful houses and the third of a vast forest. I’ve travelled much of Switzerland and seen many incredible sights. I’ve seen the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in all of Europe. I’ve hiked to Seealpsee, a lake hidden in the Alpstein Mountains. I’ve gazed upon the Matterhorn, otherwise known as Toblerone Mountain. I’ve been in the smallest of villages and the biggest of cities, whether they be located among the rolling hills or towering Mountains. To assimilate the landscape and beauty of Switzerland is impossible. There is a certain magic in the air here and that’s not something that can be confined in a piece of paper. 

Friends to family

It must have been magic that placed me with my unbelievably wonderful Swiss families. I have two families here: my Rotary family and my host family. My Rotary family makes sure that I have one of the best years of my life. They organize and fund weekends that take exchange students all over Switzerland. I eat lunch once a month with my Rotary club, but have asked to go to more! Why attend more lunches? Because the food is ridiculously good. And gaining a full 10 kilos doesn’t come without a little input and hard work. I have an amazingly patient counsellor here and he’s already done lots to ensure I feel a part of the Rotary family. I’ve gone to the opera with him, eaten venison and wild boar at a table with him and his wife, had some of the best ice-cream known to man and much more. 

In my four months here, I have lived with an incredible family. Though I couldn’t pronounce their last name until two weeks ago, they have truly made me feel as if I am family. I have a host mom, dad and two sisters. One of these sisters is in Argentina, creating and living her own exchange. My host dad is a chef, so he’s helping me gain these precious 10 kilos. With this family, I’ve been inside of chocolate and cheese factories and hiked in mountains. My family took me to the beautiful island of Mallorca, Spain for two weeks and we’ve seen some of the loveliest cities (whether they be in Switzerland or Germany). They’ve also helped me grow as a person, helping me find independence and guiding me through times when up felt like down.

Switzerland: The bus leaves at 7:21 and not a minute later

Switzerland and Canada have similarities and differences between them. Like Canada, there is lots of wilderness in Switzerland. They have the same wild animals as we do (excluding the bigger, badder ones) and trees can be seen in every direction. The Swiss people are also very much like us Canadians in terms of friendliness and politeness. Everyone here says, “Gruezi!” when passing one another by and they readily help others when in need.

 While these things are very sympathetic between the two countries, there are some differences as well. The most obvious difference is the size. In Manitoba alone, 15.5 “Switzerlands” could fit inside. Everything here is very close and that in itself is very attractive. How do you see mountains, plains, forests, villages and cows in less the 10 minutes? Take a drive in Switzerland! The public transport system here is also very different from in Manitoba (Manitoba is primitive in the means of public transport). Here you can take a bus, train or taxi to anywhere in Switzerland. Everything is very accessible and reliable. Another thing you can rely on in Switzerland is the punctuality. If the bus plan says that the bus is leaving at 7:21, then the bus is leaving at 7:21 and not a minute later. 

Call me crazy

Presently, as I yet again look around my less than perfect room, I acknowledge that I will never be Swiss. I also acknowledge that this is okay, perhaps better. This experience will not shape me into any specific mold– it will help me add to the mosaic that represents my life I’ve lived and have yet to live. After my exchange, I’ll have parts of Switzerland to go with my Canada. I still have seven months in my exchange and call me crazy, but I don’t plan to eat less chocolate or bread or cheese. This year is for me and I’m going to take everything I can from it– even those 10 kilos.

Danke,

Nikki Tomoniko

(From left) Nikki with her host sister and mother in Konstanz, Germany.