Nicolas Guzman -- Switzerland (French-Speaking) (SZH)

A Summer to Remember!

My summer in Switzerland was indescribable. It was probably one of the best months I have ever had. Before the program started, I did not know what to expect, who the people in the group were going to be or if I was going to have fun. However, when I met the group for the first time I knew they were in the same position as me. We were all quiet and would only ask questions such as where are you from or how old are you. By the end of the trip these little conversations soon turned into conversations you would have with people you would have known for years, that is how close the group became.

Once we arrived in Geneva the adventure began. We were greeted by great weather. The city is incredible. All the good things I had heard about Geneva were all true. Our first day was short because we could not keep our eyes open. We had lunch in a restaurant beside the hotel and people began to break the ice and start great friendships. The next day we took a tour around the old city of Geneva which was very interesting and rich in history. The orientation sessions set the rules, which were never broken, and helped the group get closer together by doing different activities such as the scavenger hunt. Jacqueline, the Swiss Representative, answered all the questions we all had about the homestay. The whole group was nervous but at the same time excited about the homestay.

When the day arrived to meet our host families everybody was excited. I was anxious to meet my host family, know their way of living, play games, have conversations with them and integrate myself into their daily life. I was shy at first and was scared to talk because of the language barrier. Soon I realized I could make mistakes freely and they were quick to correct me and teach me so much. We exchanged questions about our lives and the culture in which we live. It seemed that they were as interested in learning about my culture as I was about theirs.

Living with my host family was one of the best aspects of The Experiment. I vastly improved my French language skills and learned a ton about the Swiss culture. By learning Swiss culture I was able to appreciate my own culture and self even more. Discovering the similarities and differences between the two was wonderful. One day, they took me to the mountains to a family restaurant. The food was delicious. I had probably one of the best fondues I have ever had.

My host siblings took me out everyday to do something. Sometimes it was just to the city but it was always fun to be with people my age and doing what they do in a different country and a different culture. As the days passed both my host family and I became more comfortable with each other and soon had deep conversations and talked as if we had been friends for a long time.

The excursions we took as a group were also very interesting and fun. Meeting up as a group every so often helped the group get closer. Each time we met we all had stories to tell about our homestay families and we all wanted to hear them. My favorite trip was to Montreux. The castle there was huge and the jazz festival was very cool. Some of us got the chance to go tubing on the lake which was my favorite part of my day.

The second part of the experience was fantastic as well - the Alpine adventure. We started in Saas Fee which was an incredible ski town. We went on long hikes in the mountains. When we reached the top the views were breathtaking. Beat, our guide, was incredible. He knew exactly where to go and knew what we would or would not like. Very soon he became part of the group and to many of us including myself he became a good role model. On other days, we went mountain biking. This was a challenge for me because I had never been mountain biking. There were many rocks and the path was slippery but it was amazing. On top of that, we had to carry our bikes across freezing Glacial Rivers.

Going into the glacier was amazing. The sculptures inside and just walking in a glacier was an extraordinary experience. When we left Saas Fee we went to what I had been waiting for the entire trip, Zermatt. Matterhorn was breathtaking to see. It was fun being able to walk around Zermatt for a day.

The group was probably one of the best parts of the trip. We were all shy and as time went on we got closer and closer, by the end the camaraderie between us was amazing. It seemed as if we had all known each other for a longer time than just a month. Even our leader, Marina, was one of us. Even though she was the leader, to us she was a friend who we could talk to and dance with. Even though we all wanted to see our friends and family back home we did not want this great month to end. I know that most of us will stay in touch and continue the great friendships we formed. I came to realize you can really get to know someone in just one month, something I thought was not possible. This truly was one of the best months I have had and a summer to remember!