You’re Only Young in Switzer­land Once!

Travelling has always been a huge part of my life. I love seeing new landscapes, trying new food, and meeting new people, so naturally, when the opportunity to study abroad in Switzerland presented itself, I took it. I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions of my life.

Since living in Chur, I have travelled to seven countries, which would never have been possible had I not been living in such a central location. As a Canadian, I find it incredible how easy it is to hop on a train and within 3 hours be in a different country! One of my favourite memories so far was taking the train with three other exchange students to Livigno, Italy, to cheer on Team Canada at the Olympics in the aerial ski jump event! I also enjoyed a trip to Barcelona and the Amalfi Coast over reading week with my fellow Canadian exchange students, where we savoured delicious food, admired incredible architecture, and visited beautiful beaches!

While there is plenty to see around Europe, Switzerland itself also has so much to offer! My family joined me for some incredible views at the top of Arosa (a nearby ski resort), on an adventure to Stoos, where we rode the world's steepest funicular partway up Fronalpstock, and on a boat trip around Lake Lucerne. Before visiting, I had been seeing Switzerland all over my Instagram, and now living here for two months, I can confidently say it is even better in person. I have to stop myself now and then to take in all the beauty; it really just never gets old.

Academic life at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons has certainly been a different experience in comparison to my studies at the University of Guelph. In Chur, I take part in small classes of approximately 25 students, with significantly more group work and discussions with lecturers who know me by name after just one or two lessons. At Guelph, with nearly 30,000 students, this simply isn’t feasible; my lectures often have between 300 and 600 students and are focused on theoretical concepts with application coming secondary. When presented with the question ‘which do you prefer more’, I often hesitate to answer because the two are simply so different, with neither more superior to the other. In Guelph, I love the sense of school spirit, the beautiful campus, and the ability to do school at my own pace in a flexible environment. In Chur, the hands-on classes, emphasis on real-world skills, and supportive lecturers make it amazing.

Living in Chur has also really changed the way I go about my day-to-day life; it taught me to enjoy the small moments and that it is okay to slow down every once in a while. I would describe my life at home as very fast-paced: studying full-time, working part-time, holding a leadership position in our business school's student government, all while living away from home with five roommates. Living in Konvikt is very relaxed, with plenty of time to play pool, ping pong, or card games, to discover the local bars, and to bike around the river. I always find myself excited for our ‘family dinners’ as I like to call them, where for an hour, all of the exchange students gather to share a meal, set our phones aside, and just talk about our days, world events, and especially about how life is different for each of us in Chur.

While it may seem cheesy, this really has been a life-changing experience. ‘You’re only young in Switzerland once’ is the quote the Canadians came up with to try everything. To experience new things, to justify spending the money (because yes, Switzerland really is that expensive… but for a good reason!), to encourage us to embrace every opportunity and to enjoy our time here as much as possible. I’d like to think it worked out pretty well for us so far! So whether you are a prospective student, a faculty member, a colleague of mine, or just a curious blog reader, I encourage you to explore the world and take on that next adventure headfirst. The world is your oyster, and let me tell you, Switzerland will never disappoint!