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The Exchange Experience

My study abroad experience was as an Exchange student at a university where I lived in a large flat with lots of other international students. These people very quickly exposed me to dozens of other cultures and practices. They showed me how they make dishes from their home countries and…
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Be Open to Opportunities

During my exchange there were many times that I would make plans ahead of time with friends and go on hikes or go skiing for the weekend (which were great trips, don’t get me wrong), but I can honestly say that some of my favorite memories from the entire semester…
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Gaining Confidence in a New Culture

When first arriving to my exchange in Zurich, Switzerland everything was new, and I didn’t know anyone, nor did I have any real knowledge of the city and culture I had just stepped into. My first full day after arriving I remember going grocery shopping and feeling incredibly overwhelmed. Many…
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Burning Snowman

A very exciting cultural experience I got to enjoy was the snowman burning in Zurich. This festival is called Sechselauten. In this festival, there is a lot of excitement in the city, food stands, parades, and most significantly a giant snowman. This event was a public holiday in Switzerland, so…
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Learning Swiss German

Both luckily and unluckily a majority of Swiss citizens speak English. In this way I never felt as though there was a struggle due to language barriers, for which I am incredibly thankful. However I fell in love with the country and wanted very badly to learn the language of…
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Trip to Zermatt

The Matterhorn is a very well known landmark associated with Switzerland and for good reason. While my entire exchange was filled with beautiful places and memorable experiences, Zermatt was easily my favorite memory and favorite place. Before being able to hike, I had to take a train from Zurich to…
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