Letters Home

We had the chance to see Switzerland afresh through the eyes of someone discovering it for the first time.

Campbell’s parents informed us of their departure to the airport. It was their turn as parents to let go and the message stirred deep empathy within us. Campbell faced a lengthy journey from Perth to Dubai and onward to Zurich, where he would spend six weeks as part of the exchange program.

The 15-year-old Scotch College Perth student embarked on a 24-hour journey from Perth to Zurich via Dubai. Customs in Perth contacted Campbell’s father as a precautionary measure to verify his awareness of his son’s departure from his home country.

Flight from Perth to Zurich

On early Saturday morning, we learned from his mother that travel sickness had made the first part of Campbell’s flight challenging. It was reassuring to hear about the attentive care the Emirates flight crew provided throughout the journey. Upon arrival in Dubai, a medical doctor was waiting to assist him, providing suitable medication for the onward flight to Zurich.

After arriving in Zurich, he retired to bed early that night. However, due to the time difference, he was wide awake at four o’clock the following morning, needing time to acclimate. On Sunday, we strolled through the forest, and Zander guided him through our village and showed him the school.

Part of our family

Campbell quickly endeared himself to us. He effortlessly found common ground and connected with each of us. His curiosity was evident in his questions, seeking to understand his new environment. His interactions were respectful, and it was clear that he had a loving upbringing. Since their exchange was approved, he and Zander had already begun communicating, so they were not strangers to each other. They discussed their observations, comparing infrastructure, legislation, and landscapes between their countries.

Campbell had three wishes during his time in Switzerland as part of an exchange – to experience snow, savour cheese fondue, and immerse himself in the sounds of French spoken by native speakers.

We indulged in cheese fondue for Sunday lunch, fulfilling one of his desires. Despite finding the cheese stronger than anticipated, he still relished the experience. The following weekend, we introduced him to Raclette, which he thoroughly enjoyed, eagerly asking if we could repeat the experience.

Lake Zurich

One of Zander’s big wishes was to show Campbell Zurich city and to swim in the lake with him. I could only laugh at the two 15-year-olds shivering from the cold as they had to pull themselves together to brave the 12-degree lake water. A hot chocolate drink by the lake helped warm them up afterwards.

ICSZ school

Campbell is accustomed to wearing a school uniform and was thrilled to attend school in regular clothes for six weeks. I believe the presence of the exchange teacher and the principal, originally from Australia, added an extra positive touch to his welcoming experience.

Since he is in a boys’ school, having the girls in the class with them was also a new experience. He experienced the other students as welcoming. Campbell is very good at Maths, and we were grateful that he and Zander could prepare for their Maths test together and got good marks.

During his time in Switzerland, the school also presented a TEDx Youth event with ICS students as speakers. It was the first time we attended such an event in person.

Snow experience

Campbell’s greatest wish was to witness snow for the first time. However, the weather warmed quickly after his arrival. Determined to fulfil his dream, we took him to the mountains on the first weekend. Thankfully, Arosa still boasted plenty of snow, allowing Campbell and Zander to ride the ski lifts into the Alps and sledge back down. Campbell’s sheer excitement at the sight of snow made the excursion immensely gratifying for us.

His enthusiasm soared to new heights when snow unexpectedly began to fall in April. Eager to immerse himself in the wintry wonderland, he couldn’t wait to step outside. Some of his teachers even permitted him to venture outdoors during class to enjoy the snow. He engaged in spirited snowball fights with his classmates during lunchtime.

Swiss cultural experience

During Campbell’s time in Switzerland, the spring festival took place. It is a centuries-old tradition that is a vivid cultural experience. People in historical costumes, musical ensembles and horses decorated with flowers and flags gather around the Böögg, which looks like a snowman and symbolizes winter. They lit the pyre carrying the Böögg on top At 18:00.

According to folklore, the speed at which the fire engulfs the snowman figure and explodes his head, filled with crackers, foretells the quality of the approaching summer. Due to a gale-force wind, they could not set the snowman on fire for the first time in history.

The French region in Switzerland

Campbell, who studies French as a second language at school, was eager to put his language skills to the test in a French-speaking region. Thus, we embarked on a train journey to the Romandie region, a three-hour trip that condensed our day. Although time was limited, we made the most of our visit, exploring highlights such as the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, strolling along the lake from Montreux to the Chateau de Chillon, and indulging in chocolate crepes in Vevey.

Campbell was thrilled that he could understand the language, eagerly translating signs and conversing with locals in French. His excitement was contagious, sparking joy in our hearts. We have planned a trip to Paris together to experience more French culture during the long weekend in May.

Here is a music video featuring additional photos from the first two weeks of experiences.

There is still so much more we are excited to show and experiences we want to share with Campbell during the remainder of his time in Switzerland before he and Zander fly to Perth.

Kind regards

Emsia