UQ Program: Bachelor of Arts/Laws
Since the first days of stepping onto the UQ campus, I had passed the UQ Abroad office frequently and dreamed of studying in the various places shown on the bulletin boards. So after two trips to France, I finally took the plunge and signed up for an exchange, but to Switzerland in order to become fluent in French. This might seem odd; after all, wouldn't Paris or Lyon be a more natural choice?
True, but read on. Switzerland is a small central European land-locked country home to 7 million Swiss and 4 official languages: French, German, Italian and native Romansch. While Swiss Germans speak their own dialects, which happen to be vastly different from Hochdeutsch, Swiss Romands speak Standard French as spoken in France with a slight variation of accent. Here, you won't have to worry about strikes ruining your semester or having to wrestle with battle-hardened bureaucrats, while still being able to enjoy a wealth of wine, cheese, fantastic bread and pastries and the French language je-ne-sais-quoi.
I lived for six months in Lausanne, the capital city of Vaud, the largest French-speaking canton. With the city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, I was blessed with year-round views of the lake, mountains and cathedral from my single room at Falaises, with the old town just fifteen minutes away on foot. The University of Lausanne was 20 minutes away on the metro, with my closest metro station just right across the road from where I was living. As I love to cook, I soon made friends amongst the other international students sharing the communal kitchen – and in turn, they were very interested in what I had for dinner each night!
At UNIL, I was considered a 'mobility' student and permitted to study any course within the Arts faculty. To make life easier, I stuck closely to the program of courses offered by the School of French as a Foreign Language (EFLE) to international students, including French language, linguistics, film and literature. I then took courses in logic and philosophy that were intended for local students. The courses for local students naturally had a heavier load of study work associated with them compared to courses intended for international students. As a comparison, my literature course required me to attend a two-hour lecture and read the class handout, with a short essay exam during one of the classes at the end of the semester. On the other hand, my philosophy course required me to read pages of Greek philosophy texts in French each week, with a fast-paced two-hour lecture, and a 90 minute exam at the end of the semester with essay questions relating to the texts. All of my courses were taught in French.
Outside of uni, Switzerland provided plenty of opportunity to explore Central and Western Europe, as well as the country itself. With the demi-tarif and Voie 7 pass, I travelled on Switzerland's extensive and punctual rail network for half-price, free after 7pm each night. I made regular trips to Geneva, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Vevey and Montreux to either visit friends or explore these places, with other trips to Basel and Lugano. With TGV trains available and Geneva airport close by, I made holiday trips to: Copenhagen, Denmark; Rome, Venice, Bologna and Parma, Italy; Sofia, Bulgaria; and Paris and Lyon, France. I really feel that travelling to other cities and countries during my exchange was important as it exposed me to other cultures, languages, ways of living and relating within a few hours on a train or plane.
An exchange to Switzerland, I feel, is different and more challenging than one to larger European countries such as England or France. Notwithstanding the challenges of four official language groups co-existing in one country, the Swiss Romands make you work hard to declare who you are and to make a space for yourself in their circle of friends. In some ways too, Switzerland remains undiscovered for those of us attracted to the bright lights of Paris, London and Berlin – Switzerland challenges you to consider the value of a slower pace, engaging in the cantonal and communal culture and traditions, and appreciating the stunning natural beauty of Lake Geneva and the snow-capped majestic Swiss Alps.