BMCC 2008 Switzerland Blog

Excuse Me……

Written by: Andiol DeLaRosa

I am back to New York feeling like over the last month I have grown to become a better person. The 2008 Summer Study Abroad to Switzerland was an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Having the opportunity to spend time in a part of the world that I never thought I would see in my early 20’s was absolutely amazing. I am beyond grateful that Dr. Garely and Prof. Blake-Neis were chosen to be the professors for the study abroad. At all times they were helpful and generous towards us. I could sit here and write pages, maybe even a book, on the care and professionalism they treated all their students with during the 21 days in Switzerland. They always catered to our needs, and made sure we were always healthy. When ever any of their students including myself had a headache, toothache or stomachache they would run towards us making sure actions were taken to improve our condition. Academically we were all given MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME to finish our daily blogs, and were always giving the chance to ask for help in regards to blogs.

Arriving back at BMCC wasn’t a happy return at all. I was happy to see my Professors and classmates, but pissed off at the fact that the Carnival Cruise was cancelled due to “Unforeseen circumstances” by Dean Marva Craig. To my understanding Ms. Craig is a “Student Dean”; the actions she took by canceling the cruise in no way benefited the Students. The reality of the fact is that certain students raised concern about the way the study abroad was being conducted. I think to write such statement is absurd. That’s why Dean Craig really cancelled the cruise. I believe that the students reporting concerns in regards to the Switzerland trip are acting with malice. It is unbelievable that after such a magnificent 3 weeks I had to come back to this situation back at BMCC. It is unfair that the people who made these complaints weren’t even scheduled to go on the cruise.

Overall my return to BMCC was dreadful. I cannot believe how unprofessional administration handled this matter. Antonio Perez our school president was rude towards me although I politely asked to have a few minutes to converse with him — his response was if things would have gone my way this would have not happened. I am not even mad I am embarrassed that our school president responds to my request mumbling and with his back turned towards me. I am embarrassed and ashamed of being part of such a school with an administration that is shady and classless. They didn’t even give the students who had positive things to say about the study abroad a chance to speak up about the wonderful experience. I honestly feel that the administration thinks that returning me my $670.00 for the cruise solves the whole issue. They need to sit down and consider the time of work and clothes purchased for this cruise, the time wasted trying to book the cruise. I am beyond pissed off that I have such classless and inconsiderate people administrating BMCC. Currently I am looking to transfer out to a community college in Florida by august 2008, if everything goes well I won’t have to ever walk into BMCC again and be surrounded by fake, shady, malicious and inconsiderate Deans and Presidents.

Dean of Student Affairs…

Written by: Mark Villanueva

Dean Craig,

I was extremely disappointed to hear that the Carnival Cruise was canceled. I would be interested in knowing why the cruise was canceled. The financial expenses and time spent, now wasted, in planning for this trip is ruined and lost. I spent $670 for this trip. That does not include the week off work (not paid), the clothing I purchased, and the money borrowed from family to help finance this trip. I am also frustrated to hear this the week prior to the cruise. I had my summer planned and after such a wonderful study abroad to Switzerland, this is not only disappointing, it is malice.

My arrival back to New York from Switzerland was ruined with an e-mail and voice message of the cancellation. The study abroad to Switzerland was an important trip for me and every student. The learning experience and opportunity of this trip not only taught me how to run tours and be a vital strength in the travel industry, it also matured me as a person and gave me new inspiration to be a better person. I am also grateful to Dr. Elinor Garely, Prof. Sandra Blake- Neis, Elliott Williams, my fellow students, and the Travel and Tourism Club for making the Switzerland trip the best trip possible.

I am so frustrated and stressed to have come off this experience and have to deal with the cancellation of the cruise. Why were the students not contacted prior to the cancellation? We as BMCC students were not given an opportunity or reason to know why the cruise was in jeopardy to be cancelled. This is extremely inconvenient, inconsiderate, and unjustifiable for this to happen and makes me feel ashamed and disgraced to be a student of BMCC.

I look forward to hearing the explanation of the cancellation and being reimbursed in a timely fashion.

Thank you,

Mark Villanueva

.

Unforeseen Circumstances…Yea Right!

Written by: Sasha Munoz

Dean M. Craig,

Disappointment cannot even explain what the cancellation of the cruise has done to me. When I read the e-mail sent by Dean Craig stating that the Travel & Tourism trip scheduled for June 26, 2008, on Carnival Cruise Line had been canceled I was in disbelief. The financial expenses and time spent, never returnable, in planning for this trip is ruined and lost. I paid $670 for the cost of this trip. That does not include the week off work (not paid), the clothing I purchased, and the money obtained to help finance this trip. I honestly think it is absurd to make such a decision, without consulting any of the students, prior to our arrival from Switzerland. This is the most unprofessional situation that I have ever encountered with this school. Plans were made and my time was rearranged without my consent, which I find to be very disrespectful. Not only did BMCC lose credibility, but also any type of respect from me as a student towards this institution.

My arrival back to New York from Switzerland was ruined with an e-mail and voice message of the cancellation. The study abroad to Switzerland was an important trip for me and every student involved. The learning experience and opportunity of this trip not only taught me how to manage tours and be a vital strength in the travel industry, it also matured me as a person and gave me new inspiration to be a better person. I am also grateful to Dr. Elinor Garely, Prof. Sandra Blake- Neis, Elliott Williams, my fellow students, and the Travel and Tourism Club for making the Switzerland trip the best trip possible. If I could go back and have the opportunity to take this course all over, I would proudly do it all over again and I would only go if I had the same professors. It’s depressing to come back to such unprofessional drama, and unclear yet “unforeseen circumstances” as you stated in your email.

We as BMCC students were not given an opportunity or true explanation as to why the cruise was really canceled. This is extremely inconvenient, inconsiderate, and unjustifiable for this to happen. Also it makes me feel ashamed and disgraced to be a student of BMCC. And to think that when I arrived at JFK airport I had someone approach me in reference to attending BMCC because I wore the BMCC T-shirt so proudly, and I gave such positive feedback, ending the conversation with a ” See you in the fall at BMCC”. Well just so you know I take that back, and I must say BMCC is a disgrace to all students attempting to better themselves and their careers.

Unfortunately this was the way I had to be introduced to the Administrative Staff of BMCC.
Thanks,

Sasha Muñoz

Our Final Early Rising

Written by: Shevarma Pemberton

We had a good time dancing into the early hours of the next day. And what made it even better is the fact that it was not just one or two of us. It was all of us having a good time together for our last couple hours in Switzerland. Our wake up call was scheduled for 4:30 AM and since the party did not end until 2 AM none of us had time to sleep. We just sort of rolled into the next day.

Party over, it was time to get settled and get ready to leave. It felt like quite a hassle making sure everything was in order. We got ourselves ready and then we were going to the different rooms making sure that everyone else was ready and that all rooms were cleared. We gathered downstairs where we were met by Mr. Wicki and Marianne. Then we were off to the Zurich International Airport.

At the airport we said our goodbyes and thanks, gathered our luggage and headed for the check-in area. We were through in no time at all, passed through the security check and then all that was left was the boarding of the plane. We had a little wait before departure so we just sat down and relaxed in the waiting area until our flight was announced.

This time around there was no first class treatment and all that good stuff but we had no problems getting through. On the plane I once again sat with none of the members of the group. That did not really matter much because I simply buckled in and went to sleep. I did not need company to do that. I do not think that I have ever slept on a plane before but this time it was warranted.

I have absolutely no complaints with the service on the plane. I aroused three times during the flight on account of drinks and meals. I always liked plane food and once again they did not disappoint with the delicious goodies. The first meal was pasta in a cheese sauce with pieces of chicken and then just before the flight was over we were once again served a dish, this time of a delicious pizza with lovely cheese and pasta sauce. No complaints whatsoever.

The flight was approximately 8.5 hours but I did not really feel it this time. It went by rather quickly, and that is of course owing to the fact that I was only conscious for so much of the flight. I had mixed emotions when we touched down at the JFK airport. I was ecstatic to be back home, but at the same time I was saying goodbye to my friends. I am definitely going to miss waking up to all their faces and doing everything together. My house is going to feel so empty.

We cleared immigration and went on to collect our luggage on carousel 3. We said our goodbyes while we waited because as the luggage was retrieved we parted ways. I took a cab outside the airport and headed home. And just like that my travel experience was over. Farewell Switzerland!

Going Home to my Family….

Written by: Sarah Pagan

Wow, the process of coming home is always a joy. I woke around 4:30 am and took a hot shower to open my bright brown eyes.  Afterwards, I got dressed, organized my luggage and ran downstairs to meet everybody in the lobby to leave for Zurich airport. We loaded the bus, which was driven by our friend Marianne and I happily waved good-bye to Mr. Wicki and Chur as we prepared for the 2 hour drive to Zurich.  However, within 25 minutes of the ride I feel asleep with a smile on my face and dreams of New York in my head.

Once we arrived at Zurich airport, we worked as a team to get the luggage off the bus and a couple of us gathered luggage carts in order to transport our luggage into the airport.  Once we entered the airport, it took us a few minutes to locate the American Airlines check-in desk but we eventually did and checked in out luggage. The security agent asked me a couple of questions (if the luggage was mine and if I left it with somebody to hold).  I was so grateful for Gia because she helped me with my luggage.

Afterwards, we proceeded smoothly through airport security clearance towards our departure gate and took the airtrain to terminal E 35 to wait for the plane to arrive.

As we waited I ate my portions of my sacked breakfast and  took some pictures at the airport to kill time because it took awhile before the plane to arrive. We boarded the flight around 10:00 am and didn’t leave until 11:00 am.  Once we were ready for take-off the pilot announced that we, the BMCC group, was on board and we all were very happy with the greeting. I once again felt that we owed a huge thanks to Dr. Garely, for all of her hard work and connections which made this possible. The flight to New York was very nice, although, I slept through half of the flight.

During the flight, the flight attendants served a nice meal, which included penne pasta with chicken and pesto sauce, coleslaw, and a apple square for dessert. I really enjoyed the penne pasta with chicken and pesto sauce, it was extremely tasty, but I didn’t like the apple square or the coleslaw so I left them on the side. I drank the tomato juice to give me energy (it was cold and refreshing) and then I went back to sleep to get some rest.

As we got closer to New York, they served us cheese pizza and I was surprised because I thought I was going to get another croissant with jelly like I got on the flight to Switzerland.  However, the pizza was good and I ate the whole thing with tomato juice on the side.

Once we arrived in New York at JFK airport, I reached to get my carry-on bag and left the airplane with with excitement.  We all helped each other get the luggage and I purchased a cart because I couldn’t carry all my luggage all by myself. I learned my lesson to never pack so much clothes, because I couldn’t handle it. We all said bye to each other. I headed to leave and I showed my passport to the officer and he stamped my passport and asked how long I was in Switzerland and if I had any food on me. I answered him and he let me pass. After calling my brother, he came to pick me up and I was overjoyed to see him.

When I reached home I saw my mother and sister I was so happy (I really missed them). I spent time with my family and we caught up on things. I was just happy to be home but I still enjoyed being in Switzerland….

Thursday, June 19, 2008

(Day 21: Tour Guide – Curtis Browne)

In preparation for departure from The Swiss School please give your attention to the following:

The Luggage is packed and ready for Zurich Airport

1. Thursday 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Group meets in Computer Lab to proceed with AA online check-in. Check your seat assignment for accuracy and print bar code. Give to Professor for group check-in

• Review for Open Book test on Tuesday at BMCC at 11:45 AM
• All blogs must be completed by Monday at Midnight
• All photos must be downloaded into Photobucket by Monday at Midnight
• Bring completed textbook assignments with textbook to BMCC on Tuesday
• At end of test, one-to-one exit interview
• All grades will be submitted on Tuesday PM
• There are no extensions to this course and related assignments

2. Noon lunch

3. 1 – 5:00 PM. Pack for departure from Swiss School
4. 5:30 PM. Bring all luggage to Front Desk and sign sheet with number of pass-through luggage (no more than 2 pieces. Each piece cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. If it does weigh more you are personally responsible for extra costs)
5. 5:30 PM. Show your passport to Professor Garely
6: 6:00 PM. Dinner and Games
7. 7:00 PM. Pack van for Friday departure

1. Friday: 4:30 AM. Wake – up Call. Everyone wears BMCC T-shirts and black pants or skirt
2. 5:30 AM. Meet in Lobby and hand in room key (There is a charge for not handing in the room key – which is paid by the student); Leave all linen and towels outside of room; Empty all trash in containers in laundry room
3. 5: 35 AM. Room inspection
3. 5:40 AM. Pick-up breakfast baggies
4. 5:45 AM. Everyone into Vans with carry-on. Passports in convenient and accessible location
6. 6:00 AM. Depart for Zurich Airport.

Goodbye Chur, Switzerland

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

(Day 20: Tour Guides – Andy DeLaRosa and Sasha Munoz)

GEVAG, Trimmis, Mr. Beat Wicki and Farewell Dinner – Itinerary

6 – 6:15 am: Wake Up Call

7 – 7:20 am: Breakfast

8:15 am: Lecture Mr. Beat Wicki, (Sustainable Ecology)

12:15 pm: Lunch (SSTH)

2:00pm: Visit GEVAG Waste Burning Plant, Trimmis : Mr. Francois Boone (Transport by SSTH)

4:00 pm: Visit Sewage Work, Landquart: Mr. Herbert Vat (Transport by SSTH)

5:00 pm: Leave for Swiss Alps (Surprise Dinner)

5:30 pm: Take Ski Lift Tram to Restaurant

6:00 pm: Farewell Dinner with Mr. Beat Wicki and Ms. Sophie Blattmann

Same Day- Different Beginnings (Andy)

Written by: Andy DeLaRosa and Sarah Pagan

Today I woke up at 5:45am, which is unusual for me. However, since Sasha and I were assigned tour guides of the day, I made sure that by 6:05am everyone was awake. At 7:00am we all met in the lobby for breakfast. Since I am tired of eating bread, ham and cheese for breakfast, I decided to have coffee (black) and a croissant for breakfast.

Jump to it Sarah…

A cloudy day. I jumped out of bed when I heard this big knock on my door by Andy the tour guide of the day working with Sasha as a team. I got dressed and was on my way down to have our last breakfast together. I had the usual croissant with butter, jelly and fruit – with orange juice this time – it was good. After breakfast we waited for Sophie in the lobby. When she arrived we presented her with a wedding gift and a card. She was in shock – surprised and we said thank you for all the work she did for us. Then we took a picture with Sophie as a group before We all headed down stairs for class for a 4 hour lecture by Mr. Wicki.

Sasha presents Sophie with our token of appreciation!

Sustainable Ecology?

At 8:15am our lesson with Mr. Beat Wicki began and honestly speaking during the 4 hour lecture everything went into one ear and out the other one. I didn’t pay attention to him because I didn’t find him to be endearing, inspiring nor entertaining.

Sustainable Ecology Class in Session!

However, Sarah took excellent notes although, she felt it was the longest lecture ever, and thanked God for our breaks in between because she dozed off a couple of times.

Mr. Wicki lectured about sustainable ecology. He discussed the understanding of elements and the networking of global relationship between ecosystems. In addition we discussed the influences that our daily business activities have on the environment and how to become more aware of our environmental influences on today’s businesses and society.

Topics that Mr. Wicki covered in class:

Swiss Waste Management recycle, Energy Management, Water Management, Food & Beverage and Ecological Constructing

Swiss Waste Management recycle: The waste plants are located in industrial areas, and Mr. Wicki showed us a percentage pie graph of the amount of waste recycled. The graph consisted of 4% cardboard, 6% minerals, 16% paper, 4% glass, 3% metals, 18% compositions, 15% plastics, 3% textile, 2% Biological, and 2% others. Switzerland law requires that individuals recycle and the community is responsible for recycling their waste products.

Energy Management: Changing the environment and landscape. Global warming is causing flat areas on the snow and it is dangerous because the cable cars are built in ice and the ice is melting. This is affecting the well being of the society.

Water Management: The main use for water is for shower/bath, toilet flush, dish washing, and various washing. According to 2005 statistics- Switzerland has more than enough water, 20% is used for taking a shower, and 1/3 of water is used for toilet flushing. Therefore, the process of recycling water is very important in Switzerland.

Food & Beverage: Quality in the food and energy use in its production is very important in Switzerland. Therefore, food is made at a slower pace in order to conserver the time and work goes into food production. The working energy is a cost issue because since it takes time people will want more money to produce products to turn into food.

Ecological Constructing: Involves natural environment and air pollution. A statement, when you are selling tourism projects you are selling nature. It is so true because nature is a part of the surrounding and if it is a beautiful scenery people will come for tourism. Air pollution -cars and fuel has a lot to do with the environment but using a bike as a tool of transportation helps the environment.

At 12:15pm, after our extensive lecture with Mr. Wicki, we had our last lunch together as a group in the dining hall. Everything was arranged beautifully, the tablecloths, utensils and to top it off the food was extremely tasty. Afterwards we all met up in the lobby for Mr. Wicki and Sophie to take us to visit the GEVAG, Waste Burning Plant, Trimmis.

GEVAG Waste Plant, Trimmis….

GEVAG Waste Burning Plant – Entrance

Mr. Wicki drove us to GEVAG, one of Switzerland’s waste burning facilities and upon arrival we were greeted by Mr. Francois Boone, Plant General Manager. We were given a guided tour of the facility by the Mr. Francois Boone. During the tour Mr. Boone showed us how the trash is delivered, sorted and crushed in the compactor before it’s burned. It was amazing how the system works – they recycle raw materials, metal, sliver, zinc, aluminium and steel etc.

Touring the GEVAG Waste Burning Plant

In addition we were able to see where recyclable trash is stored, burned and how it’s converted into energy. It was very cool to witness the waste management process, although it smelled like any other waste plant would, “Rotten”!

Mr. Boone explaining the waste burning process

After the tour, we went back inside and Mr. Boone showed us a short promotional video about the GEVAG Waste Burning Plant. Mr. Boone closed out his great presentation by providing us with stylish GEVAG caps, bags, and brochures. Who would have thought that recyclable trash could be so REWARDING- Thank You GEVAG!

Mr. Wicki presenting GEVAG gifts to the TTA 100 group

Curtis, Elliott, Katherine and Sarah @ GEVAG

Sewage Works, Landquart

Once we completed our 2 hour tour of GEVAG, we went to a water sewage facility, Sewage Works, located in Landquart. However, upon entry into the water sewage control room I (Andy) felt extremely nauseated and sick, which was probably due the profound disgusting smell and the heat. Therefore, Dr. Garely suggested that I step back out to the car, in order to get some fresh air and I took no part in touring the waste facility with Sarah and the rest of the group.

Mr. Herbert Vat, Facility Coordiantor, at Sewage Works in Landquart

Once we arrived, most of the group met with Mr. Herbert Vat, Facility Coordinator. Mr. Vat didn’t speak English, therefore Mr. Wicki translated while Mr. Vat guided us on a tour around the Sewage Plant. During the tour, we were able to view where the sewage water enters the facility and how the water is treated. The dirty sewage water goes though a natural bacteria cleansing process which takes about 20 days – it’s an amazing water treatment process. Mr. Vat also took us to the control center unit to see how the process works- it was cool. They waste facility has several different color control panels, and it takes a lot of experience to know how the system works. In addition, the Sewage Plant has an automatic alarm system which monitors the sewage operations, 24-Hours per day, and if something does go wrong – within 15 minutes of the alarm, 2 workers will be there to correct the problem- I think this is an awesome system.

Traditional Switzerland Dinner – Cheese Fondue…

After the sewage facility tour was completed, Mr. Wicki and Sophie took us out for a traditional Switzerland farewell dinner, which involved a cable tram ride up a very high mountain, cows, a view of the beautiful Swiss mountains and some fabulous cheese fondue with potatoes, pineapples and bread.

The restaurant was on top of the mountain, (when we were in the cable car going up it was gorgeous). When we reached the mountain, we had to walk up a little hill to get to the restaurant. Of course, the clean air, beautiful scenery and surrounding mountains were awesome. We had some time before dinner so a couple of us went walking around and explored nature.

For dinner we went inside the restaurant and anxiously waited for the Fondue – which was a pot of several different kinds of melted cheeses. The “Cheese Fondue” was hot, cheesy and very tasty and the group conversation was even better.

“Traditional Switzerland Cheese Fondue”

We really did enjoy ourselves in spite of that fact that we were full of “cheese” and still a little hungry afterwards. We thanked Mr. Wicki and Sophie for a great day and for everything that happened that day.

Once we arrived at SSTH around 9:30pm, we were full of energy once again and immediately started packing our suitcases for our journey back to New York. We only have two more days left in Switzerland and the count down had officially begun. Although today was very long, it turned out to be a great day full of “recyclable” trash and “tasty” cheese…Good Night….

Monday, June 16, 2008

(Day 19: Tour Guide – Katherine Munoz)

Lugano and Grand Hotel Eden – Itinerary

6:00 am: Wake Up Call

7 – 7:20 am: Breakfast (Please bring everything you need for the trip downstairs. There will be no time to go back up)

7:29 am: Departing to Chur (By bus from Passugg)

7:42 am: Arriving at Chur bus station, change into Lane 3

8:10 am: Departing to Lugano (by bus from Chur)

9:50 am: Arrive at Bellinzona Stazione

9:54 am: Bellinzona to Lugano (by train Platform 2)

10:19 am: Arrive in Lugano

10:23 am: Bus number 2 departs to Grand Hotel Eden

11:00 am: Meet with Mr. Maurizio Lieto (He will escort us during the hotel visit)

Subject too Change due to weather:

Option 1:

• 12:30 pm: Lunch at a local park in Lugano
• 1:00 pm: Tourism office located downtown in city center
• 1:35 pm: Arrive at Lugano train station for 1:55pm train

Option 2:

• 12:30pm: Return to Lugano train station to have lunch and wait for 1:55pm train

1:55 pm: Depart from Lugano to Bellinzona (by train Platform 3)

2:30 pm: Depart Bellinzona to Chur (by bus)

4:44 pm: Arrive in Chur

5:05 pm: Bus departs to SSTH

6:00 pm: Dinner at SSTH

Lessons Learned

1. Weather impacts and alternates your plans.

2. Have a back up plan and schedules of earlier and later transportations.

3. Remaining calm and patient when things go awry is the best solution because it allows you to keep your group calm and results in a better outcome.

4. Learning from your mistakes help you to improve your future itinerary.

What a “Wet” Morning…
Written by: Shevarma Pemberton

Waking up this morning turned out to be even more challenging than every other time due to the weather conditions. Today was going to be a wet one. On days like this I would prefer to stay under covers but we were instead going to spend it battling the elements.
Today’s tour guide was Katherine and I do not even remember her wake up call because I was really out of it. It really is not bad when you have a roommate to help get you through the day because if it was not for Sasha I think I would definitely have been late.

Breakfast was at the usual time and the menu was the same as always. We hurriedly gulped down our food and were outside in time to catch the 7:29 bus as is also the customary thing to do. This would be among our final tours and so by now the norm had pretty much already been established. Today was unique in a sense however, because this time the majority of the trip would be spent on buses rather than trains and then there was also the bad weather thrown in to make things more complicated.

The Express-Bus

At the Chur station we changed our reservations to get the express bus to Bellinzona and then we were on our way. We were all pretty much wiped out by this point and I doubt that there was anyone of us on the bus that had not slept even if only for a little while. And we had plenty of time to dose off on the 1 hr 47 min bus ride anyway.

Stopping Traffic – New Yorker Style!

Upon Arrival in Bellinzona we had no time to waste and it was a quick dash to catch the connecting train into Lugano. Thanks to Andy who got us all running in the rain for the train – we made connections. It was definitely a good way to wake us up from our sleepy states.

The train ride was much shorter than the bus, a mere 25 minutes. We were out in time and once again on another bus to get us to the Grand Hotel Eden, our inspection site of the day. The hotel was a little walk away from the station so there was no way to avoid getting wet today. It was really pouring.

All the hassle and rain that we endured to get to the hotel was definitely worth it. This was by far my favorite hotel out of them all. The best was left for last. We were early as usual and took advantage of the excess time to have a bathroom break.

Grand Hotel Eden

We were met by our tour guide for the hotel, Mr. Maurizio Lieto, the Assistant Manager and after our luggage was stored we began the tour. I had been taken from my first impression of the hotel. It is heavily Italian from its decor right down to its location in an Italian city (in Switzerland).

Unlike some of the hotels that we visited whose business revolves around the winter season, the Hotel Eden’s peak period is actually around these times (May – September). People generally come to Lugano itself because of the lake, casino and shopping, all of which are in no way associated with snow.

What I found really interesting about the hotel is the fact that it is actually two hotels joined by an underground tunnel. The older of the buildings contains all the standard rooms and the second is where all the suites and everything else in the hotel are housed (the main building).

The rooms are to die for with the Italian furniture, all the amenities in the bathrooms (robes, slippers and the regular soaps and shampoos), and then the splendid view of the lake. The color coordination throughout the hotel is a dream and the expensive fabric on the walls is exquisite.

The spa in the hotel is lovely. The pool is heated and 6.5 feet deep, ideal for a nice afternoon of relaxation. Everything about this hotel appealed to me. I really have reason now to return to Switzerland. We thanked Mr. Lieto for the delightful experience and then headed back the way we came.

Local Bus back to Chur

Back on the bus we were once again presented with an opportunity to sleep. Upon arrival at Chur we simply had to make a track switch and then we were on the next bus up to SSTH. Katherine had made it through her tour day and had managed to do an excellent job despite all that she had working against her.

Dinner was scheduled for 6 PM and on the menu for today was an appetizer of fish soup, an entree of chicken in curry sauce with rice and mixed vegetables and strawberry ice-cream with a peanut butter cookie for dessert. The meal was wonderful and the service divine as has become the custom. By this time the stagiaires had become quite acquainted with us and so some of the nerves that might have otherwise been associated with having to serve us everyday were alleviated.

The countdown was now on for the end of the trip. I think that by now we were all just about ready to return to New York. I was going to make sure that I savored as much of the Swiss bliss that I could before my departure.

Monday, June 16, 2008

(Day 18: Tour Guide – Mark Villanueva)

St. Mortiz and Hotel Laudinella – Itinerary

6 – 6:15 am: Wake Up Call

7 – 7:18 am: Breakfast (Please bring everything you need for the trip downstairs. There will be no time to go back up)

7:20 am: Head outside to bus station

7:29 am: Bus departs from Passugg, alte Post to Chur Train Station

7:42 am: Arrive at Chur bus station, walk over to Track 10 for train to St. Moritz

7:58 am: Train departs to St. Moritz (ETA: 9:58 am, Duration 2 hours and a half)

9:58 am: Arrive at St. Moritz

10:15 am: Bus Pick Up to Hotel Laudinella

10:30 am: Arrive at Hotel Laudinella (Tour should last aproximately a hour. Presentation to be done by Andrea Kube, Assistant Front Office Manager)

12:00 pm: Leave Hotel Laudinella and walk down Lake St. Moritz to have Lunch and take pictures, etc.

1:45 pm: Arrive at St. Moritz Train Station for departure to Chur

2:04 pm: Train departs to Chur (ETA: 4:03 pm, Duration 2 hours)

4:03 pm: Arrive at Chur (Bus departs at 4:05 pm)

4:10 pm – 4:40 pm: Free Time in Chur to go to Migros and get things.

5:05 pm: Bus departs from Chur to Passugg, alte Post

5:15 pm: Arrive at Passugg, alte Post (SSTH)

6:00 pm: Dinner

Lessons Learned

1. Things don’t go as planned. No matter how detailed your itinerary is, things are bound to change.

2. Weather impacts and alternates your plans.

3. Have a back up plan and schedules of earlier and later transportations.

4. Remaining calm and patient when things go awry is the best solution because it allows you to keep your group calm and results in a better outcome.

5. Learning from your mistakes help you to improve your future itinerary.

St. Moritz – Switerzland’s Rich and Famous….

Written by: Shevarma Pemberton

It was quite a task to wake up this morning on account of my late night the day before. The work load seems to be endless. There is really no time for even the slightest pause. And this is all in the life of a tour manager. I have gained a new level of respect for anyone who is able to succeed in the industry. Today I just really felt worn out.

Mark was the tour guide of the day and sure enough, Sasha and I received a 6 AM wake up call. Despite the numerous roll overs, we still somehow managed to make it downstairs in time for the 7 AM breakfast. It was a rushed breakfast as we had to be down at the bus station to catch the 7:29 bus to Chur. And just like that the adventure began.

We arrived at the station in time for our 7:58 transfer to the train headed for St. Moritz. Everyone on the train was obviously extremely tired and so, as was expected, many of us had succumb to sleep in no time at all. Unfortunately for me, regardless of how drained I was feeling, sleep was not an option for me. I am just not a fan of napping on public transport and while in the company of others. But it was a two hour ride that offered enough time for everyone else to dose.

I was a designated note taker for the day so while everyone else slept, I was on point observing the stops and the environment. The train ride was lovely as usual with the view of the mountains, crystal blue water and flower gardens that we passed along the way. It was even more stunning to look at the drop as the train rose in altitude (it moves on an incline).

We arrived at the St. Moritz station at just about 10 AM. Just as was scheduled, two buses were awaiting us. One of the bus drivers was open and willing to take pictures with us before taking us to our inspection site of the day, the Hotel Laudinella.

The Hotel Laudinella is the biggest 3 star hotel (in the region) located “at the top of the world,” (the trademark of St. Moritz) in an exclusive resort town in Engadine Valley. It is composed of three buildings which explains its vast size. It is a winter resort known for its location with large amounts of snow, ideal for winter sports like skiing.

At the hotel we were met by Andrea Kube, the Assistant Front Office Manager of the hotel. She cued us in on a couple minor details, such as the fact that the hotel is 3 buildings big, and then handed the tour over to Mr. Stefanos Giannakis, a double duty concierge at the hotel. He pretty much does everything due to the limited staff (checks luggage, organizes transportation for guests, deals with complaints, etc.), and the 2 golden keys that he wore only further denoted his qualifications.

We began the tour in the lobby which was a neat little room but it was also a bit bland. Everything was made in wood (as is the case throughout the hotel). From this room I thought I knew just what I could expect throughout the tour. My first impression of the hotel was not the same impression I had as the tour proceeded.

We made a stop in the conference room where many performances and concerts within the hotel are held and then headed downstairs to the ski equipment repair and storage room. It was really nice the way that the hotel caters to their guests and their winter activities.

On the way to the equipment room, we happened upon the General Manager of the hotel. He is of Swiss origin but attended Cornell University in New York back in 1960. He also gained experience working in the St. Regis Hotel and for a travel agency in New York. It was very pleasant to have bumped into him. We also learned in his presence that the hotel actually belongs to a cultural corporation and is a not-for-profit organization. The most striking thing that was mentioned is the fact that the hotel is always open. We have never seen or heard anything like that before. And it took a 3 star hotel to get it.

We made our next stop at the Pizzeria. It was a nice and cozy room in the basement of the hotel and open into the early hour 2 AM. Of course when we heard this hallelujah bells were ringing because again, we had yet to hear things like this over here in Switzerland. In addition to this orders could be made and the cost of the pizzas were 20 CHF are fairly reasonable price by Swiss standards.

On our way to inspect the rooms of the hotel we took a quick glance into the hotel kitchen. It was a really big kitchen. What is even more impressive is the fact that the hotel has 5 restaurants that promote diversity (Italian, Swiss, French and Traditional). We actually visited three of these restaurant and they are the Stüva Restaurant, the Italian Pizzeria and La Brasserie Restaurant. There is almost no need to leave the confinements of the hotel as it so well caters to the needs of its clients.

Upstairs we were able to see just what the rooms of the hotel are like. There are three categories of rooms: standard, superior and junior suites, and we were able to view each category. The rooms are nice and comfy with everything to properly accommodate guests. The view from the rooms also make the a stay at the hotel worthwhile with either a view of the amazing mountain range or the view of the beautiful lake St. Moritz. If you are lucky you get a pretty decent view of both.

The only downside from the room inspection was the fact that there were no bathroom amenities. But why waste time lingering on miner matters like that when they have rooms that accommodate entire families. As a matter of fact the facilities throughout the hotel seem to support the theme of family. An example of this was evident in the cute little room they had for children, the Kinderzimmer.

My favorite part of the hotel inspections is most often the wellness area so it is always a joy to hear that it is the next stop. The was a massages room where they offer specialty massages like Hot Stone massages. The view from the gym is extraordinary. It is open and creates a nice atmosphere for workout. There is really a feeling of wellness. There was also a spa, but due to its occupancy, we were unable to actually see it.

This tour definitely showed that sometimes you can avoid extremes and stick to middle ground. Even though the Laudinella is just a 3 star hotel, it provides wonderful accommodations and an ideal winter vacation. Let’s not forget the fact that it is more within economic means with an average rate of 160 CHF per person. A bonus against luxury hotels of 4 and 5 stars.

We thanked Mr. Giannakis for the lovely morning tour and followed procedure: business cards and pictures. We gathered our things and followed the directions of Mr. Giannakis to the bus station where we took the number 3 bus to the Information Center (Tourism Office).

At the St. Moritz Tourism Office it was like Davos all over again. Mark had called to alert the office of our expected arrival. The woman he spoke to, Anne, tried to act like she had no idea of what he was talking about when we got there. It was as if she was trying to deny her own existence in the office as if we could read the name ANNE on her name tag. She really was not that important anyway and we grabbed our maps and other information and went outside where we sat on some benches and ate the packed lunches that SSTH had prepared for us (ham and cheese sandwiches with fruits, a nut bar and a boxed drink).

As we all should have learned by now, plans are bound to be changed. Nothing is set in stone. So due to the low temperature, the planned walk by the lake was out ruled by group consensus (Dr. Garely was the only one who wanted to stay). So – we took the bus and had a little driving tour of the lake on the way to the St. Moritz train station. The upset in the plans pushed the day up by an hour and we were on the 1:04 PM train back to Chur.

We arrived in Chur a few minutes past 3 PM. We agreed to meet at the station by 3:50 and split up in groups. The split was basically pointless because the large majority of us wound up in Migros to pick up our usual snacks.

We were back at the station for the 5:05 PM bus and witnessed something that we did not think would ever happen. The bus left at 5:07!!! Probably a once in a lifetime occurrence.

We sat down to dinner at 6:30. Another lesson in fine dining. The food on the menu was once again divine: an appetizer of cream of asparagus, an entree of glazed roast veal with herbs, duchess potatoes and mixed vegetables (asparagus and artichoke), and raspberry sorbet with coconut macaroons for dessert. It was finger-licking good.

Day 18 was over after some late night blogging. This seems to be another protocol I have adopted. On to day 19…

Sample Customs Declaration Form
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Declaration Form 6059B – Instructions
Welcome to the United States!

Each individual arriving into the United States must complete the CBP Declaration Form 6059B. If you are traveling with other immediate family members, complete one form per family unit. Please contact your nearest port of entry to order the form.

Explanations for information fields are explained below sample image.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Declaration Form – Front
1. Print your last (family) name. Print your first (given) name. Print the first letter of your middle name.

2. Print your date of birth in the appropriate day/month/year boxes.

3. Print the number of family members traveling with you (do not include yourself).

4. Print your current street address in the United States. If you are staying at a hotel, include the hotel’s name and street address. Print the city and the state in the appropriate boxes.

5. Print the name of the country that issued your passport.

6. Print your passport number.

7. Print the name of the country where you currently live.

8. Print the name of the country(ies) that you visited on your trip prior to arriving to the United States.

9. If traveling by airline, print the airline’s name and flight number. If traveling by vessel (ship), print the vessel’s name.

10. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you traveling on a business (work-related) trip?

11. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you bringing with you:

a.	fruits, plants, food, or insects?
b.	meats, animals, or animal/wildlife products?
c.	disease agents, cell cultures, or snails?
d.	soil or have you visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside the United States?

12. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Have you or any family members traveling with you been in close proximity of (such as touching or handling) livestock outside the United States?

13. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you or any family members traveling with you bringing $10,000 or more in U.S. dollars or foreign equivalent in any form into the United States?

Read definition of monetary instruments on the reverse side of the form.
Examples: coins, cash, personal or cashier’s check, traveler’s checks, money orders, stocks, bonds.
If yes, your must complete the Customs Form 4790.

14. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you or any family members traveling with you bringing commercial merchandise into the United States?

Examples: all articles intended to be sold or left in the United States, samples used for soliciting orders, or goods that are not considered personal effects.

15. If you are a U.S. resident, print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you have purchased or acquired abroad (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the United States) and are bringing into the United States.
Note: U.S. residents are normally entitled to a duty-free exemption of $800 on items accompanying them.

If you are a visitor (non-U.S. Resident), print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you are bringing into the United States and will remain in the United States.
Note: Visitors (non-U.S. Residents) are normally entitled to an exemption of $100.

Declare all articles on this form. For gifts, please indicate the retail value. Use the reverse side of this form if additional space is needed to list the items you will declare.

The U.S. Customs officer will determine duty. Duty will be assessed at the current rate on the first $1,000 above the exemption.

• Read the notice on the reverse side of the form.
• Sign the form and print the date.
• Keep the complete form with you and hand it to the CBP inspector when you approach the Customs and Border Protection area.

Controlled substances, obscene articles, and toxic substances are generally prohibited entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Declaration Form – Back

Thank you, and Welcome to the United States.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

“Wow”!! A Fabulous Weekend in Milano, Italy

Written by Andy DeLaRosa and Sasha Munoz

We woke up after only 2 hours of sleep and couldn’t have been any happier. At 7:30am we started our wonderful 2 day trip to Milano, Italy.

We were so excited we didn’t even worry about eating breakfast. It took us three hours and 45 minutes to reach the Milano Centrale. However before we arrived in Milano the train was delayed because a young lady in her 20’s had to be escorted out the train because her mother was beating her up. Once we arrived in the train station, we were very surprised, the Milano that we were use to seeing on television was not the one we saw when getting off the train. The area was surrounded by crack heads and very poor people (we felt like we were in the hood). We immediately ran to use the bathrooms and surprisingly we had to pay 1 Euro each to use a nasty filthy bathroom. After we used the bathroom we sprinted to convert our money into Euros and get a map from the tourist office. At approximately 12:00pm we found a Mc Donald’s outside the train station, we each ate a Big Mac meal with French fries and a coke. The food was extremely expensive (14 Euros) – at least it tasted fresh and good.

After we were done with our meal we started walking the streets of Milano. It was a mission to get some help since 90% of the people didn’t speak English or Spanish. We were able to find a man at a Western Union office who helped us out with the map by letting us know where the tourist areas were.

As we walked farther into the city, we started feeling better about being in Milano as the streets appeared much cleaner and several famous museums appeared in sight. We immediately ran into the (Natural Art) Museum which was fabulous. The museum tour lasted about 25 minutes because we had a lot to do. Following the brief stop at the museum we started feeling like we were in heaven we started walking towards the Piazza del Duomo (main tourist area) in Milano. We felt right at home and ran into several stores (Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Calvin Jeans and H&M).

Finally at 2:00pm on this beautiful and sunny day our walking paid off, we had reached the Piazza del Duomo. We were walking in heaven on cobble stone roads. First thing we saw was a local train with a big sign posted on the side, Custo Barcelona, a famous high end fashion designer from Spain. Along with the lettering he had plenty of models in the advertisement for his fall 2009 fashion designs. The colors and the way the models posed were amazing. Once in the plaza we were happy because it felt like we were in the real Milano. We went inside the Escada, Burberry, Max Mara, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Bulgari and Fendi stores. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the stores (store policy). The prices were high but the clothes were flawless, now we know why Milano is considered one of the worlds fashion capitals.

Distraction settled in and we had realized we had not called our professors to notify them that we had arrived safely. Then we stopped browsing through the shops and purchased a 10 dollar phone card. The instructions on the damn phone card were in Italian, we asked several locals for help and we received none. We felt like we had paid 10 euros for a phone card that was useless. Once done with the shops we wanted to go into Duomo (one of the biggest cathedral in all of Europe). The line to enter was at around 300 people; therefore, we took pictures and had a prayer in front of the cathedral. We really felt good after the prayer and had a sense of peace and spiritual stability.

After we exited the front of Duomo we headed to the metro to take a 30 minute train ride to my aunt’s house. We encountered another issue we didn’t know which train would take us to her home. Luckily a Metro employee who saw us struggling came up to us; it was like God sent an angel from heaven to help us. The man spoke perfect Italian but also Spanish because he was born in the Dominican Republic. He helped us buy our metro passes and walked us down to the correct train. After a 30minute train ride and a long walk we reached our aunt’s house.

Arriving at our aunt’s house made this whole experience worthwhile, seeing her again after 16 years was priceless. She immediately hugged us both and asked Andy “what happened to his brown glasses” he laughed and responded that he had not worn those glasses since he was 7 years old. It was a very emotional reunion; we sat down for a few hours and spoke about the last 16 years of our lives. She immediately called Andy’s mother and they both started crying over the phone because his mother thought we was joking about our whole trip to Milano. We were so happy to reunite with our aunt and to see our older cousins Jorge (23) and Eimy (20), which was cool, because they were still as humble as they were years ago. Later on that afternoon came in Matthias (13) and Giovanni (11) our aunt’s 2 kids from her Italian marriage, the kids were happy to see us being that we had never met before. After all the joy, laughter and catching up, we were finally able to reach Professor Blake-Neis. We took the opportunity to notify her that we were fine.

We was very tired as the night came in but reached deep down within ourselves for some energy when my aunt started cooking an Italian and Dominican meal fused together. We had some Dominican styled steak with peppers onions and pasta with melted cheese, carrots and cucumbers. Thank you Lord Christ for this meal, it was tasty and everything that we had been craving for the last 20 days. Overall, today’s adventures were great; the day was full of laughs and happiness. We were so happy to be in Milano, its feels like an outer body experience something that words can’t describe.

On Sunday, June, 15, 2008, we woke up stress free, after all who wouldn’t after the wonderful day that we had on Saturday. My aunt had a wonderful breakfast ready for us at 10am. We had white toast (with butter), steamed milk and coffee cake. Breakfast was delicious and we felt right at home. Once breakfast was completed it was time to get ready to head back to Chur (bummer). At 1pm we left my aunt’s house and we became nostalgic because we really wanted to spend more time with our family.

We had a latte marchiatto at the main plaza while we waited for our train back to Chur. At 2:25pm we boarded our train and it took us 4 hours to get back to SSTH. Once we reached Chur we were starving, since on Sunday’s Chur is such a ghost town, the only place open was Cindy’s Dinner. We both had an all Americano burger (lettuce, beef, bacon, pickles, onions and mustard), large fries and a medium coke. The food was delicious to our surprise because Cindy’s burgers tasted very similar to Johnny Rockets burgers (New York).

However, we will not lie – over the two days we’ve missed our professors and classmates. Upon entrance at SSTH we were greeted by Prof. Blake- Neis, Dr. Garely, Shevy and Sarah. We both were happy to see them; it felt like an eternity without seeing them. We immediately started chatting with them and gave them all the details of our wonderful weekend away from Chur. Once the long chat was over, we both went downstairs to blog about our wonderful weekend and then went straight to bed afterwards.

Friday, June 13, 2008

(Day 15: Tour Guide – Sarah Pagan)

Chur- Zurich: Four Points Sihlcity Hotel and Excursion of Zurich – Itinerary

6:00am: (Wake-up call for everyone)

7:00- 7:20am: Breakfast

7:20am: Meet in the lobby

7:22am: Group departure for bus station

7:29am: Bus departs for Chur (Arrive at station@ 7:42am, Platform # 9)

8:16am: Departure from Chur to Zurich HB (9:47am Arrive @ Zurich HB)

Visit Tourisms Office for Information and Take bathroom break

10:05am: 7min walk from Zurich HB to Zurich, Bahnhofquai/ HB

10:16am: Departure from Zurich, Bahnhofquai/ HB by Tram 13

10:28am: Arrive @ Zurich, Sihlcity Nord

11:00am: Four Points Sihlcity Hotel site inspection with Mrs Alexia Hungerbühler

11:45am: Site inspection Finish

11:45- 12:30pm: Lunch time

12:30- 2:30pm: Zurich Excursion: Swiss National Museum

3:00- 4:15pm: Street Parade

5:37pm: Depart from Zurich main station

6:52pm: Arrive @ Chur

7:00pm: Dinner in Chur TBD

9:00pm: Take a taxi back to Swiss School

Lessons Learned

1) When I was doing my itinerary it was not easy: I put a lot of effort into organizing everything. I called the hotel to confirm the appointment and to get directions of the place.

2) As a tour guide, I learned that working as a group was productive and it helped me through my learning process.

3) My experience taught me to start work earlier, and not wait for the last minute.

Wake Up…..It’s Friday the 13th….

Written by: Sarah Pagan

Yippee – I am the tour guide of the day. I woke up really early this morning – at 5:45am. I went to a couple of peoples’ rooms to wake them up, and some I called to remind them to wake up. I also reminded everyone to bring their umbrellas and to remove their bed linens and towels from their rooms, for the weekly linen exchange. However, when I went to Sasha and Shevy’s room, I saw an interesting letter taped to the door, I thought this was very cute. It said, “wake us up last.” Then I went back to my room so I could get ready to be in the lobby by 6:55am.

At 7:00am we were suppose to meet for breakfast, but I noticed that everybody was arriving little by little, which caused me to get a little worried. Therefore, I was going to call them, but the professors told me to eat and get my energy. So Gia, my assistant, went to round up everyone and I focused on getting the packed lunches from the kitchen. I was so happy and grateful that Gia was there to help me. Sasha and Gia assisted me in getting our lunch bags from the kitchen. It was very helpful of them, because it was 15 very heavy bags that we distributed to everyone at the tables. I went to finish up my breakfast and we all met at 7:20am in the lobby so that we could reach the bus at 7:29am. I gave everybody a brief overview about the Four Points Sihlcity Hotel located in Zurich, Switzerland, which is where we were going for a site inspection.

On our way to Zurich, Switzerland

Ready for Zurich, Switzerland (Left to Right, front row: Elliott, Adrienne, Sarah, Curtis, Mark. back row: Prof. Blake-Neis, Adele, Dr. Garely, Liliana, Andy, Gia, Shevy, Katherine, and Sasha.

So the bus came on time, and we took it to Chur, to catch the train to Zurich HB, on track nine. The train arrived around 7:55am, so I thought it wasn’t our train. We asked a porter and he said yes, it was the train to Zurich. But of course, I confirmed this with another person before we entered the train. We found seats and waited for the train to leave. The train left at 8:16am on the dot. Me of course, always giving an update on the stops and time of arrival. We were on our way to Zurich!

Chur Train Station Track 9 : Bound for Zurich !

Zurich’s busy Train Station: “Switzerland’s Penn Station”

We reached the city at 9:47am and then went to the tourism office to pick up brochures and maps of Zurich. We walked to the trolley station for transport Zurich, Sihlcity – our first destination. We reached the hotel. When I entered the hotel it looked so modern and beautiful. Since I was the tour guide, I went to the front desk with Dr. Garely and told the man at the front desk that we had an appointment with Alexia Hungerbühler. He said that he didn’t know who she was, and acted like he didn’t want to help us. He wasn’t very polite. But then he found out and we waited in the lobby for her because we were early.

As a tour guide, I was kind of nervous because I didn’t know how everything was going to turn out today. In the morning I thought I was doing things wrong. But then I was thinking that this is all a learning process. Before today, I never handled a group of 15 people, especially not on a tour! This was a very new experience for me, because whenever I have traveled before it was always by myself, or just me and my mom. This tour was different, and I am glad it was because we all worked as a team and everybody cooperated. I wanted to say thank you to everybody, and I appreciate all the hard work that was put in. I am grateful and I couldn’t have done it without all the team work.

Shearton Hotel Four Points Sihlcity

So let me go back to the hotel setting. Ms. Hungerbühler arrived and presented herself in a professional manner. Then she gave us a tour of the hotel. We went in the elevator to the first floor. She showed us around a “Deluxe” room – it was very beautiful with a colorful design. I was impressed because it was so modern and up to date. This type of room would cost 460CHF per night. Following that, we went to see a “Junior Suite” – it was so fabulous. The bathroom was stocked with amenities. The suite would cost 600CHF per night. The view of the river was amazing.

Prof. Blake-Neis, Ms. Hungerbühler and Dr. Garely

Then we went to see the spa. It was gorgeous, very big, and had a lot of room for different treatments. We saw three pools. One was a whirlpool, one a jacuzzi, and one a regular pool. The aroma in the air was nice. They had a lot of equipment to exercise with. I was thinking that my body’s muscles needed a relaxation moment. After being guided through the spa we saw the bar and the restaurant. I was so delighted when Ms. Hungerbühler asked if we would like tea or coffee. I felt so honored. I was also getting worried because the time was going and I thought the site inspection was only for a half hour and had passed its limit. I kept looking at the time constantly, but realized that the tram back (number 13) was running regularly, and we were not in such a rush because our next stop was not a scheduled appointment.

Tea @ Four Points Hotel (Lt. to Rt: Dr. Garely, Sasha, Adele, Sarah, Andy, Katherine, Adrienne and Ms. Alexia Hungerbühler, Director of Sales and Marketing)

So I relaxed, enjoyed my peppermint tea, and everybody shared their background about who they were and where they came from to Ms. Hungerbühler. We left the hotel and took the tram back to Banhofstrasse. Then we went through the park and had lunch outside. We sat near the beautiful scenery of the city of Zurich, with a view of the river. After lunch (about 1:15pm), we went to the Swiss National Museum, using our trusty to get in for free. We were given tickets and pamphlets about the museum.

Swiss National Museum

I was excited because we had an opportunity to explore the Swiss National Museum and experience the cultural history of the museum.

Group at the entrance of Swiss National Museum

I was touring with Dr. Garely and she was explaining to me the translation of the Italian words in the exhibits. I was happy for that because I couldn’t understand what the descriptions were saying. We walked around the museum and saw all the interesting things they had.

We all met up at 2:15 at the entrance to the museum and headed out to see the Old Town, but all plans changed. Because of the Euro cup, it was getting very crowded in Zurich, so we compromised and took an earlier train back to Chur. Then everybody split into groups for dinner at Chur. Curtis, Katherine, Lilliana, Adrienne and I went to a restaurant to eat together. I ate a beef burrito, it was delicious and and nice change of pace. We all shared from our plates, so I got to taste other varieties. Then we went back to SSTH and I started blogging myself away!