Category Archives: Switzerland

First weeks at Les Roches

Posted on by
Reply

These first few weeks of Les Roches have been quite stressful for me personally. It’s been a bit difficult to get back into the swing of things and get my brain into gear! Hence the late blog post!

So after many months of waiting impatiently, I have finally arrived on campus at Les Roches! It was a beautiful blue-sky, sunny day making it a perfect day to drive down to the Valais.

The campus is just as amazing as I remembered from my visit, albeit complete with a bit more snow than when I last came!

Upon entering the main building, I was greeted by a very friendly third-year student who assisted me through the check-in procedure. First there was a visit to student accounting to check that everything was in order with payments, etc, then a quick stop to the academic office to sign some forms and to choose the foreign language that we wish to study for the following semesters. I chose to study Spanish as I have never taken Spanish in my life, which should be interesting!
Next stop was to the student services department where I was issued with the all important student card and the keys to my room which was very exciting.

My building is PF3 or ‘Peters Farm 3’, it is a nice building with excellent views of the mountains. Unfortunately for me, it is a building situated several minutes away from the main building – which usually wouldn’t bother me at all! However, due to my ankle/knee injuries it has proved quite difficult sometimes to move around campus with all this snow and ice!

The first week at the school was induction week, where we were introduced to our teachers and given some very interesting presentations about the academic and practical schedules.
We were also given all of the books that we will need for this semester, it was very exciting (although quite nerve-wracking at the same time) to get a first look into what we will be studying!

One of my main worries before arriving on campus was how it would be to initially meet new people and make new friends. But that was something I shouldn’t have worried about because I really like my class and all the people in it!
It is true what they say – Les Roches is not just a school, it’s a way of life.
Anyway, I better get back to studying! Talk to you soon.

Sam

First few weeks in the white alps

Posted on by
2

Bonjour tout le monde!

What an intensive start (hence the late update)… The past couple of weeks have been amazing, and I’m so happy I decided to finish HOIII here in Switzerland.

The school impressed me from the very moment I arrived at the airport. They were waiting with a large Les Roches sign for me and other new students, gave us water and snacks, and took care of all luggage. A big bus was waiting outside and the ride to the campus took roughly two hours. After a steep climb up the mountains we reached our final destination – a tiny place called Bluche. After I did my check-in, I was assigned a room, and later on I met up with a bunch of friends for dinner and drinks. Since it was a Saturday, we all were curious about the nightlife so we took a taxi to the nearby village Crans and danced until our feet became sore. Since there are only a few places to go out, people here tend to stick together and that makes it so much more fun.

Monday morning it was time for classes straight away. My year is divided into five groups, and compared to Marbella, that is a lot since we only had three over there. First week was basically an introduction to all teachers, subjects and classmates, and on the second week projects, quizzes, assignments, presentations and exams kept on coming in. I have also joined the Student Committee marketing team where we promote events and activities such as crazy mufti days and parties, so that (along with this blog) keeps me busy, to say the least…

I am very happy that the school offers us to move between the different campuses, and although the contrasts between the schools are quiet big, it’s still the Les Roches spirit all over…

Next weekend awaits a welcome party thrown by the Student Social Committee plus a spontaneously planned trip to Milan… Promise to update you all on that.

Ciao for now!

X Filippa

 

Back to Bluche

Posted on by
1

So after 6 intense months of being in South East Asia I am now back in Jamaica preparing to return to Bluche for my next semester.

When you go off on your internship you don’t really realize how involved you get with the place until you leave it. Cambodia was such an awesome experience and I have made many good friends who I will hopefully get to work with in the future.

I could not have asked for a better or fuller experience at La Residence d’Angkor.
As a Management Trainee I was able to move through more than one department, gaining a more complete picture of the operational areas of the hotel. I spent the bulk of my time in Food and Beverage, 1 month in Front Office, 3 weeks in Housekeeping and rounded out my time in the executive offices working with the Executive Assistant Manager. As the hotel is small and intimate, I have had the opportunity to work very closely with the managers of each department and to join the heads of department morning briefing, which has been so valuable in gaining insight into the workings of the hotel.

As one of the few foreigners at the hotel, I was able to really get to know the Khmer people. I answered a lot of questions, most about “my country” (not many people knew where Jamaica is) and I asked a lot of questions about how they live. It’s funny how little parts of their culture travel with you when you leave. I have found myself trying to thank people first in Khmer, then in French and finally, the right language for this country, English.
My last weekend there, my dear friend who worked in Malaysia came to visit and I was able to play a real tourist for a bit and then amidst tearful goodbyes I got on the plane back to Jamaica.

The holiday here at home has been too short, but so good to recharge and get ready for the fun we are all bound to have in the Kitchen next semester.

Bon voyage! to all who are returning and Bien venue! to those we will meet for the first time back in Bluche.

Whitney

Happy New 2012 & less than a week to go…

Posted on by
3

I have a feeling that this year is going to be awesome with lots of fun to look forward to! It started off really well with New Year celebrations in London with good friends, and in just a few days I will be on a plane to Switzerland for my third year at Les Roches, and in June it’s already time for graduation…

 

And who knows what’s gonna happen after that?! My goals are set high and I’m going to work for what I want really hard. As long as I put my mid to it I think everything is possible. Friends are also a very big part of my life and I can’t wait to meet new and old classmates. During my time at the Marbella campus I had the privilege of meeting people who soon became very good friends. A hand-full of them are actually transferring to Bluche at the same time as me, and knowing that makes me really happy because they are some of the kindest and funniest people in the world. I know that together with them and all the new friends I will make, we will have a fabulous year.

I know that many of you new students are probably a bit nervous (I know I was) and I’m sure that a lot of thoughts are going through your mind right now, so I thought I’d try to answer some questions I got from a soon to be HOI student.

Are you happy with your choice of Les Roches? Was it tough in the beginning with a lot of work, feeling homesick etc?

I am very happy with choosing to study at Les Roches, and although I haven’t finished my studies yet I know that I have gained a lot of experience and developed important contacts for my future career that I would never have done without the help from the school. Just remember, especially when it comes to looking for internships, that the school will push you along the way but in the end it’s what you do of it that counts. Hard work and dedication are what will bring you forward in this industry! I don’t want to lie; first week of HOI was a shock to me and I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. As you probably know, first year is “service” and for a whole week I was in stewarding polishing glasses and cutlery. I said to my self “This can’t be what I paid all this money for, to make glassware shine?!”, but it quickly became clear that this was only a small part of my education and good things only could come from it. Today, for example, I know how hard the stewards work in restaurants and that their job is very important to the business, and not only putting dirty dishes into a dishwasher. When striving to be a Hotel Manager, you need to learn the hard way and you must know how every department of your hotel works. There will be times when you feel homesick, and the best ways to cheer up is to surround yourself with friends, Skype with family, read a good book or why not STUDY HARD… Managing time is what you will come to learn at Les Roches because otherwise you will be swamped with exams and projects in the end… I say this from experience.

You did your first internship in Sweden. Does the school find it OK that you do an internship in your homeland?

I have been traveling and living abroad for a large part of my teenage years/early twenties and because of that developed a good knowledge of English. When I was offered to do an internship at a luxury hotel in Sweden for my first year, I didn’t hesitate to take it because I knew I would gain a lot of experience from it and still not drop my level of English. I think it’s a very good opportunity for students to move to places they’ve never lived before and learn a different culture and improve the language skills. I think the school also would agree on this.

I also noticed that your internship started in June, does that mean we won’t get a summer holiday?

You have to do a minimum of five months internship although many hotel’s prefer to hire you for six. Some want the interns to start in June and other’s in mid-July. It is up to you to find out how many days off the hotel can give you if you have signed for a six months internship. The shorter summer holiday you get the longer winter holiday, and vice versa.

And one last question… How can I improve my English in order to pass the language test in first year?

Some last minute advice is that you read an English novel and perhaps write down the words you have a hard time understanding and look them up as you’ve finished the book and make sure to keep yourself updated with the latest online news.

That’s all for now folks, see you end of this week.

Stay cool and keep warm!

X Filippa

The final countdown has begun!

Posted on by
1

Just one week left now until my arrival at Les Roches and I couldn’t be more excited! I really can’t wait to meet everyone, to start studying again and to be in such an amazing place!

My Christmas/New Year holidays were a perfect way to relax and prepare myself for this final week and for the start of school. I made immense progress with the recovery of my ankle during my time away – going from having to use crutches and a huge ankle brace when I left home – to returning home without needing the crutches at all and even wearing two shoes! This being a big deal for me as I have not had a normal shoe on my left foot for about 3 months! This progress I was able to make with my ankle has seriously boosted my confidence, meaning I am feeling much better about arriving on campus knowing that I have an ankle that works!

Seeing as I went to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for my holidays, I thought I would just quickly share with you my hotel experiences during my stay. In Abu Dhabi we stayed in the ‘Yas Island Viceroy Hotel’ – a stunningly interesting hotel to look at from the outside, as it is covered with an LED dome which changes colour constantly, making it very visible from a distance, and it even displayed the words ‘Happy New Year’ on new years eve.

Then in Dubai we stayed in the ‘Raffles Hotel’ – again another amazing looking building from the outside as it is shaped like a pyramid! The grand entrance is very inviting and the facilities are great. But for me what really makes this hotel, is the amazing level of customer service. From the second that we stepped through the Egyptian themed sliding doors the staff were incredible in making us feel welcome and giving us any assistance and information we needed. The concierge desk was particularly impressive. At this point I was still using my crutches and was wearing my giant ski boot of an ankle brace, and the concierge (even though I had not asked him anything, I was simply walking past his desk) came out of his way to say hello and ask me how my leg was. Then whenever I saw him he would wave and smile a big smile even if he was busy, and he would always come over and joke that I should go and play football with him, he gave me tips on how to relax my ankle, and he even helped me get comfortable on a sofa in the lounge so that I could eat whilst keeping my ankle up!

I have seen good customer service before, but this to me was the “going the extra mile” bit that makes all the difference with the level of satisfaction of the customer. I couldn’t help but think, if every hotel had staff like this, then everyone would be able to enjoy a great hotel experience, and it made me even more excited about learning about this industry!

Returning home was quite a climate shock, leaving behind the sun, shorts and 26 degree weather – coming home to a typical Swiss winter of snow covered Jura and 3 degree weather! Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way complaining – I love winter in Switzerland, I’m just saying it was quite a big change in one day.

Now that I am back home the serious preparations have begun. Sorting out clothes, planning where and when to go shopping to get the last bits and pieces and of course, my favourite – making lists! There are only a few things that I am missing now, one of them being shoes. I am having a bit of a dilemma finding shoes due to my ankle, but I know I will find a solution, even if I do end up wearing black trainers to go with my suits!

I’m finding it a bit hard to believe that there is only one week left until we will all be arriving on campus. I’ve been waiting for this for months and months and it is so exciting to have it so close to actually happening!! Of course there are a few nerves and worries, the usual what if’s and so on, but these are easily forgotten by the thought that I will soon be studying in such an amazing place. I absolutely adore being in the mountains and I seriously can’t wait to be surrounded by incredible views and people!!

Another thing that I am looking forward to is meeting everyone! I have to say that the Les Roches Facebook page for new students has been an excellent source of information for any questions and queries, as well as being a great place to get to know a little bit about new classmates!

I hope that everyone’s last week of preparations go well and that your journeys to Les Roches go smoothly! I guess I better get on with my packing now.. So see you all next week!!

Samantha

The Foehn and Spring

Posted on by
Reply

It is absolutely amazing to me that two weeks ago there was endless snow in the mountains and we were still in the throes of winter. Now the snow is melting and the evenings have become lighter and all of a sudden spring is here. The birds are waking up and the temperatures are slowly rising. For someone who is used to having pretty much one season for the whole year this has been quite an experience. The other thing is that the cows are all out in their pastures again.

“Some people imagine that Switzerland is as cold as Alaska, but this is far from the truth. In the plain, temperatures can rise to 30ºC (86ºF) in the summer, and even in the mountains the sun is hot. In the winter, temperatures rarely drop below minus 5ºC (41ºF) in the entire country, save the mountaintops.

The mountainous character of Switzerland is responsible for spectacular differences in the weather among different regions. It is very common to move from a cold, cloudy and rainy landscape to a beautiful clear blue sky with hot sun in just a few minutes.

The warmest parts of the country are Montreux (where palm trees line the lake-side), Ticino and Valais. In Ticino, the Italian-speaking canton South of the Alps, there are over 298 sunny days a year and daily mean temperature in July are over 26ºC (79ºF). In Valais, kiwis, peaches, figs and tomatoes are grown in orchards and tiny scorpions can be found.” From – Climate in Switzerland

I also learned why we were having such warm, windy weather. It is due to a weather pattern called the Foehn winds. It is defined as warm dry wind coming off the lee slopes of a mountain range, especially off the northern slopes of the Alps. The past few days have been very sunny but very windy, feeling almost like tropical winds from home but slightly drier.

The winds are created by the rain shadow of the Alps. Strangely enough they are even cited as the cause of some mental illnesses that show up at this time of the year.

81st International Geneva Motor Show and Accessories 3-13 of March 2011

Posted on by
2

“The 81st Geneva International Motor Show ended on Sunday after welcoming more than 735,000 visitors. All of the exhibitors have expressed a high level of satisfaction with this year’s edition which seems to have definitively marked the end of the automobile crisis.

Never before have so many new models been presented. The public showed a particular interest in the many vehicles containing alternative technologies and means of propulsion. The next edition has been scheduled for March 8-18, 2012.”   www.salon-auto.ch

This week the Sports and Activities department arranged a trip to the world renowned Geneva Motor show at the Palexpo near to the Geneva Airport.

“First held in 1905, the Salon has hosted almost all major internal combustion engine models in the history of the automobile, along with benzene- and steam-powered cars from the beginning of the century. Exotic supercars often steal the spotlight during their debuts at the show. Prototypes, new equipment, technical breakthroughs, international partnerships, as well as political and social debates, have been announced at the exhibition.

The show is regarded as a level playing field for the world’s automakers.” wikipedia
It was amazing experience rounded off by an afternoon of shopping in Geneva City.

Football !!

Posted on by
3

This past weekend a few of us went to a football match and for a few hours immersed ourselves fully in Swiss football culture.

The match was between the Zurich Grasshopper Club and the FC Sion team at the Sion Stadium on Saturday the 26th of February.

There was singing and shouting and cheering for a solid 2 hours. But of course it went on after the match as well. Even though we could not understand a word of what the fans were singing we went along with it and sang as well.

My friends and I were on the Zurich side supporting GCZ and after the match we found out that we had some other Les Roches students supporting Sion so now there is some friendly rivalry in the halls at school. Needless to say Sion won 2 to 0, but this is not the end as there is another match in Zurich coming up.

www.gcz.ch www.fc-sion.ch

Week 4- My First Trip in Switzerland

Posted on by
Reply

This past weekend while some of the students took a trip to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne a few friends and I took a trip to Zurich. The drive took about 3 hours and 15 minutes and then we took the train to a small town outside of the city called Zumikon where we stayed.

View of the old town from Lindenhof

‘As a lifestyle capital on the water, Zürich offers the unique mix of discovery, pleasure, nature and culture. The finest culinary highlights, unlimited shopping pleasure, over 50 museums and more than 100 galleries, Switzerland’s liveliest nightlife, numerous events and countless green oases in the center of the city tempt guests to linger and enjoy.‘  www.zuerich.com

Grossmuenster (Protestant Church with a history including Huldrych Zwingli a leader in the Reformation)

The most famous street in Zurich is Bahnhofstrasse where we spent our Saturday. Here there are many name brand shops and places to eat. It also holds the financial centre of Zurich the square is called the Paradeplatz. Legend has it the gold of Switzerland is buried beneath what has become an area famous for its banks. We also spent some time taking in the view of the lake and the city.

Lake Zurich

Zurich also has a happening night life. We had a great time with some new friends and managed to do some salsa dancing as well.

On Sunday we made our way back to Bluche.

Had we not driven the transport system in Switzerland is amazing. From Bluche you take the funi down to Sierre where you can get trains to most of Switzerland and of course connections to Italy, Germany and France. In most Swiss cities there are either trams or the bus (which run late as well).
Photos by Travis Odegard

Olympic Museum – Lausanne
The Sports and Activities department organizes a trip to the Olympic museum each year. The students travel as a group in a big bus and spend the day in Lausanne taking in the Museum, the lake, some shopping and in general the beautiful city.

Trip to Lausanne

Crans Montana, Valais

Posted on by
1

First, I’d like to share some of my discoveries about the beautiful region around Les Roches.

The Valais was named as such by the Romans because it is a part of the upper Rhone Valley. It is one of the driest cantons but is well moisturized due to the snow run-off coming from some of the highest peaks in Switzerland.

Valais shares borders with both Italy and France. Agriculture (mainly wine production), tourism and cattle rearing are the main industries here. The canton is split into 13 districts including: Brig, Sierre, Sion and Saint- Maurice.

Crans Montana

Crans Montana is the pairing of two separate villages to form one resort area. It is most famous for skiing and golf and is located above Sierre at approximately 1500 m above sea level. Whatever time of year there are many activities available, including a happening night life on the weekends. The school’s Sports and Activities department organises trips and activities in and around the area, the next one being to the ice rink this weekend.

Week 2- First week of Lessons
At Les Roches the HO1 students are split into classes and the academic/ practical rotation every two weeks starts. So for this first week of school some of us have been in pratical (Stewarding or Service in one of the restaurants) and some have been in Academic doing Languages, Effective Writing, Computer Science, etc.

Some comments from:
A student in Service: “Exhausted but excited.”
A student in Academic: “The week was interesting, frustrating at times, fulfilling.”
An F & B Stagier: “Hectic, challenging and informational.”
After this first week we are all a little more settled but still getting used to our schedules and the standard of excellence expected from us. In Practical, we have had to push ourselves and I speak for myself and others when I say that we have learnt that we can do a lot more than we think.

I rounded of the week with an amazing day of skiing on Sunday, with great weather and a lot of fun. The day was topped off with a huge pot of delicious fondue from Petit Paradis which is the restaurant and hotel adjacent to Les Roches main building.

Pictures by Travis Odegard