Studying Abroad In Switzerland

From finding out you'll be living the life of the rich to realizing you're too poor to eat.

1. You get your study abroad letter in the mail, and YOU'RE ACCEPTED TO STUDY IN SWITZERLAND!

What could be better than a country of chocolate and wealthy people? After googling for hours, you find the answer: nothing.

2. You start researching all the places you want to travel to, afterall Switzerland is in the heart of Europe.

List of places you want to go to? Check.

Easyjet account? Check.

Sturdy backpack? Check

3. After months of preparing you are finally at the airport after saying goodbye to friends and family.

And you realize you'll be an ocean away from everything you've ever known..

4. You get off the plane and despite your lack of sleep you just want to explore your new home.

You wander around fascinated by the cleanliness of your new home.

5. Realizing that the paperwork you had to do before leaving wasn't even the start of it.

A summary of questions you asked the first week:

Why can't Americans open bank accounts?

What do you mean the visa I got isn't my official one?

I have to register for that?

6. When you go to the grocery store for the first time and realize your diet will consist of carbs.

Meat? Can't afford it.

Vegetables? Who needs them

Package of spaghetti for 2 francs? Pasta it is.

7. After the letdown of expensive food, you wander to the chocolate aisle for the first time and it's like entering heaven.

Who knew this many things could be put into chocolate? And for the reasonable price of 2 CHF per bar, a all chocolate diet suddenly seems possible.

8. You go to class the first day and try to introduce yourself to your teachers.

Unfortunately they don't really seem to understand Franglish, so you both leave the conversation dreading the semester.

9. Trying to shop in your new home is a nightmare, and yet everyone else seems to do it easily.

Do people in Switzerland really think that 60 CHF shirt is cheap?

Why doesn't TJ Max exist here?

10. When you finally have your first real conversation in French.

Okay, so what if it was just ordering your meal? It counts.

11. Attempting to venture out of the exchange student cult, you try to make real Swiss friends.

You soon realize the best way is to advertise your English speaking skills.

So what if you're being used, native friends are the best!

12. Going on trips in search of a cheaper way of life.

Even places like London and Paris seem cheap at this point.

13. When you dare to venture out in sweatpants and everyone you see gives you this look..

Sometimes comfort is worth the risk of angering the Swiss fashion gods.

14. When you first travel to the German speaking part of Switzerland.

It's like you aren't even in Switzerland anymore, but a strange land where you once again don't speak the language.

15. After a few months of trying to struggle through your classes you just give up

How does one even get grades here? No one really knows, you just kind of do stuff and hope you're doing it right.

16. When there's more than 4 days in a row without rain.

No one told you spring in Switzerland was basically clouds and rain, so when it's sunny out the chances of you being inside are zero.

17. Locking eyes with cute Swiss guys, and thinking you look great, when in reality you look like this..

Oh, right, smiling at strangers is mostly a U.S thing...

18. Trying to find a way to stay another semester, and seeing all the paperwork you would have to fill out

Apparently it's not that easy to just decide to live in Switzerland for longer than you told their government...

19. When you trust your French skills but people STILL speak to you in English

Oh, sorry, was my accent slightly off?

20. When the unversity has free/reduced price club nights

Alors, on danse! 5 CHF shots only come around every so often.

21. Trying all the "fun" Swiss winter sports

Which usually end in not being able to walk the next day.

22. Going to the cheese section of the store and never knowing what kind to try

Let's be real, your number one goal while in Switzerland is to try every type of cheese available.

23. Realizing how safe Switzerland is after traveling to other European countries

Living in a country where almost nothing bad ever means even the smallest of disasters when traveling seem like the end of the world.

24. When you remember your Swiss life will be over at some point.

And you realize you'd be willing to spend all that money, fill out all the paperwork, and go through every hard day again if only you could have a little more time here.