Post-Mania

I got an e-mail asking if I am alive. I have never felt more so! Switzerland is too much fun! Every week something wonderful happens (or more often than that). The following 8(!) posts will try (with many pictures) to clear the back-log. Hopefully also clearing any doubts of how I am fairing.

If you like chronological order I recommend that you start reading at the post entitled "Introweek" and work your way up.

PS this weekend I am attending an AIESEC conference so the fun doesn’t look set to stop

Landsgemeinde

Have you ever in an election voted openly in front of all other members of your community? Well that is how direct democracy works in Appenzell Innerrhoden where twice per year at the Landsgemeinde all citizens eligible to vote gather in a square to (by show of hands) cast their vote. Very fascinating and a huge magnet for tourist. Hence we had to squeeze a bit as we tried to get a glimpse of the proceedings.

At 11:00 sharp it started, with a march of dignitaries to the square, led by a marching-band.

The voters waited respectfully
After the march there was a (too?) long swearing in ceremony
Then the voting begins!
How to best have an "after party" once the voting is over? The Swiss buy sausages and so did we.

Uniball

The same day as we won the competition the UniBall, a ball for UniSG students and alumni, took place. We of course went there as well (to celebrate). Since I had known about this ball for quite some time I had managed to bring some appropriate clothing from Sweden.
Me, entertaining the Ladies (Astrid & Bea)
Joni (fellow exchange student from my home university) at his happiest moment in Switzerland thus far. Look how he is glowing :-)

Competition

Together Martin (Czech Republic), Astrid (the Netherlands) and Bea (Hungary) I constituted a team in a strategy competition that was arranged last weekend. Surprisingly (considering that it was done completely in German) our team won!

What we won was a trip (transportation and housing included) to Freiburg (Germany) where the next leg of the competition would be held. Sadly I have now received the news that this part (due to lack for funding) is postponed to October (by which time our team will be scattered across Europe). We will try to change this, since the team that came second will go to the second leg as well (but their leg is in Stuttgart and is NOT cancelled) but maybe we can arrange a switch. Cross your fingers, please.

Polish Dinner

There are many house parties where you meet up and chat over a drink before going out (Wednesdays is the big party day since many regular students aren’t from SG and go home over the weekend). Some parties stand out, and the lovely homely event that Malwina hosted (and prepared with help of Kamila, and maybe also Bea) was such an occasion.

The hostess with the mostess sitting the closest

Hiking

BuddySystem® together with the MBA program at Uni S.G. arranged hiking trip in the nearby hills. We started by visiting a cheese-making factory/museum and the proceeded to trek for 3-4 hours up and down green hills and into valleys and canyons until we reached our destination: a water park. Oh, the water was so nice and there was so much to do that I think I stayed for almost 4 hours.
Taking a well deserved rest after some serious walking

Easter

What could be a more appropriate way of celebrating Easter than chocolate bunnies? Not surprisingly I went skiing this (third consecutive) weekend as well. Still so lovely.

However, since the weather is getting warmer I have begun enjoying my bike (which I brought with me from Sweden) and am exploring the surroundings of St Gallen.

Luckily Easter is such a long break that there was also time for some genuine sight-seeing. Together with Astrid (exchange student from the Netherlands) I explored Switzerland biggest roman ruins

The place was much bigger than I had expected and very welcoming with a full-size replica of a roman nobleman's house, where we could relax and play a game with utterly confusing rules.

Since these ruins were in close vicinity to Basel (and we have 4 hours to spare) we went into town and walked around. We also climbed to the top of the Cathedral to get a good view of the city.

No prizes for guessing what type of weather we got the following two hours, but the dark clouds do give me an omnious appearance. Looks cool in a Darth Vader kind of way, don't you think?

More Skiing

This is another picture from Laax (pronounced as the Swedish fish with a similar name) where I went skiing.

It is so nice to have the Alps (where the snow is plentiful and the slopes are amazingly long) just around the corner. I have literally made a split-second decision of going for a alpine weekend, something that is impossible (or at least very expensive and cumbersome) in Sweden.

Introweek

Yes I know that this happened almost a month back but we nevertheless had a lot of fun; one evening chatting at a pub/club, another one we went bowling and yet another the BuddySystem® had arranged a pub crawl.

Can you see me behind the Nargile/shisha/hookah?

The week after we went to Zürich for some night-time sightseeing.
No comments/pictures :-)