I've been spotted in the local news papers lately.

Things I miss/will miss

What follows is an ongoing listing of all the things I miss about the US and the things that I will miss when my exchange is over and I am required to leave Switzerland. This list is not intended to offend anyone from either country, but to merely point out differences. Keep checking back because this list will change as I experience new things here.

What I miss about the US:
My family and friends
My dog
Air conditioning during hot weather
Ice cubes
Steaks, thick and juicy steaks
Affordable food, gasoline (benzin), clothing, and STARBUCKS
Bar soap (as opposed to liquid soap)
Being able to tell whether to push or pull a door just by looking at it
Free parking almost everywhere
Streets that are wide enough for parking AND two-way traffic
Grocery stores (any store for that matter) open evenings and Sundays
Sunshine on winter days


What I will miss when I leave Switzerland
My incredible new friends
Not having to take care of the dog
The scenery!
The Nespresso store
Rösti
Champagne toasts during morning break on teacher birthdays (yes, real champagne in school and during school)
No hall passes
The use of turn signals (almost always)
Mittagessen (we actually take time to taste lunch here)
Paprika chips
Chocolate!!!!!! (and lots of it)
Every day is jeans day.
Train travel

Hall pass? What's a hall pass?

One of the biggest differences I have found between US and Swiss education systems, and the cultures as a whole, is the philosophy toward trust and personal responsibility. While chatting in the “lehrerzimmer” (teacher room) the other day, I mentioned “hall pass” and received many looks of confusion from my colleagues. I had to explain that whenever a student is out of the room, they must have a signed hall pass. This explanation was met with disbelief because there is no such thin here in Switzerland schools. As I mentioned in my first post, students are allowed to be any place in the building without teacher supervision. The students are trusted to act appropriately and, for the most part, they do. In the instances where they do not act appropriately, they are talked to by school officials and parents are called. I don’t think there is any such thing as a suspension, but I’m not sure.

Another example is that teachers are not required to be at school from the first bell to the last bell. Teachers are simply trusted to be there to teacher their classes, be prepared, and take care of all necessary assessments. Not all teachers have the same schedule every day. For example, there are days when I am finished at 2:00, and other days when I go until 5:00, but I may not start until 10:00. So, I am required to be at school only for my class time and any time I may need to prepare.

Another difference is the level of tolerance for horseplay and rough housing. I have come across students wrestling in the hallway or playing very roughly outside, but this is OK as long as all students are willing participants. If someone happens to get hurt, they are taken care of and sent home if necessary. There are no lawsuits filed.

This, I believe, is the key issue. The US has far too many lawyers, so schools are required to take all precautions necessary to avoid being dragged into court. Never have I become more aware of this than since I have been in Switzerland. People are trusted to do the right thing, and when they don’t, it is their fault. Nobody looks for a lawyer to get them off the hook or to pin the blame on someone else.