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| Ashley Hall student and Rotary Youth Scholar, Lizzie Russler, poses with the Matterhorn. Photo by: Lizzie Russler |
Ashley Hall, throughout
its history, has continuously expanded its international awareness, from hosting
students from around the world, to recently sending its own students abroad.
Last year Lizzie Russler, an Ashley Hall student, applied to the Rotary Youth
Program and has since been living in Switzerland through this program. Recently,
I was able to interview Lizzie about her journey. She explained to me the
cultural differences she has discovered.
Although Lizzie now loves Switzerland and the people
there, she had difficulties in the beginning. The language barrier was
certainly one. She stated that in the beginning the language was so exhausting
that after school, “I would go home and go to bed.” She would sometimes even go
to her room to blog, but now she says she has no time to blog, only to quickly
write in her journal. She has “too much life to write.”
Lizzie is living in a
part of Switzerland that speaks Swiss German, a dialect of High German, or
regular German. But now, after only five months of living abroad, she is fluent
in High German and continues to progress every day. According to her advice, the
best way to learn a new language is to watch television and listen to music
from the country. School has helped her learn the language, too; however, there
are some differences between Swiss and American education. After middle school
kids can work if desired. She was shocked upon seeing a 15 year old helping her
at the bank. In school there are more tests than in America but less homework
and strangely no essays so far. Lizzie explained to me that she still must do
her Ashley Hall work. Even though she has a lot of work, she says she is thankful to her teachers who have let
her go at her own pace since this year “is about me learning German and fitting
a lifetime into a year.”
The Rotary Youth Program is another thing she is grateful
for in her life. Lizzie describes it as, “an amazing program, that works for
the betterment of others, and society.” Rotary helps people around the world
connect, allowing students to explore the world through this once and a
lifetime opportunity and be involved in traditions tourists are never able to
experience. The opportunity for Lizzie has entailed attending a Swiss school,
living with a Swiss family, and learning the language. When asked what her
favorite part was so far she laughed and said, “I hate that question! It’s the
hardest! I could give you so many examples.” One of the examples she told me
about was how she had a weekend in the mountains where she was went into a
glacier ice palace. Upon examining the walls, she discovered plastic covering
the ice and soon realized that this was because the glacier is melting. She
realized how lucky she was to have seen this vanishing sight. Lizzie kept
wondering why more people don’t do take these kind of opportunities to travel. This is another
life lesson she has learned--to always say “yes” to new opportunities. She
doesn’t want to miss anything in her time abroad. Many of her other Rotary
friends have gotten homesick and hesitate, but, she says, “You make your own
fun. You can make it better.” She encourages people to adapt to life.
In
addition to all these life skills, Lizzie has explored much of Europe. Rotary
has given her a train pass that allows her to get 40 dollar train rides for
free, and therefore she has been able to visit other European countries such as
Italy, Venice, Sweden and soon France. Switzerland is in the middle of so many
different cultures and languages, “It is such a great location,” she says. “It’s
so cool.” Truly the lesson she has learned is “the best education comes from
outside.” This is one eye opening journey.
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| Lizzie Russler in Switzerland. Photo by: Lizzie Russler |
Switzerland, as a country, she loves immensely. It is
such a beautiful country, it’s like, “walking through a postcard.” The people
she explains as stylish, even the boys go shopping and walk out carrying
shopping bags. Another difference is that in Switzerland, she describes, sports
only meet once or twice a week. She also describes the people there seeming
more closed, “but once they are your friend,” she states, “you know they are
your friend for life. They don’t judge you.” Swiss people in general are
“loyal, very smart, creative, and a lot less wasteful.” Also a commonality in
Swiss people is that they all seem to be very time conscious and stressed about
being late. Lizzie also warned against stereo-typing, since some of her friends
there imagined all Americans to be fat. They were surprised when she didn’t like
McDonalds. People must realize that not everyone from a country is the same.
Lizzie Russler also loves the food that the Swiss eat.
“There are so many types of bread here,” she told me. When she first arrived
she was shocked by how much bread and butter they ate. While she ate an apple
at break, they ate bread. Dairy products are huge in Switzerland as well. She
has seen many well taken care of dairy cows there, as opposed to the meat ones that seem to be more commonly found in America. In addition, she has learned
that these cows produce milk for chocolate, and, in fact, milk chocolate was
invented in Switzerland. Switzerland is still home to many chocolate companies.
Lizzie describes the chocolate as being delicious and plentiful in Switzerland. She
still wonders how she, “will ever be able to finish off the large box of it in [her]
room.”
After these five months Lizzie says she “could literally
talk forever about [Swizerland].” She is inspired to help with Rotary in any
way possible, even hoping to host a student someday. Lizzie told me she has
become more passionate about the world and traveling. Because of this
experience, she knows more about what she wants to do when she is older. Lizzie
wants to travel more and be involved with the world and the people in it. Even
though she has already learned so much more about the world, Lizzie plans to
learn more languages, and wants to further broaden her horizons. Lizzie says,
“I am more mature, open-minded, and tolerant. I’ve learned how to be more
independent, more alone. I don’t care what other people think. Once I stopped
caring what others think, it’s a whole different freedom.”
Having spoken to Lizzie about her experiences, it was
obvious that she was very happy and comfortable with herself. Lizzie has
stepped outside her comfort zone and challenged herself. In doing so, she has
not only broadened her own knowledge and understanding, but also she is helping
to break down international barriers. There is something for everyone to learn
through Lizzie’s experiences and their own international experiences someday!
Special
thanks to Lizzie Russler to have taken time out of her Swiss life.
