Never say no to new experiences

Cedric from Switzerland was on exchange in Canada.

Where did you go and why?

I went to Canada, mostly because my parents deemed it to be a safer alternative to the USA, where I originally wanted to go. I don't regret going to Canada though. It’s very similar to the USA.

Why did you go on exchange?

Mostly because I wanted to experience more of what the world has to offer while still young, and also to improve my English.

How was it to live with a host family?

It was a pretty cool experience! If you're close to your host family, it's like living in a house with your best friends. I did miss my Swiss family though.

How was school?

School was very interesting. It's way easier than in Switzerland since you get to create your own schedule according to your interests. The tests aren't as hard and you have more free time, which allows you to explore the country and its culture.

What did you do in your spare time? Any new hobbies?

Since I lived pretty remote, I took up hiking. I would go on hour-long walks in nature. With friends, I went to the city a lot to go to the mall or to go out to eat.

Was it easy/hard to get friends?

Finding friends was very easy for me since I'm an extroverted person. Canadians are very friendly anyways, so approaching people and starting conversations often formed new friendships.

What was a big challenge for you? How did you conquer it?

A big challenge for me was living so remote. Nothing really was within walking distance. The city was only 30 minutes away by car, but since there was no public transport, I always had to have my friends, or my host family drive me. Since all of my friends were in grade 12, that was no problem because they all drove. But it was a bit of a challenge when I first arrived and hadn’t made many friends yet. Another challenge was the extremely cold weather. Sometimes the weather locked us in for days because the roads were so bad, they had to cancel school.

What was the best thing about your exchange?

The number one thing from my exchange year is all of the friends I made. I'm still in contact with them and am going to visit them this summer.

What’s your best memory?

My best memory is Canada Day, July 1st. It was the last night I spent in Canada, and I was with all of my friends and got to say goodbye to them. It was incredibly sad but also very beautiful since there were fireworks and generally a great atmosphere.

What are your main learnings?

Never say no to new experiences, and goodbyes don't last forever.

Can you recommend going?

Yes absolutely!

Why should anyone go on exchange?

To experience more of what the world has to offer, and to learn foreign languages.

Your top advice?

1. Don't try to get a girlfriend, since it's going to be over as soon as you leave, which is inevitable.
2. Spend as much time as possible with your friends and host family.
3. Get off your phone.

Why did you choose STS?

Because my friends recommended STS and they offered high school exchange in Canada.

Were you happy with STS?

Yes, very. All of my questions were always answered, and everything was handled professionally.

What are you doing now?

I'm still going to school in Switzerland and will graduate in the summer of 2024.

How will your exchange affect your future?

In a couple of ways. I've improved my English, which is really important for what I'd like to do in the future. I've also made some friends that I will probably keep for life. It has also made me a lot more mature since you don’t have your parents around all of the time.