<body><div>Notes from Switzerland: A fit populace News Staff Wed, 06/14/2023 - 13:44 Image <ul class="slides"><li><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0vZ6Uh_0mvp3GOB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0vZ6Uh_0mvp3GOB00" width="756" height="420" > Switzerland’s Hünenburg is picturesque and filled with clean air and scenic vistas. It is the home of Daniel Meyer, who splits time between his native Switzerland and Fredericksburg. — Photos by Reese Griffin </li><li><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3y0NaU_0mvp3GOB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3y0NaU_0mvp3GOB00" width="287" height="420" > Downtown shows a typical walk and bike path preferred by the Swiss and other European towns. </li></ul> Body At the end of the last school year 2021-2022, I was awarded the honor of going to Switzerland for a month by Baron’s CreekSide owner, Daniel Meyer and the Swiss Lions Club. As of last week, I have started my adventure of staying with my host family, the Schallers, in the lovely town of Hünenburg in the Kanton (state) of Zug. Zug is one of the German Kanton in the center of Switzerland. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Switzerland has four national languages, French, German, Italian and Romansh. Swiss German, French and Italian are equally considered the most spoken languages, but only in their respective Kantons that make up their parts of the land. English, however, is commonly spoken throughout the country. In the short time that I have been here, I’ve learned so much about the Swiss people and their culture. They are kind, generous people who pride themselves in their families, work and land. They value the importance of keeping their country organized and safe. Switzerland is a very safe country. Crime, if any, comes from the tourists in the more touristic cities like Interlaken and Zürich. Students of all ages are seen walking or taking trains or buses to school without parents every day. The Swiss are very observant people and tend to look out for each other. Trouble is only found if someone is looking for it. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Public transportation is widely used and how most people get to school, work, or to visit other cities. Buses and trains are easy to use as they run on a tight schedule, and their stations are close to the middle of every town. Trains are the most efficient way for tourists to visit the places they want, such as cities or mountain trails. The Swiss are very fit people and enjoy walking or cycling on paths through the neighborhoods even when the trail goes up to the top of the mountain. What is considered a hike in the mountains for Americans is just a nice, early morning walk before work for the Swiss. I must say it is a challenge to keep up, but I have never felt more fit. A good education and hard work are highly valued to the Swiss. School is separated into primary school and secondary or high school. Students can choose to go to a university or start apprenticeships to continue their education and prepare for their careers. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Swiss children are very intelligent. Many of them can already speak two or three languages by the time they reach school age as their parents may have come from other countries outside of Switzerland. English is taught from the fourth grade until the end of high school and is the only other language commonly taught except for the one that is commonly spoken in the Kanton. The Swiss continue to amaze me with their culture and what is considered their normal, everyday life. I am excited to continue to learn more about the land and the people during my stay. (Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles about Ms. Griffin’s adventures. She is a journalism major at Texas Tech University and the daughter of Joel and Rene Griffin of Fredericksburg.) <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

Notes from Switzerland: A fit populace
News Staff
Wed, 06/14/2023 - 13:44

  
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      Switzerland’s Hünenburg is picturesque and filled with clean air and scenic vistas. It is the home of Daniel Meyer, who splits time between his native Switzerland and Fredericksburg. — Photos by Reese Griffin
    

      Downtown shows a typical walk and bike path preferred by the Swiss...