In Switzerland, timeless yet weathering chalets meld with alpine landscapes. This deference to its surroundings extends into urban areas, like Lausanne, where traces of various eras create a pixelated yet often appealing (though not always!) historic blend of architecture. While the urban fabric resonates deeply with me as an architecture student, the people and lifestyle are what truly captivated me.
The Commune and the Commute
Lausanne is no exception to Switzerland’s high prices and the global housing crisis, so start your search for housing early and use all resources at your disposal: Facebook pages, Waterloo’s websites, university resources, etc. However, beware, as Lausanne’s dormitories are often unavailable for those not enrolled at local universities.
We often also do not realize just how well-connected we are until… well… we do. A wise man once told me “Waterloo students are everywhere,” which could not be more true. The summer before leaving for co-op, I had already confirmed my job placement, but not my housing (ideally do not be like me). I then met Heather through my past roommates’ new roommates’ old classmate. That sentence is meant to sound confusing, because call it luck, fate, destiny, or whatever you want, that is what it was. We simply happened to be in the same room when she coincidentally mentioned she’d also be in Lausanne for an Erasmus exchange at the same time as me.
With only one month left before my flight, I had plans to stay with a family friend. However, being the lovely person she is, Heather offered to share a university studio unit with me for 450 Francs (700 CAD) each. The apartment was small, with one shelving unit, a desk, a dining table, two beds, and a cramped bathroom. Yet, it undoubtedly improved my experience tenfold. Given our inverted daily routines, we were rarely in each other’s way. Instead, it felt like a four-month-long slumber party.
We lived in a residential neighbourhood in the commune of Echandans, 50 minutes from my downtown office. Though this may sound far, I looked forward to my daily commute. I love public transport, and made it my goal to find the most efficient route. By the end of the term, I knew every bus, metro, or train that could take me between my home, office, and Muay Thai practice.
Lausanne is one of the safest cities in the world. Despite all my hours exploring the transit network alone, as a woman, I only felt truly unsafe once and luckily, nothing was truly able to happen. This is not to dissuade you from using the metro; its stations are typically populated during its hours of operation, from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m., though less so on weeknights, of course. Buses tend to stop running earlier in the night, especially for routes farther away from downtown. Downtown is as walkable as any European city, as long as you do not mind the climb (Lausanne is laid out across two ‘hills’), but communes like Echandens stretch out like still denser versions of the Canadian suburbs, connected to the city by motorways, sparse sidewalks, and very few streetlamps (a headlamp or a well-charged phone is recommended when the days get shorter).
The French and New Friends
While Lausanne is located in Lac Leman, a French-speaking region of Switzerland, it is also a university town home to many international students. Hence, the city can be an ideal co-op location for English speakers, as long as French fluency is not a prerequisite for your job, though taking a French language course is a great way to make friends and reduce the language barrier. University campuses often have many buildings open to the public. I recommend checking out the Rolex Centre on the EPFL campus (amongst other lovely post-apocalyptic-looking buildings on campus) if you’re looking for a quiet environment to get your PDARCH coursework done.
I met several exchange students from Waterloo and other International students through Heather. We organized a Thanksgiving feast to feel at home, and discovered many Erasmus student events, including nights out in the clubs and even a ski trip! Lausanne’s clubbing scene may not be renowned, but it does exist. Entry is often free, and although drinks inside are pricey, good wine from the grocery stores is inexpensive. Plus, nothing beats an ‘apero’ with friends before or on the commute over!
Physical activities are key to my sense of work-life balance. During my time in Lausanne, I spent most of my weeknights at United Boxing, training Muay Thai but above all, befriending a most amazing group of people. It may seem daunting at first but finding the space to do something you do back home helps to create a sense of familiarity and Lausanne is sure to have a little bit of everything.
Beyond Business
As a rule of thumb, visit at least one place near each bordering country—France, Germany, and Italy—each feels unique beyond its primary language. Influence from each bordering country has an incredible effect on the culture, from the food to the lifestyle and architecture. This also makes Switzerland, in general, very well situated for the odd weekend trip to Paris or the Dolomites in Italy.
Applying for an SBB youth transit card from Lausanne’s main station or Lausanne-Flon guarantees major discounts on train rides to destinations including Zurich, Bern, and Geneva.
Aside from these big cities, I strongly recommend hiking or skiing amidst the breathtaking views of the smaller towns like Val-de-Travers, Lauterbrunnen, Zermatt.
I liked hiking on Sundays when European cities tend to go quiet. Since stores will be closed, plan your grocery runs accordingly! Swiss food is not for the faint-hearted—the staples are cheese, bread, potato, and chocolate. Almost each region offers a unique style of fermented milk with its own preparation. Visiting the chocolate and cheese factories in Broc and Gruyere are great opportunities to learn more about this, as is the ‘Desalpe’ tradition in October, where families parade their lovely cows down from the alpines for the winter.
With the influence of international students, Lausanne offers a diverse range of food options. My go-tos included Bibimbap from Bibibowl, Japanese desserts from Osio, and kebabs from Le Monde Snack. Lausanne’s Christmas markets were also a highlight of my term. Popping up around the country in December, they are perfect for gift shopping or enjoying a warm drink after work with friends and colleagues. Certainly, for these reasons and many more, I would recommend Switzerland for the fall work term.
I arrived in Lausanne in September and spent my first week soaking up the sun at Lutry Beach, enjoying the warm temperatures, which can last as long as October. The cold seeps in around mid-November, and the humidity starts to resemble the Canadian East or West coast. Still, temperatures rarely drop below one degree Celsius.
While Switzerland is highly efficient in many ways, opening a bank account proved challenging for my friends, so be prepared!
Business
Lausanne’s work-life balance combines Germanic punctuality, the French savoir-vivre, and international students’ bustling energy. While the type of work you will be doing is unique to the firm that hires you, the general consensus in Europe is that you work to live. This comes with probable vacation days, long lunch hours, and spontaneous drinks with colleagues after work. The experience is unrivaled next to our North American standard of organized team-bonding events.
Our co-op program provides upper-year students with a predisposition of field knowledge and work experiences that many European students do not gain until their first year after graduation. For this, you may be underestimated by employers, but know your worth, set your goals for the semester, and discuss it with them.
The End is Never Truly the End
Do not underestimate the culture shock you learn about from the LEARN pre-departure course. Nevertheless, it is temporary by nature, and when the shock dissipates, what remains is awe. Be it awe of the discoveries you are making or of yourself for arriving at this point in this opportunity. Returning to Canada may seem even more daunting, following this incredibly unique life abroad that is always over too soon. Yet what will remain are enriching memories and stories you will want to share with everyone, and undoubtedly, a new bank of precedents to influence your next studio project.
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