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Welcome to Switzerland!

This guide is a comprehensive resource for AFS participants coming to Switzerland.

As you embark on this exciting exchange experience, you will discover a country rich in cultural diversity, breathtaking landscapes, and unique traditions. This guide provides essential information to help you navigate your exchange journey—from preparation and arrival to daily life, school, cultural adaptation—and make the most of your stay.

AFS Switzerland

• National Office
• Volunteers
• Local Chapters

About Switzerland

• General Information
• Geography
• Climate
• Swiss Culture
• Languages
  • Swiss German vs High German

• Transportation
• Educational System
• Practical Information

Preparing for your exchange

• Contacting Your Host Family
• Online Language Learning
• Visa and Travel
• Insurance
• What to Pack
• Managing Money Abroad

Your exchange experience

• Your Time in Switzerland
• Arrival Day and First Weeks
• AFS Rules
• Your Host Family and You
• Your Host School
• Making Friends
• Leisure Activities
• Relationships and Sex
• Religious Practice and Attitudes
• Good Manners
• Typically Swiss?
• Health and Wellbeing: Highs and Lows
• Money Traps
• Social Media Fair Play Rules
• Conclusion

Safety & Emergency Information

• Follow Swiss laws
• Contact Information

AFS Rules & Policies

• AFS Rules
• Travel Policies

Preparing to return home

• Say goodbye to your host family and friends
• Reflect on your exchange

Safety Handbook

• Introduction
• Safety at home
  • General Safety Questions
  • Answering the phone
• Safety Outside the home
  • Transportation safety
  • Weather
  • Theft
• Authorities and Emergency Contacts
• Drugs & alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Alcohol
• Health & wellness
• Sexual harassment
• Other Important Issues
  • Laws in Switzerland
  • Liability Insurance
• Conclusion