As the time got closer to 1:00 P.M., all 24 students and 3 chaperones suited up for this trip met together at the college center. Here, Mr. Kaser gave us a small booklet containing the itinerary of our weeklong stay. While we all headed into a school bus, we placed our check in luggages into a separate van, meeting it at Newark Liberty International Airport.
After smoothly making our way through security along with accomplishing the other airport necessities, we were given around 90 minutes to explore the terminal on our own to buy food and drinks for the flight. At the conclusion of that free time, we met back up and boarded our 5:25 P.M. flight to Geneva!
Seven and a half hours later, we landed in Switzerland! We were immediately in awe of the mountains surrounding the airport, and following some time given to wander around the aiporrt, it was time for us to take the Swiss Railway System (SBB CFF FFS) to our first of three cities that we will be staying at during this trip: Montreux. The hour ride over provided us with a stunning view that would only get better as we stepped off the train.
Quickly leaving our luggage at our hotel for the next two nights, Grande Hotel Suisse Majestic, we embarked on a journey throughout downtown Montreux, taking the opportunity to capture more photos of the mountains, grab a quick lunch, and shop around. The sunlight and perfect weather helped wake us up after the long flight.
It was then time to check into our hotel rooms and change for our tour and dinner at Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS). As the second best hospitality school in the world, SMHS offers various different approaches to hospitality education while providing students with a chance to apply their knowledge in practical settings through internships.
The Caux Campus, located on a mountain overlooking Montreux, was constructed from 1900 to 1902, making it one of the first palaces built in Switzerland. Due to the high altitude of the SHMS, we had to take a train climbing uphill, where we were once again welcomed with incredible scenery. Initially a luxury hotel, the property housed some of the most famous actors and actresses in addition to Maharajas of India.
We were then split into two groups and given a tour of the campus by current students. Some notable areas we visited included the grand hall, theatre, and restaurants. After, we watched a presentation from the dean of SMHS, Patrick Taffin d'Heursel, which gave a detailed overview of the school followed by a question and answer session.
It was then time for what everyone had been waiting for the whole day: dinner!
Coincidentally, our trip overlapped with the students' final practical exam, meaning our dinner would be totally run and cooked by them. The menu was filled with various choices, and most of us had the opportunity to try almost all of the items. We were all very impressed with the professionality of the waiters as well as the deliciousness of the food.
After our stomachs were filled, it was time for us to head back to the hotel. We took the train back and were lucky since the hotel was not too far from the station, meaning we did not have to walk a lot to get back to our rooms. It was a jampacked first two days, and it is time for all of us to get some much needed rest.
We'll see you tomorrow after another busy day! Bonne nuit!