You followed your parents’ decision. How did you find Beau Soleil in the beginning?

The place and international surroundings were exciting. I appreciated the family-like way of life. But, arriving unexpectedly in January, I was four months behind the start of the new term and it gave me a hard time. Everybody already knew each other. I couldn’t help but feel like a perfect stranger for a few weeks. Besides, I applied for the French Baccalaureate although I’d followed all my studies in Spanish. Even if I understood everything, I couldn’t read or write in French. I must have had the worst marks in spelling and grammar in Beau Soleil history! I thought I’d never make it. I wanted to go back home.

Did it get any better?

Sure. I grew up more quickly. They helped me a lot and I finally trusted myself. I worked hard and passed my school leaving exams. I built up friendships that are still strong 13 years later. In December 2005, I found myself joining the trip to Tanzania organized to celebrate the School’s 95th anniversary. I made it to the top of Kilimanjaro… and I considered the great impact Beau Soleil had on my life. Those were days I even miss !

What did you discover there about yourself?

You’re not the one everybody focuses his attention on anymore. You’d better sort things out yourself, manage your schedule and studies, learn to give and receive from people your age. Days are truly very busy. It is a good thing at the time of adolescence, actually. You can’t withdraw into yourself. I think it makes going through this time better.

Why did you choose Brillantmont – far away from home?

I was looking for a school where I could learn other languages (not only English), where I could be in contact with many different cultures, and find a very international
environment but at the same time feel at home. Additionally, the location was really important especially for my family. Having their little girl go away from home was not so easy, but the safety in Switzerland was a very positive point. If I had chosen an American school in my country for example I wouldn’t have had the international experience that I had at BM, getting to know people from all over the world, and having the opportunity to travel and live abroad.

How was it?

I enjoyed every day spent at the school. Classes were great but the best of the whole experience was that I learned every second by living with teachers and students. Waking up with a Vietnamese teacher, speaking English to a Pakistani friend or Spanish to an American, chatting about life in Japan and even visiting friends in Russia – it’s hard to understand BM if you don’t experience it.

What did you learn from this experience?

Basically that my world was small. I came from a city in Brazil, far away from everything. I learned the importance of speaking languages in order to really understand a culture and above all that in today’s globalized world, you need to deeply understand other cultures to work better, and to live better.

What kind of impact did your stay have on your future?

It changed my life. When I first arrived in Lausanne, my plans were to go back to Brazil after six months. I loved the experience so much that I wanted to keep on living abroad, in a similar environment. I went to University in Switzerland and moved around the world for ten years. I studied and worked in Hawaii, Barcelona and even Brazil (sending students to study at BM). The fact that I had learnt so many languages and that I was able to adapt myself pretty easily meant that I got the most
out of these different experiences.

Why Switzerland?

My school in Munich offered the possibility to spend one year abroad without, say, losing my time: when I’m back in Germany, I can move into the next higher grade as I keep on studying my old subjects. So, after mature reflection, I seized the occasion to learn English as a first language and French as a second one because of the future social, educational and cultural advantages they represent. I joined Brillantmont’s summer camp for a start to get an idea of what it’s like. Even if boarding is not the main reason, I decided to stay because I’ll have so much more to learn here than in any German boarding school where my mother tongue is spoken.

What about being a boarder?

It’s no problem. You get used to it and it’s nice because you learn to communicate with other people, to go around with them, to be more open-minded and finally make really close friends. Sure, I cannot always choose when I want some privacy, but actually I find I have enough. I like it as it is. And it’s good for your future professional life if you mix with people earlier.

Why Switzerland?

I wanted to try out a way of life far different from the one I was following, living in a city. And my parents wanted both my English and French to be of a high standard. There’s no doubt French is better taught in Switzerland than in any English boarding schools. After visiting Aiglon, I was convinced by the setting, the mountains, and the many opportunities for skiing twice a week, enjoying day and week-end outings, and participating in competitive sports.

Is boarding an experience you were looking for ?

Ever since I was young I wanted to be a boarder. You learn more than in a dayschool. It helps me to be independent, make my own choices, and meet people with various backgrounds who become « friends for life » and part of my network. At first, it was very hard. But it’s easier and more enjoyable as time goes by. After seven years, you aren’t aware you don’t have as much privacy as before.

Why Switzerland?

For several reasons. Firstly, I felt that I needed a new and healthy environment. I could have chosen the States but I did not want to have the freedom of American High School. This is why I chose Switzerland. The rules of Swiss boarding schools are a great help although they are sometimes strict. Secondly, this school is close to Geneva, cosmopolitan city, so that it is good experience for me to be exposed to different people and culture. Finally, I was seeking security. And I joined in the summer school of Collège du Léman and wished to study for a couple of years.

Do you feel fortunate that there are so many activities available in different fields?

Yes, I do, there is such a large choice. In Japan, we just study only general subjects such as biology, maths, chemistry and so on whereas my idea is not only to study general things but also arts or sports. I’ve played the piano for 10 years, though people there never recognized my artistic ability because the most important thing in Japan is study. Since I came here, I could confident more in myself because they admitted my ability and try to make me improve more and more. Now, I feel better to think both study and my piano. And if I want to do dome sports, I can try and practice anything. So I feel fortunate.

Why Switzerland?

It’s usual to go to Switzerland when you want to experience one year living alone in Europe. In Mexico City, people consider that Switzerland has the best boarding schools. I wanted a smaller school in a smaller town than mine at home. I did not visit Leysin or the school before deciding; I ran the risk of coming, but with my best friend.

Is your life in this small community in accordance with what you imagined?

No, but it’s worth it. It’s important for me to take advantage of what I have. Sometimes you have to suffer a little bit to learn things. This experience helps me to open my mind to different people and cultures, to give me more patience with them, to respect them. And you have to respect everybody to live in peace with others and with yourself. This is a kind of an introduction to the real world : making our own decisions at our age, not only helps us figure out, which bridge to cross and which bridge to avoid in the later future, but also teaches us to live life as to draw without an eraser, meaning to live what destiny brings us, without regretting anything.

Why Switzerland?

I wanted a European experience. I wanted to travel. And my family is half Italian. So TASIS was a perfectly located boarding school, in the Italian-speaking area and close to the border although I never got the chance to visit the school before coming. I just had a quick look at the web-site. It was very spontaneous especially since I never really knew what to expect.

Is the intermixing of nationalities making you more tolerant of others?

I would not say tolerant. I’d say I’m more aware than I was before, more able to adapt to anybody. But after sharing experiences of different cultures, you realize they are not completely different. Even though we do have diverse manners and customs, everybody is pretty much the same: we are teenagers. I can see it every day as I’m now an « older sister in a dorm », a kind of a confidant, second mom and model for the girls. It’s a great role with responsibilities.

Why Switzerland?

My family thinks it’s good for me to experience other cultures, to learn French and to live amidst people with other upbringings. To be far from home. It’s not too hard. After a while, you realise there is so much to learn that you don’t have time to think about home. And it lasts just one year.

Do you feel lucky to study in an international environment?

Yes, I do. It allows me to open my mind and to be aware of our differences. For example, we, Mexicans, sometimes speak a lot and shout. It’s just our way to communicate. On the other hand, French people neither talk a lot nor shout. So we have to pay attention to behave more like French people than like Mexicans. It’s the same with the food. We do like chile in Mexico but this is not true of all my friends here. We share each other’s food, habits and customs : I’m having a very good time here.

Why Switzerland?

Here you get not only the best education but also an international background that offers you more than just single-minded points of view. I visited Le Rosey and liked both the campuses and the many facilities : I’m in the football team, go snowboarding and participate in athletics, play basketball, tennis and table tennis. I found it exciting for a new challenge.

Is boarding easy to bear?

Quite easy. You always get private space when you want it. It’s a balanced life. The thing is I never thought I would be able to make friends with whom I’ll be k eeping in touch when leaving. Since I arrived, I have changed my mind. I also had different ideas on other communities. Mixing with them, you become more tolerant. When I go back home, I’ll be able to understand more what’s happening in the world. If they can, people should experience boarding school life.