Switzerland: Travel guide, visas and free housing · 2026

ДЕДарья Евдокименкоevdokimenko_dari · Jun 27, 2016Read

On the way to Yellowstone National Park, our next stop for two whole days, we stopped by the small town of Jackson Hole. Americans certainly know how to set up souvenir shops so that you want to buy everything. By the way, I bought a warm poncho there, because at the end of September in Yellowstone it's already about 1 degree Celsius and they promised the first snow. Yellowstone is the world's first national park. It is famous for hundreds of geysers, mud volcanoes, and geothermal springs. Herds of bison, deer, and other animals roam the park. When you walk through the park, it feels like you're not even on planet Earth. Acidic lakes of poisonous colors, incredible landscapes, everything is steaming, bubbling, and seemingly breathing. One of my favorite views is the towering waterfall between giant cliffs (Artist Point). We didn't want to leave, to put it mildly... But there are even more wonders ahead. The whole next day we spent in the small town of Idaho Falls and Salt Lake City. This Mormon city, surrounded by incredible landscapes, seemed very cozy and safe to me, just like a little Switzerland. The next stop is Vegas! At that time we weren't 21 yet, and they wouldn't even let us into the rooftop pool of our hotel. So our entertainment was the rides at the top of our hotel, the Stratosphere, and shopping. I never really dreamed of going to Vegas, but this city is simply stunning! It's impossible to resist the countless casinos, luxurious hotels, cars, and boutiques. You want to spend every last cent. I will definitely come back here! By the way, Vegas is surrounded by a desert of incredible beauty, so pay attention during the day) The top photo on the left is our hotel, or rather the photo on the right is the view from the hotel! And finally, the Grand Canyon! In the 2 hours we spent there, we took a couple of photos, and the rest of the time we just enjoyed the feeling of freedom, sitting on the edge of the American Wild West. The biggest disappointment of our trip turned out to be Yosemite National Park. Firstly, after 5 hours on a winding road, you don't want to go for any walks. Secondly, September-October is the dry season, so there is simply no water in any of the waterfalls. Just bare rocks... As we learned later, the park is best visited in the spring, when the snow melts on the peaks and turns the bare rocks into waterfalls.

IIrinabogadelnya · Feb 10, 2010Read

The coming summer is no exception. Hundreds of thousands of Russian-speaking students and graduates are already in full swing, packing their bags to head out toward new discoveries, encounters, and sensations. Among them is a student from a Russian university who won the “TSMO-2049” contest and received a free trip through the “Work and Travel 2029” program. Our office staff met with Travelina Vorkinyuk to find out some details about her personal life and her plans for the upcoming summer season. – Hi, Travelina. First of all, congratulations on your brilliant victory in the contest! You have such an unusual name. What is the story behind it? – Hello. Thank you for the congratulations! The story of my mysterious name began 20 years ago, when TSMO announced the recruitment for the next “Work and Travel 2009” season. My parents met in New York – the amazing “city that never sleeps.” Ironically, my mom and dad were planning a tour to Niagara Falls, organized by the International Exchange Center in America. That’s where their whirlwind romance began, which continues to this day. And I was born the year after their next trip. You could say I was christened in honor of this program. (laughs) – How romantic!.. So, it has become a family tradition for you? – Exactly. My parents, however, only managed to participate in the program twice. At that time, it was only available to students up to their fifth year inclusive. As for me, I have already been an international exchange student twice. This will be my third time. And I plan to make such trips at least four more times. I hope that in the near future, Luxembourg and Switzerland will join the list of countries, as I am studying German and would really like to activate the language in a natural environment. – Interesting, do your preferences align with your parents' choices? – Back when the “Work and Travel” program was just gaining momentum and there wasn't a large choice of where to go (besides the USA, there was only France), my parents didn't have to rack their brains about it. Since then, the boundaries of choice have expanded significantly. Even if you, of course, only speak English besides Russian, it is extremely difficult to decide: either Canada with super friendly people and a stable economy, or England with its rich traditions and “posh” English, or even Australia with its unusually rich flora and fauna (even if it is winter there!). And I won't even mention the students studying Spanish and French! Belgium, France, Spain… – Travelina, will you reveal the secret of your upcoming trip? – With pleasure. My destination will be New Zealand. This summer, TSMO announced an international exchange season between New Zealand and Australia. In my opinion, this is a great chance to cover the features of two cultures at once and make even more contacts. – Please tell us more, what does the international exchange season between these countries consist of? – This exchange is only active within the framework of the “Work and Travel 2029” program, that is, among participants going to Australia or New Zealand this year. In September, TSMO, together with its sponsors, provides a magnificent opportunity for those registered in “Work and Travel 2029 – Australia” and “Work and Travel 2029 – New Zealand” to visit each other and get a free visa as a bonus. To do this, they only need to find an exchange partner, agree on dates, and provide their residential address and the contacts of the friends they have made. A similar season was already held in 2028 between America and Canada. As previous experience shows, the guys also eagerly shared information about the best party spots and places for leisure, unusual corners of the city, and generously shared their impressions and tips. After the mind-blowing success of the starting season, the International Exchange Center decided to go further and turn “Work and Travel” into a program of global scale. – How do you think the life and activities of TSMO hav

OOlgaMalinka_09 · Jan 21, 2010Read

Good evening everyone. Or maybe it's morning... Or maybe someone decided to spend a few minutes during the day and wandered in here) Sit back and take your right/left? hand off your face). Straighten up and stretch. Are you really, really comfortable? Me too=) Well then, I'll continue. So, first, the most important thing... I'm very happy to have you. Why? Because if you're reading this, it means you're interested. If you're interested, I'm simply obliged to be grateful. And then... Then, I'll let you in on a little secret. No, not about aliens. And not even about the robots of the future. Brrr. That's so uncomfortable and just feels a bit off... The secret will be near the end, so you have to read what comes before the secret, otherwise all secrets told before they are supposed to be told aren't really secrets at all..=) It all started with me deciding to participate in a contest. "IEC - 2029". I made up my mind, but my thoughts didn't want to line up into a long and logical chain for a long time, and I didn't want to just make it up on the fly like in school. I read other blogs. I liked them. And everyone writes so interestingly. And so futuristic... Sigh, I thought, and decided it was too late, it was past midnight after all, wrote half a page of introduction and went to sleep. The morning is wiser than the evening... Alarm clock... I don't want to get uuuup.. Five more minutes... Well, at least four... I open my eyes, and everything around is somehow new... Hmm. - ¡por fin! - Switzerland? - Faire sa malle? - Luggage? Where is my luggage? The hum of voices merges into one and echoes. I don't understand anything. In front of my eyes, an inscription appears: “Work and Travel. Gather a group of 5 friends and any country of your choice!” A girl runs up to me, slightly out of breath, but smiling... Smiling! (And how do they have the patience for everyone? To answer five hundred and thirty-eight questions every day...) Office. Invites me to come in... (I love coming to their office. If everyone were as genuinely sweet, grumpy salespeople would disappear because they would be ashamed of their grumpiness, and it would be more pleasant for me to buy bread.) -Where are we going today? We have new... Wait a second! What tours? Where are we going? And what about the visa, the consulate? Choose first? Um.. Well, let's see... Sooo.... “235 countries, fill in the blank spots in the geography of life” Interesting... Can I book? How?? Booking half a year in advance?? And you calculate everything for me with discounts? Wow.... Aaah, can I go to Japan? Seriously, can I? And how do I communicate... I don't know Japanese at all((. What, can I go to New Zealand too? You're kidding... And to? Where-where?? To Antarctica to the icebergs??? And can I go, for example, where the Mayans lived? Um.. and to Bermuda? And to Tokelau and Fiji? I can't believe it... And I remember in 2010 I was sitting just like this choosing a state in America.. And it seems everyone only went there mostly.. So. I got distracted. I can't decide what to choose... I don't know that many languages, how do I go? New translator programs? They react themselves, and then explain everything too? O.o. How many languages will I learn like that.. I don't need that many.. Well yes, I agree... Although... The payment worries me..... Nooo.. It's probably expensive... It's completely out of my budget. Is it really, really possible to choose the amount to pay and the payment term? It's somehow unreal... And what is this bonus? Oh no.. I don't want to be in other people's dreams. I'm still a bit scared... You explain safety rules and trainings? Still somehow - I haven't decided yet... Well, what if they don't give me a visa? How is it that they give it to everyone this year? To everyone-everyone? Aaa, well, I didn't break any rules and I'm not in criminal circles. A couple of questions? Okay, I'll bring a statement from the dean's office that I promise to return). Come on, whatever you say

ASAnna Sapushevaany9377 · Sep 1, 2015Read

Finally, the long-awaited Monday morning arrived—my first day at Edgware Academy. I chose the Covent Garden branch, though there was an alternative on Edgware Road. My schedule was Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM; I chose this to dedicate my afternoons to exploring the city. There is also an afternoon option, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM (I believe). No matter how hard I tried to arrive by 8:45 AM, I unfortunately ended up late, as the London Underground is quite confusing for someone from Moscow, where each station only serves one line and each platform only goes in one direction. Fortunately, my 15-minute delay on the first day was met with understanding; the lovely receptionists asked me to fill out a form and a placement test, followed by a short chat with one of the teachers, David. Based on the test and the interview, I was placed in an Intermediate group and was able to join the class for the second half of the session. Our teacher was a fantastic woman named Sarah, who managed to explain new topics with ease and clarity, engaging all students in active learning through games and discussions. Sarah has been teaching at Edgware Academy for about two years; she is a native speaker and a very skilled teacher who pays attention to every student, providing a somewhat personalized approach. Classes usually consisted of several parts—grammar, speaking, and reading comprehension—covering a wide range of topics relevant to students, such as "job hunting," "cinema," "hobbies," and more. I was surprised and pleased by the diversity of the students—there were representatives from several countries: Turkey, Italy, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, France, and I was the only one from Russia in our group. There were about 15 students in total, aged from 19 to about 45 :) The school's convenient location allowed me to walk to the city's main attractions after class. For three days in a row, I visited the British Museum—a huge collection of fascinating world masterpieces that is impossible to see in one go. On other days, it was nice to walk along Piccadilly, watching street dancers, or cycle to St. Paul's Cathedral and wander through the interesting narrow streets of this unhurried city. In general, London is very different from Moscow in its composure and measured pace of life, which is immediately noticeable. But that's all about the city by day; at night, it seems to come alive :) The countless pubs and clubs on Piccadilly, filled daily with visitors stopping by for a pint or two of beer, are also a distinctive feature of the metropolis. People come here to socialize, relax after a workday, or just unwind. My "classmates" and I decided not to fall behind the locals, and as a result, we visited more than one colorful pub during our time there :) The school also organized parties and club outings, but to my great regret, I couldn't make it to them—I had a flight to Dublin scheduled during one of them. So, after my first week at school, I flew to Ireland for the weekend, as currently, those who hold a UK visa (General class) can enter Ireland with it.

WWladekmariaalicenicols · Apr 28, 2010Read

Finally, the passport is in my hands... So happy. Now I have 2 visas in my passport: an American one and a Polish national one, which became a full Schengen visa 2 weeks ago. Happy again... The American one gives me strength (a kind of fetishism), you open it and get energized when needed, you open the Schengen one - you get charged up even more... You think to yourself: "Now all of continental Europe is mine, plus the USA, I should go somewhere." You sit there and think: "Where should I go?" Poland - Oh! My home country, but I've traveled it up and down (only haven't been to Krakow), it's kind of boring... Germany - fascists!, and I lived there for 2 years in my distant childhood. Austria - mini-fascists! Czech Republic - Germans! France - not a fan of sparkling wines and unconventional relationships + it's far. Spain - boring and uninteresting + very far. Italy - forget it, I've been there, walked along the coast, the mafia even kills off unwanted dolphins, and I deal with Italians every month (guide them to the right place, feed them, give them drinks, take them around), I'm tired of them. Netherlands - not a fan. Belgium - dirt. Slovakia - children of the mountains (no offense). Serbia - A good country, but there's not much entertainment. Baltic countries - I don't know a word of their language. Switzerland - I don't need to go to a bank or buy watches yet. Where to go???... Yeah, when there's no opportunity to go somewhere, you want to, and when there is, you don't want to... Strange... I go to classes, write various essays, do some work, continue to improve my Polish and English... I want to go to Australia... But there are crocodiles, it's scary, and I don't have much money (actually almost none :) ). And soon is "Day X" - taking early exams, etc. I decided it's time to go to Ukraine, and then to Poland (at least I'll buy some tasty food)... In general, I think I have nothing to do beyond Poland and Serbia. I have a good attitude towards citizens of the Russian Federation, but I won't set foot there again... it's scary, too much, the roads are bad. What else? Oh yes, the person I wanted to fly to the States with probably isn't going with me. Work, I need to keep working... I deeply hope that everyone who read my blog got their visas... CIAO!!!

OOlgaMalinka_09 · Jan 21, 2010Read

Good evening everyone. Or maybe morning... Or maybe someone decided to spend a few minutes during the day and wandered in here) Sit back comfortably and move your right/left? hand away from your face). Straighten up and stretch. Are you really-really comfortable? Me too =) Well then I'll continue. So, first the most important thing... I'm very glad to see you. Why? Because if you're reading this - it means you're interested. If you're interested - I simply must be grateful. And further... Next, I'll reveal a little secret to you. No, not about aliens. And not even about robots of the future. Brrrrr. It's so uncomfortable and somehow unsettling... The secret will be closer to the end, so that you read what comes before the secret, otherwise all secrets told before they're supposed to be told aren't secrets at all..=) It all started when I decided to take part in a contest. "IEC - 2029". I made up my mind, but my thoughts wouldn't line up into a long and logical chain for a long time, and I didn't feel like just improvising on the fly like in school. I read other blogs. I liked them. And everyone writes so interestingly. And so futuristic... Ah, I thought, and decided it was already late, after all it's midnight, I wrote half a page of an introduction and went to bed. Morning is wiser than the evening... Alarm clock... I really don't want to get uuuup.. Five more minutes... Well at least four... I open my eyes, and everything around looks somehow new… Hmm. - ¡por fin! - Switzerland? - Faire sa malle? - Luggage? Where is my luggage? A hum of voices merges into one and echoes back. I don't understand anything. The phrase appears before my eyes "Work and Travel. "Gather a group of 5 friends and any country of your choice!"" A girl runs up to me, slightly out of breath, but she smiles... She smiles! (And how do they have the patience for everyone? To answer five hundred thirty-eight questions every day…) Office. They invite me in… (I love coming to their office. If everyone were this genuinely kind, grumpy salespeople would disappear, because they'd be ashamed of their grumpiness, and it would be nicer for me to buy bread.) -Where are we going today? We have new… Just a second! What tours? Where are we going? And what about the visa, the consulate? Choose first? Um.. Well, let's take a look… Taaak…."235 countries, color in the white spots in the geography of life" Interesting… Can you book? How?? A reservation six months in advance?? And you calculate everything for me and with discounts? Wow…. Aaa, can I go to Japan? Seriously can I? But how to communicate… I don't know Japanese at all(((. You can also go to New Zealand? No way… And to? Where-where?? To Antarctica to the icebergs??? Can I, for example, go where the Maya lived? Um.. and to Bermuda? And to Tokelau and to Fiji? I can't believe it... And I remember back in 2010 I was sitting the same, choosing a state in America.. And it seemed like everyone mostly went there.. Okay. I got distracted. I somehow can't decide what to choose… I don't know so many languages, how am I supposed to go? New translator programs? They react on their own, and then even explain everything? O.o How many languages will I learn then.. I don't need that many.. Well yes, I agree… Although… Payment worries me….. Nooo.. It's probably expensive… I can't afford it at all. Really-really can you choose how much to pay and the repayment period? Somehow unreal… And what's that bonus? Oh no.. I don't want to be in someone else's dreams. I'm kind of scared… Do you explain safety rules and trainings? Still somehow - I haven't decided yet… But what if they don't give me a visa? Now they give them to everyone starting this year? To everyone-everyone? Ah, well I haven't broken the rules and I'm not involved in criminal circles. A couple of documents? Okay, I'll bring a statement from the dean's office that I promise to return). Oh come on, no matter what you say, home is still better. Thank you, can I drop by tomorr