Frontier issue 3

AUSANNE

GENEVA - L

- NEIGHBO

13

UMMER 20

ISSUE 3 - S

FRONTIER MAGAZINE

www.radiofrontier.ch

your guide to...

what is...

the futuriesh

of engl the radio in eva

ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

n e g e k la region?

BBQ WINE

festival fever & summer fun ADULT EDUCATION

lake hot spots

S

T BORDER

E WITHOU

NCE | LIV URING FRA

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Published by Anglo Media Group SA Images Building, 1st floor 9, rue Veyrot, 1217 Meyrin Switzerland T +41 (0)22 989 53 10 Directors Peter Sibley & Mark Butcher Editor George Powell Creative Director Matt Martin Publication Manager Sarah Over Designed by Media Frontier www.mediafrontier.ch Advertising & Promotion Radio Frontier T +41 (0) 22 989 53 10 E - advertising@radiofrontier.ch Print Run 25,000 Distribution International Organisations, NGOs, Multinational companies, Hotels, Geneva Airport, Shopping Centres, International Schools, Tourist Offices FRONTIER MAGAZINE All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All prices listed are correct at time of going to press but may be subject to change.

GET YOUR COPY! We hope that you enjoy Frontier Magazine, which is available at a number of locations across the region.

Why not pick up an extra copy for friends & family? If you would like to have Frontier Magazine delivered to your organisation or business, please give us a call on : +41 (0) 22 989 53 10

As I write this we’re a few days away from June and well and truly in the midst of the coldest and wettest spring in living memory. Hopefully by the time you read this summer will have arrived, the lake will have warmed up nicely, and your barbeque count will have passed into the double digits.

By the end of the summer the sight and smell of a merguez will probably make your stomach turn a bit, but for now it’s time to eat, drink, swim and enjoy the sun. (Not necessarily in that order though).

It’s been a hectic couple of months at the Frontier offices. We’ve said goodbye to some old colleagues and friends and welcomed some new ones. The bomb shell news that English Language radio will no longer exist on FM in Switzerland came as a surprise but we’ll try and shed some light into exactly what happened and what’s next for Radio Frontier and for our friends at WRS. The good news is, we’re on the right track.

Overall we’ve kept things light hearted and relaxed for the summer edition of the magazine. We wanted this issue to be the kind of thing you could read whilst lying on a deck chair and sipping a mojito. That’s what summer’s all about after all.

As festival season kicks off we take a look at some of the best ones the region has to offer as well as some of our favourite lake chilling spots. We may live hours from the nearest sea or ocean but the Lac Leman means we have our very own beach culture and a stroll along the lake will testify to that.

The population seems to triple over the summer as people emerge, squinty eyed and smiling into the sun, for after work drinks and long days by the lake. I think you’d really have to try to not enjoy summer here.

We also find out what it’s like living as an illegal immigrant in Switzerland and take an in-depth look at the Paquis, one of Geneva’s most dynamic and varied neighbourhoods.

Worried about keeping the kids busy during the holidays? Well, we’ve got that covered in our day trips guide and plenty more…

I’d like to say a big thanks to all the contributors and everyone involved in making the magazine. I really hope you enjoy it.

George Powell.

Follow me on twitter: @powellgeorge

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inside this issue

issue 03 | summer 2013 www.radiofrontier.ch | www.fmagazine.ch

8. COOL OFF AT THE LAKES HOTSPOTS The best chilling spots around the lake.

22. SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDES The ultimate look at the best music festivals. Which ones will you choose?

12. FRONTIER DAY TRIPS Your guide to summer fun in the region.

32. GRILL & CHILL The best wines for the perfect BBQ.

6. THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH RADIO Radio Frontier offers an update on the WRS takeover situation.

16. LEISURE & TOURISM IN THE REGION

50. LIFE AS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

27. FRONTIER TALENT

52. A WEEKEND IN ZURICH

28. THE LAUSANNE LOW DOWN

54. RETIREMENT TIMEBOMB

30. SURVIVING THE LAKE PARADE

56. THE MCKAY INTERVIEW

58. DOES YOUR WEBSITE STAND OUT FROM THE 36. DIARY OF A UNIVERSITY CROWD? FRESHMAN 60. GET INVOLVED IN THE 38. ADULT EDUCATION & LOCAL COMMUNITY LANGUAGE SCHOOLS 66. GREEN CROSS 44. THE GREAT ESCAPE INTERNATIONAL - 20TH ANNIVERSARY 46. LES PÂQUIS - A NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CONTRASTS

Important Announcement*

6

An important message from the team

the future of

local english radio As we’re sure you know, World Radio Switzerland in its current form, will end on 31 August. what happens now?

Dear All, As we’re sure you know, World Radio Switzerland in its current form will end on August 31st this year.

The Federal Government decided on 1 May 2013 to close the FM transmission that has been attached to the station since 1996. It was a surprise to all the parties committed to continuing English language radio in Switzerland and we have spent considerable time clarifying the Government’s position and the process that led to this unexpected (and highly unpopular) decision.

A new WRS has the possibility of continuing from 1 September, 2013 on internet and possibly on DAB We believe that (rightly or wrongly) Switzerland’s overall commitment to its future digital strategy won the day. It seemed too difficult for the Government to create an exception to continue an FM extension for a short period of years against its longterm strategy to close FM transmissions in Switzerland by 2018.

Yes, internet radio, mobile listening and DAB will eventually replace the FM we’ve known and relied on for several decades and, while they may not seem like mainstream

broadcast platforms now, the digital shift is starting to move rapidly and we - and those listeners who are also committed to English language radio - will need to embrace the realities of the future.

So, while it’s not the easiest transition - all is not lost. A new WRS has the possibility of continuing from September 1st 2013 on internet and possibly on DAB. If all goes to plan it should be possible to listen on the internet, via smartphones and the new DAB technology is coming round the corner for those who depend on English radio - in cars and homes and at work. It’s a bit of work to make this transition, like all new technologies it will really depend on how much you want it! The important thing is that you will have the choice.

There will be challenges for the new owners too. A commercially funded station relies on advertising revenue to make radio free to its listeners and without the instant benefits of FM the new station won’t have the same financial resources to replicate WRS as you know it now - but with good planning, targeted resources and common sense – there should be a new radio station that is valuable, informative and entertaining, and a website that’s really useful too.

Our key mission is to try and keep English language radio alive in Switzerland (its a bit like the early radio pioneers battling against

the odds!) and given the chance, we’ll work hard to build it back up to a local station you’ll love. We will rely on your continued support and understanding to achieve it. If you, your company, organisation or community group is also committed to keeping English radio alive with us, we would love to hear from you. We have a number of ways you can get directly involved and the more support we have, the stronger we can be.

Most importantly a new station would be aimed at you - the international community in the Lake Geneva region. It will no longer be a national station. We think that should give us a positive opportunity to be far more relevant to you – we’ll be talking intimately about the region you know, with information that you can use every day.

But our first task is to find out what you think are the most valuable elements that English radio offers you and, with that in mind, we are launching a survey to make sure we are listening to you (before you listen to us).

Simply visit the website –

www.supportenglishradio.ch and fill in the short survey.

We look forward to hearing from you.

*accurate at the time of going to print FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

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COOL OFF AT THE LAKE’S HOT SPOTS FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

CHILL

9

SWIM

From the middle of May right through to the end of September, the Lake Geneva region really does transform. The population seems to triple as people make their way to the lake front for lazy weekends and after work drinks.

Everyone has their own favourite weekend chilling spots from big bustling beaches with music, bars and restaurants, to the tucked away little gems known only to people living nearby. We may not live by the ocean, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a beach culture… here are some of our favourites. →

BATHE

DIVE FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

celigny

10

bains des paquis This is a much loved spot for people living on the Rive Droite in Geneva. It’s really close to the city centre and is an all-encompassing, really cheap beach hang out spot with entrance at CHF2 for adults and CHF1 for kids. The Bains des Pâquis has diving boards (1m, 3m, 5m, 10m), ping pong tables, a water polo area, shallow swimming areas, hammans, volleyball courts (in 20 cm of water) changing rooms, showers and a very reasonably priced restaurant that serves up all the Lake side classics (filets de perches etc). www.aubp.ch

The little beach at Celigny Port stands out as a great swimming spot for two reasons. First of all, it’s small and relatively un-crowded and secondly, the rocks along the outside of the port make great chilling and jumping spots.

Celigny is one of the “cutest” little beaches around and worth checking out if you want to avoid the crowds at other beaches along the waterfront. (Interestingly, Celigny is part of Geneva despite being bordered by Vaud.)

Other beaches to check out outside the city: Versoix, Bellvue, Hermance. These are the classic Lac Léman “Plages” with stunning views, decent sized grassy areas, BBQs and other basic facilities.

nyon jonction The waters around Jonction offer a unique swimming experience where the Lake runs into the Rhône. Newly installed pontoons along the banks at the Sentier des Saules attract hundreds of swimmers and sunbathers over the summer months and authorities have promised to build more in the future. The Pont de Sous-Terre is, for many, the best part of swimming in Jonction, as it acts as a diving platform. The bridge goes up a hill which means you can jump from the lower end (2m ish), or the higher end, or off the railing (5m-7m depending on water level). Be sure to check for swimmers passing under the bridge before you jump.

After you’ve made the plunge, drift lazily down river and use one of the ladders to get out.

There are plenty of options for lake chilling around Nyon and the town itself really feels like a seaside resort over the summer.

One option is the Port de Crans, which is just outside Nyon towards Geneva. Port de Crans is a really popular hangout with good restaurant and volley ball net. Not a great port to swim, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. Another option is Nyon Plage which has a nice green space and cordoned off swimming area. Nyon Plage also boasts a little off shore diving platform.

lausanne There are quite a few decent lake spots around Lausanne including the waterfront at the Bellerive Plage which gets pretty busy over the summer. There’s a pool with diving boards just meters from the lake.

Entrance costs CHF5.50 for adults and also features 20 ping-pong tables, basketball and volleyball courts and an aquatic play area out on the lake.

Perhaps the most impressive beach in Lausanne is Vidy, which boasts 500 meters of sand (the longest stretch on the lake) as well as a large grassy area, BBQs, sports facilities, camping areas, kids’ playgrounds and places to rent boats. Vidy is the Las Vegas of Lac Léman beach spots.

montreux One of the great things about Montreux is that you can swim pretty much all the way along the promenade lake front, and lots of people jump in and out of the water there. There are plenty of nice little beaches around Montreux as well, including at the Chateau de Chillon. The pebbled beach here offers a unique experience as you swim around the base of a 13th century castle.

lutry Lutry is a really picturesque little beach with diving boards, a grassy area and a decent little buvette nearby. The beach at Lutry points out into the lake and offers great tanning options as the sun moves across the sky.

Vevey also has some good swimming spots, including Vevey Plage, but a brief walk from the centre of Vevey will bring you to a series of lovely swimming spots.

Le Bouveret is a great swimming pool and lake combo near Montreux. It’s attached by a little bridge to one of the region’s best water parks, Aquaparc, and is great spot at the end of the Lake.

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12

FRONTIER

DAYTRIPS

YOUR GUIDE TO FUN THIS SUMMER

It’s not easy keeping the children busy over the long summer months. Some websites suggest that finding out how cheese is made or a trip to the paper museum makes a cracking day out. For some kids this may be the case, for many though, it isn’t. The criteria for the Frontier Magazine Day Trips Guide comes down to one word: FUN.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

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ur rails) s e g u l r o uge d’été voie-tourisme.org L ( e g u L r e e-sa Summ www.haut If you haven’t been summer luging, then immediately stop what you are doing, get in the car, and head to the nearest summer luge track (see list below). Imagine, if you will, a miniature bob sleigh run, or roller coaster, depending on the track, snaking its way down a mountain that you ride on with a toboggan on wheels. You do have a break and it’s a good idea to use it every now and then.

Col de La Faucille (Mont Jura), France: The Luge Quatre Saisons in the Jura is a brand new-(ish), 1365 meter roller coaster style summer luge. Alone or in a pair, the course is guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping. www.monts-jura.com Parc de loisirs, Chamonix, France: The Chamonix leisure park has all sorts of fun, outdoor rides and attractions: trampolines, slides, mini motorbikes… and a 1300 meter luge that’s open all year round. www.chamonixparc.com La Clusaz, France: The La Clusaz summer luge is one of the few remaining traditional tracks left in the region. None of the fancy roller coaster technology or seat belts that have become common place at newer luge runs. Just inches from the ground means guaranteed g force and the risk of falling out just adds to the fun.

re parks u t n e v d a tree ougy.ch ldeb www.signa

Although a bit more strenuous than zooming down a hill on a luge, tree adventure parks are still great fun. You’ll find yourself clinging on for dear life as you swing, climb and zipline from tree to tree. Rest assured, you are hooked onto a safety line at all times and you can choose how hard or high you want to go.

Jura, France: The Juraventure park at La Faucille is the perfect way to discover the Jura mountain’s wildlife while testing your nerve, as you make your way along the tree top courses. www.juraventure.fr Forestland in Divonne, France, has been up and running for the last ten years and is ideally located just 20 minutes from Geneva. Forestland also features a quad bike course, play areas and trampolines.

Parc Aventure (three locations: Aigle, Signal de Bougy and Sion).

The three Parc Aventure sites offer equally fun times across the region. By yourself, as a family or in groups, an afternoon at one of the Parc Aventure sites will be a good one. On a side note, Signal de Bougy is well worth checking out as well, with big play areas, great views, a zoo and more.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

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bouveret e l c r a p a aqu /en uaparc.ch www.aq

Situated at the Montreux end of the lake, Aquaparc is an amazing water park that will cater for literally the whole family. The slides at Aquaparc range from slides so extreme, they make bungee jumping feel like a tickle fight/tea party/pillow fight/ maypole dance, to ones so relaxing, you could take a nap on the way down. The park also features a lazy river, a wave pool, a huge play area complete with pirate ships and caves, a spa area, gym, a fast food restaurant and outdoor areas as well. You would really have to try and not have fun at Aquaparc.

Vitam’ Neydens

Just minutes from Geneva and accessible on public transport (TPG bus D from Bel Air only on Wednesdays and weekends), Vitam’, in neighbouring France, offers a wide range of aquatic fun. Water slides, relaxation areas and fitness all under one roof, with aquagym and swimming classes on offer throughout the week.

a-grande l e l l i v : t on kar n-kart.fr

s-bains divonne-lebains.com neles

www.o

www.divon

Divonne-les-Bains isn’t a cool new activity you’ve missed, but rather a place that’s full of cool activities, and if you live on the Jura side of Lake Geneva, then Divonne is a great place to head out with the family for a day. Over the last ten or so years, authorities in Divonne have spent a great deal of money turning the lake front area into the Pays de Gex’s very own California coast line (sort of). The lake itself is great for swimming, sailing and windsurfing, the swimming pool, complete with water slide, diving boards and tennis courts, is heaps of fun (men be warned, you do have to wear speedos), and there are loads of other fun places to go, including the brand new skatepark, the minigolf course or Forestland. For more details head over to the website.

Ville-la-Grande, France. This is a large indoor course for go-karts and mini bikes. Adults and kids rent different sized vehicles that all come with seatbelts.

Zipping around the track is a great way to spend an afternoon.

MK circuit Scentrier

Open seven days a week, the MK Circuit is one of the biggest outdoor courses in the region and only 20 or so kilometres away from Geneva along the A40. Children aged seven and up can race in brand new karts, and the MK team organise races and timed laps.

www.mk-circuit.com

photo: Pierre-yves Arnaud

AquaSplash! Renens

AquaSplash! is more of an outdoor pool with a decent selection of water slides and diving boards, plus trampolines, play areas, tennis courts, etc. It opens in mid-May but does close in case of bad weather. AquaSplash! is really great value for money.

skateparks Plainpalais Geneva.

Brand new park with massive bowl section and pretty much anything you could ask for in an outdoor concrete park.

Lausanne Fievre skatepark.

Massive indoor wooden park, the kind you find in the UK or the States and one of the few places around with a vert ramp. www.fievre.ch

Chevry bowl and park.

If you’re near Gex then check out the brand new concrete park in Chevry, complete with bowl, quaterpipes, banks, rails and ledges. Small but fun.

La Praille Geneva.

Close to the Stade de Genève, the skatepark de la Parille is a fun little park under a bridge. More of a ghetto set up than the others, but good fun with decent mini ramp.

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les bains de la gruyère à charmey T : + 41 (0)26 927 6767 // www.bainsdelagruyere.ch // info@bainsdelagruyere.ch Relax at the exclusive Bains de la Gruyère. Take your pick between luxurious heated pools, saunas, massages and beauty treatments.

LEISURE AND TOURISM

16

The pools are heated to a relaxing 34 degrees, you’ll be fascinated by the focal point, the ‘Tamed Cascade’, relax in the bubble beds and enjoy the massage jets.

You can also have a wide variety of massages – from a classic, to Asian and special oriental massage. You can also enjoy an intimate massage for two.

The Bains de la Gruyère also offers a selection of beauty treatments.

They have unique techniques for revitalising your skin – using fruit acids and collagen. It’s the most effective method without using a scalpel.

You can also choose from a selection of treatments from the Sultane de Saba – born from a dream of sharing and generosity and of escape and travel. The treatment gives you bright skin and a feeling of well-being.

Bateau genève T : + 41 (0)22 786 4345 // www.bateaugeneve.ch // info@bateaugeneve.ch The Bateau Genève is a Geneva landmark. The boat now lies at a permanent mooring by the Jardin Anglais – and is described as ‘an island in the city’. The boat was first launched in 1896 and spent many years providing a passenger service across the lake.

The boat is also part of Geneva’s history as it forms part of the story of the assassination of Elisabeth of Austria in 1898 – she collapsed on the boat after being stabbed by an anarchist.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

The boat is fully renovated and is open all Summer with a new restaurant, tapas bar and regular weekend events. The boat is also available for private rent at certain times of the year.

Proceeds from the meals and drinks are used for those who need a helping hand in times of crises. Examples include providing up to 200 breakfasts per day and re-integration workshops for up to 30 people a year.

parc aventure - signal de bougy, aigle, sion T : + 41 (0)21 808 0808 // www.parc-aventure.ch // info@parc-aventure.ch THRILL AND ADVENTURE IN THE WOODS Do your family and friends enjoy the great outdoors? Then come to Parc Aventure – the place for you to have fun and get moving in the open air.

Security is key: you are permanently attached to the safety wire with an ‘intelligent’ harness and karabiner (hook) system that is unique in Switzerland. Jump from branch to branch without the risk of falling; enjoy the sensation of freedom and move around the course in full safety.

Château de Chillon T : + 41 (0)21 966 8910 // www.chillon.ch // info@chillon.ch The Alps: Chinese Ink paintings. In 2013, is bringing a new perspective to our most emblematic landscapes, the Lavaux wine terraces and the Matterhorn, conceivable? The Chinese painters, whose forty-odd paintings are displayed in this exhibition, express their view affirmatively. Yet their painting is rooted in the grand tradition of the classical Middle Kingdom.

Invited to Switzerland on two occasions already by “The Alps: China Ink paintings” Foundation, these twelve outstanding major artists were touched by the wild beauty of the Alpine

landscapes. Last year their drawings and paintings were shown at the Rong Bao Zhai Gallery in Beijing, and were extremely favourably received. They are now on display for the enjoyment and wonder of Chillon Castle’s visitors. Discovery and rediscovery await them.

Temporary exhibition on view from 14 June to 18 August 2013 at Chillon Castle in the Hall of Coats-of-Arms (n° 18) and Domus clericorum (n° 31).

Wang Hongjian

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

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LEISURE AND TOURISM

Visit us at one of three locations in Sion, Aigle or Signal de Bougy for a day of excitement and adventure. Feel that adrenaline rush on the Monkey Bridge, Tarzan’s Rope Swing or the Zipwire!

Climb, jump and fly through the forest on one of our many courses.

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LEISURE AND TOURISM

18

Discover or re-discover Geneva and its surroundings with Citywheels Segway tours. This fun, safe and environmentally friendly way of moving around, whatever the traffic, allows you to whizz around Geneva quickly and effortlessly. Standard guided tours through the old town of Geneva or taking you around its multiple international organisations are a fantastic way of becoming acquainted with Geneva as well as to show it to visitors.

Citywheels also organise tailor-made tours and events, be it for a group of friends to organise a stag or hen party, or simply an outing, for team-building activities, treasure hunts and many other possibilities. Check out our website and look us up on TripAdvisor, but best is to give it a try. It is fun and easy to learn (we teach you) and you will understand why we are at the top of TripAdvisor’s list of things to do in Geneva.

musée international d’Horlogerie T : + 41 (0)32 967 68 61 // www.mih.ch // mih@ne.ch The International Watchmaking Museum invites you to discover the wonders of the watch – from the renaissance to the twentyfirst century.

You’ll find rare watches and clocks with outstanding ingenuity and sophistication housed in an exceptional building – partly underground and with outstanding windows which gives the impression of a treasure trove. In a large open space, tours are available to themed areas – from the earliest non-mechanical

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

method of keeping time to the sophistication of the modern GPS system. The museum keeps track of over 800 years of watchmaking, packed with genuine treasures that are real works of art in themselves. There are rare enamelled watches from the 17th century, clocks designed for the nobility of the day and examples of increasing sophistication such as marine chronometers from the 18th century, more complicated clocks and watches through the 19th and 20th century – to today’s most advanced time-keeping technology.

carlson wagonlit travel T : + 41 (0)58 322 2610 // www.carlsonwagonlit.ch Carlson Wagonlit Travel is a world leader in business travel logistics. It operates in over 150 countries and territories and employs 20,000 people.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel can also help with major event management and meetings, providing strategic know-how and a host of services and technology which will make the best use of your resources.

With 294 employees and 31 branches in Switzerland alone, Carlson Wagonlit Travel will always be close by.

Domaine de Chalain 4* f-39130 doucier T : + 33 (0)3 8425 7878 // www.chalain.com // chalain@chalain.com Since it opened its doors in 1960, the four-star Domaine de Chalain has been a favourite with campers from all over Europe.

You too can enjoy this 30-hectare wooded estate surrounded by cliffs and forests.

The campsite is located by the Chalain lake, 500 metres above sea level and is open from 26 April to 16 September.

Come and pitch your tent or choose from one of our fully equipped and recently bought mobile homes, our small wooden bungalows or comfortable wooden chalets equipped

with television, dishwashers and Wifi connection (extra charge).

There are shops and a restaurant on site, as well as plenty of activities to choose from including the aqua park with its heated indoor pool and outdoor pool with slides. There is also an adventure course, mini-golf, mountain bike rental and much more.

Come and visit us - once you have been, you are bound to want to come back for more!!

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

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LEISURE AND TOURISM

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stohler T : + 41 (0)22 365 1980 // www.stohler.com // info@stohler.com

LEISURE AND TOURISM

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Stohl-Air Voyages was established in 1977. It is currently the market leader in Switzerland for holidays in the Indian Ocean and South Africa. The company has also developed its range of safari and beach holidays in South Africa and several other destinations including South-East Asia, the Pacific Ocean and the UAE, Dubai and Oman.

airline ticket shop, Stohler uses its position to negotiate prices with over 90 airline companies worldwide, enabling it to offer some excellent deals on holidays.

For travellers who prefer to drive rather than relax in the sun, have a look at Stohler Wheels for a wide range of camper van holidays.

The company has grown steadily over the years and has twice been awarded the specialist ‘Travel Star’. As the number one

Stohler’s brochures are all available online or visit one of their shops to pick one up and start planning your next holiday.

Musées d’Art et d’Histoire T : + 41 (0)22 418 26 00 // www.ville-ge.ch/mah // mah@ville-ge.ch Comprised of three different sites, the Musées d’Art et d’Histoire constitute one of the largest museum groups of Switzerland and was inaugurated in 1910. Conceived with a multidisciplinary approach, they maintain collections in the fields of archaeology, fine arts and applied arts, and bear witness to the history of civilisations from prehistoric to modern times.

Tavel, in Geneva’s old town, explains the urban history and domestic life of Geneva over the centuries. Lastly, the Musée Rath is dedicated to showing large temporary exhibitions.

At the heart lies the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire with its famed collections of archaeology, applied arts and fine arts. The Maison

Free admission for permanent collections Temporary exhibitions CHF10 / CHF5; free for under 18’s

photo : Remy Gindroz

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

photo : Remy Gindroz

Rue Charles-Galland 2, 1206 Genève Open from 11.00am to 6.00pm. Closed on Mondays

photo : Remy Gindroz

Swiss Vapeur Parc T : + 41 (0)24 481 4410 // www.swissvapeur.ch // info@swissvapeur.ch At Le Bouveret, nestled in a pleasant location just a stone’s throw from the shores of the Lac Léman, is the unique Swiss Vapeur Parc.

It has been said that all the troubles of everyday life seem to disappear the minute you go through the gates of the park, so come and take a ride on one of our fabulous litte trains for a unique experience. The trains chug along as if by magic through a sumptuous decor displaying miniature replicas from

the rich heritage of Switzerland: the Castle of Aigle, the Church of Saanen, the Halls of Neuchâtel, the Swiss Residence, railway buildings and constructions of every sort (bridges, viaducts, tunnels, etc.), conjuring up a journey into a land of dreams !

During the Summer months, the Park is open daily from 10-6, so why not come and pay us a visit. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.

British School of Geneva International school

English curriculum

Small classes

A-Level Programme

Personal care

Affordable fees

If you would like a nurturing and child-centred alternative to the bigger schools, consider us.

The British School of Geneva offers education in English for 5 to 18 year olds in an exceptional, modern setting.

Our highly-qualified and experienced teachers achieve excellent results in our Primary, Secondary and A-Level sections, challenging and guiding students through the coherent programme of the English National Curriculum.

Your child will benefit from small class sizes and the individual attention that an intimate environment can offer best.

Non mother tongue students welcome – we are a school for children of the world.

Schedule a visit to see for yourself what makes us different.

Av. de Châtelaine 95A • 1219 Châtelaine • T: 022 795 75 10 • www.britishschoolgeneva.ch

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SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

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With some of the best skiing spots in the world just hours away, it’s no surprise that people from all over Europe pass through Geneva on their way to the Alps over the winter. For many, it’s one of the main perks of living here. however, If you don’t like skiing, winter in the region can be less exciting. Thankfully, summer over here is nothing but good times, with nice weather, lakes, rivers and of course:

music festivals.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

Paleo

23-28 July

Paléo Festival is the biggest open air festival in Switzerland.

230,000 people party for six nights on 84 acres of land above Nyon in the Canton of Vaud. Six stages and over 200 concerts provide the entertainment and hundreds of food and drink stalls from all over the world provide the rest. Paléo has sold-out before it even started for the last 12 years (you can still get tickets on the day though via the festival website) and is as much about the atmosphere as the music. The line-up tends to be fairly predictable with many old Paléo favourites turning out to play year after year but the layout of the place, the family atmosphere and the unique vibe more than makes up for that.

You’d have to really try hard to not have a good time at Paléo.

L - NYON PALEO FESTIVA

GURTENFESTIVAL Bern

Big names: Neil Young, Arctic Monkeys, Smashing Pumpkins, Santana, Dizzie Rascal, Blur Sure to put on a good show: Alt J, Dub Inc. Burka Som Sistema www.paleo.ch

ROYAL ARENA BIEL/BIENNE

Gurtenfestival 18-21 July

royal arena 16-17 august

Royal Arena is a medium-sized hip-hop Festival in Bienne. Expect baggy clothes, heavy basslines and clouds of suspicious smelling smoke. Two days of back-to-back rappers and MCs isn’t for everyone and the crowds tend to be die-hard hip-hop heads. Bienne itself is a lovely city, with a lake that provides a welcome relief from the somewhat crowded campsite. The festival is a celebration of all aspects of Hip-Hop culture and features B-Boy competitions and graffiti.

Big names: Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Danny Brown, Mac Miller www.royalarena.ch

Gurtenfestival is a four-day event that takes place on top of the mountain in Bern. The festival is known for its high quality and varied line-up and of course, its unique setting. The adventure begins with a mountain train ride aboard the Gurtenbahn to get to the festival site (or, as some might prefer, a gruelling 30 minute hike). As soon as you walk through the main entrance, you’re met with an all-out euphoric sensory overload as the sights, sounds and good vibes come bouncing at you from all sides. When it comes to camping you’ve got two options: spending CHF20 and sleeping on the festival site itself, which means you avoid getting the train up and down every day, or camping at the foot of the mountain next to the refreshing river Aare. This is definitely the chiller’s camping option, with more scope for daytime activities, surrounded by cooling trees and turquoise water.

Big names: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Smashing Pumpkins, Chase & Status (live) Emili Sandé Sure to put on a good show: Knife Party, Netsky, Hadouken! www.gurtenfestival.ch

MONtreux JAZZ FESTIVAL

montreux jazz festival 5-20 July

When a world renowned artist or band decides they are going to play one show in the year, Montreux is often the festival they choose to play at. It’s certainly not your standard get grotty, drinking cans of Prix Garantie Coop lager in a tent kind of festival. The setting is down by the lake in the ever so postcard-esque Montreux, tickets are expensive and the acts are a who’s who of legendary musicians and current superstars. If paying between CHF90 and CHF250 to see Green Day seems excessive, then fear not, as the line up at the Montreux Jazz free areas rivals many a paying festival. Along with its usual share of iconic performers, 2013 marks a slight change in direction for the festival, as organisers have booked some of the biggest DJs and producers out there, while steering clear of the knob twisting chart toppers (see David Guetta or Deadmau5).

Openair Frauenfeld

Big names: Prince, Leonard Cohen, Green Day, Deep Purple, Sting, Kraftwerk, Joe Cocker, The Lumineers

12-14 July

The Openair Frauenfeld festival takes place on a field in the Canton of Thurgau and attracts 142,000 thousand people, making it the biggest open air festival in German speaking Switzerland. In the past, the festival has been a musically varied affair with bands like R.E.M and The Rolling Stones taking headline spots. However, for the last ten years or so, the festival has slowly but surely changed its programming and has now morphed into the largest hip-hop festival in Europe.

Sure to put on a good show: Paul Kalkbrenner, Of Monsters and Men, Flying Lotus, Richie Hawtin, Seth Troxler, Kendrick Lamar, Rone, I AM www.montreuxjazzfestival.com

Big names: Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, RUN-DMC, Snoop Lion, B.O.B Sure to put on a good show: Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler the Creator, A$AP Rocky, Jurassic 5 www.openair-frauenfeld.ch

air Zurich Open tember 29 August - 1 Sep

The Zurich Openair festival boasts one of the most impressive line-ups of the summer, finding the perfect balance between rock and electro. The 2011 edition was called off by organisers but 60,000 people turned out in 2012 and a similar number are expected to head to festival grounds out by Zurich airport for one last chance to party before summer turns to autumn, our suntans fade and all we’re left with are some hazy memories of an epic summertime adventure.

Big names: Nine Inch Nails, Arctic Monkeys, The XX, Paul Kalkbrenner, Deftones, Franz Ferdinand Sure to put on a good show: Modestep, The Knife, Pendululm, Trentemøller (live) Erol Alkan www.zurichopenair.ch

Belfort Eurokéenes 4,5,6,7 July

The Eurokéenes in Belfort is a beast of a festival, set against one of the most incredible backdrops you’ll see anywhere. Out on a peninsula on the Malsaucy Lake in neighbouring France, the Eurokéenes lasts four days and attracts around 100,000 people. The line-up tends to be a nice mix of indie, rock, and pop with some big name electro acts. Space is limited on the peninsula so the campsite is a few kilometres away. However, regular shuttle buses get people to and from.

Big names: Jamiroqai, Asaf Avidan, Major Lazer, Two Door Cinema Club, Blur, Alt J, Boize Noize Sure to put on a good show: Wax Tailor, Archive, Danny Brown, Skunk Anansie www.eurockeennes.fr

openair gampel 15-18 august The OpenAir festival in Gampel, in the Valais, attracts some 80,000 music fans for one of the last festivals of the summer. Located right on the banks of the Rhône, Gampel is, like most festivals in Switzerland, a picturesque affair. The festival caters for more of a rock and indie crowd but does feature its fair share of hardcore and punk bands as well. It’s time to get out your hair gel, dust off your spiked belt, fish out your favourite NOFX shirt and dive head first into the pit.

musilac

Big names: Tenacious D ,Biffy Clyro, Funeral For a Friend, Billy Talent, Editors, Awol Nation

12-14 july

For the 12th year in a row thousands of music fans will flock to the banks of the Lac Bourget for three nights of music at the Musilac Festival. Nestled between a mountain and a lake, Musilac is, once again, a treat for both your ears and your eyes. The festival holds its own in terms of line up with some old classics, some chart toppers and a few up and comers as well.

Sure to put on a good show: Alkaline Trio, The Bronx, Flogging Molly, Brand New www.openairgampel.ch

Big names: Blondie, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Paul Kalkbrenner, Jamiroquai, Ben Howard, Agoria Sure to put on a good show: Klaxons, The Hives, C2C www.musilac.com

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frontier talent

photo: ©AryaDil

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R O O T W O R D S Rootwords is a US born, Geneva based rapper of Zambian origin. If you haven’t had the pleasure of listening to his mesmerising flow then take a few minutes to check him out, you’ll thank us later.

Q. You are one of the few hip-hop artists based in this region who is really making ripples: playing big festivals, regular shows and winning awards. Is it hard being a musician in Switzerland and would you ever consider basing yourself somewhere else?

Meat Loaf to Bobby Mcferrin to Dire Straits to Tina Turner to ZZTop) until eventually I discovered Hip Hop and I was instantly consumed by the genre. West Coast rap, East Coast rap, Gangsta rap, Underground rap... I fell for it all. Then I was able to find my place in the culture.

A. As an international artist, based away from my hometown and place of birth (Connecticut, USA), it’s been a perpetual challenge for me to become assimilated into foreign cultures. I tried my hand at music in England and Australia before deciding to base myself here in Switzerland. In all three countries, the definition of my identity was the determinant of how much the people would embrace my art as being a part of their culture and history. For example, in England and Australia, it was particularly difficult because I didn’t have their distinct accents.

The link I have with Kinyama Sounds (Stan Breynaert and Nicolas Duboux) is one that spawned from both business and ethics (and of course out of our love for good, positive music). I believe that pure Reggae and Hip Hop are aligned in the philosophy of peace love and unity.

Since my youth, however, Switzerland is where I have been creating my foundations.

It was only when I realised that because I grew up here, know and have worked with quite a number of individuals, that I realised this is my home, and where I feel least ostracised from my culture and origins. And from here, where I am comfortable, I have the perfect platform to explore and export my music.

Q. You have worked for many years now with Swiss reggae producers Kinyama Sounds and your tracks often feature a fusion of different styles. What, or who, are your main musical influences?

A. My father has a very big collection of CDs and vinyls. Growing up, I was exposed to a wide variety of music (from Annie Lennox to

Q. A lot of MCs perform by themselves or with a DJ. Your live show tends to feature a band. Tell us about your decision to get involved with them?

A. Performing with my live band “The Block Notes” follows in line with the natural evolution I’m going though as a growing musician. The dynamic of having four other musicians with me on stage creates a dimension that cannot be experienced with a Dj alone. Rather than all the attention being focused on me, the performance is based on that of the collective. It is a real comfortable feeling to be on stage with talented musicians who have your back. It is sort of like the feeling of invincibility. The instruments give me that funk, groove, jazz and hop that pleases the wider audience.

That said, I am still very much in love with the DJ formation on stage. On smaller events, I perform with DJ Toots, and we manage to express that explosive Hip Hop experience in our sets. The best case scenario is when we combine the DJ with the live band, and add a Vj to the mix (as we did at Usine in

www.rootwords.ch

Geneva in April 2013).

Do you have a motto you live your life by?

Or words of wisdom? Anything like that you could share with us….

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (NIV) Q. What have you got on your iPod at the moment?

A. I don’t have, and have never owned an iPod or iPhone. I used to have a Walkman, a CD player, and also a Minidisc player. I remember borrowing my brother’s MP3 player once in a while, but I realised that I missed the sounds of the birds, the people and the streets.

Q. What are you most proud of, looking back at your career so far?

A. The fact that I never gave up. Despite the many disappointments, challenges and social pressures, I always push forward, persistently maintaining my dignity and strength.

Q. What’s next for Rootwords?

A. Music, music and more music. Aside from the continuous live shows with The Block Notes and Dj Toots, I am currently working on a new project with Kinyama Sounds, destined to be released in early 2014. It is my first solo album and so it is a very special project. I consider it as a presentation of the accumulation of all my knowledge and experience. I’m really excited about this and the opportunities it will certainly bring in the future.

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THE

E LAUSANN LOW DOWN

, Usine, why not check out the L nd Given the limited Geneva rock club scene beyo r venues Le Romandie and Les Docks in Lausanne. Both clubs feature acts that cove an the full gamut of rock genres from Indie and Dreamscape, to Shoe Gaze with added mix of Electronica.

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L

e Romandie is centrally located on Place de l’ Europe within the heart of the Flon and has a history that dates back 150 years. The club is a two-storey balcony complex driven by the underground university scene & providing over one hundred musical evenings throughout the year, so you’ll be certain to discover your entourage of musical melodies. I recommend seeing upcoming innovative indy rock ambient acts The Sea and the Cake on the 28 May and Beach Fossils on 29 May. Get there a bit early and, chances are, you’ll see some of the musicians hanging out by the bar. M2 Metro stop Flon.

Ticket prices start as low as CHF15 via www.petzi.ch.

Many of the people that make it all come together are volunteering their time through non-profit organization funding.

www.leromandie.ch

www.docks.ch/programme If you’re looking for similar sounds within the summer music festival circuit, the For Noise Festival taking place from 22- 24 August in Pully features headliners, The Eels and Franz Ferdinand.

Situated in the backwoods countryside on the outskirts of town, you can also immerse yourself into a variety of organic cuisines and smaller indoor DJ - driven acts. You can view the stage from the upper hillside if you want more of a laid back picnic, evening with the acoustics still pulsating through the air.

The area is a car free zone with shuttle buses taking you from designated parking lot zones.

Ticket info can be found through the concert’s website:

www.fornoise.com Les Docks is also situated in the re-vitalized area of the Flon, in the Sevelin quarter. Its decor is reminiscent of an art gallery/warehouse hybrid design with two separate bars and one next door for pre-concert gatherings and bites to eat. Their line-ups are quite eclectic and varied, with a focus on bringing in both local and international acts.

Check out resurging Seattle grunge rockers Mudhoney playing on 1 June, and psychedelic U.S. rockers, The Black Angels on 1 July. With one bar conveniently situated in the back of the concert hall, you’ll never miss a song, staying well hydrated throughout the show. The radio station Couleur 3 broadcasts a number of different live concerts as well. There’s also a gallery of art exhibitions that shape the venue, featuring an eclectic array of avant-garde artists.

Get off at the Vigie stop on the M1 line - under le Pont Chauderon. You can also purchase tickets from www.petzi.ch.

WRITTEN BY : Kevin Christoffersen is an avid Swiss music club and festival circuit insider. He has been living in Geneva for the past 7 years with music passions originating from the indie rock scene in his hometown New York.

E H T G SURVIVIN E LAKE PARAD

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5 stages 15 trucks 200,000 people e c n ie r e p x e e l b a t t 1 unforge

T

he Lake Parade is the one day of the year when people in Geneva really get to let go. Guys and girls of all ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations come out of their hiding places, dig out their finest party outfits and follow the procession of trucks along the lakefront. The 15 floats start at the Parc de Mon Repos, cruise along the Quai Wilson, cross the pont du Mont Blanc then park up for the night along the Quai Gustave-Ador where the Lake Parade turns into the Lake Sensation. The Lake Parade has been up and running since 1997 and has been one of the summer highlights in Geneva ever since.

200,000 people are expected this year and it should be good times, with organisers realising there’s more to electronic music than Latino house and really making an effort with the DJs over the last two years.

Apart from the smiles, hugs and profile pic opportunities, there’s also plenty that can go wrong. Here are a few things to bear in mind before heading out for the 2013 Lake Parade.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

PACE YOURSELF The Lake Parade day can be a long one with almost 12 hours of dancing and probably drinking, some of that in the July sun.

I recommend getting in a good breakfast or lunch before you start the day. If you party on an empty stomach, you’re gonna have a bad time. A Full-English breakfast from Pickwicks or Clubhouse should do the trick. Every year without fail some poor bugger ends up collapsing half way across the Pont du Mont Blanc because they’ve chugged their pre mixed bottle of red Trojka and downed a few too many Smirnoff Ices. You don’t wanna be that guy.

phot

DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS Flip flops are great, but not at the Lake Parade. A few hours in, and the ground starts feeling crunchy underfoot. By the end of the night there’s broken glass everywhere. More people end up in hospital because of broken glass than sunstroke, alcohol, drugs and fights combined.

FIND A GOOD SPOT

LEAVE BEFORE THE END

For the Lake Parade part of the day you’ve got two options: finding a good spot along the procession route and watching the floats go by, or picking a float and walking along side.

In an effort to keep disturbances to a minimum, Geneva police issued what they call: The 10 commandments for partying.

Unsurprisingly, packing extra Jaegermeister and neon face paint doesn’t feature, and the list is the standard don’t go too crazy message you’d expect from the police. The first three however are pretty essential to any good night out: Good mood, no violence and right attitude. Unfortunately, big crowds, loud music and twelve hours of drinking doesn’t always lead to that, and to say things get rowdy towards the end of the night is an understatement.

There’s lots of variety in the music this year, from straight up chart bangers to deep house, minimal and hardstyle. This means it’s worth having a look at the Lake Parade website and checking which floats and stages are playing which kind of music. I personally can’t think of anything worse than getting stuck behind the hardstyle float, much like I’m sure a leather clad Cyber Goth would find the stripped down dulcet sounds of minimal techno hard to appreciate.

NEXT LEVEL PARTYING Having been on the floats, stood in one spot and followed the procession on foot, I can tell you that all three are fun and offer different experiences. However for next level partying, I recommend bringing your own makeshift float. A couple of shopping trolleys with ice filled cool boxes and drinks not only acts as a mobile base point for you and your crew but also means you’re not queuing up and spending money on drinks. We tend to add a liquor luge for ice cold Jaeger shots and a flag to avoid losing people in the crowd.

For some people, all this may seem a bit over the top and nothing’s stopping you from just turning up, standing at the back, having a few beers and enjoying the music. Just don’t forget 200,000 other people will be doing just that, and if you don’t go over the top every now and then, you’ll never get to the other side. Music is proof that life is meant to feel good.

31x

o: Ale

The walk back along the Quai Gustave-Ador after the Lake Sensation is as close as I’ve come to experiencing a zombie apocalypse. What only hours ago, was a scene of pure joy, with strangers hugging and taking pictures together, arms stretched up to the sun with deep sexy house music filling their ears, has somehow transformed into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Broken glass and rubbish strewn across the ground, groups of guys tanked up on Vodka Redbull fighting as far as the eye can see, others trying to steal from the food and drink tents while security guards wrestle people off the floats and vomit covered girls slalom precariously through the debris.

My advice is to leave before the end. Pick your after party and get there. The Lake Sensation closes down at 03:00 but I would start heading off around two-ish, and to avoid the crowds along the Quai Gustave-Ador try walking one street over along the Rue des Eaux-Vives. The people who hang around afterwards looking for trouble don’t tend to live in Geneva and usually have a couple of drunken hours to fill before their first train or bus out of town. Ending your Lake Parade with a fight and a trip to the A&E is a definite downer.

The Lake Parade should be one of the best days of the summer and if it all goes well, I guarantee it will be. Have fun and I’ll see you there.

For more information on the lake parade you can head over to www.lakeparade.ch or follow them on Twitter @LakeParade Follow me on Twitter @powellgeorge FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

Loth

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l l i gr

l l i h C &

Have you ever wondered who gets more excited by the arrival of summertime and the reappearance of the barbecue ?

The women who thrill at the prospect of having one less thing to do or the men who relish the chance to show off their cooking skills (usually to one another)? One thing for sure is that a barbecue is THE cooking occasion when the men stand tall and take over.

Few would question men’s primeval claim to cooking meat on the fire. Fortunately, barbecuing has become a little more civilised over time and, while a beer is never too far away, wine has also found a place at the fireside. However, the challenge of choosing a good wine to accompany your barbecue feast is no different than finding the right pairing for any other meal.

First of all, a barbecue is not haute cuisine, even though highly committed grillers might dispute this. There is no need to blow your budget on wine so look for bottles costing no more than CHF25 / €20. Keep the special occasion wine for more elaborate meals.

When it comes to colour, red is often the favourite as it marries well with the marinaded meats that frequently end up on the grill.

But that is not a reason to overlook white or rosé. These not only make a refreshing aperitif on a hot day, but also go nicely with fish and seafood as well as dressed salads. What’s more, a crisp, dry white like Sauvignon Blanc suits marinades of oil, lemon juice and fresh herbs. If you favour Asian flavours such as lime, coriander and chili then consider varieties like Pinot Gris or Riesling or even rosé wine.

Rosé is often ignored but can make an ideal barbecue wine, especially the new generation of stronger, darker, more intensely

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

fruity versions from South America. Always drink them while they are still young and fresh.

Red wines come into their own whenever you use spicy rubs such as chilli or marinades with smoky flavours or, indeed, made with red wine. The smoky caramelised flavours of food marinaded in barbecue seasonings and sauces pair well with wines displaying sweet, jammy fruit, robust character and toasty oak such as Australian Shiraz.

Spicy foods are best matched by wines made from really ripe, juicy fruit like Chilean Merlot. The spicier the food, the more you should look for wines with powerful sweet fruit such as Californian Zinfandel. But beware of wines with too much oak and tannin as these are accentuated by many spices. Also, avoid delicate or light wines like Beaujolais, as they are easily overwhelmed by smoky barbecue flavours and end up tasting thin and sharp.

Spoilt for choice? Frontier Magazine invited Fitting Wines to recommend a few tasty wines from nearby France and Switzerland along with some gems from the New World. All of the wines are available for order in mixed cases at special prices from Fitting Wines – more details below.

White Chablis 2010 – Domaine William Fèvre

Pinot Gris 2011 – La Cave du Père Séveran

(Burgundy, France)

(La Côte, Switzerland)

A rich expression of pure Chardonnay from the northern tip of Burgundy.

This grape variety, more commonly found in the Valais region of Switzerland where it is called Malvoisie, produces a rich, aromatic and dry wine.

Mineral and floral notes accompany lime and mint on the palate. Genuine depth and great persistence on the finish. An ideal accompaniment to grilled fish or seafood and a perfect match to the simplicity of a barbecue.

Sauvignon Blanc 2012 – Palliser Estate (Martinborough, New Zealand) Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the grape variety that firmly put New Zealand on the world wine map, this intense wine comes from the southern end of the North Island. Wonderful aromas and flavours of passion fruits and gooseberries, delicious mouthwatering acidity and a lingering juicy finish. Great with seafood, fish, salads and more exotic flavours.

Red Côtes-du-Rhône “Bouquet des Garrigues” 2010 – Domaine du Clos du Caillou (Southern Rhône, France) This reference wine for the region comes mainly from 50 year-old vines on this biodynamic estate.

It is packed full of fruits like black cherry and raspberry which mingle with roasted herbs, pepper and spice notes. Medium to full-bodied the blend of Grenache (85%), Syrah (10%) and 5% of Carignan, Mourvèdre and Cinsault delivers a meaty and vibrant wine. A fabulous partner for barbecued beef and lamb.

Elegant flavours of apricots and raisins plus a hint of smokiness make it a good pairing with all kinds of grilled fish and white meats.

Rosé Œil de Perdrix 2011 – Château d’Auvernier (Neuchâtel, Switzerland) Neuchâtel is the spiritual home of this distinctive style of rosé made from Pinot Noir. A lively wine that exudes a salmon pink colour and raspberry-like bouquet typical of this noble grape variety.

Makes a nice alternative to red wine but with the crisp, refreshing acidity of a white wine. Unlike many reds, it also works well with Asian flavours.

Native Goose Shiraz 2010 – Cape Barren (McLaren Vale, Australia) This producer makes intensely flavoured wines such as this pure Shiraz (aka Syrah).

Plums and black olives on the nose lead to a lovely rich texture on the palate with round and velvety flavours of dark berries like blackberries and mulberries along with baking spice and a hint of dark chocolate. Medium to full bodied, it has structured tannins, well-integrated oak and a lovely long finish. Irrestible with spare ribs coated in barbecue sauce, not to mention steaks, burgers and sausages.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

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Humagne Rouge de Sierre 2010 – Cave Mabillard-Fuchs

To make it easy for you, we are offering a range of mixed

(Valais, Switzerland)

6-bottle Mixed Cases for just CHF 130

Exclusive to the Valais this indigenous speciality makes a well-structured wine with aromas of leather, bark and pepper followed by fresh black fruit flavours on the palate. Often described as wild and rustic in character, this grape variety pairs well with barbecued meats (and, come the autumn, with game dishes too).

White Case containing 2 bottles of each of the 3 white wines

cases, all at unbeatable prices.

Red Case containing 2 bottles of each of the 3 red wines Swiss Case containing 2 bottles of each white, red and rosé wine from Switzerland

12-bottle Mixed Cases for just CHF 250 White Case containing 4 bottles of each of the 3 white wines Red Case containing 4 bottles of each of the 3 red wines

Simon has a passion for wine. He has been awarded the Diploma in Wines & Spirits, the top qualification at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in the UK, and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Wines & Spirits

Swiss Case containing 4 bottles of each white, red and rosé wine from Switzerland

in London. He is the founder of Fitting Wines and presents a weekly wine show ‘On the Grapevine’ with Mark Butcher on Radio Frontier.

Simon provides a range of personalised wine services in Switzerland

www.fittingwines.com

To place your order simply write to simon.hardy@ fittingwines.com specifying the quantity by case plus your name, home address and contact telephone number.

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diary of a university

freshman 36

One small step for mankind, one giant step for me. That was how my approaching departure to university appeared to me over the summer of 2012. Whilst I was not so self-centred as to imagine that my entering the world of higher education would impact the world around me, I did expect it to turn my world upside down.

I came to the University of Warwick in October 2012, fresh and eager to leave home, make new friends, and re-enter a world of learning after having spent a gap year travelling and fulfilling my ever-amusing Swiss military service.

I arrived on campus the Saturday before term began, armed with several suitcases and a slightly nervous hint of excitement. At most UK universities, campus accommodation is provided for first-years, and your hall of residence is the first place to go to for the inevitable friend-search that occurs frantically over the first few days/weeks/ months. No. In all seriousness, at Warwick everyone was very friendly and open at first (not to say that they weren’t later, but especially so in the beginning) so it was easy to find some cool people to hang out with during the infamous freshers’ weeks (Warwick spreads its partying out over two weeks, but holds lectures for both of them, a tradition disliked by students new and old, but which the University stubbornly persists in maintaining). In fact, once settled in, most people seemed to forsake their initial friends for deeper relationships once they realised how little in common they actually had, apart from the fact you all needed a drinking partner for the first few weeks. The real issue then becomes avoiding these first few friends as courteously as possible, no easy feat, as they normally live within a few feet of your door.

This didn’t happen to me though. Somehow, I ended up in a flat with very cool people, and the same happened with my course, meaning that I have more or less kept the same few friends throughout the year.

I was slightly apprehensive about the whole binge-drinking/‘lad-culture’ scene for which the British youth have become notorious. But to be honest, it’s no worse than Geneva on a Friday night. Yes, obviously there are those who drink too much, but on average there was nothing special or new about the nature of parties. Instead, the big difference for me was adjusting from one, possibly two, nights out on the weekend to several nights out almost exclusively taking place during the workweek. In fact, over two terms I only braved one Saturday night, and it was rubbish.

Academically, I was pushed in the deep end pretty much straight away, although that could have been more to do with my course as, besides the lawyers and medics (unseen since freshers’) most courses seemed to ease you in with a more gentle approach with regards to workload. That having been

said, the nature of the work was so different to what I was used to at school, that it didn’t really feel like the ever-dreaded ‘homework’.

Having studied the Swiss Maturité, which is extremely structured and overseen, I enjoyed the freedom given at university to study and learn what, when and how you want to. As opposed to being given a list of pages to learn by heart and then regurgitate for a test, suddenly, we were simply given an introductory lecture and one or two essay questions to think over for weekly seminar, which I found much more fun and interesting than the learning-by-rote method of the Swiss. At any rate, despite not having taken the IB, I feel that my time at La Chat left me well prepared for the serious side of university, and, even though we wrote very few essays in the Matu, I found that in general, my essay-writing skills were better (or at least equal in terms of structure, not necessarily content!) than those of the A-level students, which was, of course, a nice advantage to have for the first few essays.

Despite the obvious changes, my life is pretty similar to what it was during my ‘pre-uni’ days. I still have a few friends with whom I spend my time, I still play sports, my ‘workday’ is more or less 9 to 5, with general relaxation in the evening, and I still have homework and deadlines. On top of that, I now have to take care of my own food and laundry, and other less-fun activities.

So, of course university life isn’t perfect, and perhaps not as revolutionary as I had expected it would be, but it’s definitely a lot of fun, with the good far outweighing the less good. And if you’re at a similar place as I was last summer, I would tell you not to worry, charge ‘Uni’ life head-on, and get as involved as possible with as much as possible (clichés of discovering yourself abound). At Warwick at least, many of those who drank the first term away regretted not joining more societies/ causes/events earlier on by term 2. And go in as open-minded as possible: lots of international students arrive in the UK and are unsure of what to expect but more often than not, it’s a smooth transition to University life.

And I would definitely tell you not to take it too seriously, because above all else, university is hilariously good fun.

andrew’s first year dos and don’ts do...

Go around your halls. Upon arrival forget social anxiety

don't Get up too early. Everyone will tell you it, but I’ll be the

go and meet all your flatmates, it gives you people 1. and to go out and chill with almost immediately. Plus you’ll be

you really don’t need to study as much as you think 1. first: in first year. Making friends and partying should not be

Get involved. Join as many societies, sports teams,

Be pompous. There’s always one person who feels the

is not to be missed.

Z seminar. Do not be this person.

Exercise. You probably want to avoid the Freshers’ half a

Blow your monthly allowance in a week. Living like a

Go to the introductory lectures. Most people give in

Tell your parents everything. Self-explanatory, but if in

living with them for a year, and it’s always easier to forgive your ‘borrowing’ their last Oreos if you’re on good terms.

completely bypassed.

etc. as you have time for. Try new things and to shed some light on your otherwise dark, dark life 2. charities, 2. need see if they stick. And join snowsports as the annual tour by regurgitating what their tutor told them in their X, Y or (4.5 kg) that most first year’s tend to put on. Oh, and for three weeks, because you lived like a king for 3. stone 3. hermit exercise is fun (find your sports team!). one, quickly gets old. their hangovers and skip these ‘useless’ events, 4. tochoosing 4. doubt best err on the side of caution. instead to remain clueless about how the library/timetabling/(insert boring yet important aspect of university life here) actually works for a good two weeks after everyone else.

Written by : Andrew Gaskell attended the International School of Geneva (La Chat) for most of his secondary schooling. After graduating in 2011, he spent a gap year travelling enthusiastically and then serving patriotically in the Swiss army. he is currently reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Warwick.

www.iil.ch

institUt internatiOnal de lancY 1st One tO One iPad schOOl in switzerland English Section | French Section - Nursery | Primary | Secondary Checkpoint | IGCSE Examinations | IB Diploma Brevet des Collèges | French Baccalaureate Tél. 022 794 26 20 | info@iil.ch | www.iil.ch

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Each of our centres provides a relaxed and friendly learning environment and our state-of-the-art Multimedia Centre is available to all of our students free of charge.

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Wessex Academy is committed to helping you reach your personal language goals. They’ve been teaching languages to thousands of people since 1974. Today Wessex Academy teaches 11 languages at all levels and offers a wide range of courses in 17 countries on 5 continents – all at very competitive prices.

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At each different internship, students move up the managerial chain, while being managed themselves by more experienced students and staff. The programme ensures all students experience all aspects of the hotel and tourism profession before reaching high positions in the field.

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Twice a year SEG organizes an International Recruitment Forum with many of the world’s leading hospitality companies attending, in order to recruit students for both internships and graduate placements. SEG counts partnerships with over 100 companies including Hyatt, Hilton, Kempinski, Marriot, RitzCarlton and Mandarin Oriental, to name but a few.

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ADULT EDUCATION & LANGUAGE SCHOOLS

SEG prepares students for leading roles in the hospitality industry through intensive curricula, alternating academic study with internships. SEG schools are multicultural, with students of more that 75 nationalities. This cultural mix offers a unique

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For the last 50 years Glion has set the standard for top class Swiss hospitality education. Its courses are renowned for excellence and innovation. It’s ranked as one of the best hospitality schools in the world (TNS,2010).

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with modern facilities and located in the heart of the city. At IFM, we are a human-size institution, where you receive personalized attention in a friendly and international environment.

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44

the Great escape

by Tarun Sarwal

The top 10 tips for planning a year away with your family Day 0 it has just stopped raining and the clouds, still dripping, retreat to the mountains, letting the late afternoon light return to shimmer and dance over the lake.

There is something in that gold and blue light and the vastness of the view that throws us back deep into ourselves. We are driving home, Seetha, Liyaan and I, from high over Vevey and suddenly in this silence, I hear myself saying “Should we take a year off?” There is a moment of silence as the words settle in to our consciousness, as desire struggles with reality, to find reasons why we should not.

Ten minutes later, it is decided. And when will we leave? S’s birthday - 3 months away.

As we reach home an hour later, we already know this will not be home for long.

Later that evening we take out some A3 paper and draw up a monthly calendar.

The rules are simple. You have to say what you really, really want to do, what you’ve dreamed of doing, what you never think you’d actually get to do. L wants to be a photographer, I want to sail an Ocean, oh and become a screenwriter and S wants

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

to go to South America and do an epic car journey and a train journey.

And we want it to be summer all year, and and L wants to go skydiving, and ... L (13) has the pencil OK OK OK anything else? L and I look at each other. And can we have a dog? S looks at us ‘For God’s sake, be realistic, No, you’re not having a dog’.

tip one.

If you’re taking a whole year off, probably the most important thing to recognise is which journey you really want to take. Is it one that involves, trains, cars, boats, and buses, or is it a journey that might take you to a different space altogether?

On Day 0 we jumped off the edge, so somehow we were going to have to find a way to fly. This suits me very well because I know that planning is akin to trying to cheat life of what it has in store for us, but S thinks she knows better. L looks at both of us nervously, me reaching for the stars and S with her feet firmly on the ground. She only hopes there are some decent shops somewhere in between.

tip four.

tip seven.

Give the journey just enough shape that you know what is coming next, but allow for a certain amount of serendipity.

Once you are used to the motion of travel, just like being in a plane, everything seems still so have a project that genuinely takes your interest, that you can pursue wherever you are.

We find some points in geography and in time - there is the film festival in San Sebastian in September, to which we want to go as delegates, an available slot for learning to sail (in English) in Gibraltar in October, the November start date for the trip across the Atlantic and Anna’s wedding in Guatemala at the end of March. Olivia a photographer friend agrees to be our first host in Biarritz and to show Liyaan the basics of photography as she will document our journey. Suddenly we have 3 months planned. It makes us free to enjoy the journey.

tip five.

Learn to leave everything behind.

tip two.

Choose who you would like to spend your year off with, very, very carefully.

Because S has the fewest number of items on our dream to-do list, it was only fair that she does all the logistics. S looks at me, at the map, and it’s very clear that she is imagining the 3 of us on a boat, lost at sea - “We’re not doing the Pacific”, ‘No,’ I whisper, “Of course not, any Ocean will do”. She turns back to her computer, mumbling something under her breath and works day and night, speaking to people in different languages, in different time zones, repeating the phrase ‘year off’. She finds places where we can learn to sail, finds a boat we can crew in to race across the Atlantic. Not to mention laundry facilities everywhere and endless bookings for transport and accommodation.

tip three.

If you start with a detailed budget you will never start the trip.

There are other awkward moments “How much do you think this is going to cost?”

I am thinking of answering “probably more than we have” but then I realise it is not such a good idea. L, who I realise, has been sold on the idea mostly because she doesn’t have to go to maths class for a whole year chips in usefully “you can have all my money”.

You would imagine that packing for a year might be different to packing for a weekend. The problem is that we have been told that we can take only a small duffel bag on the boat - 2 or 3 T shirts, a couple of pairs of jeans. We are in shock.

Liyaan loves to have her ‘things’ around her. She has enough stationery to start a shop, where will the 8 pairs of shoes that she bought in Barcelona go?

It starts with your luggage, but slowly we find we leave behind our lifestyle, our attitudes, everything we hold certain.

Travel is about discovery, the less you hold on to, the more new you will come across.

It’s been 6 months since we have returned, but we haven’t bothered to open the cartons that we had safely stored away.

I am lucky in that I am writing a film.

Everyday no matter where we are I have something to do. In Buenos Aires where Seetha and Liyaan study Spanish every day, we have long happy evenings. I have at least a 3-4 hour working day in libraries, in cafes, after which I feel I deserve that extra-long drink.

tip eight.

Take the time to connect and reconnect with people, it’s what really counts in the end.

We were so lucky in that everywhere we went we reconnected with friends and family who were generous hosts. We made fascinating new friends, shared stories with fellow travellers and managed to spend quality time with parents. My 84 year old mother joined us from Delhi in Rio and we travelled with her to the bits of South America she had never been – Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos. S’s parents came with us to China and Thailand from Bangalore. The only gift you can give your parents is time.

tip nine.

Plan to record your journey in some way; – it’s amazing how much you will otherwise forget.

tip six.

We kept a blog with pictures – see www. planetsarwal.wordpress.com. It involved a variety of technology and discipline – we had 1 good camera, 2 smart phones, 1 ipad and 2 laptops and 2 ordinary mobiles for spare SIMS.

Be optimistic, be insanely optimistic. If you try to sort everything out before you leave, it will probably take a year.

tip ten.

We did not give ourselves enough time to arrange everything before we left - a day before we leave the house is not sublet, I still do not have the letter guaranteeing a return to the ICRC in Geneva, the tenants in our house in London decide to break their contract and leave. Financially all of this does not look good - getting rid of two incomes, having to pay rent and a mortgage and embarking on a year’s journey with no budget.

Recognise that you will see everything differently.

When we came off the boat after two weeks at sea it took us a while to find our land legs again.

Even though we knew we had to be on land we never wanted to lose that feeling of the warm wind in our hair. It was much more difficult returning to our everyday lives in Geneva. How do you carry the spirit of everything you have seen with you? Anyone got any tips?

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went to school in the Pâquis. I went to meet the Canos in their top floor apartment, decorated in true Spanish style with plenty of little statuettes and football jerseys on the wall.

46

LES

PÂQUIS A NEIGHBOuRHOOD OF CONTRASTS

T

By George Powell

he Pâquis is without a doubt one of Geneva’s most vibrant and dynamic neighbourhoods, with its own unique identity and proud residents. The Pâquis stands alone in the very heart of the city; just a stone’s throw from Cornavin station, it stretches along the Rue de Lausanne, down to the lake front and over to the edge of the Quai Wilson.

If the financial districts and banks are the city’s nervous system, then the Pâquis is the heart and soul, moving and breathing to the intensely multicultural sights, sounds and smells that pulse through it’s veins.

The Pâquis is one of Geneva’s most densely populated areas, and was traditionally an immigrant neighbourhood with affordable rent and tightly knit communities.

Pâquisards are proud of the quartier they call home, which has changed and evolved over the years and that some are worried will be taken from them as rents go up and gentrification occurs.

It’s a village within a city that doesn’t always have the best reputation. Like the cheeky kid in school who used to muck about in class, the Pâquis is both loved and misunderstood. Home to Geneva’s red light district and many a drug dealer, as well as some of Geneva’s most luxurious hotels and favourite restaurants, the Pâquis really is a neighbourhood of contrasts.

The Canos are a typical Pâquisard family, emigrating from Spain in 1972 and living in the very heart of the Pâquis ever since. Manuel Cano started his own cleaning company and he and his wife had two children, who were born in Geneva and both grew up and

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“When we first arrived in Geneva, we were drawn to the Pâquis because it was a lively, working class neighbourhood with an incredible mix of cultures and nationalities.

Finding apartments has never been easy in Geneva and we were lucky enough to get one right by the lake.

I’ve been here for 40 years and I would struggle living anywhere else in Geneva. The atmosphere of the place and the life we have here, you can’t find elsewhere.” Manuel Cano told me with a nostalgic smile on his face.

There’s always been a bit of an ‘iffy’ reputation in the Pâquis because of the Rue de Bern, which is where the ladies of the night and their customers work and consume. The Pâquis, for many, is just a place of transit. People pop in and out for a kebab or a drink or to satisfy other more carnal needs. It’s also no secret that drug dealers have been working in the Pâquis for years now and a stroll down the centre will testify to that. The proximity to the station and the attractions of the neighbourhood means that over the last couple of years, the neighbourhood has had some of the highest crime rates in the Canton. All these negatives have been well-documented by the local press and Geneva police have been forced into action. But what was it like growing up in the Pâquis? I asked Gwendolyne Cano, who’s now in her 20s.

“I have very fond memories growing up here. All the kids of the neighbourhood were friends and we all played together out on the street. Our summers were spent swimming at the Bains des Pâquis. It was great. I’ve never had any trouble. Things have changed for the worse over the last years though.”

photo: © Geneva Tourism & Conventions

47

The Bains-des-Paquis attracts thousands of swimmers every summer.

“

When we first arrived in Geneva, we were drawn to the Pâquis because it was a lively, working class neighbourhood with an incredible mix of cultures and nationalities.

Personal safety and crime have been major issues in Geneva over the last ten years and nowhere more so than in the Pâquis. Manuel Cano thinks the problems in the neighbourhood started around the mid 1990’s when the end of the various wars in the Balkans brought new waves of immigration to the region. Many believe that the resulting issues were amplified with the Schengen Agreement and the opening up of the borders. Burglaries increased, as well as violent crime, along with a nasty trend of people turning to knives to sort out disagreements, which left many people wondering when it became normal to carry knives around? A black eye gets better. A stab wound to the chest tends not to.

Drug dealers set up camp in the Pâquis and have, until recently, found little resistance, with police relatively powerless to get them off the streets. A night in a cell and they’re back at work. One of the striking images from the Pâquis over the last couple of years is groups of dealers doing their thing just metres from the playgrounds of the Pâquis’ two primary schools. For a time, dealers were even using the covered parts of

the playgrounds overnight and on weekends to stay dry and do their deals. The image of children playing on one side of a fence and drug dealers selling cocaine on the other is the kind of thing you might imagine seeing in South Africa or Mexico, but probably not in peaceful and prosperous Switzerland.

Herbert Binggeli is the Director of the Ecole de Zurich and Joël Fuchs the Director of the Ecole de PâquisCentre, two primary schools right in the heart of the Pâquis. Their schools, like most things in Geneva, are richly diverse and multicultural, each boasting 40-odd nationalities and languages and each dealing with a unique set of circumstances that, being one road over from the red light district, might be expected to bring you. I asked them how much of an issue the playground versus dealer situation really was.

“As far as we’re concerned the problem has been dealt with. We spoke to authorities from the city, from the school services and from the department of security who all took steps and measures were put in place.

The municipal police and the gendarmes are now very present and the issue is under control. The youngsters at our school have nothing to worry about. It’s not a school issue, but a neighbourhood issue. ” Joel Fuchs Our students have never been in any danger. It’s true that for a while the dealers were working right next to our playgrounds but they’ve been moved onto other streets now. It really is two separate worlds, with the dealers going about their business and the kids going about theirs. Occasionally, our pupils would look → FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

“

The biggest challenge for us over the next couple of years is sorting out the overnight noise. We’ve got to find a balance between the partygoers, who, of course, have a right to party, and the people who have to work in the morning and need to sleep.

48 Place de la Navigation

around the Pâquis but many have simply moved to different parts of the city, most notably to Plainpalais where residents are finding themselves in the same situation as the Pâquisards. If the demand remains, the dealers do too.

le Temple - Espace Solidaire through the fence and take a look at what’s going on, but nothing more.”

Herbert Binggeli So what exactly did Geneva Police do in response to the petty crime and drug issues in the Pâquis? Well, rather like something straight out of a favela in Rio, they assembled an elite team of heavy hitters to storm the neighbourhood and force down crime rates, one arrest at a time.

The Brigade Anti Criminalité hit the streets on 23 April 2012 and one year later had made 523 arrests.

At a press conference in April 2013 the head of Geneva Police, Monica Bonfanti, announced that petty crime rates had indeed gone down, and quite considerably.

Pickpocketing and distraction thefts went down 28% in 2012 and down 31% in the first four months of 2013. The Anti-Crime Brigade experiment seems to be working.

Drug dealers aren’t using school playgrounds anymore and the petty crime figures speak for themselves.

Where have the dealers gone? Well, you’ll still see dozens scattered

So what are the main concerns of people living in the Pâquis? Are drug dealers really such an issue for people going about their everyday lives? According to the Cano family, not exactly. While drug dealing is never a good thing for a community or neighbourhood, the dealers themselves are polite, say good morning and haven’t caused them any issues. They have much less pleasant things to say about those involved in petty crime and street violence.

More of a concern is the fact that the Pâquis is the one part of Geneva that never sleeps. Everything’s open pretty much 24/7 and there’s a high density of bars, off-licences and late night clubs directly below the densely populated apartment blocks. A late night stroll through the Pâquis shows just how noisy it can get, but to really find out you have to speak to the residents themselves.

Pierre Fuchs and Dominique Hiestand are Paquisards through and through and are both actively involved in the neighbourhood’s various resident and commerce groups. Pierre is part of SURVAP which stands for Sûr de Vivre aux Pâquis, as well as Bien Vivre aux Pâquis, while Dominique is part of ADEP which looks out for the rights of businesses in the neighbourhood. I met with them at the Espace Solidaire which offers help and support to those in need in the Protestant church in the centre of Paquis.

“We carried out surveys and held talks back in 2010 with the residents of the Pâquis and the three things that came out on top of the list of concerns were noise, violence and housing. I think the biggest challenge for us over the next couple of years is sorting out the overnight noise. We’ve got to find a balance between the partygoers, who, of course, have a right to party, and the people who have to work in the morning and need to sleep. We know there are more police officers than ever in the neighbourhood and we genuinely feel safe here. They just need to be around to make sure the bars close when they are supposed to and to make sure people don’t make too much noise when they leave. What we really need are more local police officers, who know the residents and care about the neighbourhood.” Pierre Fuchs “Politicians and the press have focused in on the dealer and violence situation here, but to be honest the real problem is the non-stop nightlife that’s making life impossible in certain parts of the Pâquis. Some places close at two in the morning, others at five, some re-open at four. The number of off-licences has shot up, we’ve got over 40 now and although they aren’t supposed to sell alcohol after nine, everyone knows they do, which means people hang around outside drinking. ” Dominique Hiestand Bien Vivre aux Pâquis presented authorities in Geneva with a document on 30 August 2010 outlining not only their major concerns and issues, but also what they thought could be done about them. The document highlighted a growing sentiment amongst people living on the noisier streets of the Pâquis that they felt pressured by police, by landlords and building owners to accept the noise or move out.

According to the 2010 document, what the residents groups want more than anything is an effective three part discussion between them, municipal and Cantonal authorities. Other neighbourhoods in Geneva like Les Grottes, for example, have what is known in French as a ‘contrat de quartier’ with the city. The contract outlines a number of projects and priorities that they will be working on over a four-year period.

“A contrat de quartier means real dialogue between authorities and the people. It shows they are willing to put in the time and the money to get things done. That’s what we need in the Pâquis, but we’re still waiting.”

Pierre Fuchs Late night noise might be one of the reasons the people of the Pâquis are losing sleep, but not the only one, as many fear they will lose their neighbourhood altogether.

Although it doesn’t happen overnight, gentrification completely changes the identity of a neighbourhood

and is a process Pâquisards are all too aware of. The traditional working class identity of the Pâquis, with its affordable rent and unique migrant character is under threat, because, despite the negatives, it’s becoming an increasingly popular place to live. While UN types and multinationals used to choose Eaux-Vives or Champel, more and more are now looking at the Pâquis, perhaps because of a lack of housing elsewhere, but also for the neighbourhood’s unique charm. Why live in a quiet, sterile neighbourhood with zero character when you can live in the very heart of the city? Areas like the Place de la Navigation or the Rue du Léman have been pedestrianised and over the summer months are full of families enjoying the cool breeze that blows off the Lake and onto the square. The changing identity is something that the Cano family and Pierre and Dominique are all too aware of. It’s a concern that comes up time and time again when you speak to people from the neighbourhood.

From landlords pushing up rent to extortionate levels, affordable only to internationals on big salaries, to prospectors buying up buildings and turning them into luxury apartments, to buildings sitting completely empty: the Pâquis is changing.

Since the 1960’s the Pâquis has been mostly made up of, hardworking immigrants, and to this day, places like the Espace Solidaire are still the first port of call for many struggling new arrivals, attracted to Switzerland for many of the same reasons that drew the Cano family here and thousands of others. For the Spanish family arriving in 2013, with nothing more than a bag of clothes, things certainly look bleaker than they did 40 years ago. The Pâquis’ character,

however, will in some ways continue to be shaped by foreigners, just not the working class foreigner, rather, a well-paid UN or multinational employee looking for luxury apartments in the city centre.

I sincerely hope that the Pâquis doesn’t change too much and lose all its character because it really is a wonderful neighbourhood.

Walking through its streets in summer is like taking a half an hour round the world trip with its Middle Eastern restaurants, African hair dressers, Caribbean and Brazilian bars and English pubs. Geneva will be a sadder place if the unique charm of the Pâquis is replaced by wealthy expats trying their best not to integrate, knowing they’ll be spending three years here before moving on. For the meantime though, Pâquisards will continue to love their neighbourhood, despite its issues and will continue to fight to improve the quartier they call home.

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50

LIFE AS AN ILLEGAL

IMMIGRANT IN SWITZERLAND

I

n order to properly tell Pierre’s story I’d need far more than 1000 words over a double page spread. The tale of how he made his way, as a teenager, from Ivory Coast to Geneva, via Morocco, Algeria and Spain is the kind of thing you read about in a UN report. It makes you realise just what people are willing to go through in order to get a little taste of life in Switzerland, albeit it without papers, employment possibilities, housing or the option of popping home to see the family.

Pierre is originally from Guinea but was born and raised in Ivory Coast.

He took the decision to leave his old life behind in February 2004 and head to Europe. Seven months later, he was pulled off a rickety, overcrowded, makeshift pirogue by Spanish Red Cross workers, given a fresh set of clothes, some food and water and his life in Europe began.

“I had a cousin who left Abidjan to try and get to Europe. He called me up from Spain, told me he’d made it and I decided to give it a go.”

Pierre’s crossing cost him US$1200 and the people who organised it only gave passengers three attempts. If the boat had to turn back

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

more times than that, they had to pay the same fee again. Pierre had 50 extra dollars with him when he left home so the crossing would have to happen in those three attempts. Pierre made his way to Casablanca then on to Rabat for his crossing to a new life.

“We had to build the boat ourselves and pour tar in the bottom to waterproof it. It should have carried 20 people but we were 35, crammed in like sardines. We each had half an empty water bottle to bail out the water as the waves crashed over us. On our first try, the captain of our little vessel took us out to sea then back down the Moroccan coast before dropping us off and telling us we’d reached Spain. We all got off thinking we’d made it and it wasn’t until we saw camel poo that we realised he’d ripped us off. He was long gone by then.”

When they made it ashore local police officers arrived with food and water and they were taken to a police station where their names were taken down, and they were handcuffed and sent by coach to Algeria.

When Pierre eventually made it back to Rabat for his second attempt at crossing, he had to spend three and a half months in the desert,

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boiling during the day, freezing at night and eating mice to survive.

“On the night we eventually got going, there were five boats leaving.

The first boat to head out capsized a kilometre offshore and of the 35 or so people on board, only four made it back alive. We were praying for them on the beach but there was nothing we could do as their bodies washed ashore. It was really hard for some people because their friends and family had been on the boat.”

Eventually Pierre’s boat set off with another one in tow. However this second attempt at crossing very nearly ended the same way as the first, with the Moroccan captains planning to take them back down the coast. Thankfully for Pierre and his party, a Senegalese man on board understood Berber and caught on to their plans. What followed was something out of Mutiny on the Bounty, and the boats returned to shore.

Pierre got his third and final chance shortly afterwards. They set off at 18:00 and by 02:00 they noticed the water was changing colour and knew they were on the right track. By ten the next morning they could see the coast and passed Spanish fishing boats. At midday they saw coast guard helicopters overhead and an hour later they were on board a coast guard vessel.

Once they were ashore, Pierre made his way to Madrid where he sold bootleg CDs on the Plaza del Sol. The financial crisis was beginning to hit Spain and he heard through a friend that Switzerland was a better option. Borrowing papers from another friend he was able to fly to Lyon, get a train to Annemasse and cross the border into Geneva.

After asking for asylum in Switzerland he was sent to Neuchatel and was officially registered as an asylum seeker.

Pierre has been living in Geneva without papers ever since, making money how he can.

“Living here without papers isn’t easy. You can sleep in an asylum seeker’s centre, stay with friends or pay loads of money to sublet a place illegally. Every time you see a policeman your heart stops for

a second. The police here are generally nice though, and if you get arrested they take you to the police station, check your finger prints and let you go. If you have an arrest warrant out for you though, things are more complicated. I’ve had plenty of friends sent back to Africa by authorities. I’ve been able to travel around Europe by bus. You just jump on and hope you don’t get stopped and if I do get stopped at a border, I tell them I am an asylum seeker in Switzerland they send me back to Neuchatel.”

Pierre hasn’t seen his family since he left Africa in 2004 but says he is used to it.

“Us Africans are different. We can live without seeing our families, and I know I’ll see them again soon. I left my country because of poverty.

You have to leave to evolve, to grow and to learn. Since Morocco, I’ve seen things I never thought I would. All these experiences have made me grow mentally. It hasn’t been easy. I saw 30 people die with my own eyes; I had to beg for food in Morocco, something I never thought myself capable of doing. Despite all this, I know I made the right decision to leave home back in 2004. I had to leave and I don’t regret it.”

For illegal immigrants like Pierre the only two ways to get papers is if your asylum is accepted or if you marry a Swiss national. After nine years living without any form of European ID Pierre has received Portuguese citizenship through a cash wedding.

“My plan now is to see my family and to find a job. I worked in scaffolding and construction back home and I would love to find similar work here, but that’s easier said than done.”

Life without papers isn’t easy in Switzerland and it makes you wonder how bad the life people like Pierre left behind must have been. He took his destiny into his own hands and with some fairly blatant bending of the law, has been able to take his own slice of European life, safe in the knowledge that his children will have easier and more prosperous lives than he did.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

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a weekend in...

Zurich

What might surprise any would be visitor to Switzerland’s largest city is just how much is actually going on in this vibrant metropolis. Scratch the surface and underneath you will find a lively spot filled with trendy bars, gourmet restaurants, an energetic club scene and plenty to satisfy any culture aficionado.

Most people’s port of entry to Zurich is the Hauptbahnhof. From here you can begin to explore the city by making your way down the main shopping drag Bahnhofstrasse. The shopping ranges from affordable high street fare, moving to top high end luxury shopping as the street expands.

A pit-stop in Laderbach is a must, to pick up possibly the best chocolate in Zurich. Here, the friendly staff will gladly put together the perfect selection of their fine, handmade chocolate.

Take a detour at Uraniastrasse and you will be greeted by the vision of the large green dome of Observatory Urania. The observatory itself is still in operation and just below the top you will find the Jules Verne bar. This is the perfect place to stop for an Aperol Spritz while taking in a panoramic view of the city. From here you can make your way east, pausing to take a snap of Zurich’s two landmark churches: the Fraumünster and the Grossmünster, then enter the cobblestoned ‘Old Town’ of Zurich or the Niederdorf. Written off as a tourist trap by locals it’s still a must see for newcomers. It is littered with bustling outdoor cafes and chic fashion boutiques. Café Henrici is as good a place as any to stop for lunch. Here you can find great coffee and the Flammkuchen is delightful.

Those looking for a museum fix would be foolish to miss the Kunsthaus at Heimplatz. It boasts a huge permanent collection of 19th and 20th century art. The museum hosts many pieces from the contemporary greats ranging from Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso to Cy Twombly and Francis Bacon.

If you’ve soaked up enough of Altstadt Zurich’s charm, then you really must spend some time exploring the ultra modern IndustrieQuartier otherwise known as Zurich West. Gentrification is the name of the game in this rebranded area of the city. Old factories and warehouses take on a new life as fashionable bars and restaurants.

Fans of great design and shopping won’t want to miss taking a stroll along the Viaduct. Walking from Limmatstrasse to Geroldstrasse, nestled in the arches of the viaduct, you can explore a range of designer stores, some hip bars and the epicurean delight that is the Markethalle.

At Geroldstrasse you’ll be greeted with the intriguing and unusual sight of the Freitag building. Freitag specialize in bags and accessories made from recycled industrial canvases, this quintessentially Swiss Brand is a must have. The store itself speaks volumes about the heritage of the Brand. Comprised of 17 freight containers, this is the place to pick up your must have Swiss accessory. Don’t forget to hike to the viewing deck on top floor of the store, it’s a fairly stark industrial view but it gives you a real feel for this fast changing Kreis’s industrial roots.

If all the walking has picked up your appetite, be sure to check out La Salle or Rosso, all within striking distance, it’s gourmet dining in post-industrial spaces.

What sets Zurich apart from any other Swiss city is its vibrant nightlife, sleeping is optional in Switzerland’s party capital.

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Make your way to the boisterous Langstrasse and be amazed at the variety of bars and clubs to choose from. Café Casablanca is a great place to start the evening, with its relaxed atmosphere and chic clientele, you could happily while the night away here. If clubbing is your thing then check out Zukunft, open till dawn and importing a host of talented DJs from Berlin - you won’t be disappointed.

If dawn’s too early to end the party, then make your way to Hive on Geroldstrasse, to party the morning away in this after-hours Mecca.

Sunday is generally a more relaxed affair on any weekend in Zurich.

With 99% of the shops closed, the average Zürcher’s attention shifts to brunch. Masion Blunt’s Moroccan tearoom, just off Josefstrasse, comes highly recommended. Be warned though, wherever you decide to brunch, reservations are advised - queues of hungry locals are not uncommon. If you’re done eating and the weather is good, then why not try one of the cities many swimming spots.

Letten badi, near Limmatplatz on the river, is a great place to enjoy some down time. This is the place to see and be seen when the sun is shining. In fact, a typical Zürcher’s preference of badi is usually a reflection on his or her personality. The hip and pretty make Letten or Teifenbrunen their haunt while families tend to prefer Seebad Enge and Mythenquai and let’s not forget the nudists of Werdinsel.

Wherever you end up, just be sure to pop in for a dip if the water is right.

What’s happening in Zurich each weekend is constantly changing. It is a city on the move and sometimes it is hard to keep up. Best to check the local publications such as ronorp.net or outandabout.ch to see what’s on when you decide to visit. Come, go with the flow, and you might end up at the latest pop-up restaurant, the coolest underground party or a beach bar on the rooftop of a car park.

Zurich has a lot to offer you if you only let it.

Written by : Brian McCabe

Photo Credit: Roland Tännler

above left : Bahnhofstrasse, shop ‘til you drop on Zurich’s main shopping stretch above right: Freitag building; possibly the coolest shop in the world!

Originally from Ireland, Brian relocated to Zurich in 2012 where he now works in digital communications. He spends his free time exploring the various facets of Zurich life and blogging about them. www.thegingerblogman. blogspot.com

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Retirement Timebomb It’s not easy to pick up a paper these days without the subject of pensions and retirement planning stealing a derogatory headline or two. Either another company pension scheme going bust, more underfunded state schemes or another horror story about someone approaching retirement thinking their retirement was ring-fenced and secured, only to find that they were completely wide of the mark and it’s too late to do anything about it.

We are told that, due to changing demographics, our working generation is sitting on a ticking time bomb when it comes to our retirement.

Why? In a nutshell, with the ageing population living longer, there will be more people than ever in retirement, which will obviously need additional funding. Unfortunately, the individuals who provide this funding, i.e the working population, is diminishing, resulting in less funding.

Who’s affected?

When the time bomb does go off, it will cause varying levels of damage to different groups of people.

For instance, there has been much written on the gender issue and how female employees, for a number of reasons, can often find themselves disadvantaged to their male counterparts when it comes to planning for retirement.

Although less documented, another group of workers who can often find themselves FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 03 - SUMMER 2013

wanting when it comes to retirement planning, are those working internationally - the expat community.

Individuals living and working outside their domiciled country can often find themselves facing more hurdles than if they were working in a domestic situation.

When the time bomb does go off it will cause varying levels of damage to different groups of people Planning for retirement is a long term strategy and working in another country can mean that the longer term is unclear for a variety of reasons, such as the possibility of having to return home to care for sick or elderly relatives, language difficulties, children’s schooling issues and the strong chance of short term contract work. There is also the increased likelihood of being transferred, through work, to another country, dealing with currency fluctuation and local political changes, and ever-changing tax laws can also have an impact.

It’s difficult to plan for the longer term in any case but when the short to medium term is unclear, then this becomes unthinkable, which generally leads to someone adopting the Ostrich Approach.

Of course, we all know that an ageing population and reducing birth rate are the key underlying issues with pension funding. And we read all the time how market slides can wipe billions from pension funds (enough to scare the pants off anyone).

However, I would suggest that the real issue for an international worker lies in the large number of non-compatible schemes that currently exist in countries across the globe.

Here in Switzerland the 3 pillar system differs from other global schemes such as UK plans, US 401k’s and the ever evolving French system. Whilst the principles remain the same (i.e saving throughout your working life to provide a sustainable income once retired), the rules can vary significantly.

It is for this reason that one of the most common retirement planning nightmares faced by many international workers is that of having different schemes in various jurisdictions.

These schemes can often be frozen and often based on final salary (Defined Benefit) which, in real terms, means your leaving salary. Final salary plans are a dying breed globally, but still very prevalent here in Switzerland. To explain how these schemes can disadvantage an international worker, I offer a very typical example of Mr X below. Mr X worked for 17 full years in the UK which, if based on a final salary type scheme, could typically amount to approx. 25 % of his leaving salary. If we assume he is on an average UK salary of £30K per annum, Mr X could expect to have

a frozen retirement which may amount to an income of £7,500 per year (CHF11’000 at today’s rate). Mr X then lands a fantastic opportunity and moves to a company based in France where he works for another 13 years with a much improved basic salary of €70k.

This will result in a retirement income, for that stint of his life, of approximately 20% of his final salary, giving him €14,000 (CHF17’000) - believe me I’m rounding up here!

Mr X has then seen his dreams come true and landed a top job in Switzerland for what will be the last 10 years of his working life. He and his wife enjoy the lifestyle so much that this is where they decide to retire. Through promotions to senior roles and salary increases Mr X now finds himself on a typical Swiss senior income of CHF 170K.

In Switzerland you can take your pension with you should you decide to leave the country.

10 years’ work in Switzerland at that salary is likely to give him an annual retirement income of approximately 17% of his final salary, which amounts to CHF29’000.

The CHF170K now represents Mr X’s final salary and also represents his current standard of living in Switzerland.

Over his 40 years of hard work across 3 different countries this Mr X has accumulated a total retirement income of CHF57,000 - less than 1/3 of his final salary.

The generation before us saw the Golden Age of pensions with the possibility of early retirement and a gold carriage clock to send it off to enjoy the fruits of the 30+ years that it worked for the same institution.

Our generation is still sitting on the time bomb and needs to act quickly to minimise the aftershock. There are solutions available. The hard part is finding the right one in a minefield of different schemes. If you’re an international worker, who may possibly be moving on again, then finding that right solution to accommodate cross-border flexibility becomes even tougher. Until a solution to this problem is found, the responsibility to avoid a shortfall will remain with the individual. They will need to seek the best advice and take a disciplined approach to overcome their own potential retirement time bomb.

Despite the EU and further reaching governments being slow to provide any reasonable solution for this international problem, a number of the larger insurance companies have recognised this growing market and the associated cross border issues. They have developed pension plans with added flexibility aimed at the international worker. As one of the various components, when planning for retirement, these international products can be ideal in helping one bridge a shortfall.

For example, once a shortfall has been recognised from state and employee schemes, the next port of call should be a local 3rd pillar plan in order to take advantage of the tax benefits. The amount that can be invested in a Swiss 3rd pillar is, however, limited and in many cases will still leave the individual with a deficit. A flexible international product aimed at the expat community may then be the answer to fill that requirement.

Advice on this subject should only be sought from qualified and fully regulated IFA’s .

If most analysts believe that over 40 years a retiree should have accumulated enough to provide an income equating to 60-70% of their final salary to sustain their lifestyle, then this particular employee, Mr X, will be subject to a very large shortfall indeed.

Had he worked all his life for that company in Switzerland he would have a retirement income of almost double that amount.

Hardly seems fair does it?

This example is also typical for people who may work for just 1 multinational organisation and have moved with the same company across different global jurisdictions.

In a world that’s getting smaller by the day, it’s amazing that only a handful of companies have reworked their schemes to account for this adjustment. But if some companies can do it, then why can’t the governments? Recent schemes such as Qualifying Recognised Oversees Pensions Scheme (QROPS), which allow UK pensions to be transferred out of the UK, have their place but are not always for everyone.

In Switzerland, you can take your pension with you should you leave the country, which is nice. However, this doesn’t really help the government of the country where that individual chooses to retire, as they now have another pensioner on their hands with no retirement income because they went and blew the lot on a luxury boat when they left Switzerland.

For many years now, there has been talk of international pension schemes, yet still nothing has developed that lends itself to an even playing field for the international worker. Despite the talk, I don’t see anything being developed for some time, as governments are currently too busy trying to sort out their own domestic pension issues.

The generation behind us is being educated and will be wise to the fact that it needs to take heed and make provisions for its retirement.

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The McKay Interview Robert Deillon: Director of Geneva International Airport Geneva International Airport handles 14 million passengers annually and was named Europe’s most efficient, mid-sized airport for the last two years. The man in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly is Robert Deillon, who took over the reins in 2006. He spoke to Michael McKay about customer service, development and dealing with snowy conditions.

How do you measure service at the airport? Do you have on going surveys with passengers and airlines?

where they come from. This helps us have a better overall idea of how to improve our service.

Yes. We are part of a weekly, international survey with 200 other airports. This gives us a good idea of where we stand in terms of service, a benchmark, if you will. On top of this, we also measure key indicators, for example how long customers spend waiting in queues and finally, every November, we organise more specific surveys to find out how our customers get to the airport and

How useful are customer surveys and how quickly are you able to react to what the customers say?

photo: © Genève Aéroport

It depends on the problems they raise.

Many of them are to do with infrastructure which helps us develop the infrastructure of the airport. If the issues are linked to service, then this helps us improve our staff

training and gives us a better idea of what times of day and which areas need the most staff. We have also introduced a new system that lets passengers decide on whether or not they are happy with the service at the airport by pushing either a red, yellow green button. We have these set up in most of the toilets and this way people can have their say. If people push the red button five times in a row then we know we have to do something.

How do you balance the needs of security, with speed of access and throughput of passengers, visitors and aeroplanes in a busy airport?

That’s the most difficult thing because we all know that security measures are increasing, and every year new measures are introduced. Airports don’t have a choice about these because we are audited by the European Union, and we have to comply with their requirements. Security has to be harmonised throughout the whole network, otherwise it doesn’t make any sense. We try and balance the throughput of passengers with the number of passengers. We know exactly how many passengers should pass through the airport per hour, and we plan the staff accordingly. It’s a mathematical exercise that we sometimes get wrong and unfortunately queues that shouldn’t be more than ten minutes sometimes are, but we react and move staff around or ask management to help out.

How do passenger numbers in Geneva compare with Zurich?

Geneva has 14 million passengers and Zurich has about 24 million so we’re almost half the size. Geneva is particular because the throughput changes, depending on the season. On average we have 35,000 daily passengers passing through the airport.

During the weekend, over the winter season, this figure doubles to 70,000, which is about same average as Zurich. This gives you an idea of the difficulties we have to deal with over the winter. We clearly don’t have the capacity to serve 70,000 passengers but this is what the region demands. We call in lots of temporary staff over the weekends in winter, open up areas of the airport we don’t use the rest of the year, plan carefully and have staff on standby.

What’s happened here to transform the airport from the dark days, when Swissair pulled out and it all seemed doom and gloom to what is a very vibrant airport today? Tell us that story.

The story of the airport is similar to the story of the region. An airport is a reflection of the economic situation of the region. We all know the Lake Geneva region has a very prosperous economy at the moment and the airport has followed. We were lucky

have 250-300 passengers which means the size of Geneva’s market can’t feed all those long haul flights. What is very important for us is that new destinations are successful. If an airline has to pull out after a few months it’s not good for the image of Geneva and it becomes very difficult to attract new airlines.

What’s the most difficult situation you have faced while running the airport?

in Geneva because we had the very early arrival of easyJet, which helped us increase the number of destinations we serve and keep prices down which encouraged people to travel.

Geneva airport is in a relatively small and confined area. In terms of development where could you go?

That’s one of the problems with Geneva airport as it’s very close to the city centre.

It’s quite difficult to imagine, but by 2025 the airport will serve 20 million people, maybe more and it’s a challenge for us to accommodate all those passengers.

In Geneva, we do have a limit, but I don’t think we have reached it yet. We still have some potential to develop and we’re currently trying to increase the capacity of the runway; we have already begun constructing a new building. It’s important to think long term in an airport.

Who pays for all this development?

Although the airport is owned by the Canton of Geneva, we don’t get any public money, so the airport pays for its own development, like a private company.

Passengers pay a fee of about CHF22 when they pass through the airport and the rest comes from the non-aviation, commercial revenue, which makes up about 50% of our revenue - that’s the shops and bars and restaurants.

Are there plans to increase the number of long haul flights out of Geneva?

Everybody thinks we could have 20 long haul destinations out of Geneva but long haul destinations are extremely expensive for airlines. For every flight we need to

Whenever there is a crisis situation and we have to close down for a couple of hours, when it snows for example. Passengers are always under the impression that we haven’t given them the correct information or that we’ve told them too late. This is challenging. We speak with airports around the world that regularly deal with snow, to improve how we deal with wintery conditions. The problem with Geneva is that temperatures can change so rapidly that we are forced to clear the runways. In Scandinavia for example it’s so cold that the snow is left on the runway and because it snows every other day they are better equipped to deal with it. We do have 50 vehicles though that we use when it snows. It’s a big investment.

As you look back on your career here, what are you most proud of?

We’ve done a lot of work at the airport over the last three years. We’ve refurbished the old terminal, which wasn’t always easy.

I’m pleased with the passenger feedback which has improved over the last couple of years and I’m happy that passengers are seeing positive changes. This is really satisfying for me because it’s my job to make sure that our service improves and that we’re able to serve passengers in the years to come.

The McKay Interview www.mckays.ch A problem-solver in communication and reputation management with over forty years corporate and independent consulting experience; focusing on personalised and tailored-made strategies for clients that wish to improve; master of ceremonies, event moderator and broadcaster.

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Does your website stand out from the crowd?

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As the Frontier Group continues to expand, we’ve decided to reach across the office to our digital sister; Media Frontier are working on a wide range of new website designs for their Geneva clients.

In the first of our ‘What’s on Digital’ columns, we asked Media Frontier exactly what is making its new designs stand out from the crowd.

Function over form – it has got to work!

We take an enormous amount of care to ensure the design of our new sites surpasses expectations.

By ‘design’, we don’t just refer to how the website will look – we think about how the site will function. This includes things like how long a page will take to load, what order a user must click links in order to arrive at content and how the search function displays results. These are all things that add to great design.

Easy to use content management systems.

This sounds so basic, but in practice a lot of larger companies require more complex functionality, and it’s this complexity that we need to watch out for. The age old rule of ‘keep it simple simon’ still applies to the most modern digital systems.

What exactly is a content management system?

This is the software that enables an in-house web team to administer a website without developer assistance. There are lots of great ‘open source’ systems available now, which is making it very easy for companies to deliver information, very quickly, to their live site.

If you’re concentrating on functionality, does that mean your sites are less creative?

That’s not the case. If a site has been designed well, there will be lots of room for innovation. It’s part of our job to deliver the creative visuals in harmony with a great user experience.

It is true however, that we regularly spend a disproportionate amount of time getting the fine details just right. C’est la vie!

Innovation? With so many sites on the internet, is it not just a case of repeating what somebody else has produced?

Sometimes it’s good to look at what is happening elsewhere in the industry, but every project is different. Every company will have different user groups and business requirements – so we need to listen to these needs and find the right amount of innovation for that business.

Is it easy to change a website design without going through a whole project?

This really depends on how the site has been built. Normally it’s possible to make tweaks to the visual appearance, but changing how the fundamentals work is slightly different.

Quite often we will refine a site post launch.

This could be as a result of user feedback or through looking at analytics.

What do you mean by analytics?

All of our websites come with an analytics package. This allows administrators to analyse how many people are visiting their site, what country they are logging in from, what language they speak and a whole lot more detail. This is a great way to optimize content and structure.

To continue the discussion on web-design, why not join us for our half-day seminar in September? Find out more here… www.mediafrontier.ch/seminar

About us We help interpret and tell your stories across the multi-media spectrum. We create, build, and deliver great-looking content and campaigns that inspire and engage. We also know the technical nuts and bolts, inside out.

We’ve worked with many of the world’s most visible companies and organisations. We also love working with new ideas, startups, owner-managed businesses, one-off projects and campaigns.

We want to create meaningful digital connections between you and your multiple audiences.

We work internationally. We also understand the real value of local.

If you need a team to help create a change in your business, or a change in the world, let us know.

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get involved in the local community 60

Sarah Fransen speaks with key members of our local community.

English Speaking Cancer Association Interview with Catherine Blanc 03.05.13 The English Speaking Cancer Association (esca) was set up in 1999 after an American living in Geneva was diagnosed with cancer. He felt very alone and didn’t feel that his French was good enough to join a French speaking support group. esca’s mission is to have a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer (both patient, family and friends) and to provide emotional support, practical help and information in English. It is a non-profit association of volunteers and professionals from all walks of life.

Last year, the Association helped 55 clients with regular or occasional counselling and peer support. However, it is worth noting that the Association estimates that for every patient, ten parents, friends, family children are affected by cancer and all of these people can also benefit from esca’s help.

In addition to the counselling and peer support, the Association holds monthly Information and Discussion Evenings. There is a special Breast Cancer group, Bosom Pals, and esca can provide practical support - accompanying patients to medical treatments, walking the dog, looking after the children, or simply as company.

Every year, esca organises the Paddle for Cancer Dragonboat Festival which, this year, will take place on 1 September. This annual cancer awareness raising and fund raising event is huge fun. It is a great day out and the main fund raising event of the year for the Association. Many teams enter each year: corporate teams, open teams, all-female teams and a team raising awareness of paediatric cancer.

There are many ways to contact esca: The Drop In Centre, open on Tuesday and Thursday from 10.00 to 14.00hrs or by appointment.

By phone +41 (0) 22 791 6305 24 Hour Helpline 079 531 55 11

www.cancersupport.ch

Geneva Amateur Operatic Society Interview John Fox 0.04.13 Set up in 1971 to meet the demands of the local Anglophone community for musical entertainment, the Geneva Amateur Operatic Society (GAOS) is now a thriving amateur operatic society with around 500 members of over 25 nationalities.

GAOS has very recently staged an unprecedented sell-out production of ‘Chicago’ and future productions include ‘I love you, you’re perfect. Now change!’ in mid-June and the annual Very Youthful Group production of West Side Story at the end of August.

The famous Christmas pantomime (title to be announced shortly) will be held during the first two weekends of December.

You don’t necessarily need to be a budding Richard Burton or Liz Taylor to join this highly sociable and professional group.

Musicians and people interested in constructing sets or being involved with lighting and sound, make up and costumes or selling

tickets or drinks at the bar are all needed and welcomed.

The Society also has an active choral group who perform three concerts per year (including a carol concert) and with choirs from all over Swiss Romande. GAOS also organise specific social events three or four times a year.

The Society has no ‘home base’ and so performs wherever it can. Theatre facilities and rehearsal space are in short supply in Geneva; GAOS would love a Club House of their own with stage, orchestra pit, rehearsal space, storage, bar and foyer...any local millionaires willing to help out?

Membership is CHF50 a year for performers.

For more information, please contact Birgitta Lindup, Membership Secretary at : membership@gaos.ch

www.gaos.ch

Come & play and learn with us this summer!

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Information and registration: Gymboree Play & Music Geneva · Rue Sonnex 23 · 1218 Grand Saconnex Tel: 022-920 9200 · Email: info.geneva@gymboree.ch · www.gymboree.ch

get involved in the local community 62

Sarah Fransen speaks with key members of our local community.

GRYCC Interview with Michael George 25.04.13 Despite being able to claim the highest ground in Europe, cricket is very much a minority game in Switzerland. So found Michael George when he moved to Geneva in 2002. Despite being a recognised Level 2 ECB coach, there was no call for his skills in Geneva, nor a club for his eight-year old son to join. So a comment by his son provoked him to set one up: the Geneva Region Youth Cricket Club (GRYCC). Having found a ground at CERN, a group of Friday night die-hards started training in 2004. Word spread around the area and a sizeable club has developed.

The club is open to players of all ages from 7 to 19 years old and of any nationality. The love of cricket is the point in common.

Michael explained that while members have different backgrounds, religions and nationalities, these mixed up teams become firm, good friends, united in a single activity.

Cricket helps with fitness - it can involve playing for hours outside (not just standing around!) and is a tough sport that needs to be played within the ‘spirit’ of the rules.

In addition to the ground at CERN, at the end of May 2013 the Club will establish an indoor training centre at the International School of Geneva, LGB campus, including a bowling machine and nets.

This will allow individual training to maximise the potential of all players.

The GRYCC runs the Swiss Colts side, including members from the club and others from around the country. The Colts will be on tour to Surrey this year. The Club also runs various tours to Lancashire and Liverpool for training and matches, as well as attending a tournament on that previously mentioned highest cricket ground in Europe...in Zuoz, Grisons!

The website is currently down so for more details, you can contact GRYCC@bluewin.ch.

Netball Switzerland.

Interview with Cathryn Rich 23.04.13 Did you know that you can play netball in Switzerland?

Established in 2009, Netball Switzerland promotes the sport for girls and women of all ages and nationalities throughout the country.

Co-founder Cathryn Rich explained how Netball Switzerland came about. When she arrived in here in 2007 as a super keen netball player, she was disappointed to find that there were only two small clubs in Geneva. Together with Jo Beveridge, she set about spreading the word and a first tournament was held in 2008, with four adults’ teams.

In 2013, Netball Switzerland has already organised two national tournaments, one involving 30 junior teams and the other 14 teams of adults!

How does Cathryn explain this huge increase? She believes that netball is a game that you can play at any age (even older age!), and that there is a role for everyone within the sport.

Netball Switzerland was established to promote and improve the game in Switzerland. Netball is not traditionally played here, so they are keen introduce the game to local communities. Any money raised is ploughed back into the sport by establishing new clubs (the latest are at Meinier and Nyon), generally resourcing the existing clubs and helping to provide equipment for the sport. Last year, an elite training team was established: the Cadre d’Espoir.

This year, there will be 45 girls on this programme.

The game is played throughout the French and German speaking parts of Switzerland.

Find out where your nearest local team is on the website

www.netballswitzerland.ch For more information, contact info@netballswitzerland.ch

Enrol here.

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At GEMS World Academy-Etoy, we prepare young people for the 21st century.

We create world citizens that can go anywhere, do anything, ready to realise their potential.

With outstanding teaching and amazing facilities, we create learning environments that allow us to focus on your child’s individual development. It’s why GEMS Education has become the world’s largest Kindergarten – Grade 12 private education provider.

GEMS World Academy-Etoy opens September 2013, starting from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 9 (ages 3 to 15).

Enrol your children today at www.gemsworldacademy-etoy.com email our Registrar at registrar_gwe@gemsedu.com or call on +41 (0)79 254 1798

promotion LA PRAILLE SHOPPING & LEISURE t : +41 (0) 22 304 80 00 www.la-praille.ch rte des Jeunes 10, 1227 Carouge, Geneva Relax over coffee or lunch, enjoy bowling with friends or update your fashion look – at La Praille the possibilities are endless. Check out the choices: Ten restaurants & cafes, (including Da Giovanni, Coop, le Panetier, Molino, Martel, E-wok), hair styling & wellbeing, beauty & nails, a bank, the largest Coop hypermarket

distributors

64

in Geneva and a traditional bakery serving delicious bread from a wood oven.

La Praille also offers great family leisure: a 26-lane bowling alley, solarium, fitness club (with heated pool), and children’s nursery. La Praille is open 7/7 (until 9pm Thursdays).

Ample parking/public transport.

SIGNY CENTRE T : +41 (0) 22 363 67 00 www.signycentre.ch 300m from the A1 autoroute, exit Nyon Easy parking, great shopping and a relaxing experience – Signy Centre is all about convenience! With 50 topname stores (including a giant Coop supermarket for wonderful fresh foods), you can shop for fashions then relax with a coffee or lunch while the children play at the supervised nursery. Or why not enjoy a workout

at the fitness club? Check out hair salons, a post office, pharmacy, travel agency and dry cleaning.

Life is convenient at Signy Centre!

Monday to Thursday: 9am - 7pm, Friday until 9pm and Saturday until 6pm. Free parking.

Blandonnet shopping centre www.blandonnetcentre.ch Route de Meyrin 171, 1214 vernier Ideally located south of Cointrin Geneva airport, at the crossroads between route de Meyrin and rue du Pré-Bois, Blandonnet Centre offers easy access to a choice of shops and cafés. Thanks to its indoor parking of more than 1000 places, free for 3 hours, and public transport connections right at the door (tram 14 and 4 bus lines), the Blandonnet Commercial Centre has the largest Coop store in French speaking

Switzerland, the only Interio store in canton Geneva and other shops such as Dosenbach, Interdiscount, Mobilezone, Yendi, dry cleaning, hair dressing and a pharmacy, not forgetting two restaurants (Coop and Aux bonnes choses). The centre is well laid out in a bright and airy environment. See website for opening hours and animations.

Vitam Shopping Centre T: +33 (0) 450 84 65 65 www.vitam.fr 500, route des Envignes, 74160 SAINT-JULIEN-EN-GENEVOIS Located at the heart of the Vitam Centre for leisure and well-being, the Vitam Shopping Centre is the perfect place to browse and buy; to seek out original gifts or to treat yourself!

More than 20 individual stores offer fashion, decoration, well-being, beauty and sport – representing more than

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90 famous brands.

And what will really set the shine on your retail therapy? A spectacular setting, restaurants and a hotel!

Five minutes from Bardonnex. Free parking. TPG Bus D Bel Air – Vitam (Wed, Sat, Sun).

OUTLET AUBONNE T : +41 (0) 58 853 75 20 www.outlet-aubonne.ch Pré Neuf, 1170 Aubonne (next to IKEA, just off the A1).

There’s free parking and easy access with public transport, (Allaman station only 3 mins walk!)

Open Mon-Wed 10 am – 7pm, ThursFri 10am – 9pm, Sat 9 am to 6 pm.

See website for latest news.

Centre Commercial St-Antoine - vevey T : +41 (0) 21 925 76 89 www.st-antoine.ch Av General-Guisan 15, Vevey Easy to access and easy to enjoy – that’s the St Antoine Centre at Vevey.

With covered parking for more than 350 cars, and both trains and buses directly in front, St Antoine is all about convenience. Thirty big names and boutiques are present – offering hair

care, beauty, fashion, home-styling, electrical, flowers and travel – as well as places to enjoy a coffee or lunch.

Children love the garderie and who can resist the fresh foods and quality labels at Manor supermarket? See website for location and hours.

CHAVANNES CENTRE T : +41 (0) 22 960 86 99 www.les-centres.ch off the A1 autoroute at the Coppet/Divonne exit.

The Chavannes Centre is more than a shopping centre. There are 40 shops ranging from top brands, to household goods to specialized outlets and a large Manor department store and supermarket – stocking local delicacies and a wide range of food from all over the world.

The Chavannes Centre is also an excellent place to relax and eat, with restaurants such as Manora and Planet Caviar. There’s free parking and day-care available as well. The Chavannes Centre, where you’ll find everything.

Val Thoiry Commercial Centre T: +33 (0) 4 50 41 20 20 www.valthoiry.com Access: Y Bus from Geneva – Blandonnex direction.

By Car: just off the D884.

The Val Thoiry Commercial Centre is located just off the D884 at Thoiry, only 5 minutes from Swiss the border at Meyrin. In the centre, there are 66 shops, several restaurants and cafés and a Migros Hypermarket. There are also a number of large stores in the adjoining commercial zone.

Shop opening times: Monday to Friday from 9.30 a.m to 8.00 p.m. and Saturday from 9.00. The Hypermarket is open from 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m.

Monday to Friday and from 8.30 a.m. on Saturday.

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distributors

OUTLET AUBONNE - A strong concept in one of the biggest commercial locations between Geneva and Lausanne. For top brands in fashion and sports, such as Lacoste, Desigual, Diesel, Levi’s, Mango, Navyboot, Boggi, Lee Wrangler, Ecko Unltd, Nike, Adidas, Puma and more – with up to 70% off all year round in more than 50 stores.

Give Humanity a Chance, Give the Earth a Future www.gcint.org/green-cross-20-years

66 To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Green Cross International, the following

events will take place in Geneva on 2-3 September 2013:

Les célébrations du 20ème anniversaire de Green Cross seront marquées par plusieurs événements qui auront lieu les 2 et 3 Septembre à Genève : 2 SEPTEMBER | 2 SEPTEMBRE Green Cross International General Assembly Assemblée Générale de Green Cross International

3rd Green Star Awards 3èmes Green Star Awards

Gala concert by pianist Andrei Gavrilov at Victoria Hall Concert du pianiste Andrei Gavrilov au Victoria Hall

3 SEPTEMBER | 3 SEPTEMBRE The 7th Earth Dialogues conference at Palais des Nations (free entry) Les 3èmes Dialogues pour le Terre au Palais des Nations (Entrée libre)

Musical “2050:The Future We Want” at Palais des Nations (free entry) Comédie musicale “2050:The Future We Want” au Palais des Nations (Entrée libre) Green Cross International 20th anniversary www.gcint.org/ green-cross-20-years

To attend these events, and find out more information, contact communication@gci.ch or go to gcint.org/green-cross-20-years.

Pour assister à ces évènements et obtenir des informations complémentaires contactez communication@gci.ch ou sur gcint.org/ green-cross-20-years.

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