Frontier magazine- Issue 6 by Media Frontier

GENEVA -

- NEIGHB

SPRING 20

FRONTIER MAGAZINE

ISSUE 06 -

LAUSANNE

CAROUGE HOTEL SCHOOLS GENEVA MOTOR SHOW ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

T BORDER

E WITHOU

ANCE | LIV OURING FR

HAPPY CAMPERS! PLUS: DATING TIPS – CONCERT NEWS – INTERVIEW WITH ASTRONAUT CLAUDE NICOLLIER!

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CONTENTS

FRONTIER MAGAZINE Published by

Directors Editor Creative Director Publication Manager

Anglo Media Group SA Images Building, 1st floor 9, rue de Veyrot, 1217 Meyrin Switzerland T +41 (0)22 989 53 10 Peter Sibley & Mark Butcher Bill Harby Matt Martin Sarah Over

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Valentina Shapiro

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Media Frontier www.mediafrontier.ch WRS T +41 (0) 22 989 53 10 E - advertising@worldradio.ch 20,000 International Organisations, NGOs, Multinational companies, Hotels, Geneva Airport, Shopping Centres, International Schools, Tourist Offices 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.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

contents 7. 8. 14. 16. 18. 19. 21. 22. 24. 28. 30. 32. 34. 44. 64. 70. 76. 80. 82. 87. 89. 90.

AIRWAVES NEED TO KNOW BOOKS THE MCKAY INTERVIEW TECHNOLOGY POLITICS GADGET GURU FRONTIER TALENT STYLE FILE DIG IT! WINE MARKETING MOTOR SHOW SUMMER CAMPS HOTEL SCHOOLS QUIET CAROUGE DESTINATION: BOURGOGNE COMMUNITY CONNTECTION: GEDS HEALTH MATTERS LEARNING MORE KIDS IN MIND BORDERLINES

WHEN LEARNING IS FUN My favorite professor at university once told our class, as we were pulling our hair learning about bibliographies, that sometimes, “learning isn’t fun; but knowing things is fun”.

16. THE MCKAY INTERVIEW

34. MOTOR SHOW

However, sometimes, learning is extremely fun. Especially if you’re a kid at one of the amazing Swiss summer camps that mix education and recreation so seamlessly it’s often hard to tell the difference. To get a glimpse, see our cover story, “Summer Fun and Then Some”. And if you’re a parent considering a Swiss summer programme for your child, you’ll want to peruse our listings starting on page . There’s lots more learning in this issue: How do Swiss students compare internationally in math scores? See our “Need To Know” section. Why are Swiss hotel management schools considered the best in the world? Read our feature, “Welcoming the World” by Lausanne journalist Caroline Bishop. Also, our “Kids in Mind” columnist, Rebecca Weber, offers perspective on how parents can help their teens cope with their emerging sexual identity; while “Learn More” columnist Sabine Hutchinson offers tips to parents considering boarding schools. Want to begin learning a new skill yourself? How about flying a helicopter? Come along with me as I take the controls in my “Borderlines” column on the last page.

44. SUMMER CAMPS

64. HOTEL SCHOOLS

When school is out, there’s lots going on around the Lake Geneva area, including upcoming concerts by Stevans (“Frontier Talent”) and James Blunt (“Need To Know”). For a look at one of Geneva’s loveliest quartiers, see “Quiet Carouge”, an intriguing photo essay by Evi Zoupanou. And a little farther afield, thinking ahead to summer holidays, how about piloting a houseboat through the canals of Burgundy? Read about it in “Slow Boat Through Bourgogne”. Happy reading – and please feel free to write me if you have any comments. Cheers, Bill Harby, Editor bill.harby@anglomediagroup.com

70. DAY TRIP: CAROUGE

90. BORDERLINES FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

SELL!

Selling your property in the Lake Geneva region just became easy. wrsproperty.ch The new home for everything property.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

AIRWAVES

WRS

THE FIRST SIX MONTHS

ell here we are, 6 months down the line with the new WRS. For those of you who’ve been following our story – and there are plenty of you – we have lots of good news.

the highest it’s ever been (this includes the “old” WRS figures) – and more than 15,000 new users have registered on the website since September – this again is a significant increase. And thousands more of you have downloaded the app so you can listen on the Since going to an all-digital radio station – move. on-line and DAB+ – we have been hearing from many of you about how you’ve made Your support tells us that there is a strong the transition to digital. You’ve bought demand for English language radio in the DAB+ radios for the kitchen, bathroom and region – not that we doubted that. Nor did bedroom, as well as the car. Our analysis of we doubt that our decision to be a locally our web traffic shows that more and more of focused radio station is the way to win a loyal you are streaming – in fact, half of you are audience. streaming the radio station one way or the As our audience grows, so do we, and so other and using the website. does what we can give you. At the beginning We know that you’re also listening to WRS of the year we moved into bigger studios and on your phones, your tablets and Internet we continue to grow the team. Over the next radios. Our figures show that towards the few months, we’ll be launching new shows, end of last year, traffic to worldradio.ch was including a new dance music show that will

include interviews with local DJs, musicians and club owners. It will be the best way to stay right up to date with the local dance scene (which is much livelier than many people think). In April we’ll be re-launching the website, giving you more local information and ideas on what to do around the Lake Geneva area -- on both sides of the border. Keep tuning in and we’ll tell you all about it. The classifieds will always be with us, of course – we do have the biggest English language classified advertising website in the region, by a significant margin – there’s no question it’s the best place to buy and sell. So of course we remain very excited by the future, and we’re delighted you’ve joined us. We can’t do it without you.

AIRWAVES BY MARK BUTCHER Mark Butcher, co-founder of today’s WRS, and a director at Frontier, is an award-winning broadcaster. As member of the management start-up team for World Radio Geneva in 1996 he quickly became “the voice of the region” for the international community in Switzerland. He was WRG Programme Controller when it won the prestigious “Radio Station of the Year Award” in 2005. He’s worked in broadcasting and journalism all his professional life with management and presenting roles in mainstream commercial radio stations and at the BBC.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

NEED TO KNOW

NEED to KNOW

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

NEED TO KNOW

JAMES BLUNT’S

moon landing Being on the road is nothing unusual for James Blunt. The former British Army officer turned singer-songwriter is all too familiar with the transient existence of being on tour. These days, it’s far from a tour of duty; tents and ration packs have been replaced by luxury hotels and 5-star finery. Switzerland is a second home for Blunt, who first came here on family holidays, and later returned for winter training exercises with the Army. Now he has an alpine retreat in Verbier far from the spotlight of his increasingly global recognition. Ironically, it was Blunts’ military service that gave him the opportunity to pursue his love of music. His guitar was an instrument of creative distraction and a weapon of mass production to counter mundane military life. The legacy of active service remains, with a strong commitment to the work of Médecins Sans Frontières. “When I was in the field, MSF were always there and always in-first. They were working harder than us to provide the basic needs to crisis victims” said Blunt during his interview with me on WRS. “I will do what I can to support their work.” This year, Blunt’s ”Moon Landing” concert tour launched in Shanghai, China, and will see him orbiting Europe before taking to the stage in Zurich on March 17th and Geneva on the 24th. No doubt returning to his adopted Verbier in-between to sneak in as much skiing as possible before the season is over. For CH concert goers he promises that “the band is tight and we have some big surprises in-store “. By Tony Johston

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

NEED TO KNOW

Margeuron, who likes to draw but says (in French) “I’m not an artist,” also created what is now known as Les Prix Rodolphe Töppfer de la Ville de Genève. Begun in 1997, this prestigious annual international competition honours the creators of bandes dessinées. In 2000, the city became a co-sponsor of the competition because it turns out that Rodolphe Töpffer, the grand-father of bande dessinée, was Genevois. Born in 1799, he at first drew illustrated stories in strip form merely to amuse friends and family – at least until his work was praised by none other than Goethe. Töpffer then began publishing his works in European newspapers and, later, in comic book form.

Bandes DESTINY Crossing Pont de la Coulouvrenière in Geneva, you may have looked towards the lake and noticed a wide curving row of windows jutting out into the Rhône almost like the prow of a ship. Except the windows are filled with bright, colorful rectangles of drawings and books. This is Papiers Gras, the largest store in the city devoted to the art and stories of bandes dessinées (literally, “drawn strips”, often abbreviated as “BDs”), or “comic books”, as we call them in English, for want of a better term. But don’t expect racks of run-of-the-mill super-hero comics at Papier Gras. Although some DC and Marvel classics can be found, often in collector’s editions, the focus here is more grown-up. The store – opened in 1990 by Roland Margeuron, and still owned by him – is a rich gallery of bandes dessinées and related artwork, with books ranging from the latest Japanese manga and international graphic novels to collectibles in the form of signed posters, and even limited edition Papiers Gras wine labels by various BD artists.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

The Prix Töpffer annual award parties used to be at Papier Gras, but are now held in the city’s Palais Eynard, having outgrown the unassailably cool, intimate comic book store. But the winning artworks are still displayed there before traveling to Paris and beyond. Margeuron says BDs won’t ever make him rich, but he loves the people, the art and the stories. Besides, he adds, his gaze sweeping across the colorful books and artwork to the river and the bridge beyond, “look where I get to work every day.” THE 2013 WINNERS: PRIX TÖPPFER GENÈVE (CHF 10,000), to the best BD created by a Geneva native (or resident of longer than two years): Tom Tirabosco and Christian Perrissin for Kongo. Le ténébreux voyage de Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, (Editions Futuropolis). PRIX TÖPPFER INTERNATIONAL (CHF 10,000) for the best overall French-language BD: Marc-Antoine Mathieu for Le Décalage, (Editions Delcourt ). YOUNG BANDE DESSINÉE PRIX OF THE RÉPUBLIC & CANTON OF GENEVA (CHF 5,000), to an up-and-coming artist between the ages of 15 - 30 for an unpublished work: Andrea Bonnet for Marcovaldo.

NEED TO KNOW

kick start YOUR LOVE LIFE!

Looking for love? Even if you are an expat who doesn’t speak French, the Lake Geneva area is a great place for dating, says Trea Tijmens, a certified matchmaker and dating coach. “The English-speaking community here is growing constantly, and many Swiss are open to meeting Anglophones,” she says. So, how do you improve your chances for meeting someone appealing? First, says Trea, “ditch all the excuses to not start dating, such as ‘I don’t speak the language, I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, I’m too busy with work, there are no available men or women, or I’ll start dating once I’ve settled in my new job – or lost 10 kilos, or when the kids are bigger’ or whatever other excuse is holding you back”. After you get positive about dating, make it happen. “Don’t wait for love to come knocking at your door!” says Trea, who is the driving force behind WRS Dating, the new match-making service for the English-speaking community. OK, but how to take the initiative? The dating coach has four quick tips: CREATE AN ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE. Join activities around your centres of interest (sports, theatre, etc.) and discover new ones. Attend social events, join your local colleagues for after-work drinks. Create a life outside of work and spend time with other singles who are positive, supportive and fun. BE PREPARED. You can meet a partner anywhere, anytime, so be open to that certain someone whether you’re in the grocery store or the park. Be friendly and dress for success (or seduction).

ENLIST AMBASSADORS. Never be embarrassed about being single. Let those around you know that you’d like to meet someone nice, and that you would be happy to be introduced should they know someone who is, for example, smart, fun and in his fifties (limit yourself to 3 key criteria). Keep it light and simple. Not surprisingly, Trea also recommends that those looking for love work with a professional dating service. Advantages for busy professionals include confidentiality and selectivity, saving you time and increasing your chances for a compatible match.

forever young, or old

IN SWITZERLAND

The Swiss are living longer than ever before – beating out 34 countries for the highest average life expectancy of 82.8 years old, according to a recent study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. No big surprise considering that Oxfam recently rated Switzerland the number two nation with access to plentiful and affordable healthy food. Including chocolate – we ate a staggering 19.9kg per capita in 2012. By Jaimie Guerra

Want to increase your chances even more? Go to worldradio.ch/dating. What have you got to lose by diving into dating? Except love? FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

NEED TO KNOW

Susan Tiberghien

BRIDGES OF WORDS “I think it’s the support and the spirit of creativity that are most important in the Geneva Writers’ Group”, says Susan Tiberghien, author of four books, and leader of the GWG, a 200-strong association of writers meeting monthly at the Geneva Press Club. When she started this group in 1993, she was in her 50s. There were 18 people, meeting monthly at the Café du Soleil in Geneva.

Simple

ARITHMETIC

Math test scores have been adding up pretty well for Swiss teenage students. Measured against 65 countries, 15-year-old Swiss math students were rated 9th globally, according to 2012 results released late last year by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. By comparison, Shanghai, China came in 1st, the UK at 26th, and the US at 36th. Two other categories show similar ratings. For Reading: Shanghai was again 1st (show-offs!), CH was 16th, the UK 20th, and the US 24th. For Science: 1st place: take a wild guess, while CH was 19th, the UK 20th and the US 28th. FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

“I was a member of the American Women’s Club, and leading their writing workshop,” recalls Tiberghien , “but I wanted to do something where men were involved, too!” U.S.-born and raised, she met Pierre-Yves Tiberghien in 1956 while studying Contemporary French Literature for a year at the University of Grenoble. Now – mother of six, grandmother of 15 – she writes about that man and their life together in her upcoming book, Side by Side: Writing the Way to Lasting Love, now in the hands of her agent. During the 1990s, Tiberghien studied at the Jungian Institute in Kusnacht. She writes about this experience in Looking for Gold: A Year in Jungian Analysis (1995). She has also published another book about silent prayer, a third about raising six kids in Europe, and then the best selling, One Year to a Writing Life: Twelve Lessons to Deepen Every Writer’s Art and Craft (2007). “I went to my first writing workshop when I was 50, and published my first book when I was 60,” says the author. “I was living in French and thought I could not write in English,” she says. “But then the stories flowed out from deep within – and in English.” The Geneva Writers Group is a reflection of Susan’s dream. It brings together writers of from many nations. Today over 50 GWG members are published, many of them having found their agents or publishers at the biennial Geneva Writers Conference. The 9th conference took place in February at Webster University in Bellevue. Why the devotion to GWG and her own writing? “With our words, we build bridges of understanding. I think this is what I have always wanted to do.” By Daniela Norris

NEED TO KNOW

THE

iRobot

Sci-fi writers of the 1950s thought robots would be doing all our household chores in the 21st Century. Unfortunately, they were a bit optimistic. iRobot, the company that popularised the home robot with its Roomba vacuum cleaners, has released the latest version of its floor-washing device. The Scooba 450 is about the same size as the company’s vacuum cleaners, but has a new three-stage cleaning process. The first stage sweeps and pre-soaks the floor, the second scrubs with a brush operating at 600rpm, and the final stage squeegees the floor to almost dry. Collected matter and dirty water are sucked into its storage tank to be emptied at the end of the cycle. The 450 uses the same artificial intelligence algorithms as the vacuums to ensure the whole floor surface is cleaned, but this version also includes a “Scooba wiggle” to get a good grip on the wet floor. The iRobot devices do command a premium price, but their build quality and performance make them worth it. Just remember to lift your feet up when your 450 comes along. By Ian, the Gadget Guru

ODDS AND

ends

Got a quirky friend whose apartment is already full of enviously cool, curiosities? Want to make them a little envious themselves? Stop by Le Panapé de Caméla in GE (Rue du Général-Dufour 20) for sofa pillows, wall-hangings, photographs, stuffed animals or other unclassifiable objet de what in the world is that? Owned by charming friends Catherine Ryser-Adamczyk and Bérangère Villeval, the delightfully dyslexically named boutique is a little treasure chest of odds and ends for the home. Even the Canton of Geneva has taken notice. Last year the Dept. of Regional Affairs, Economy and Health awarded Le Panapé de Caméla its “Coup de Coeur” prize (and CHF 5000), which means they fell instantly in love with the boutique. You will too.

LEAST FREE GE Since 2007, Canton Geneva has consistently ranked last among Swiss cantons for civil and economic liberties, according to a report by Avenir Suisse. One example: Geneva ranked low for shop accessibility because the canton limits shop opening hours more than other cantons. Geneva also got hit for the complexity of requirements and limitations of time and place of the sale of alcohol. We will not be drinking to that! By Jaimie Guerra

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

BOOKS

A CHARMING ASTRONAUT AND BOND, JAMES BOND Book Reviews by Helen Stubbs, owner of OffTheShelf English Bookshop AN ASTRONAUT’S GUIDE TO LIFE ON EARTH By Chris Hadfield If you are one of the 20-million-plus who have viewed Col. Chris Hadfield’s YouTube video of himself singing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on board the International Space Station, then chances are you probably understand why Hadfield has done more than any other astronaut to rekindle the public fascination with space, reaching out to a whole new generation through his series of “How do you... (brush hair/roll a burrito/sleep) in space?” internet videos. But in An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, he has more to tell than just amusing anecdotes about weightlessness, and his book is a fascinating read whether or not you’re a space geek. From describing his childhood on the Ontario family farm where whining was out of the question, to recounting stories of how a face carved into a pineapple saved one of his expeditions, Hadfield is a wonderfully engaging companion who entertains and enlightens us as he lifts the curtain on the life, career and adventures of an accomplished astronaut. But his memoir goes further than just relating his progression from schoolboy to fighter pilot to ISS commander; he distils his experiences into pithy comments on what lies behind a successful team, what makes or breaks a mission or project, what really matters in a crisis, and how you can boost up those around you whilst still being competitive. Hair-raising tales of flying a jet plane with a bee inside his visor, or nearly having to abort a spacewalk after suddenly going blind while floating outside the space station, will have you on the edge of your seat, but the humility and humour with which he brings his wisdom back down to our “life on Earth” are the real stars of the show.

SOLO By William Boyd James Bond is back. (Did the ubiquitous 007, star of endlessly repeated bank holiday movies, ever actually leave us?) It is hard to believe that only 14 James Bond novels and two short story collections were ever written by original Bond creator Ian Fleming, such is the self-perpetuating nature of the “Bond brand”. To quench public thirst for more, numerous authors have been called upon by the Fleming estate to write novels featuring the secret agent, of which William Boyd’s Solo is the latest. So what is different? For a start, its author is one of the most gifted novelists around today, winner of countless literary awards, a Booker shortlister, and a CBE to boot. Not only that, but Boyd has gone back in time – to 1969 – to a pre-movie Bond, closer to the feel of the original novels and, dare it be said, even bettering them. The intrigue takes place mainly in Africa, true William Boyd territory, and the plot is superbly crafted. Does Boyd take 007 to new literary heights? Perhaps not, but one thing is sure: this is a fantastic thriller, atmospheric and utterly absorbing, and William Boyd has succeeded in pulling off the trickiest of stunts by dragging James Bond back from the realms of kitsch and into a rollicking read to be savoured with pleasure.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

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Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Based on Old Possum’s book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot 21 years on the West End, 18 years on Broadway! Pilot a helicopter yourself without the need for formalities – supervised by an experienced flying instructor at dual controls. Swiss Helicopter SA – Berne-Romandie Rte de l’Aérodrome 43, 1663 Epagny T +41 (0)26 921 23 23 swisshelicopter.ch

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Tickets from 22 April on www.theatreinenglish.ch

THE MCKAY INTERVIEW

THE

McKay INTERVIEW

with Claude Nicollier FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

THE MCKAY INTERVIEW

SWITZERLAND’S FIRST AND ONLY ASTRONAUT TALKS WITH MICHAEL MCKAY ABOUT THE VALUE – AND COST – OF SPACE EXPLORATION, AND THE BEAUTY OF OUR PLANET FROM SPACE. This interview, condensed and edited, can be heard in full on “The McKay Interview” at www.worldradio.ch.

MICHAEL MCKAY: My first questions concern the utilitarian value of space travel, especially the arguments in favour of journeys to Mars. Are they not hard to accept in these times of economic stringency? Wouldn’t the money be better spent on other things of greater value to mankind? What possible value could exploration to Mars bring to the man in the street?

MCKAY: When working and living in space, how do you manage your emotions? NICOLLIER: Of course the environment is very fascinating and beautiful. I was on low Earth orbit for a total of 43 days and four space shuttle missions in the ‘90s, and the views of the Earth are really stunning. It’s so beautiful that, emotionally, you could be distracted by that. In training you learn to put your emotions aside while you’re working – especially outside. You can have emotions when you are back in your cabin; in your free time you can let your emotions go. After a 12-hour working day we have one or two hours of free time before we go to sleep in our sleeping bag in the shuttle.

CLAUDE NICOLLIER: Space exploration is really inspiration, excitement and opening the boundaries of human knowledge, and there is always a benefit to any form of exploration. We know all of the advantages we get from the use of space, whether it’s for navigation, communication, [or] knowledge of planet Earth, but there’s also the long term [benefits] of any exploration, including exploration of other celestial bodies like the MCKAY: When you were musing in those quiet moments in your sleeping bag looking at the Moon and Mars and beyond. Earth, can you give us some sense of your MCKAY: Isn’t it the case that governments have thoughts there? to justify this much more than may have been the case when Columbus set sail? How do NICOLLIER: I was always impressed by the people like you brief politicians on the benefits beauty of planet Earth, but of course we also to a state, or the benefits to mankind for this see some of the scars that humans have left.

drifting rapidly under you. It could be really distracting, but when you are spacewalking you just work. MCKAY: How do you, as an engineer and scientist, maintain the purity and the honesty of space travel, and keep it away from the power politics of inter-state rivalries or military interests? NICOLLIER: I must say it’s not too difficult, as we are all NASA and the European Space Agency – these are the two main agencies I was involved in. Both of these agencies are totally disconnected from the military application of space. These are research and exploration agencies – government agencies – so the finances are coming from the taxes, the citizens of those countries. We are totally disconnected from even commercial goals, but especially military goals. Our goals were to accomplish missions of a scientific nature or of a technical nature, but for pure civilian use and application.

incredible expense, but this incredible voyage of MCKAY: What sort of scars can you see from MCKAY: Do you have a sense of confidence that we can keep that separation? discovery? that distance? NICOLLIER: It’s an incredible expense, yes, but it NICOLLIER: If you look at the mouth of some NICOLLIER: Absolutely. I was involved in the depends what you compare it to. These are major rivers like the Amazon into the Atlantic Hubble Space Telescope program and of course mainly government expenses, but now there is Ocean, obviously there’s a lot of mud, and the this is a pure civilian exploration machine, the also a rise of private space flights – whether it’s mud comes from erosion because of the objective of which is to monitor and record data for servicing of the international space station, deforestation in the Amazon Basin. We see also about celestial objects, and understand the bringing people to ISS, or bringing people back in some areas the burning of the vegetation, physical processes in the universe. The beauty down, but mainly these are government whether it’s in central Africa, Indonesia, or the of the pictures that the Hubble sent us back programs. The NASA budget in comparison to Amazon Basin. But the first view is beauty. The was absolutely stunning. It was really an opporthe total budget of the US government is very sunrise and sunset are absolutely superb. Of tunity to bring to the public awareness of what’s small; it’s one percent or less. The European course they are very fast – the sun rises in happening up there. It’s purely research, exploSpace Agency also has a €4-billion budget per about 20 seconds and sets in about the same ration, knowledge and the satisfaction of our year, but this is very small compared to the time. The views of the city lights and the curiosity as human beings. integrated government expenses of the 20 presence of humans on the surface of the Earth member-states. So these are relatively small is really spectacular. But we move really fast – expenses for huge benefits and potentially huge about 5 miles per second or 28,000 kilometres benefits for the future. per hour – so you see all of these city lights

THE MCKAY INTERVIEW BY MICHAEL MCKAY www.mckays.ch Michael McKay, based in Founex, Switzerland, is an international communications, public affairs and management strategies consultant with over 40 years experience. He is also an experienced master of ceremonies, event moderator and broadcaster who is heard regularly on WRS. FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

TECHNOLOGY

NO GOING BACK

Radio joins the digital family By David Wood, Technology and Innovation Consultant, European Broadcasting Union

nnoyed that our dear WRS is not still there on FM? See it as just the whim of distant bureaucrats to make life difficult for the common man? What is DAB+ anyway? Why change? The fact is we live in an advanced and wealthy high-tech country – one of the world’s technology leaders. Alas, for this there is a price to pay. Including the inconvenience of migrating from 1930s FM radio to a digital radio system sooner than some other countries do. Everything around us – tablets, laptops, phones, cameras, TV broadcasts, CDs, downloads, even refrigerators – have made the transition to digital. And now, finally, radio. As you know, “digital” means converting images and sound to a series of numbers so the quality is forever preserved in aspic. For radio, that means it keeps its sound quality, makes it

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

easier to find stations on the dial, is more flexible by allowing many more stations in the same radio spectrum space, saves money on transmitter power for the broadcaster, and opens the door to a decent future for radio. These are the same kinds of reasons why all your TV and cable channels went digital. You may have griped at first, but now all the advantages make it unthinkable to go back to the old technology. Eventually, all of Europe’s radio will be digital. There are already digital radio services in 14 European countries. Our large neighbour France has, alas, suffered many years of oscillating political decisions about digital radio, so may be left behind, which is ironic because the cleverest bits of DAB were invented in the research laboratories of Rennes. Norway is the first country to announce when it plans to switch off all FM completely: January 2017.

A digital radio network will not only bring a host of new stations, it will eventually allow us to add great multimedia to radio programmes, and a very simple way of combining it with Internet Radio. For this to be most successful what we need is for digital radio reception to be included in every smart phone and tablet, around which our lives are already beginning to revolve. Persuading the companies that make them, and the network operators that are involved, is no easy matter – they know that when they do this, horror of horrors, the digital radio services will be so good –and free – that their users will use less of the ‘pay’ services available. But, believe me; it’s coming. They cannot remain “King Canute” forever. When public usage of digital radio grows they will see that the tide is coming in. Our children will have their hands welded to their “Phablet”, and their parents too, and they are going to love the quality sound and “free stuff” from WRS.

POLITICS

SWISS HOTEL DIPLOMACY By Daniel Warner, Swiss-American political scientist

housands of journalists from around the world descended on Switzerland on January 22. All major media representatives shuffled between Montreux and Davos, the first for the opening of the Geneva 2 Conference on Syria, the latter for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. In spite of the problems resulting from the parallel openings – Montreux was chosen at the last moment because there were no available hotels in Geneva because of the international watch convention – it was quite a buzz for a country of only 8 million people. Punching above its weight indeed. The two major events were a perfect reflection of two unique Swiss traditions, hotels and diplomacy. There are famous hotels throughout the country, many going back to the World War I period when European nobility came here to avoid the horrors in the surrounding countries. Later, during the Cold War, the very hotel where the Montreux meeting took place was the final residence of the famous Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov. (No, he didn’t write Lolita there. In fact, his

earnings from the book and movie rights allowed him to stay at the Palace.) The early OPEC meetings took place in the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva where Sheikh Yamani had his residence. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held his nuclear talks with Iranian officials in the very same hotel last November.

Cross add to the comparative advantage of neutral Switzerland.

Swiss diplomacy also has a long tradition, partially due to its outstanding hotel hospitality, partially due to its historic neutrality. During the Cold War, Geneva was the scene of numerous diplomatic conferences such as the famous first meeting between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in November 1985. Swiss “good offices” have a very long history. Today, Switzerland represents the United States in Cuba and Iran as well as Georgia in Russia and Russia in Georgia. Its policy of neutrality, internationally recognized since 1815, makes it easy for certain individuals and groups to travel here; for many other countries they would be considered terrorists and denied entry. The humanitarian history of Geneva and the International Committee of the Red

But is that enough? Many talk of “active neutrality,” especially during the period of Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy Rey from 2003-2011. While hosting meetings certainly adds to the prestige of a country, there are those who would wish that Switzerland played a more positive role, such as defending human rights and humanitarian law by publically criticizing grave violations. But, Swiss discretion, whether in hotels or organizing official and unofficial meetings, is part of a strong Calvinist background that radically separates the private from the public. If Switzerland were to depart from that delicate balance, one has to wonder whether its hotel rooms might be occupied by significantly fewer world diplomats, or play host to so many international meetings.

Thus, the combination of the two traditions makes Switzerland an ideal place to hold major meetings. Geneva 2 and Davos reflect hotel diplomacy at its finest.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

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BIGGER, BRIGHTER,

NOT CHEAPER

From ultra-high-def to rounded screens, the latest TVs offer dazzling bells and whistles.

t the beginning of the year the major manufacturers announce their new televisions. As expected plasma screens are now all but unavailable, dropped in favour of cheaper, less power-hungry LCD screens and, increasingly, low-power ultra-thin Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. The main focus for 2014 is an increase in screen resolution to 4K, also known as UltraHD. With 3840 x 2160 pixels, it has four times the resolution of current HD TVs. When displaying 4K programmes, it promises superior picture quality and an almost 3D level of depth and contrast without the need for special glasses. All of the announced 4K screens are on the large side, which means it’s possible to sit closer to the screen without losing quality, giving a much more immersive experience. For the full effect you may need to move the furniture around in your TV room, but please seek the permission of the spousal approval committee first.

One of the more unusual trends for this year is the curved screen; both Samsung and LG have models that combine this format with 4K resolution and a diagonal of 105 inches. They are so large that it is akin to having your own IMAX theatre at home. But priced over CHF 100,000, they are likely to remain a plaything of the very rich.

To combat Samsung’s current dominance of the market, LG, its closest rival, has finally revealed the reason behind its purchase of the WebOS operating system from HP last year, not, as might be expected, for handheld devices, but rather to control its new TVs. LG’s current menu system is generally considered to be unfriendly, but the new version puts a scroll bar along the bottom of the screen to let you select other content without moving away from your current programme.

However, in an attempt to make curved screens more accessible, Samsung has also designed an 85-inch prototype, where the amount of screen curve is adjustable. Prices will match those of current models as Unfortunately, there is no current release manufacturers try to maintain pricing levels date or price. by continually adding new functionality. However, a number of Chinese manufacturers Over the last few years Samsung has have begun to make these high-resolution made a big deal about its “Smart TV” system. 4K TVs at very affordable prices, so the Integrating small apps into the TV and mainstream producers will have difficulty attaching them to the internet has been quite maintaining their profit margins without popular, but ultimately they lack the ease of losing sales. use that Apple has created for its devices. In an effort to address this, the latest version of Overall, 2014 looks like a bumper year for high Samsung “SmartTV” has changed the “whole quality TVs at affordable prices - just in time hand” gesture control of the current models for the World Cup in Brazil. to “finger” control. Hopefully, this will reduce the amount of strange arm waving needed to change channels.

GADGET GURU BY IAN Ian the Gadget Guru helps us make sense of the latest consumer technology and other high-tech stuff. Join Ian on WRS every week for the latest in all tech news. www.worldradio.ch

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

FRONTIER TALENT

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

STEVANS

FRONTIER TALENT

Breaking up is hard to do, but Stevans frontman Yvan Franel has made a fresh start with new album Rupture. By Caroline Bishop

hen his two bandmates quit last year, 35-year-old singer-songwriter Yvan Franel could have given up on Stevans, the band he put together in 2004 in Geneva. But that’s not his style. “I haven’t been struggling for 10 years now just to stop when I have something I believe in,” he says. Instead, the charismatic frontman embraced a challenge: to create Stevans’ third album by playing all the instrumental parts himself. The result, released in January, is Rupture, Franel’s most personal work to date and a marked change of musical direction for a band that has remained on the cusp of success for the past decade.

This constant struggle – both emotional and financial – was a factor in the departure of bassist Bruno Tancredi and drummer John Chirico, who, after both becoming new fathers, decided to leave Stevans for a more stable life. “I could see the guys becoming less and less motivated. It [the break up] was a logical consequence,” says the undeterred Franel, who has since recruited four new band members. The old trio is now a new quintet. This physical ‘rupture’ is coupled with a musical one. “It was impossible for me to be like Oasis and redo the same recipe album after album,” says Franel. Having also parted with his record label, he headed into the studio with producer Serge Morattel with complete creative control and “the desire to surprise myself”.

remixed for the new album, reflecting the transition between the two. The new sound harks back to Franel’s childhood growing up as the son of diplomat parents in, among other places, Indonesia, where the only Western music came from pop icons Michael Jackson and Madonna. “The rhythm and the style of guitars is much more like the 80s on this album,” he says. Even his trim moustache seems rather 80s.

With the new line-up and a fresh sound, Franel is positive about Stevans’ future. And even if the band doesn’t ever make it big, he’ll never give up trying. Why? “The experiences you live through, the feeling of being on stage, the different places we have been to, the chance to express yourself with melodies, and the It’s a decade that has seen the trio release two experience in the studio where you realise albums of Brit-rock (Stereophonics, Coldplay That he did, replacing the often melancholic, little by little that a riff you discovered on your and Oasis were early inspirations), play some guitar-heavy, 90s sound of the band’s previous sofa is becoming a really good song -- these of Switzerland’s biggest festivals (Montreux two albums – Stevans, in 2006 and Fake in feelings and emotions are irreplaceable,” he Jazz, Paléo) and tour to London, New York 2010 – with upbeat electro-pop. It’s evident says. I wouldn’t be able to do anything else. and across Europe. Yet Stevans (which is on the addictive single “The Backyard”, a That’s why I’m fighting for it so much.” Franel’s brother’s middle name) still hasn’t fixture on the airwaves since its release last hit the big time, in Switzerland or abroad. “It’s November, and the party tune “Glamorous very hard to deal with,” says Franel, describing Nights”. Then there’s “Vodka Red Girls”, the the decade as a rollercoaster of emotions. popular single from Fake which has been

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

STYLE FILE

Crazy for vintage chic

Stepping back in time for a visit to a vintage clothes collector in a corner of Geneva well worth discovering.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

STYLE FILE

Chanel gown

Bill Blass dress

ver since Carrie Bradshaw and friends on “Sex and the City” were seen stocking up on 1950’s dresses and 1970’s catsuits in downtown Manhattan, fashion followers have been craving that buzz.

Pucci dress

Ossie Clark dress

Clarke long black evening dress which hangs But for now, there’s her boutique, which has a alongside a Chanel Couture pink coat from kind of other-worldly feeling to it, almost like the ‘60s, her favourite decade. being transported to another era.

On the lower level is an Aladdin’s cave Julia’s Dressing, Rue Jean Violette 18 overflowing with precious items, each with 022 321 09 87 their own story. A collection of 1930’s dresses The word “vintage” has been overused and includes a mouth-watering selection of YSL, abused. Now, many high street brands Lanvin, Courrèges, Pucci, and Valentino Also Nearby produce a “vintage” style range, and everything Couture among others. from last year’s Zara t-shirt to mass-produced for Retro Lovers Julia will work with you to find what you are retro belts are being called “vintage”. looking for. Stylists and fashionistas flock FLAIR NO 3 Meanwhile, true vintage has become more here from Paris and London for their fix of Another Geneva institution, run by Marisa elusive and exclusive. The good news is her carefully considered collections in a low- Pena, who is passionate that Geneva has a store that can rival any key atmosphere with competitive prices – about vintage, and will style you, London, New York or Paris collection. Julia’s another big plus for Swiss dwellers. fit the clothes and accessorize Dressing is nestled in the increasingly funky your whole outfit. Vintage and pocket of Geneva that is Rue Jean Violette “My friends say I am a useless salesperson”, good quality second-hand from Julia admits. But that even adds to the fun of Chanel to High Street. and surrounds. shopping here – you join in on her passion 3, rue John Grasset, 022 321 19 85 The vibe in the store is that of being in for the clothes, and almost have to persuade someone’s walk-in wardrobe in a stylish time her to sell something to you. Her eyes light LES FRINGANTES capsule. Exquisite pieces hang in softly-lit up when she tells me of a Dior original piece A bustling, over-crammed bargain secondhand consignment store cosy spaces. from 1947 coming her way. with everything from CHF 5 rails “To be vintage it must be over 15 years old Julia’s dream is to start a virtual vintage to a Burberry coat for CHF 70. and with decent designer quality”, says Julia clothes museum in 3D, a place where vintage Get ready to rummage! Peynes, owner of the store, stroking an Ossie clothes can have the showcase they deserve. 4, rue Vignier, 022 328 16 55

STYLE FILE BY HANSINE JOHNSTON “Style File” is broadcast on Thursday mornings at 10:00, repeated on Saturdays at 11:00. Tune in to “Style File” with Hansine on WRS and hear “The Inside Track”, a monthly spotlight on different areas of Geneva featuring shops, cafés and insider addresses that only the locals know.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

ADVERTORIAL

EXCLUSIVE, THE new gym in Geneva dedicated to well-being in simple and refined luxury, certainly lives up to its name.

oft lighting, the use of calming colours of taupe and grey, tinted windows, parquet flooring – wherever you look, everything has been created to please the eye and to help you relax and to escape from the stressful and non-harmonious world we live in. The changing rooms are comfortable, spacious and ultra-modern. The machines are equipped with tactile screens that as ‘designer’ as the rest of this luxurious environment dedicated to very personalised training. Here, relaxation begins as soon as you arrive – the reception is warm, reflecting the feel of where you are. Open from 5 a.m. until midnight, access to all the sophisticated machines is possible at virtually all times.

Cross-trainers, bikes, running machines, etc… here there is nothing missing to help you achieve your fitness goals. The machines, technological gems from ARTIS, will be fully explained to you by a professional trainer who will not only create a bespoke fitness programme for you but will also follow your progress and will be available for you at all times. Each machine is linked to a “cloud” which safeguards your training programme. A unique monitoring system guides you through your programme and also keeps you updated on rest time. You cannot help but be pampered and well-informed. This feeling of confidence will help you to progress with ease and with a limited number of memberships, there will be no stress and no waiting for machines – the atmosphere is very convivial and your well-being is the main concern of this, oh so very exclusive club.

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DIG IT!

SPRING THAW

PREPPING YOUR GARDEN, CUP OF TEA IN HAND. FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DIG IT!

Whether it works or not, the results will go into my garden diary for next year’s planning. That’s the great thing about gardening: you can always have another go. GOOD-BYE WINTER

and lawn tutor at the Swiss Gardening School says “Lawns suffer most from two things: OK winter, you’re beginning to wear out your compaction and lack of nutrients. Start by welcome – especially for those of us raring fixing one of those two things and you are to get going on our gardens. So don’t mind us, halfway to improving your lawn.” we’re going to get started, pootling about in our wellies on a warmer day, picking up sticks Like most people, I don’t feed my lawn as that got missed in the autumn clean-up, often as I should, so at the first snow-melted checking on the progress of our bulbs. These warm weeks, I will be out there, pushing my are lackadaisical duties that can be done with little wheeled fertiliser distributor. a cup of tea in one hand and thoughtful look in our eye, but so very satisfying.

for invertebrates and hedgehogs, untouched nettle patches for butterflies - as well as lots of nectar-rich flowers to entice pollinators. All this is to make the garden more wildlife friendly, because more wildflowers means a greater population of insects, more insects means more birds and more life to enjoy.

WILDFLOWER MEADOWS

You can tackle wildflower meadows in different ways. You can take up all the turf and replace it with wildflower rolls, available onI am also going to scarify the lawn this year line or from specialists. Or you can try killing for the first time in three years, and because off the grass, rotovating the area and then the lawn is so large, (about 1500 square seeding. Because I think I’m going for a mixed metres) I’m going to get in a professional – flower and grass meadow, once I’ve had the it’s my spring treat for myself and my lawn. grass scarified in spring, I’ll overseed with Scarifying scrapes out all the “thatch” that wildflowers in a mix, water it in … and wait. builds up - pieces of dead grass and moss that I should see the first shoots in a few weeks, accumulate - and reduces water permeation and the first flowers by June. The first cut will and gaseous exchange. It will look terrible be done in early summer and then a second initially, but overseed into any gaps, and feed one in September, with some paths (to the your lawn, and in a month it will look terrific! trampoline and treehouse) mown more often. Whether it works or not, the results will go into my garden diary for next year’s planning. That’s the great thing about gardening: you My other piece of garden planning this year can always have another go. Enjoy your is to create a wildflower meadow. We already planning with a cup of tea and a notebook! have some “wild areas” in the garden - log piles

THE LAWN

Any kind of garden planning is best when written down. I keep a garden diary, a converted ring-bound hardback book, acquired on a course in my previous existence as a nappyseller, with the words “The Breakthrough Journal – The Spirit of Breakthrough Creates New Futures” written on it. It is now full of plant labels, sketches, plans, lists of books I’d like to buy, as well as my Garden Intentions for the year. You can buy a garden-specific book like this - Moleskine make a nice version, as do Grund, with their Gardener’s Diary designed by Noel Kingsbury. My garden planning for this year is two-fold – so far. Firstly, I am going to take better care of my lawn. Chris Mills, British-trained arborist

WILDFLOWER MEADOWS

DIG IT BY HESTER MACDONALD www.hmgardendesign.com http://swissgardeningschool.com Hester Macdonald is a British-qualified, award-winning garden designer with her own practice in the Lake Geneva region. She founded the Swiss Gardening School in 2012 to provide gardening courses in English for amateurs, by professionals.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

Southern harvest WINE

BELOW THE EQUATOR, IT’S ALREADY HARVEST TIME FOR THE GRAPES THAT WILL MAKE SOME SUPERB WINES.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

he local vineyards are looking rather bare as they emerge from the grip of winter. It will be another half a year before the harvest begins here and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. But the world of wine never sleeps. This time of year, the vineyards in the Southern Hemisphere have already soaked up the summer sunlight and heat, and are ready to yield their bounty of ripe grapes.

WINE So this is a great time to shine the spotlight on the so-called “New World” of wine. After all, the leading countries in the Southern Hemisphere are among the top ten wine producers in the world: Argentina 5th, Australia 6th, Chile 7th and South Africa 8th. Typically there is one particular variety that has become a country’s signature grape. Here are five fabulous wines that help define the wine landscape in the Southern Hemisphere.

CHILE Casa Lapostolle – Carmenère Cuvée Alexandre, Colchagua Valley 2012 – CHF 24.60 These days the Carmenère grape can call Chile its home. However, some 300 years ago this black grape was widely planted in Bordeaux. Ironically, in its new home it was mistaken for Merlot until just 20 years ago. Carmenère produces a charming, well-structured red wine that lies somewhere between a Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Cuvée Alexandre, a blend of 85 percent Carmenère and 15 percent Syrah, exhibits aromas of black fruits, spices, leather and dark chocolate. The palate is medium to full-bodied with ripe blackcurrants mixed with savoury and spicy notes, leading to a smooth, lingering finish. Try it with rack of lamb, roast veal or magret de canard.

ARGENTINA Alta Vista – Premium Torrontés, Salta 2012 – CHF 13.20 The Malbec grape is the most widely planted variety in Argentina where it has achieved greater success than in France from where it originates. However, Argentina also produces an appealing white wine made from Torrontés, a variety that is more distinctively Argentinian. It is grown mainly in the Salta province in the far north at particularly high altitudes.

The Alta Vista is wonderfully fragrant with floral aromas and notes of the Muscat grape to which Torrontés is related. Juicy citrus and stone fruits plus some spiciness characterise the palate, which is mediumbodied and reasonably dry. It goes well with exotic, spicy foods such as ceviche, grilled fish with a spicy fruit salsa as well as smoky foods.

SOUTH AFRICA Beyerskloof – Pinotage Reserve, Stellenbosch 2011 – CHF 25.80 Pinotage is South Africa’s very own black grape variety, created in 1925 when Pinot Noir was crossed with Cinsault (from southern France). However, the wines it makes tend to polarize opinion. Less well-made versions can smell of acetone and taste of raspberry vinegar. Fortunately, estates like Beyerskloof have kept faith with Pinotage and

learnt how to master its fabulous fruitiness,. This Reserve wine delivers intense aromas of dark cherries, blueberries and red fruits. It is beautifully balanced on the palate with loads of juicy black fruits, wellrounded tannins and a long, smooth finish. Pair it with meat stews, lamb shank, game pie, chili con carne and meaty pizzas.

AUSTRALIA Pikes – Eastside Shiraz, Clare Valley 2008 – CHF 24.50 Over one quarter of all the vineyards in Australia are planted with Shiraz, making it the king of all grape varieties Down Under. It is the same variety known as Syrah in France’s Rhône Valley. However, the Australian version is generally sweeter and riper with hints of chocolate, which is altogether accessible and appealing. This Eastside wine comes from the Clare

Valley, a higher and cooler neighbour of the Barossa Valley. Aromas of really ripe blueberries, blackberries and plums mingle with dark chocolate, liquorice and sweet oaky notes. Concentrated berry fruit flavours enrich the full-bodied palate and the long, satisfying finish. An unbeatable barbecue wine, it also goes nicely with beef, duck and lamb dishes.

NEW ZEALAND Craggy Range – Sauvignon Blanc, Martinborough 2012 – CHF 24.00 It is only in the last 30 years that the Sauvignon Blanc variety has helped establish New Zealand’s international reputation for making quality wine. With its exuberant aromas and flavours it now accounts for more than two-thirds of all wine produced there. The Craggy Range from the North Island has pronounced aromas of nectarine, lime and

jasmine, followed on the palate by dense flavours of grapefruit and lime as well as apricot and peach. A refreshing acidity and chalky minerality lead to a long, juicy finish. It partners perfectly with scallops, fresh oysters, garlic prawns, crab cakes, grilled squid or swordfish, salmon with dill and all kinds of Thai dishes.

WINE BY SIMON HARDY You may contact Simon at simon.hardy@fittingwines.com if you wish to order any of the wines featured here. Simon loves wine and knows an awful lot about it. He holds the WSET Diploma in Wines & Spirits and is the founder of Fitting Wines, offering a range of personalised wine services. Contact Simon for a free consultation. Listen to his show “On the Grapevine” each week on WRS.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

MARKETING

DOING BUSINESS WITH A STRANGER An age-old business dilemma

Imagine the scenario: it’s a gloomy winter’s day, spring has yet to really establish itself, and you trudge out to your car, clear the frost, get in, start up the engine and look around and in that instant realise just how shabby the upholstery is, and, as you peer through the foggy windscreen, just how inefficient the heater has become. Congratulations! You are now in the market for a new car. From this moment on you will start appraising the cars you pass on the road; you might even buy a car magazine or two or start Googling “reasonably priced family saloons with a good safety record, a fair turn of speed and just a touch of luxury.” You may fix on a make or model fairly quickly, or it may take a while, but sooner or later you’ll plump for what you want to buy. And that’s when you have to decide whom you’ll buy it from...

You may not have thought about it before in quite these terms but, if you’re in business, whether supplying a service or a product, this is the process that your new customers go through before they end up at your door. It’s a critical stage in the buying cycle, and if you’re not known to that potential new customer at this pivotal point, no matter how good you are, no matter how great an offering you have, regardless of the deal you might have been prepared to do, you’ll never do business with them because they don’t know you exist!

But you can’t just rely on recommen-dations to keep the bottom line in the black; you also need to be proactive, searching for new customers outside your existing circle. The problem is that until your future customers decide that they have a need for what you sell, just like you on the day you decide that it’s time for a new car, they don’t even know they need you.

The way around this is to develop a Brand. You don’t have to try to be the next Coca Cola, but it’s a good idea to foster a name for yourself In short, people buy from people they know. amongst the community of people where your customers are likely to come from. This way, But how do you become known? The easiest when someone has their “light bulb” moment (and cheapest) way is through “word of and come into the market for what you do, mouth”. People generally react well to a you’re starting with an advantage. They’ve personal recommendation from a friend, so already heard of you and are much more likely it’s a good idea to foster good relations with to chose you over a competitor because they your past customers. A positive, persistent already “know” you; and, as we’ve already presence in social media can be useful in this established, people are much more likely to respect, too. buy from someone they know than someone they don’t. Shouldn’t that be you?

MARKETING BY TIM NICE WRS will be hosting a series of FREE marketing seminars in late March 2014, featuring Tim Nice as a guest speaker. For your free invite just email your details to seminars@worldradio.ch Marketing Guru Tim Nice has worked in the advertising arena for over 25 years as a copywriter, a broadcaster, a managing director and entrepreneur. Along the way he’s advised many businesses – including some of the United Kingdom’s top media brands – on how best to market themselves.. FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

BUY OR RENT! Buying or renting a property in the Lake Geneva region just became easy. wrsproperty.ch The new home for everything property.

MOTOR SHOW

Whether you’re a confirmed petrol-head or a family looking for a new car,

the 84th Geneva International Motor Show is sure to get you …

All “When I was a boy, and had posters of gleaming cars on my bedroom wall, it was a yearly pilgrimage for my father and me to come and salivate in front of the beautiful automobiles.”

or petrol-heads like me, the first two weeks of March mean one thing: Motor Show! But whether you’re a rabid car fan or a casual shopper who doesn’t know a Ford from a Ferrari, you’ll likely be dazzled by the annual Geneva International Motor Show at Palexpo. With nearly 700,000 visitors each year, “the largest of the small motor shows” is one of the world’s most popular expos of all that’s new and fabulous in the auto industry. Why? First, it takes place in the centre of Europe. Second, it happens every year, unlike the larger expos in Frankfurt and Paris, which are put on only every other year, each taking turns. But perhaps most importantly, it’s

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

because Switzerland has no automobile manufacturers of its own, so the German, French, British, American and Asian carmakers can come fight it out on “neutral ground”. Even the Chinese car manufacturers, newcomers in the West, and hungry for market share here, have chosen the Geneva Show to present their products. 2014 will mark the 22nd year that I’ve been coming to the Geneva Motor Show, or “The Salon,” as we call it. When I was a boy, and had posters of gleaming cars on my bedroom wall, it was a yearly pilgrimage for my father and me to come and salivate in front of the beautiful automobiles. As a teenager, the Car Show became the perfect alibi for an escapade with my friends. Then,

as a young adult, with my driving permit in my wallet and a little money in the bank, the Show transformed itself into the ideal showroom, where it was possible in just a few steps, to compare and narrow down my choices, balancing my dreams and my finances. Today, it’s with the critical eye of the automobile reporter that, every year, I go to Palexpo to take part in this sacred “High Mass”. Naturally, in 22 years, a lot has changed. The race for speed has slowed to make way for environmental conscience. The needs of drivers have evolved, and likewise, apparently, have the needs of some politicians who – perhaps looking for notoriety – have criticised the Motor Show in spite of the fact that it

MOTOR SHOW

Revved Up By Jérôme Marchon Editor of www.wheels-and-you.com presents advances in fuel conservation and sorts: weird one-of-a-kind fantasy “concept” cars, safety, and shows off Geneva and Switzerland impossibly expensive sports cars that might to an international audience. beat a jet plane in a drag race, electric cars with solar panels, muscular urban vehicles and In any case, for this unapologetic petrol-head, tiny three-wheelers – pretty much everything the Geneva International Motor Show remains the world automobile industry has to offer. an amazing event. My eyes are still full of wonder as I stroll the aisles discovering what And what a glittery setting! The brands go all the world’s finest automotive designers and out to offer a great party. The car bodies engineers have dreamed up. I wouldn’t miss gleam beneath countless lights – as do the this any more than the true music fan would svelte and stylish bodies of the gorgeous miss the Montreux Jazz Festival. hostesses, who always welcome you with a smile. Without them, this mechanical show This year, in the roughly 110,000 square meters would only be metal and carbon, white walls devoted to the automobile at Palexpo, there are and red carpets, price tags and brouhaha. some 100 to 150 new products making their Have a little thought for them, as you pass by, Swiss, European or global debut. Along with share a little smile and a respectful look with “everyday” autos, visitors will see vehicles of all these ladies, because their task is not easy.

Nor is ours. Because, even if the Geneva International Car Show is primarily meant for business, for the great majority of us visitors, no matter our age or origins, above all, the Car Show sells dreams!

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

MOTOR SHOW

1. What lies beneath? State of the art technology. 2. Low consumption, low CO2 emissions and high power? 3. Some of the 700,000 visitors at the 2013 show. 4. Only your imagination (and wallet) limit how far you can go in personalising your dream car. 5. Take a look at the future: the Toyota i-Road. 6. Fiat wants you to think about a different fuel: natural gas.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

The new Honda Civic Tourer

the inside as much as the outside For those who love

Style or luggage capacity? The Civic Tourer estate offers you the best of both worlds. Its original silhouette conceals the largest boot of its class, offering 624 litres of boot space with five people on board, or as much as 1668 litres with the rear seats stowed away. Its unique flexibility, so appreciated by families, comes hand in hand with innovative security systems and unrivalled road behaviour. Take a test drive, in the extremely sober Civic Tourer with 1.6 i-DTEC* “Earth Dreams Technology” engine for example!

www.honda-citygeneve.ch DIPLOMATIC SALES Wir sprechen Deutsch – We speak english – Hablamos espanõl – Falamos português – Parliamo italiano – We spreken Vlaams / Dutch

Honda automobiles Genève-Centre

Rue de la Servette 30, 1202 Geneva, Tel. 022 748 14 00, garage-geneve@honda.ch

Honda automobiles Genève-vernier

Route du Nant-d’Avril 50, 1214 Vernier, Tel. 022 341 00 77, garage-vernier@honda.ch * Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC “S”, 5 doors, 88 kW/120 hp, 1597 cm3. Combined fuel consumption (80/1268/CEE): 3.8 l/100 km. Combined CO2 emissions: 99 g/km (average of all new models 148 g/km). Energy efficiency class: A (photo: 1.6 i-DTEC Executive, 5 doors, 88 kW/120 hp, 1597 cm3). The Civic Tourer is also available with 1.8i petrol engine.

honda_Tourer_frontier_185x250_v1.ind 2

16:34 FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 0612.02.14 - SPRING 2014

MOTOR SHOW

Top: Is it a bus? A house? It’s a concept car from Rinspeed. Bottom: KTM X-bow GT. FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

MOTOR SHOW

NEW THIS YEAR AUDI TT

After 8 years on the road, word is that the Audi TT will adopt a look more like the R8, though for now, we have only seen the dashboard presented at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06

After being presented in Detroit in January, the new 625 CV American missile will make its European première in Geneva.

JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPE

A little over one year after the Roadster F-Type came on the road, the Coupe will enter the European Market .

LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN

After 10 years of success, the Lamborghini Gallardo bows and leaves the scene. The next A big thing? Introducing the Huracán. A tough act to follow after such a myth!

MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS

Completely overhauled, the new C Class immediately positions itself as the new standard, with equipment never before seen in this class. Meanwhile, rumors hint at: • McLaren’s new 650S, a facelift of the 12C. • the new Audi S1, an amped-up version of its A1. • a new version of the Mini Clubman, based on the new Mini, which will be on our roads this Spring.

WHERE, WHEN, HOW PALEXPO

March 6 to 16 2014 Monday to Friday from 10 am to 8 pm Saturday – Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm

ADMISSION:

Adults: CHF 16 – Children 6 to 16: CHF 9

TICKETS:

• Palexpo ticket counters • Internet: www.salon-auto.ch • CFF train station ticket counters and ticket distributors for RailAway offer at reduced price (train + entry).

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

• Geneva Public Bus lines: 5, 10, 15, 23, 28, 57, Y • By train from Geneva-Airport train station (www.cff.ch/salonauto).

Top: Lamborghini Huracán Middle: Audi TT Bottom: Chevrolet Corvette Z06

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

Welcome to Switzerland to Newcomers from We help you to Sell your RHD car in the UK Import your LHD car into Switzerland and reduce your CO2 fees Find a suitable car at the best price Secure a leasing contract

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CLASSIFIEDS

RADIO

DATING

WINECLUB

EVENTS

The new

WRS

ONLINE

PROPERTY

SUMMER CAMPS

Summer Fun and Then Some The Lake Geneva area offers an amazing array of summer camps and programmes for kids. By Bill Harby

xciting ropes courses in the trees, language learning, swimming, music, tennis, theatre, boating, hiking, art projects, water-skiing, computer programming, international friends, leadership training -- it’s all happening around the Lake Geneva area this summer. Here’s a glimpse of some of the great programmes.

KEY ENGLISH SCHOOL Using activities, sports and art, this series of language and theme camps at locations in Geneva (Corsier and Genthod) and Vaud (Lutry, Chesaux and Monts-deCorsier), takes kids ages 4 to 12 along on imaginative adventures across English-speaking countries of the world. Children learn about a specific country’s people, traditions, food and culture through games, crafts, singing, dancing, cooking, language circles and sports. The hands-on approach encourages new friendships while practicing language skills. New this year: two weeks of camp in French, featuring half-days of golf with a qualified instructor. The camps last six weeks, but kids may enrol for any number of weeks and, except in the case of the Golf, Multisport or Dance-themed camps, either half- or fulldays are an option. www.key-english-school.ch info@key-english-school.ch +41 (0)76 370 48 36

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

SUMMER CAMPS

INTERNATIONAL CAMP SUISSE Besides a range of Alpine adventure outdoor pursuits (including rock climbing, mountain biking, a glacier excursion and overnight camping), there are also supervised cultural excursions, language courses (Spanish, French, German or English – with karaoke nights and talent shows!) and sport activities for children and teens (7-17 years) from all over the world. The private, purpose-built centre, with space for 140 campers, sits 1100m above Lake Geneva in Torgon. All this helps campers to grow as people – improving selfconfidence, responsibility and time management. Campers are encouraged to be responsible for their own personal space, keeping their room tidy, packing their backpack and getting ready for the day ahead without Mum or Dad. For campers, it’s a chance to forge lifelong relationships with kids from a range of backgrounds and cultures. www.campsuisse.com info@campsuisse.com +44 (0) 845 5191 031

ALTITUDE SUMMER CAMPS At the Mountain Adventure Camps, Language Camps or Day Camps in Verbier, small groups make new international friends while learning life skills as they challenge themselves in various activities. Depending on the camp programme kids sign up for, activities may including ropes courses, arts & crafts, swimming, drama, biking, English or French language classes, hiking, rock-wall climbing, tennis, golf, treasure hunts, ice-skating and more. Some adventure activities might be scary for some kids at first, but they’re encouraged by staff and other campers, and safety precautions are always taken. “We offer encouragement to all the children”, says sales director Laura Turner. “When another child is struggling, they encourage each other. It’s wonderful to see such team work.” www.altitude-camps.com info@altitude-camps.com +41 (0)79 530 5224

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

SUMMER CAMPS

VILLAGE CAMPS From it’s primary location at the Collège de TerreSainte, The Village Day Camp provides campers with lots of supervised activities, including swimming, arts & crafts (candy glasses anyone?), various sports, music, excursions, ropes courses, dancing, and a chance to perfect English or French. Village Camps offers day camps in Geneva and residential programmes in Leysin (and six other countries). There are camps devoted to Adventure, Leadership, Basketball, Language (English, French and German), and there’s even a Film Academy. Age groups range from 7 to 9, 10 to 17 and 16 to 18. Activities are arranged according to age and skill level. Swiss camps pride themselves on experienced, qualified counselors, and Village Camps helps set that high standard. In an enthusiastic thank-you note, one mother echoed her camper son’s opinion that “the counselors were very cool!” www.villagecamps.com camps@villagecamps.com +41 (0)22 990 94 00

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

SUMMER CAMPS

ALL SPECIAL KIDS ASK’s website says it best: The non-profit organization is “dedicated to supporting the families of children with learning differences and special education needs”. It helps parents meet the challenges of raising a child with special needs by working with the kids to encourage confidence, while learning social and academic skills. How do they do it? By having fun. There are crafts sessions, role-playing / drama activities and multi-sensory games in a nurturing environment. ASK, located in Geneva, is geared to activities that encourage interaction and help build self-esteem and self-discovery, but also empathy for others. As making friends isn’t always easy for kids with special needs, team-building activities are also part of the fun. The spring and summer camps offer a special haven for kids 5 to 19. Participants are encouraged to be themselves without the daily pressure and restrictions of a typical school environment. www.allspecialkids.org

PIANOFORTE PRODUCTIONS It’s really “hands-on” for children 4 to 16 at the Summer Music Program as they explore many kinds of instruments with the help of qualified staff who can nurture their interests. Many continue with private study during the year, and some advance to higher education in music.

info@allspecialkids.org +41 (0) 22 788 21 02

But what about the shy kids? “There is magic about music”, says Julie Tomkins, founder and director of the Summer Music Program. “When you sing or play an instrument with others there are no walls. You are part of a team making music together. Confidence quickly blooms, and so does the integration with others.” And what about little divas? “We have a built-in reality check”, says Julie. “We have no stars – although some students are incredibly talented. An over-confident singer quickly learns that he or she is not so good in other areas, such as playing an instrument. They see that others have skills they don’t have, but that everybody’s talents are needed to achieve teamwork and success.” www.julie-music.com Julie@julie-music.com +41 (0)22 367 17 27

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

SUMMER CAMPS

LE ROSEY With campuses in Rolle by Lake Geneva and up in Gstaad, Le Rosey, the oldest and largest boarding school in Switzerland, offers a wide variety of summer camp activities for kids. This summer there are six camps for kids from 8 to 16. These include the enticing (and expensive) 2-week Excellence Camp, which is limited to just 10 “fit, curious, adventurous young people, fluent or native French/English speakers, and with a good team spirit”. There’s also an SAT Prep Camp for students looking to improve their university entrance exam scores. Then there is the Mountain Camp where kids get up close and personal with the Alps. The Gstaad and Rolle campus camps offer a wide variety of sports and arts summer activities, everything from volleyball, archery and horsebackriding to dance, crafts and circus arts. www.roseysummercamps.ch summercamp@rosey.ch +41 (0)21 822 55 00

SWISS LANGUAGE CLUB You won’t mistake the SLC for a traditional summer school. Intensive morning language classes give way to afternoon recreation opportunities where new language skills can be practiced in fun surroundings. At the campus in the mountains of Leysin above Lake Geneva, English, French or German are taught to students aged 8 - 17. At the Neuchâtel campus right by the lake, students 14 - 18 learn English or French. When they put away their books, the kids can enjoy watersports on Lake Geneva or Lake Neuchâtel, and go on excursions to waterparks and amusement parks, depending on the campus. Neuchâtel students can also experience thermal baths. And the Leysin campus has its own disco! http://www.slc.ch info@slc.ch +41 (0)21 963 65 00

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

International Primary School of Les Monts-de-Corsier / Vevey

academic excellence • outstanding location small classes • caring family atmosphere We invite you to visit our school and adjoining crèche, only 3 minutes from the Châtel-Saint-Denis motorway exit, to find out how we can provide the best educational solution for your family.

www.ism-school.org • +41 21 948 08 08 • office@ism-school.org

ECOLINT SUMMER CAMPS

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGE 3 - 14

JULY • AUGUST

• QUALITY CAMPS • QUALITY COACHES AND ASSISTANTS • QUALITY SPORT FACILITIES • QUALITY FOOD

www.ecolint-camps.ch

LA GRANDE BOISSIÈRE • LEFT BANK LA CHÂTAIGNERAIE • CANTON OF VAUD CAMPUS DES NATIONS • RIGHT BANK

PROMOTION SCHOOLS

INSTITUT INTERNATIONAL DE LANCY

THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF LAUSANNE

T : +41 (0) 22 794 26 20

T : +41 (0) 21 560 02 02

WWW.IIL.CH

WWW.ISL.CH

With a proud tradition of excellence, the Institut International de

Founded in 1962, the International School of Lausanne is an

Lancy offers inspiring programmes in English and French with a bilingual outcome, from pre-school to the International and French Baccalaureate. The English Section follows the National Curriculum of England & Wales, and leads to Checkpoint and IGCSE examinations, and the IB Diploma (IB World School). Pupils learn French from age 4. The French Section proposes the French Education Nationale programme leading to the Brevet des CollĂ¨ges and French Bac (S, ES, L). English is taught from age 3.

outstanding, not-for-profit, English language international IB world school that is ranked amongst the top performing schools globally by worldwide accreditation bodies. Our commitment to excellence includes supporting and guiding students academically and through pastoral care that includes a strong emphasis on sports, the arts, family events and international and cultural learning trips throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. Our fully accredited, multi-national and inspirational faculty is recruited globally, and is singularly focused on preparing our students to excel and contribute to a dynamic and changing global environment.

IIL offers a bilingual French/English programme. Students enjoy a variety of extra-curricular activities, language courses and modern sports facilities. A school bus service and after school study supervision are also available. Since 2011 IIL has incorporated digital tablets into its daily schedule, creating an accessible and studious individualised learning environment, and clear information sharing between teachers, parents and students.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

In keeping with our legacy of continuous improvement and due to demand, we are expanding our state-of-the-art campus to continue enhancing our studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; academic, social and emotional education. Accordingly, we will grow from 620 to over 960 students by 2015. We would enjoy speaking with you about how your child can be a part of the ISL family.

PROMOTION SCHOOLS

INSTITUT FLORIMONT T : +41 (0) 22 879 00 00 WWW.FLORIMONT.CH Institut Florimont offers a well-rounded educational experience in the calm surroundings of Petit-Lancy. The school has been offering its unique curriculum since 1905. Florimont is a private Catholic school, open to all faiths and has an international outlook. The school offers a choice of three courses of study: the French Baccalauréat (sections ES, L, S), the Swiss Maturité (with a bilingual option) and an international section. Bilingual teaching is offered from Year 6. Our aim is to enable each student to reach his or her full potential

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MONTS-DE-CORSIERS T : +41 (0) 21 948 08 08 OFFICE@ISM-SCHOOL.ORG In a region where large private schools abound, one small school stands out. The International School of Monts-de-Corsier, situated just a 10-minute drive from Vevey and Montreux, is an outstanding choice for children’s education and well-being. We welcome children from 4 months in our crèche, and from 3 to 11 years of age in our primary school. Our average class size of 12 pupils assures the individual attention a child needs to thrive and is integral to our achieving academic excellence through the English National Curriculum.

in an ever changing world whilst engendering a spirit of tolerance

ISM’s location and setting are exceptional. Our school buses go

and respect.

to Montreux, Vevey and Lausanne, as well as smaller towns and villages in the area. We are the perfect match for families seeking a nurturing environment in which children learn happily and confidently. While words and photos can convey some of our unique qualities, nothing can match a visit to our school and grounds. Do come see for yourself.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

PROMOTION SCHOOLS

SWEDISH SCHOOL

THE ÉCOLE MOSER

T : +41 (0) 22 782 65 00

T : +41 (0) 22 860 80 80

WWW.SVENSKASKOLAN.CH

WWW.ECOLEMOSER.CH

A TRILINGUAL EDUCATION

Established in Switzerland (Geneva and Nyon) and in Germany

In this increasingly globalized world – it’s becoming more and

(Berlin), the Ecole Moser has recently opened a new bilingual

more important that our children are equipped with the skills to get the best out of their lives ahead. The Swedish School specializes in languages and focusses on each individual child’s specific needs and requirements and supports the child’s continuous learning and knowledge development. One parent says the small classes and attentive teachers means that their child is happy in

section of French/English starting grade 9 (ages 11 to 12). Inscriptions for school year 2014 are now open (022 860 80 80). The school welcomes students from ages 7 to 18, and prepares them for the Swiss Maturity exam with the possibility of choosing either a German or English bi-lingual option. Having recently

school – and what more can a parent ask for?

celebrated its landmark 50 year anniversary, the Moser School is

Small classes are the key of getting the most out of education and

our modern and inter-cultural world.

lessons are run in English, French and Swedish. The school offers a safe and creative environment and prepares children for further

ever more committed to the importance of tri-lingual curricula in

Through the immersive teaching of languages and a modern

education in either local or international schools.

curricula, the school provides a well-rounded and truly

The school takes children from 1-11 years old and also has a

creating autonomous and inventive thinkers for our future. With a

wide choice of extensive language courses for older children and adults.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

comprehensive education that broadens young students’ minds, particular emphasis on the significance of philosophy, the Ecole Moser hopes to continue its tradition of academic as well as personal excellence.

PROMOTION SCHOOLS

BRITISH SCHOOL OF GENEVA (CHÂTELAINE)

ÉCOLE ATLAS

T : +41 (0) 22 795 7510

WWW.ECOLE-ATLAS.CH

WWW.BRITISHSCHOOLGENEVA.CH

Founded in 2013 in Lausanne, Ecole Atlas will be opening a new

The British School of Geneva occupies a unique place on the landscape of private education in the Geneva region. As the only

T : +41 (0) 21 694 34 20

school in Geneva in August 2014. Our pedagogical concept aims at teaching the diversity we find in our multicultural society.

school in the area to offer the English National Curriculum from Year 1 through to A-Levels, it is an obvious choice for students

Our students, generally aged 11 to 20, study for various diplomas

transitioning from, or returning to, a British based curriculum.

thanks to our bilingual French-English international programmes

A-Levels allow students to develop specific areas of strength,

taught by highly qualified staff. Small groups and personalized

enhancing university prospects worldwide.

attention, help our students progress – as does our new e-learning

Class sizes are small – maximum 16 pupils in years 1-11 and only

project, which uses live video lessons, iPads and laptops.

10 in years 12 and 13. For a small school, facilities are exceptional. BSG is an international school and welcomes students from over 40 nationalities. Core subjects are taught in English, though the French language is an important part of the syllabus. There is a strong commitment to providing excellent value and

We also offer adapted solutions for students with special needs, aged between 8 and 20.Whether these students have mental or physical challenges, or if they are hyperactive or highly gifted, Ecole Atlas has a place for them in our small classes, with specialized programmes taught by specially trained staff.

fees are very affordable compared to other international schools. BSG is proud to be a member of the Council of British International Schools and of the Geneva Association of Private Schools.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

PROMOTION SCHOOLS

TUTORSPLUS (ACROSS SWITZERLAND)

WOLDINGHAM SCHOOL

T : +41 (0) 22 731 8148

WWW.WOLDINGHAMSCHOOL.CO.UK

WWW.TUTORSPLUS.COM TutorsPlus has highly qualified and experienced tutors offering support to Primary and Secondary school students, in both English and French across all key curricula. Book now to ensure a place on our IB revision courses and our SAT & ACT test prep classes. A tutor from TutorsPlus will help your child achieve their best, by motivating and enabling them to fulfill their potential. By creating a bespoke learning plan for each individual student, a TutorsPlus tutor will partner with schools and families to help with homework support, exam preparation, study skills, intensive revision courses or with support in transitioning between different educational systems. TutorsPlus also have experts in dyslexia, dyspraxia and other learning challenges and provide experienced special needs assessment and tuition. See website for TutorsPlus education consultancy; professional guidance on the right choices for families arriving in Switzerland.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

T : +44 (0) 1883 349 431

Nestled in 700 acres of the English countryside just 20 minutes from Gatwick airport, Woldingham School is an independent Catholic full boarding, weekly and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, welcoming students from all faiths. With a community of over 540 girls, 60% of whom board, 25% from overseas, Woldingham is the perfect example of a harmonious fusion of cultures and experiences. In 2012, the Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded the School “excellent”, its top mark, in every category. “The quality of teaching is excellent and the school benefits from ... the total commitment of staff … who give unstintingly of time, energy and expertise, to the happiness and success of the pupils.” – ISI report, 2012. In 2013, 89.8% of GCSE grades were A*, A and B grades and at A level 84% of girls achieved A*, A and B grades. Saturday Open Mornings in 2014 are 22 March, 17 May and 14 June, by appointment with the Registrar, Mrs Linda Underwood +44 (0)1883 654206.

PROMOTION SCHOOLS

LA CÔTE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

HAUT-LAC INTERNATIONAL BILINGUAL SCHOOL

T : +41 (0) 22 823 26 26

T : +41 (0) 21 925 40 00

WWW.NORDANGLIAEDUCATION.COM/OUR-SCHOOLS/AUBONNE

WWW.HAUT-LAC.CH

Founded in 2008, La Côte International School is a co-educational

Now in its 20th year, Haut-Lac International Bilingual School, with

day school for children between 3 and 18 years old. We offer the English National Curriculum in the early and primary school years and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programmes at the secondary level. As part of the Nord Anglia Education family of 27 premium schools around the world, our outstanding team of over 40 professionals implements a High Performance Learning approach to teaching. This approach,

sites in Vevey and St-Légier, welcomes 650 children aged 3 to 18 years from both local families and the international expatriate community. The fully bilingual curriculum begins in the Infant/ Primary school, leading into the Middle Years and Diploma Programmes of the International Baccalaureate and opening up further education opportunities in Switzerland and elsewhere. There is the option to study mainly in English, with regular French

combined with our culture of mutual respect, tolerance, care

language lessons.

and support, ensures that every child can thrive. Through the

A variety of sporting, extracurricular and charitable activities are

Nord Anglia Education Global Classroom, our students have a truly international education. This innovative, contemporary and distinctive educational programme, which takes place online and face-to-face, is designed to develop our students’ confidence and ability as learners by enabling them to collaborate, inquire, create, innovate and lead. www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/aubonne

offered, encouraging students to develop their personal potential, an international outlook, and a sense of social responsibility. A new campus including a triple Sports Hall/gym will be ready to welcome our younger students from September 2014, bringing the whole school together in St-Légier. For details, including new bus services and extended out-of-hours supervision, contact info@haut-lac.ch. Haut-Lac is accredited by CIS and member of AVDEP.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

PROMOTION SCHOOLS

GEMS T : +41 (0) 21 964 18 18 WWW.GEMSWORLDACADEMY-ETOY.COM The aim of GEMS World Academy Etoy International School is to

ÉCOLE RIVIERA SCHOOL (MONTREUX) T : +41 (0) 21 961 18 72 WWW.ECOLE-RIVIERA.CH

provide students with an outstanding international education that will prepare them exceptionally well for an increasingly competitive

The Riviera School, in the heart of Montreux, is a French-English

global environment. Our four core values of World Citizenship,

bilingual school offering high quality education in a stimulating,

Universal Values, Leadership and Forward Thinking reinforce

supportive and multicultural environment. Education is based

the importance our school places on an international outlook,

on the Swiss programme of study and the English National

diversity and innovation. We feel that students need an education

Curriculum, alternating between the two languages according to

that prepares them for the ‘real world’ of diversity and difference;

weekly course and activity schedules.

an education that develops cross-cultural understanding with people from very different backgrounds, and one which instils character and resilience. As such, GWA-Etoy International School is a candidate International Baccalaureate. The IB is a global curriculum providing a rigorous, stimulating and academically challenging curriculum enabling students to see the world from a variety of perspectives, to examine different points of view, and to see themselves as part of the global community. The IB is recognised by universities in all parts of the world giving graduating students from GWA-Etoy access to the very best university education.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

We propose a curriculum for children between 18 months and 12 years. Our programmes are rigorous and cover all essential areas of learning and development. Alongside the school curriculum, we work to help students gain a sense of direction, become responsible and independent, and be proud of their achievements. The promotion of moral, social and physical development is also a key priority of the school. While we have grown over the years, we continue to limit the number of places available in order to maintain our close connection with individual students and their families and to achieve our academic objectives.

PROMOTION SCHOOLS

BG WORLD

LITTLE GREEN HOUSE

T : +41 (0) 22 300 56 88

T : +41 (0) 78 897 65 95

WWW.BGWORLD.CH

WWW.LITTLEGREENHOUSE.CH

With over 10 years of experience BG World is a leader in children’s

If you’re looking for daycare or an early childhood school for your

activities and events. Our BG World La Praille centre is a unique environment to celebrate your child’s birthday. Private areas are decorated according to your chosen theme with giant posters, banners, balloons, images and more! From your child’s first birthday to a birthday party worthy of a star: all ages are lavished with a magical universe tailor made just for you! BG World also creates customized events: a birthday party, a wedding, a garden party or a company Holiday Party. We work with you to design your event, and then decorate and animate the event

child, but haven’t found a place that feels “right”, why not go to one of the info evenings at Little Green House in Gland or Morges? Little Green House is a trilingual nursery and school (English, French and German) for children aged 4 months to 7 years. Little Green House’s philosophy focuses on the importance of nurturing a holistic education promoting outdoor activities, genuine contact with nature, and languages.

in your location of choice based on your wishes!

Many expat parents are keen to find a multilingual placement

Games, face painting, mascots, clowns, disco parties and much

international environment where your little ones will thrive and

more! With BG World, children, adults and business customers find

acquire a new language with ease. They follow the “Language

the themes that provide them with a truly unforgettable experience!

Immersion Principle”, highly recommended by behavioural

BG World also proposes innovative and festive classes all year

scientists.

round: Babygym, dance, jazz-dance, judo, English…..Come and try a class with no commitment or spend some time with us during the holidays in our Kid’s Holiday activities!

for their child. Little Green House can offer exactly that: an

Little Green House offers individualised and attentive care beyond traditional opening hours and nearly all year long.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

PROMOTION SCHOOLS/UNIVERSITIES

LAKE LEMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (LLIS), MORGES

UNIVERSITY IFM GENEVA

T : +41 (0) 21 811 00 22

WWW.UNIVERSITYIFM.COM

WWW.LLIS.CH Lake Leman International School (LLIS) emphasises a holistic approach to education and recognises the value of learning, growth and self-awareness as lifelong endeavours. By providing an individually tailored, inquiry-driven education, the school nurtures and inspires students to develop their intellect, creativity and character, thus enabling them to mature into socially responsible, global citizens.

T : +41 (0) 22 322 25 80

IFM University is a leading Swiss business school established in 1971, and located in the heart of Geneva. Studies at IFM transform the future of students by providing them with knowledge and skills to build outstanding careers. IFM offers international programmes taught in English and accredited by a premier accreditation body. Our programmes are taught by industry experts and renowned professors with real business experience. Our unique degrees offer a dynamic approach to business studies based on practice and exchange. Our urban campus is fully equipped with modern

LLIS offers children a welcoming, safe, caring and supportive

facilities. At IFM, we are a human-size institution, where you

environment and is a diverse, family-friendly community.

receive personalized attention in a friendly and international

The school follows the International Primary Curriculum and

environment. IFM is well established, and has a solid reputation

International Middle Years Curriculum, both of which are internationally recognised, innovative approaches to education. These programmes are delivered through units of work, each containing a specific concept as the focus. Skills are developed throughout each unit. In addition there are explicit defined learning goals for every subject. Alongside subject learning there is strong emphasis on personal and social development including the development of international mindedness.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

among recruiters. We offer a range of interesting programmes: Bachelors, Masters, MBA. Degrees in Business Administration, Finance, Communication, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, International Business. 3 intakesâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;/â&#x20AC;&#x2030;year. Apply online now!

PROMOTION UNIVERSITIES

THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IN GENEVA

GLION INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, LONDON

T : +41 (0) 22 710 71 10

T : +41 (0) 21 989 26 85

WWW.IUN.CH

WWW.GLION.EDU

The International University in Geneva (IUG) is an accredited

In the fast growing, exciting hospitality industry, Glion Institute of

institution specialising in business education, and offering both undergraduate and graduate programmes in Business Administration, International Relations, Media and Communication

Higher Education stands out. Our graduates are highly sought after by top employers including Hilton, InterContinental and JP Morgan for their exceptional hospitality and event management

and International Trade.

skills and business acumen. We are proud that 85% of students

It is ranked among the top ten business schools in Switzerland by

in the top 3 hospitality management schools for an international

Eduniversal and the Curriculum features a unique combination of

career (TNS, Global Research, 2013).

theoretical and practical instruction. The International Exchange Programme gives students the opportunity to spend one term studying abroad at a partner university around the world. The classes are small, ensuring students benefit from interactive lessons and direct feedback from Professors.

have a job or multiple offers on graduation and that Glion is ranked

The first Swiss hospitality institute located in a British university setting, Glion London offers unparalleled study opportunities in Europe’s business hub. High quality academic programmes include Bachelor Degrees and Postgraduate Diploma studies in Hospitality Management set within a vibrant learning community.

The IUG campus is close to the United Nations and only

Lorraine, a student from France, concludes: “I chose London

5 kilometres from the centre of Geneva, a city well known for is

because Glion has a great reputation in the hospitality industry.

multicultural setting and as a hub for international politics and

I love the campus, the atmosphere and there are so many

business. This multicultural society is reflected on Campus with

opportunities in London”.

students from over 60 nationalities attending.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

PROMOTION UNIVERSITIES

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FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

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FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

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PROMOTION UNIVERSITIES

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WWW.HESGE.CH/HEG/IBM The Haute Ecole de Gestion de Genève (HEG) is a public school that offers a new Bachelor program in International Business Management. The HEG belongs to the Universities of Applied Sciences in Western Switzerland. Our program is application oriented and meets the expectations of the professional world. This Bachelor is taught entirely in English and focuses on the management issues arising in an international context, with multicultural groups or organizations. We cover the general subjects (economics, marketing, law, accounting), but with an international dimension. We offer elective subjects, such as leadership, commodity trading, emerging markets or international organizations. After following this undergraduate program, you may work in multinational companies, non-profit organizations, or SMEs having activities oriented towards international markets, or continue your studies with a Master degree. The Geneva region is the perfect location for such a program!

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

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The Swiss Education Group (SEG) is a network of leading hospitality institutions offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that combine Hospitality Management with Business, Tourism, Events, Design, Resort & Spa, Hotel Management or Culinary Arts. 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 living and learning experience for students and helps them to gain an understanding of different cultures that is so important for future graduates. 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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FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

HOTEL SCHOOLS

Welcoming the World

In the birthplace of hospitality, students are learning the Swiss ethos that puts them in high demand around the world By Caroline Bishop

ianluca Sparacino is a regional Corporate Director of Food & Beverage for the Four Seasons luxury hotel chain. An Italian, he grew up in Singapore, the US and Canada. His wife is German-Venezuelan and their children were born in Chicago and Indonesia. But his training in the hospitality industry is firmly Swiss.

This Swiss work ethic – synonymous with rigour, precision and quality – has the weight of history behind it. Switzerland has been entrenched in the hospitality industry since the 19th century. Mass tourism was born here in 1863 when Thomas Cook organised the first package tour to the country, at a time when Switzerland was a fixture on the “grand tour” of many a young Englishman looking to complete his worldly education. By the early Sparacino is an alumnus of Les Roches 20th century the luxury Palace hotels springing International School of Hotel Management in up around the country were setting the Crans-Montana, one of numerous hotel standard for hospitality, while Swiss hoteliers schools in Switzerland that attract students such as César Ritz were exporting those from all over the world, eager to learn about values worldwide. hospitality in the country which sets the standard for the industry worldwide. (According to a In 1893 Jacques Tschumi, then Director of 2013 report by TNS, the top three schools in Lausanne’s Beau-Rivage Palace, saw a need the world are L’Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, for a school to support this growing industry. He set up the École Hôtelière de Lausanne Glion Institute and Les Roches – all Swiss.) (EHL), Switzerland’s – and the world’s – first “The basic principles were very important to hospitality training ground, and still one of its the school – timeliness, respect, working as a most prestigious. team”, says Sparacino. “Whether working as a waiter or a steward or a chef, you learn about Stiff competition is now provided by several being precise and not cutting detail, and being other schools in the Lake Geneva region, all of which offer degree-level English-language very exacting, and those are Swiss traits”.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

hospitality management training to predominantly international students. “Hospitality is provided everywhere in the world, but here is the first place it was formalised in a discipline”, says Jeroen Greven, Academic Dean at the Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) in Caux, part of the Swiss Education Group that also includes the Hotel Institute Montreux and César Ritz Colleges. “It has really grown into a brand. If you say you studied in Switzerland, there’s a big difference to if you say you studied in the UK or elsewhere”. The country’s geographic position at the heart of Europe and its international make-up are also factors in its success as a hospitality incubator. The schools count numerous nationalities among their student body, and a multi-lingual, multi-national background like Sparacino’s at the Four Seasons is the norm rather than the exception. “Being in an atmosphere where you meet students and colleagues from many different nations prepares you to be able to adjust yourself very well in a multicultural setting”, says Karthikeyan Namasivayam, Bachelor

HOTEL SCHOOLS

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

HOTEL SCHOOLS

At the Glion campus, perched above Montreux, students learn the importance of all aspects of restaurant service.

“Being in an atmosphere where you meet students and colleagues from many different nations prepares you to be able to adjust yourself very well in a multicultural setting”, says Karthikeyan Namasivayam, Bachelor Programme Director at EHL. Programme Director at EHL, which counts such topics as marketing, finance, event 60 nationalities among its students and management and human resources – and 30 among its staff. hands-on operational experience. All students spend time working in training restaurants Les Roches comprises 98 percent international and hotel environments (first and second year students from 88 countries. The CEO there, SHMS students work and live in the former Sonia Tatar, agrees that a multi-national Caux Palace, built in 1902) learning the basics student body is an excellent teaching of table service, housekeeping, cooking and opportunity. “From day one they are mingling, front office. learning from each other, not just about their culture but the way they behave, their “If you are running a hotel and you don’t know strengths and weaknesses”, she says. how to do the housekeeping, first of all you have no credibility when you tell people that The top schools agree on another thing. While it’s not done well, and plus you appreciate their programmes may vary in terms of what they are doing”, says Jeremy Weingart, a specialisations and facilities, all share a Swiss-American final-year Bachelor degree common purpose: to create future managers student at EHL, which puts its students and leaders who have a solid all-round through a practical “Preparatory Year” in the knowledge of the industry. The basis of Swiss restaurants of its purpose-built campus hospitality education is therefore a above Lausanne. combination of classroom study – covering FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

It’s something that sets Swiss hospitality schools apart, feels Judy Hou, CEO of Glion Institute of Higher Education, which emphasises craft-based learning in the first two semesters of its Bachelor programme. “A lot of international schools have copied the Swiss apprenticeship model. But I still think that Switzerland has put more emphasis on that practical experience than anywhere in the world. The US curriculum is more theoretical driven”. Practical training is consolidated by internships, which form an integral part of programmes. The schools’ international reputation, coupled with their extensive alumni networks worldwide, mean the possibilities are exciting. Weingart at EHL is just back from interning at a private concierge service in New York; Theo Chimhanda, a Zimbabwean student at SHMS, interned with

A GLOBAL CAREER IN HOSPITALITY STARTS WITH THE RIGHT EDUCATION. Ranked by industry hiring managers of luxury hotels among the top 3 hospitality management schoools in the world for an international career (TNS, Global Research, 2013), Glion offers bachelor degrees, postgraduate diplomas and MBA programs in the fields of Hospitality and Event, Sport & Entertainment Management. You are welcome to attend our upcoming Hospitality Career Days or Open Day:

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4th March

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Rois, 9th April

+ 26th April To register for these events or for further information on our programs and scholarships please contact our Regional Admissions Manager, Gregoire Pittet: Phone: +41 (0)21 989 26 85 Email: gregoire.pittet@laureate.ch

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HOTEL SCHOOLS

As at all the better Swiss hotel schools, EHL students get hands-on experience while pursuing their academic studies.

Ritz Carlton in Portugal, while Glion student David Le Maut headed to Dubai. If they impress, the chances of securing a permanent job are high. “Over 50 percent of students were offered a job through the company they’ve done their second internship with”, says Fabienne Rollandin, Head of Career & Alumni at Glion. The schools also hold regular recruitment fairs where international hotel groups are invited to come and interview students for internships, permanent jobs and management training positions. The result is that nearly all students (85 percent at Glion, 89 percent at Les Roches) already have one or more job offers on graduation. First jobs aren’t necessarily managerial, however. Les Roches alumna Ana Rennó Small took a position as a cocktail waitress on graduation, while Glion graduate Anuschaka

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

Geiger started as a receptionist. Surely they could have secured such a job without forking out for an expensive course (currently CHF 178,645 for a three-and-a-half year Bachelor programme at Glion, including full board). “Yes”, says Geiger, now General Manager of Hotel Saratz in St Moritz, “but then I would have stayed as a receptionist for five years”.

knowing how to talk to the customer, which a student who has done Business Studies does not necessarily have”.

Swiss hospitality education may be over 120 years old, but there’s no doubt it remains as relevant as ever. That’s ensured by the schools’ continued investment in their programmes, whether that be the justlaunched Bachelor degree in Global Graduates of Swiss hospitality schools are Hospitality Management at Les Roches entering an enviably secure industry – (students study in Switzerland, China and tourism enjoyed 5 percent growth in 2013, Spain), the opening of Glion’s new London according to the World Tourism Organization campus, or EHL’s recently renovated state– and their skills are also in demand from of-the-art facilities. other service industries such as banking and luxury goods. Bloomberg and Louis Vuitton All the top schools send their graduates off are among the companies courting Glion with career prospects the average academic students, according to Rollandin. “These graduate can only dream of. For Switzerland’s employers love our graduates because [the hospitality whizz kids, the world of work is graduates] have this notion of service, of wide open – the only hard part is deciding where to go.

HOTEL SCHOOLS

Top left and right: At Les Roches’ campus in Bluche within the canton of Valais, students roll up their sleeves in the kitchen. Lower left: SHMS students prepare for a day of restaurant service.

Nerves à la Carte

s I take my seat for lunch at EHL’s fine dining restaurant, Le Berceau des Sens, it’s the start of a steep learning curve for those serving me. This group of Preparatory Year students are on the first day of a week-long module, one of 20 rotated over the semester. While those in the kitchen learn how to cook this gastronomic feast to the high standards of chef Gérard Caballero, who holds the prestigious distinction Meilleur Ouvrier de France, another nervous group of 14 are serving the public for the very first time.

The pitfalls for these novice servers during our CHF 50 business lunch are many, but six supervisors are on hand to help students remember the names of the dishes, or the tasting notes for each wine. “It’s so scary at first, but already I love it so much”, says Carington of her experience at EHL so far. The Londoner planned to study History in the UK before deciding to go down a vocational route. “You hear so much about this school and they say you will come out with a job and you can really go into any industry. It sounded so much better than having to fight for a job. And it’s so exciting to come to a different country. I’ve met so many like-minded people”.

“We had a class this morning where they told us what to do”, says Bella Carington, 18. “We had to learn all the names of the cheeses and the wine. I’ve learnt cutlery service, I’ve learnt She’ll be putting her skills to good use on her how to do a tablecloth – I didn’t realise there first internship back in London – at was so much to a tablecloth, but there really is!” Buckingham Palace no less. FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DAY TRIP

Quiet Carouge FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DAY TRIP

Once part of an Italian fiefdom, and just steps from the French border, Carouge is one of Geneva’s most intriguing quartiers. Photos and text by Evi Zoupanos

t first you probably don’t even notice when you cross the Arve River and leave Geneva proper, slipping into the Carouge neighborhood. Then you look around and feel … a difference. Are these tranquil cafés, bistros, boutiques, galleries and parks really just down the street from noisy

Plainpalais? No wonder, in the late 18th century, Victor Amédée, the King of Sardinia, claimed the colorful narrow streets of Carouge for his own.The King commissioned architects from Turin to design a town that would rival Geneva. Happily, that didn’t happen. Today, though the quartier has been surrounded by Geneva, Vieux Carouge still retains the feel of a charming village.

Just off Rue du Marché. A door with a sign marked “Residence de Carouge” hides this secret courtyard.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DAY TRIP

Rue Saint Joseph. C’Bos is a wonderful little atelier that showcases Chantal Noirjean’s unique hand-made clothes and original pieces of ceramic pottery and other works by local artists.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DAY TRIP

1. Place du Temple. This tranquil little garden lies behind the Mayor’s office. Ambling around Carouge, you’ll discover hidden gardens like this tucked away behind shops and houses. 2. Place Rondeau. This monument honors when Geneva became a canton of the Swiss Confederation in 1815. 3. Verrerie Artisanal de Gerard Bertin. A charismatic man who’ll greet you with huge smile, Mr Bertin is a secondgeneration glass artist, following in the footsteps of his father. His day job? Making beakers for science laboratories. 4. Place de Sardaigne. The ice skating rink is open during the week from December to early March. 5. Rue Saint Joseph. Betjeman and Barton offers teas from all over the world. 6. Place de Sardaigne. The Museum of Carouge was built in 1789. Originally a watch factory, it now displays 19th and 20th century ceramic art and other contemporary art pieces from time to time.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DAY TRIP

Rue Saint Joseph. Gerard Bertin’s atelier window shows off the art and science of his work to passers-by. Rue du Pont-Neuf. Café Equinoxe is a small bohemian bistro where prices don’t empty out your pockets, but the food is good. A large slate board shows the menu and plat du jour.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DAY TRIP

Place du Marché. Every Wednesday and Saturday farmers and merchants come to sell their fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, spices and wines under the watch of Sainte-Croix Catholic Church. Carouge is a treasure of antique dealers and restoration artisans, especially along rue Saint Joseph and rue Ancienne, where you’ll also find jewelry stores, fashion boutiques and flower shops.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DESTINATIONS

Cruising the canals, meeting the cows, drinking the wine and feeling fine Story and photos by Bill Harby

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DESTINATIONS

A Sublime Slow Boat through Bourgogne I

’ve never been fond of boating. I start getting green around the gills just singing the children’s song, “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat.” To me, sailboats are too slow, speedboats too bumpy. I’ve always thought that boating is like reading greeting card rhymes -- boring yet nauseating.

baby Émile strapped to her chest. The boat was barely moving along through gorgeous wooded countryside and grassy fields dotted with countless buttercups. “Magnifique, eh?,” asked Maïf. Oui, this was the boat ride for me.

little penichettes. We chose Locaboat, and will do so again next time, not just because my brother-in-law works for them, but because their boats are clean, comfortable, well-equipped, and you can steer them through narrow canals without (hardly) ever bumping into the sides.

Until now. Now I know that boating can be fun, even inspiring, and not make you feel like you’re about to donate your lunch to the fish.

We were on a three-day trip from St. Léger- Yes, you and your family and friends are the sur-Dheune (a two-hour drive from Geneva) crew. And pilot. And cook and dishwasher. It’s through some of the finest wine country on like camping in a really nice trailer that floats. the planet. That was the epiphany I had one golden None of us had any real experience piloting a afternoon in early summer on a small canal in Our penichette was a small version of the boat, but the Locaboat people seemed Burgundy, France. My wife, Maïf, and I were famous long peniches that motor through the blissfully unconcerned with this since that’s sitting on the foredeck of a petite penichette, canals and rivers of France and beyond, true of most of their customers. At the dock each of us with a glass of the local sparkling delivering goods along the way. they explain how you start the engine, steer wine in hand. Our friend Pascal was ably at the boat and, perhaps most importantly, stop the wheel, his wife, Marie, beside him with Around Europe, several companies rent the

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DESTINATIONS

“Yes, you and your family and friends are the crew. And pilot. And cook and dishwasher. It’s like camping in a really nice trailer that floats.” the boat. They show you how to light the the level of the water to match the next leg of stove in the fully equipped galley, how to flush the canal. the toilets and take a shower. Then they tell one of your party to take the wheel and shove off. Between locks, the cruise was utterly tranquil. The canal along there is mostly lined with Now you’re on your own, navigating the smooth paved lanes on either side. Once, as narrow canal. They warned us to take down we floated along, our throttle just above idle, a the parasol before each low bridge, but of little boy on a push-scooter proudly outcourse we forgot, and after our very first low distanced us. Then there were the serious bridge, our parasol had a new elbow. cyclists whizzing by in their bright skin-tight racing suits. The fishermen and cows just Our piloting skills were put to the test each stood and watched us pass by. Sometimes time we negotiated one of the 12 locks we we’d pull to the side and Marie and Maïf would passed through in each direction. Each time, unload bicycles and ride ahead, waiting at all of us would gather on deck to either steer, each lock to help with the ropes. throw a rope, or lash us momentarily to the side. My favourite job was scurrying up the The second day, we tied up by a country ladder on the lock wall, and pulling the blue crossroads to explore the village of Rully. Maïf rope that shut the gate and raised or lowered and I rode bikes past the pastures dotted with

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

white Charolais cattle, prized for their meat and sweet demeanor. In town we met Pascal, Marie and Émile for a fine lunch at the elegant Le Vendangerot restaurant. The white tablecloths and the tuxedos worn by the waiters contrasted somewhat with our jeans and t-shirts, but no one seemed to mind, least of the local bluebloods whose families had dined here for generations. We each ordered delicious local specialties, yes, including the Charolais beef, and a Grand Cru rouge whose grapes were grown just up the road. I was tempted to pinch myself, but didn’t risk it. After lunch, meandering back toward the canal, we came upon a man raking leaves in front of a gated old building. The sign said this was Domaine Jean-Baptiste Ponsot, one of the many small wine negociants around

DESTINATIONS

Opposite page: Negoiating the locks is best as a team effort. Top Left: Renting bikes to take on the boat, lets you stretch your legs on paths along the canals. Top Right: The region’s Charolais cattle make gentle friends (and good steaks). Bottom Left: Marie, Pascal and Maïf enjoy regional dishes, and of course, a good Burgundy red. Bottom Right: Pascal and co-captain Émile at the helm. Bourgogne. Bernard Ponsot, father of Jean- The next day, now heading back to where we’d Baptiste, invited us into his cool stone cave to started in St. Lèger, we stopped in the town of taste some of their local wines. Chagny to stroll around the Sunday market. The narrow streets were a colourful That evening, back aboard our floating home, cornucopia of people buying fresh flowers, our little crew made dinner while cruising vegetables, prepared Asian and European farther into unknown territory. Maïf slowly dishes, cheeses, sausages, breads, pastries, roasted one of the famous local poulets de candies, toys, kitchen gadgets, artisanal Bresse, which we’d bought the day before. knives, hats, Nepalese tunics – but, amazingly The butcher had explained that the birds are enough, no local wine, no wine at all. For this so yummy partly because they are milk-fed we had to ask a cheesemonger, who stuck his just like veal. head in a closed shop, whose keeper sold us a couple of good bottles on the sly. Finally we stopped at a spot surrounded by grassy wooded fields, a golden sun turning Then it was back on the water for the final leg. the blue sky orange, we had only one boat of That was when Maïf and I found ourselves on neighbours. They ate dinner on their open the foredeck, feet up, glasses raised. The deck then sang rousing songs as the stars canal was lined on both sides by tall trees came out. with pastures and the white Charolais cattle

just beyond. Soon, Maïf would take the wheel and bring us into dock for the last time, but for a little while longer, our crew was just goin’ with the flow.

WHO, WHEN, HOW MUCH? LOCABOAT HOLIDAYS +33 (0)3 86 91 72 72 www.locaboat.com info@locaboat.com WHEN TO GO The season in France lasts from mid-March to the first week of August. Prices vary depending upon time of year and length of rental.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

The Geneva English Drama Society

id you know that 2014 is the 450th anniversary of the birth of the Bard, William Shakespeare? For the Geneva English Drama Society it will be an important year. The Geneva English Drama Society (GEDS) has been staging successful English language theatre in the Geneva region since 1933. It was originally formed to coordinate the isolated efforts made to present English drama on the Geneva stage. An article in the second issue of the magazine Union in August 1930 noted that “Amateur theatricals have always been among the consolations offered themselves by exiles, and the English colony in Geneva has proved no exception to the rule.” Times have not changed. Each year GEDS produces an ambitious mix of three or four stage productions and around 20 fortnightly play readings covering a wide variety of styles and periods. The season highlights this spring include Baby with the Bathwater by Christopher Durang. Scheduled play readings include several to celebrate the birth of Shakespeare: Henry IV (Part 1), Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (by Tom Stoppard) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a garden venue on June 21, of course! The Society also runs acting and directing workshops, open to the public, three or four times a season. The Drama Society has a membership of around 300 people of all ages and from all walks of life. The common denominator is that they all speak English and want to produce English drama. Some members

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

By Sara Fransen have been part of the Society for three or four years, while others have been around for several decades and watched each other’s children grow up. Viki Lazar, the Society’s publicity spokeswoman, says that what makes their efforts so special is so many people working together for something so ephemeral. Aside from the talents of the actors and actresses, the theatre company has need of many other skills. The directors are responsible for casting, directing and putting together the whole show. There is also the technical team responsible for lighting and sound, and the set builders (who call themselves the ‘Chippendales’!), the costume department, photographers and publicity team who deal with poster design, print and distribution, the newsletter editor, and the treasurer who ensures that productions run to budget and plans funding for future productions. The Society always needs more volunteers and members. Sound fun? Yearly subscriptions are CHF 60 per individual membership, CHF 40 for retirees over 60 years and CHF 30 for students under 25 years old. To be on the mailing list of GEDS and the Geneva Amateur Operatic Society, sign up for the Theatre in English mailing list www.theatreinenglish. ch. For more details either write to geds@geds.ch or check out the website www.geds.ch

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

HEALTH MATTERS

Tick Tock

It’s that time of year again. Spring is in the air, with budding trees, picnics – and ticks.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

Illustration by Valentina Shapir o, adapted fr om a photo by Matt Allworth.

HEALTH MATTERS

icks are small arachnids about the size of a pinhead – before they feed on the blood of their animal or human meal. Found the world over, ticks hang out in forests, parks, gardens and playgrounds, in thick undergrowth, dry leaves and low-lying vegetation. In Switzerland, tick season usually runs from March to November. These opportunistic little vampires get onto the skin of passers-by and look for a choice place to bite, preferably a warm, moist area where the skin tends to be a bit softer – the groin, under the arms, around the hairline, behind the ears or behind the knees. And they’re clever things – people don’t usually notice when they’ve been bitten because tick saliva contains a local anaesthetic. We worry about ticks because of the potential infections they can pass on to humans when they bite.

In Switzerland, ticks may carry the virus that leads to tick-borne encephalitis – a serious infection causing inflammation of the brain and the meninges (the protective covering that surrounds the brain and spinal cord). They may also carry the bacterium that leads to Lyme disease, the first symptom of which is usually a red, circular rash that spreads outwards from around the tick bite. If recognised at this stage, Lyme disease can be easily treated with antibiotics. If not treated, the disease can worsen some weeks, months, or even years after the initial tick bite, possibly affecting the joints, nervous system, skin and (rarely) the heart.

Talk to your doctor about vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health recommends vaccination against this disease for adults and children over 6 years living in high-risk areas. Note that there is no vaccination against Lyme disease. Check yourself and your children regularly for ticks.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I FIND ONE? Remove it as soon as possible. Special tick removers are available from pharmacies.

But don’t panic! Not all ticks in Switzerland carry the virus or bacterium that can lead to these infections, and even if a tick is carrying them, the rate of transmission to the human host is not 100-percent. Just to give an idea, though there are countless tick bites each year in Switzerland, there are about 3000 cases of Lyme disease annually and about 120 cases of tickborne encephalitis.

Wash and disinfect the area around the bite.

It’s more likely that ticks in the Northern and Eastern parts of Switzerland will carry the virus that can cause tick-borne encephalitis. The Federal Office of Public Health produces a map showing the hotspots (http://map.geo.admin. ch/?layers=ch.bag.zecken-fsmeimpfung). But, ticks throughout the whole of Switzerland may carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

Stay safe with this knowledge, but still enjoy the wonderful countryside in Switzerland.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY? Wear long trousers, socks and closed shoes in areas where there may be ticks. Avoid walking in undergrowth. Consider insect repellent.

If you think some of the tick has been left behind, see a doctor. Stay vigilant – see a doctor if you develop any redness around the tick bite, a rash, a fever, or you are worried about any other symptoms.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. All reasonable care has been taken in compiling the information but there is no legal warranty made as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. HealthFirst and Dr Michelle Wright are not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any form or damages whatsoever resulting from the use of information contained in or implied in this article.

HEALTH MATTERS BY DR. MICHELLE WRIGHT Dr. Michelle Wright is a British-trained general practitioner who works part-time as a doctor at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva. She is also a medical writer and journalist. Together with her colleague Dr Penny Fraser, she delivers health education and first aid training in Switzerland through their company, HealthFirst. www.healthfirst.ch.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

DISTRIBUTION

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 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 top-name 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 90 famous brands. FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

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).

DISTRIBUTION

OUTLET AUBONNE T : +41 (0) 58 853 75 20 WWW.OUTLET-AUBONNE.CH PRÉ NEUF, 1170 AUBONNE (NEXT TO IKEA, JUST OFF THE A1). 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. There’s free parking and easy access with public transport, (Allaman station only 3 mins walk!) Open Mon-Wed 10 am – 7pm, Thurs-Fri 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. 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.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

LIFESTYLE

WELLNESS

VISION LASER

Place de la Gare 1, 1224 Chêne-Bourg, Geneva / T 022 860 80 60 / www.visionlaser.ch News: Special offers for the under 30’s! Missing out on sports? Are glasses or contact lenses ruling your life? Then meet the experts at Vision Laser, Geneva’s established leading centre for refractive laser eye surgery. Offering a fast, one-stop solution based on thechnology, Vision Laser is renowned for its commitment to safety, precision and quality – pairing effective, painless treatments with

first-rate service. Your experienced Englishspeaking ophthalmic surgeon and an optometrist will explain each step, helping you to enjoy outstanding results and often a return to work the following day!

your vision. Vision Laser uses LASIK, effective for shortsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism and now the new SUPRALOR® for presbyopia!

New: A fully customized surgery with Zyoptix®, enabling your surgeon to improve the extent and quality of

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Convenient and flexible options for face to face prep through individual or group courses

For more information visit our website www.tutorsplus.com or contact us today on 022 731 81 48 or email us at info@tutorsplus.com

LEARNING MORE

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT BOARDING SCHOOL? Parents contemplating boarding school for their children need to consider many factors.

eighing the potential benefits and drawbacks of a boarding school education can be daunting for parents. Perceptions based on personal experience and perpetuated myths often dictate parents’ decisions for their own children. The reality today, however, is often far different, depending on the school.

care. Parents should also make sure they can expect regular communication from teachers and school directors.

Parents considering boarding school may look at options in different countries. They often consider whether their child will be part of the minority or majority. For example, about 80 percent of boarders in Switzerland are foreign nationals, whereas in the UK, 70 Parents who travel regularly often depend on percent are British. This may affect the the stability a boarding school can offer. Moving approach to teaching and the curriculum. between education systems becomes difficult, Arguably, being surrounded by an international especially from around age 14. Boarding schools community is an education in itself. Local can help students develop self-sufficiency factors are also important – some children within this stable environment, providing need the space of the countryside, others opportunities to develop skills in sport, art, prefer the stimulation of urban life. student politics and leadership roles. Most boarding schools in Switzewrland Of course, any parents considering a boarding accept secondary school students, whereas school education for their kids will want to many UK boarding schools teach children as look very closely at what various schools have young as 8. With younger children especially, to offer. This will include everything from it is important that they are in a nurturing curriculum, extra-curricular activities, personal environment and feel properly supported, with development projects and learning support, a stimulating programme of activities beyond to size of the student body and campus, the classroom. This is always a bone of quality of the boarding accommodation, staff contention: many people are convinced of the to pupil ratio, tutoring facilities and pastoral academic benefits of a boarding school, but

are sceptical of the ability of teachers and support staff to deliver everything else. Reviews from other parents and students at the school and even online forums can give a good idea of “life at school”, beyond the brochures. The principal admission criterion at most boarding schools is the ability to pay the fees. Therefore, there will be a range of students in terms of academic ability levels and behaviour issues. Parents may fear that misbehaviour might be tolerated as long as Mummy and Daddy pay the full fees in advance. This may be the case of some schools, but it is certainly not the norm. Again, thorough research and multiple visits to the school should lay such concerns to rest. If bullying occurs, it is important to be aware of how it is dealt with, because your child will only be supported by whatever policies and structures are in place. Choosing a boarding school is a highly individual decision, depending first and foremost on the child in question and their stage of development, both academically and emotionally. There’s no substitute for careful research, perhaps with the help of a professional educational consultant.

LEARNING MORE BY SABINE HUTCHESON Sabine Hutcheson is a British-trained school teacher, with over a decade’s teaching experience in Switzerland, the UK and neighbouring France. She has taught a variety of subjects to children from 5 to 18 years old, as well as adults, and is now Academic Director and Education Consultant at TutorsPlus. Visit www.tutorsplus.com to find out more about their educational consultancy, tuition service, and intensive IGCSE & IB revision courses and SAT & ACT prep courses

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

LeShop.ch delivers your shopping direct to your home!

TRY OUR ASSORTMENT! Whether you’re feeling homesick or want to taste a bit of Swiss made, we deliver the ingredients right to your door. www.LeShop.ch LeShop.ch – my online supermarket 140206_ann_magazine_186x250_EN_PRINT.indd 1

06.02.14 11:24

KIDS IN MIND

WHEN SEX IS THE SUBJECT Helping parents deal with their children’s emerging sexual feelings.

any parents, especially those with teenagers, are concerned with how to talk to their children about sexuality. They may not realise it, but they have already given a lot of information to their children about the “birds and the bees”. Sexuality relates to topics as varied as reproductive health, how we think we should act as a man or a woman, how we feel about our bodies and how we express our affection. Besides what their children may or may not already know, it’s important that when parents do talk to them about sexuality, they provide accurate information that is in line with their own set of family values. Parents can aim for a friendly chat with their kids by, for example, asking them what they think about a sexuality issue that they saw on TV, or heard about on the Internet. The main thing is to be truthful and clear, and not to make assumptions about how much their child may know.

COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY, AND GOES BOTH WAYS – IT’S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TOO

Parents may be concerned that talking to their children about sexuality could encourage them to experiment early. But research shows that when parents talk with their children about sexuality, they are more likely to delay sexual behaviour and will be more precautious. Nevertheless, all teens have sexual lives, whether physical or through fantasies. An important part of adolescence is thinking about and experimenting with these various aspects of sexuality. Also, young people today recognize their sexual orientation earlier than their parents’ generation – and they’re often more vocal about it, on social media and elsewhere. This has brought into the open conversations about LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) orientations. The crucial thing to know is that sexual orientation is not a choice, and is not anyone’s “fault”. Most experts agree that it is an emotional pattern that usually emerges when the child enters puberty. Many parents of LGBT children are fearful that their kids will suffer harassment. Unfortunately, the threat of harassment does exist for them – and for all teens. But when children feel good about themselves they are more likely to not harass

other children, and are more likely to resist when they are harassed. Here in the Lake Geneva area, many children have lived in various cultures, and have benefitted from learning about different values and expectations. But this can also make them more sensitive to fitting in, sexually and otherwise. That’s why it’s so important for parents to realise what research shows: they are the most important role models and teachers when it comes to how sexuality fits into the larger process of growing up and forming relationships.

DISCLAIMER Please note: any psychological advice or information provided during the Kids in Mind shows is general information and should not be used to evaluate, diagnose or treat any specific concerns. Always check with your medicalcare provider if you have questions about your own children. WRS or Rebecca Weber are not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage resulting from the use of information contained in, or implied by, Kids in Mind shows.

KIDS IN MIND BY REBECCA WEBER

Kids in Mind is sponsored by The British School of Geneva

Originally from California, Rebecca Weber earned her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology at the University of Lyon. Now in Geneva, specializing as a Child and Adolescent Psychologist, she focuses on gender issues, immigration and school violence. Rebecca currently works in French and English in her private practice in Ferney-Voltaire. For more information please visit www.rebeccaweber.net.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014

BORDERLINES

HOVER LOVER Love helicopters? Don’t be concerned, you’re not alone. And there’s help for us.

t’s an affliction rarely spoken of openly in mixed company. Helicopter love. The love of hovering, of flying frontwards, backwards, sideways, up and down. You may be afflicted even if you’ve never actually flown in a helicopter. There is no known cure, but there are excellent means of temporary relief around Switzerland.

Soon, there I was, strapped into one of the two seats in the French Guimbal Cabri G2 as Michael flew us out of the airport control area. Then, without warning, he said, “OK, you have the helicopter”.

Monsieur Gille does not have a death wish. He knew that I’d taken helicopter flying lessons in years past, and so wasn’t a beginner. I tried to reawaken muscle memories of the three I found mine at the Bern-Belp Airport. Is this main controls – the pedals, which point the really the airport serving the Swiss capital nose, the collective in your left hand, which city? The only air traffic I saw for 30 minutes makes the helicopter go up or down, and the was a small helicopter practicing sling-load cyclic in your right hand, which controls lateral maneuvers. direction. Except it’s not that simple, because all the controls work together, combining to Then it was our turn to fly. I was with Michael allow you to either stop motionless in mid-air Gille, head of training at Swiss Helicopter. He or shoot straight up from the ground. Often would be my instructor today during our “trial during my flight I was slip-sliding back and flight”. The company offers this one-off flight forth, rising up and drifting down, the nose to anyone with CHF 450 worth of desire to see usually pointed either too far right or left in what it’s like to fly a helicopter. spite of my best intentions. The session includes 40 minutes of flying Yet, I was on Cloud Nine. Especially since after a brief explanation of helicopter I knew that as soon as my flying got too aerodynamics and flight controls. Swiss squirrely, my instructor would seamlessly Helicopter, in business for 61 years, offers take the controls. flight training at five of its 14 bases around Switzerland.

As we flew toward a snow-capped peak, Michael calmly gave me a series of instructions: “Keep your air speed at 60 knots … Maintain this altitude … Turn left 90 degrees … Slow down and gain altitude … Now descend … Watch your rpms … Keep in trim …” A few times, for 15 or 20 seconds, neither of us spoke as we flew straight and level. Directly below lay a green and brown quilt of fields, and here and there a little village with tile roofs and a steeple. Around us, forested white-topped hills waited beneath the clouds. It was like flying over a perfect little Toyland. But this was no toy I was flying. Michael instructed me to descend toward some fields to try a landing. As we slowed down almost to a hover, the chopper began to shudder, fishtail, see-saw and drift. Michael took the controls in a split-second. Later he told me that he gets a sense of what a newbie can do, “then I push them a little”. Want to get pushed? http://www.swisshelicopter.ch

BORDERLINES BY BILL HARBY As Editor of Frontier magazine, and writer of the “Borderlines” column, Bill is occasionally called upon to engage in new experiences like flying helicopters and wrestling with commas.

FRONTIER MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 - SPRING 2014