Annie Zhang

AROUND THE WORLD. Junior Salma recently moved from Zurich to St. Paul, just in time for the beginning of the school year. She found much of American culture interesting but also misses aspects of her life in Europe. “My daily life in Switzerland was quite different due to the change in school system,” Blagui said.

The crisp mountain air of Switzerland, with Romanesque buildings lining the streets, is a world away from the bustling suburb of St. Paul. The 4,489-mile distance between the two countries ensures that school, food and everyday life all look very different for junior Salma Blagui, who recently moved from Zürich, Switzerland, to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Before Switzerland, Blagui had lived in Grenoble, France, for around 10 years as well as in Tunisia, where many of her family members are located. However, due to her mother’s job, she never remained in the same place for more than four years. Transcending the European and African continent, the U.S. was a significant step from what Blagui was used to. From her previous assumptions of the country from past visits, Blagui’s biggest presumption was the outgoingness of Americans compared to Europeans: “[Americans] talk to everyone. They’re friendly. People can smile [and say] like a ‘hi,’ but in Switzerland, it’s not the case,” she said. “It is really hard to make friends.”

In addition, according to Blagui, Switzerland’s dress code differs greatly from the U.S. Crocs, pajama pants and hoodies, which would all be considered a no-go at school and in public, making Americans easily recognizable in Switzerland. “I can spot Americans in Europe. There is a specific [type] of clothes [Americans wear], [and] it’s usually out of place,” Blagui said. “It’s a different culture of clothing, so they’re easily findable.”

Blagui’s daily routines have also undergone changes. Compared to Switzerland, a school day in the U.S. has become longer in some aspects but shorter in others. “My daily life in Switzerland was quite different due to the change in school system,” she said. “I would start school 20 minutes later, but it would end three hours later.”

Back in Europe, a school day for Blagui consisted of arriving at school 20-30 minutes before the official start time, four 55-minute classes in the morning, an hour for lunch, and four more 55-minute blocks in the afternoon. At the end of each day, Blagui would arrive home via Switzerland’s robust public transportation system, another big difference she has noticed between the countries.

In Switzerland, Blagui attended a French international school program and, therefore, experienced many aspects of the French schooling system, including burnout due to an overload of academic work. “In the French system, they don’t care about you; they don’t ask about your mental health or if it’s too hard,” she said.

So far, the biggest inconvenience for Blagui in America has been the lack of access to her favorite European brands and Swiss chocolate. In her experiences, the difference between her usual Swiss chocolate and a Hershey’s Kiss is the strong taste of puke. “I found studies about an enzyme that is in your vomit that is present in the chocolate here,” Blagui said.

Despite the differences, Blagui has approached her new life from the picturesque lakes of Zürich to the American midwest with an open mind, navigating through the lack of public transportation, a new school system and a lack of delicious chocolate. In terms of her future in the U.S., Blagui looks forward to a less stressful academic environment and, as a result, being able to spend more time with family and friends.