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Guest Blogs

Knowitall.ch often invites local experts in their field to contribute to their own blogs on our site. This means not only you will benefit from the useful recommendations that we make on our News pages, but you can also profit from some of the great advice and tips that these experts have to make on their favorite subjects. Whilst each of these bloggers has been recommended to us at some point during the evolution of Know-it-all passport and  knowitall.ch, obviously we are not able to test out all the suggestions they make on their blogs, nor do we necessarily agree with all their opinions.  So if you do find one of their tips useful (or not!), do let us know!

To make these blogs more accessible to you, we have now decided to group them altogether in one section, entitled Guest Blogs, accessible from our main menu bar.  We will also post the most recent blogs on the home page of our site in the right hand column.

We are still building up this area of the site, and are looking for bloggers in a number of sections, including Your Home, Travel, and Leisure, so if you feel you have a useful contribution to make in either of these areas, and have the time to submit blog entries approximately every month, then please get in touch!

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By Katie Harwood, Haut-Lac International Bilingual School in Switzerland

The quality of private, Swiss boarding schools has been well known for many years, and still is to this day. Here’s what motivates students to study at a boarding school among the lakes and mountains in the heart of Europe.

Swiss boarding schools are family-oriented
Or, as we say in Switzerland "small is beautiful". The private Swiss boarding school tradition focuses on creating a real home away from home. The boarding solutions offered by schools like Haut-Lac International Bilingual School are developed with the students’ best interests and futures in mind.

Haut-Lac boarders find themselves studying with a maximum of twenty classmates, which enables teachers to adapt their teaching to the students' profiles so that each one has the chance to shine.
This ultimately gives students the confidence they need to find their place in society, as well as making lasting friendships.

The history of Swiss boarding schools is an international attraction
"Swiss boarding school" rhythms with prestige and status. A major advantage many families feel will greatly benefit their children as they go through life.

What’s more schools, universities and companies around the world look highly upon students with the communicative edge, open-mindedness and resilience that such an education provides. By studying in Switzerland, the home of the IB programme, students embark on a pathway that opens not one, but many doors to success in the real world for students.

cave vallorbe

By Marta Koncz, www.agateexperience.com

My favorite place to be in the French-speaking part of Switzerland during a warm summer day is Vallée de Joux; what offers a great diversity of landscapes and activities from the banks of its lakes to the summits of the surrounding mountains.

If you are a big fan of water, visiting Lac de Joux is a must! The lake is clearly a paradise of aquatics; it provides endless possibilities of water sports, such as windsurfing, water skiing, kitesurfing, canoeing, kayaking or even paddle boarding.

If you want to take it easier, you can chill in one of its well-developed beaches in Le Rocheray, L’Abbaye, Les Bioux and Le Pont. Or, if you prefer more natural ambience, discover the beaches at Lac Brenet what is considered as the "little brother" of Lac de Joux and is also ideal for gentle walks along its shore.

If you are a hiking enthusiast, you might want to climb up to Mont Tendre, the highest point of the Swiss Jura. The name of the peak means Gentle Mountain. Based on the stories I read it was named like that because it is easy to climb and ideal for beginner hikers. (I can second that)!

On the top there is a possibility to rest and refuel your energies at the Chalet du Mont Tendre.

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Photo credit: Women's Economy and Society

By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com

Many people I know – both panelists and audience members - are wondering what is the point of panel discussions.

This is what I am told by the senior managers, leaders and experts I have been training in various communication skills.

It seems they are often too promotional, disorganised, lack focus and fail to deliver any new insights or engage the audience. In fact the audience takeaway seems to be at the bottom of the organisers priority list for a successful panel discussion

And ignoring the audience is having consequences as organisers tell me that fewer people are showing up for virtual, hybrid or in-person panels. It would appear that post pandemic we are all suffering from a case of zoomitis and thinking twice before we tune in or turn up to an event.

tulips

By Marta Koncz, www.agateexperience.com

Lately, I was asked several times what to wear on hikes, with a special interest in which shoes are suitable.

Well, in terms of clothes, the magic word is layers! Spring or summer, the weather can change very quickly in the mountains, therefore it is useful to have a light pullover and rain proof windbreaker in your backpack. Keep in mind that it is always a few degrees colder in higher altitude!

However, make sure not to wear too many clothes. You will warm up while walking and it will feel good to take those layers off. Also, you will be highly exposed to the sun. Therefore, it is essential to have a cap, sunglasses, and sun cream with you.

tulips

By Marta Koncz, www.agateexperience.com

I love walking in Spring, I can never get enough of admiring the awakening nature and the blooming flowers as far as the eye can see.

Usually, I kick off my flower "treasure hunt" with the cherry blossom; the flower that due to its short lifespan, is the symbol of the fleeting nature of life. You might have seen it earlier this spring in the Arboretum in Aubonne, in the Jardin des Alpes or Parc de l’Ariana in Geneva, behind the former Musée de l'Elysée or at the EPFL Campus in Lausanne and along Route de Crassier in Nyon.

Cherry Blossom