Culture & Politics / Wednesday 27.7.

We went to Biel to visit the Omega museum. It showcased the history of Omega watches from the early 19th century up to present day. We could learn about the mechanics of modern watches and were they are used today. There were even original watches from the James Bond movies! However, the museum was rather small so we went through it in short time. After a long lunch break we met again at the train station and took the train to Neuchâtel, where we climbed the hill to reach the Dürrenmatt Museum. Some people got interviewed by Swissinfo for an article on their website:

http://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/jugendlager-zum-aso-jubilaeum_junge-auslandschweizer---auf-nach-bern--/42335458

We visited Dürrenmatts library and learned about the books he wrote and saw the paintings he made. The location of the museum is absolutely breathtaking because you can see the whole lake from there and the weather was very nice.

Culture & Politics / Tuesday 26.7.

On Tuesday, we had to move out accomodation again. We had to wake up early, clean the house and then pack our stuff. We then went on the train all the way down to Geneva because we had a very cultural program ahead of us: In the morning we had a guided tour at the "Palace des Nations", the main building of the UN in Geneva. We learned about the history of the UN, its purpose and the daily business that is conducted in the Geneva headquarters. It was a lot of information, but we had great guides that could answer all our questions. In the afternoon we went to the Red Cross museum just across the street. The exhibition was very interactive and informed us about all the different aspects of Red Cross work. It is a heavy topic, but people should know about it. After a long day we went back to our new accomodation in Délémont, where we stayed at the youth hostel.

Culture & Politics / Monday 25.7.

After breakfast, we met outside to play a game in three groups. The goal was to complete tasks with the leaders in order to earn "money" that we then could spend on cookies and melted chocolate to build a big castle. The tasks were very diverse, some required knowledge about Switzerland and other were more about sports. We were also visited by a journalist from "La Liberté" and some of us gave an interview. In the afternoon, the NGO "Terre des hommes" came to do a workshop with us and give us a short introduction to human rights and their work. It was very interesting, but also made us think.

Culture & Politics / Sunday 24.7.

We left early to go on a big trip. We went all the way to the Lac Léman to go for a short hike to a TV tower. The view was stunning and we could see the whole lake from there. After, we went to visit the beautiful Chateau Chillon and had a guided tour for about an hour. We then continued our journey to Montreux and from there went back to the camphouse in Estavayer. It was a very long day, but worth it!

Culture & Politics / Saturday 23.7.

On Saturday, we left the accomodation early to travel to our first destination, Estavayer-le-Lac. There we stayed at a farm close to the lake. As we arrived pretty late, we only went for a quick swim in the clear water. After dinner, we had free time and played some games, but everyone was very tired so we went to bed soon after.

Culture & Politics / Friday 22.6.

After meeting up at the airport, all the camps came together at a church center to get to know each other and have dinner. We played a few games and then walked up to our accommodation, which was located right at the swimming pool. Because it was still warm outside we decided to go for night swimming and then fell asleep immediately.

Tag 6: Treffen mit Bundesrat Berset am Auslandschweizer-Kongress

Es ist Samstag, die Jugendlichen, die normalerweise um diese Uhrzeit schlafen würden, sind schon um 07:00 h wach und frühstücken gemeinsam. Die Gruppe ist bereits am Morgen aufgeregt und freut sich auf den Kongress. Es ist ein wichtiger Tag, denn die Gruppe trifft heute den Bundesrat Alain Berset. Um 08:00 h macht sich die Gruppe auf den Weg zur Trafohalle in Baden.

In Baden angekommen, platzieren sich die Jugendlichen im Plenumssaal.

Es werden viele spannende Reden gehalten.

Es ist 10:30 h und die Gruppe geht gemeinsam in den Raum, wo der Bundesrat sie treffen wird. Jeder hat Fragen für Herrn Bundesrat Alain Berset vorbereitet. Er nimmt sich gerne die Zeit und beantwortet einige Fragen.

Es erfreut die Gruppe sehr, als der Bundesrat zum Schluss noch beschliesst, ein Gruppenfoto zu machen.

Nach der Pause geht es weiter mit dem Panel 2: Die Jugend und die Online Netzwerke, der von Tom Morgenegg geleitet wird. Sophia und Susan wurden von der Gruppe ausgewählt, um den Teilnehmern des Panels 2 zu erklären, was die Gruppe (Famous14) im Seminar erlebt hat.

Zusammen mit drei weiteren Referenten wird das Thema genauer diskutiert.

Es ist Mittagszeit, die Jugendlichen können sich auf den Weg zur Jugendheerberge machen, weil sie den Rest des Tages frei haben.

Am Abend trifft sich die Gruppe erneut, denn jetzt gehen die Jugendlichen zusammen zum Schloss Lenzburg und essen gemeinsam das Abendessen.

Erschöpft gehen die Jugendlichen schlafen, denn am nächsten Morgen müssen sie wieder sehr früh aufstehen.

Special Press Conference: Young Swiss abroad

This is a special piece for our blog about the press conference on Thursday morning. Kiko, Manuel and I went to it because they wanted some young, German-speaking (sorry Kiko) Auslandschweizer for a radio interview afterwards. The press conference started at 10.45 and Manual was the last arriving because he couldn’t find the correct building. (It’s this one on the left).




The theme of the conference was the Auslandschweizerkongress in Baden and especially E-voting, the ability for Auslandschweizer to vote online. Some important people shared their opinion about E-voting. For example, Jacques-Simon Eggly, the president of ASO and Dr. Uwe Serdült of the Zentrum for Demokratie. I think the conclusion was that E-voting is a brilliant possibility for Auslandschweizer, because it is easy to use, and that it can also be used for Inlandschweizer. The problem was though that they talked French at some point and I couldn’t follow it anymore. 

Afterwards, Manual and I were interviewed in German by two regional radio stations of Aargau/Solothurn (SRF Regionaljournal and Radio Argovia). We were asked questions like: ‘What swiss food do you like most?’  ‘Would you use E-voting (if you were 18)?’ and ‘What do you know about the Swiss?’ It was the first radio interview for me and I think I prefer the Dutch language for the next one (if that ever happens), because sometimes I didn’t know what they wanted to hear or how I should say something in German. Oh, and I don’t make stupid grammar mistakes in Dutch off course..

The link to the article (with the audio from the interview http://www.srf.ch/news/regional/aargau-solothurn/die-fuenfte-schweiz-zu-gast-im-kanton-aargau)

8.13.14 My Individual Morning Excursion (More of a Rant)

This morning I decided that my tram was going to be late to meet the others at the train station and decided that instead of going to the station to see if the others waited, I would go to the university and meet them there. Unable to contact them, I went through with my plan that had little thought incorporated. I got off my tram and came to my first of many conflicts. I didn't have the slightest idea of how to get to the university; I actually didn't even know which direction. With no hesitation I asked the first person I saw, she happened to be a tourist so I asked another who told me to go to the train station area where many trams run and one of them would work. Once I got there a woman told me the 9 ran there but I could not find any stop for a 9. I walked back in the other direction and asked a man in an orange vest assuming he was working with or had some connection to the transport system. He and a nearby woman told me to wait for the 4 at what didn't even resemble a tram stop, they insisted it was and I waited. A 4 tram eventually came but did not stop at the random spot in the street I was told to wait, but instead at a normal stop nearby. I got in the tram and looked at the list of stops seeing no sign of the university, I asked a young man for reassurance. He and others near who saw my desperation  explained this tram was definitely not going to the university but I could get off at Paradeplatz and take the 5. I did as told to be told again that the 5 did also not lead to the university. Then I finally met some university students at Bellevue stop who told me to take the 9 and I would arrive at Campus Irschell, my final destination, finally. Summarized I got a little lost. On a positive note, I met many different people along the way and saw parts of Zurich I hadn't seen before. I now know which parts of town I was in.


The Rest of Our Day
When I got there I met Maria Langle, a student at Zurich University from Mexico and her friend Gianluca, also a student. First we toured through the anatomy display which maintained many preserved human body parts. This was interesting but also disturbing for most (especially the dissected babies). Then we walked to a newly built Relaxing Lounge for the students to study and/or sleep. Maria explained her reason for studying there and her experience moving to a new place and learning a new language. She and Gianluca also explained a program called AIESEC for the new students from abroad wishing to find internships, flats, or friends. This program helped her start her life in Switzerland and make friends. After they finished, the Managing Editor of the Zurich University student paper, Nina Kunz met us and brought us to the newspaper room. She explained the various aspects of the non-funded and entirely student run paper. After learning about this small, local paper's ways we had lunch and later went to the Watson news office. There the CEO, Hansi Voigt, also explained their goals and recent activity. We learned various advertisement techniques and many of the company's current issues and tactics with social media. After, we found a sitting area and discussed what we found most interesting and least of the day and of the information we learned. We also conversed about possible questions and topics to ask Alain Berset about.


Free Time
After, dispersing on our ways back to our host families, a few of us who had to go to Zurich main station decided to discover more of the city. We walked through the old town, went in a few shops ,enjoyed the lake and Swiss Chocolate.

Jour 3 à Zurich: UZH, ZS et Watson

Mercredi, troisième jours de ce séminaire, nous sommes allés à Zürich, où nous avons retrouvés Maria Langle, une étudiante mexicaine qui fait ses études à l'université de Zürichet son ami, Gian Luca Bonanomi qui fait parti de l'AIESEC.

Elle nous a fait visité le campus, on a ainsi pu voir deux salles d'anatomie très intéressantes et importantes pour les étudiants en médecine. Nous avons rencontrés le responsable de la formation à qui nous avons pu posés toutes les questions que nous voulions. Maria nous a ensuite montrée un bâtiment récent qu'elle apprécie pour étudier - et qui est particulièrement consacré à la relaxation et au travail.

the #famous14 relax

Les deux nous ont présentés leurs parcours et le type d'études qu'ils suivent à Zürich.

Après la visite du Campus Irchel nous nous sommes rendus dans le ancien bâtiment de l'université, le Kollegiengebäude, consacré aux étude de l'histoire, la philosophie et les langues. Là, nous avons rejoins Nina Kunz, chef rédactrice du journal ZS. Elle nous a présenté son travail et ce qu'elle fait avec son équipe. Ce journal ne dépend pas financiellement de l'université. Le journal est réalisé par une équipe fixe d'une douzaine de volontaires, ce qui permet une qualité de journal impossible autrement: ils sont donc libres de traiter tout les sujets qu'ils veulent. Nina nous a aussi montré d'ancien journaux datant de 1946.

Puis nous sommes retournés manger à l'université.

L'après-midi, nous avions rendez-vous avec Hansi Voigt, le chef rédacteur du journal en ligne Watson. Il nous a expliqué que ce journal existe maintenant depuis 6 mois et que c'est un nouveau concept très intéressant. Dans leur local, ils s'occupent du design et des projets ainsi que de la réalisation, ce journal est une innovation qui donne beaucoup de responsabilités mais qui est libre dans son opinion, puisqu'il ne soutient aucun partis. Dans ce journal, ils parlent de tout : le sport, les jeux, l'économie, la politique, les reportages... et la transparence de leurs articles et informations est très importante.

Pourtant une question majeure subsiste : Pourquoi ne doit-on rien payer pour consulter les informations en ligne? Puis il nous a fait visiter le local. J'ai trouvée qu'il y avait une très bonne l'ambiance. Puis nous sommes rentrés chacun de notre côté dans notre famille d'acceuil.

Dia 3, Zúrich

Durante el jueves hemos estado en Zúrich, la ciudad más importante del país. Al inicio de la mañana quedamos todos en la estación principal de Zúrich en el punto de encuentro al lado de un enorme reloj y estuvimos alrededor de 20 minutos. En el punto de encuentro nos estaban esperando María y Gian Luca, con ellos fuimos a la facultad de ciencias donde visitamos el departamento de anatomía del edificio de medicina. Todos estábamos flipando al ver todo lo que había en las vitrinas, de hecho no pudimos sacar fotos debido a que si se hacía Publicas podría haber problemas, pero la verdad que algo impresionante. Más tarde fuimos a visitar una nueva biblioteca, que la verdad tenía hasta sala para echar la siesta, una pasada.

Posteriormente seguimos visitando la universidad, pero en otra facultad, en este caso la de humanidades, donde nos guío Nina, la cual luego nos llevó a una casa en la que tienen las oficinas el periódico de la universidad llamado ZS, nos habló sobre él y el trabajo que hace en él. La verdad que resulto interesante todo lo que hacía, solo es un periódico universitario pero da mucho trabajo, del cual se sentía muy orgullosa. Más tarde fuimos a comer en el la facultad de humanidades, donde había unas mesas al lado de una pequeña cafetería. Lo malo de haber visitado la universidad es que el curso no había comenzado todavía y no había el ajetreo que suele tener.

Después de la comida cogimos un tranvía para ir a las oficinas del periódico digital WATSON, donde nos recibió el jefe, Hansi Voigt. Nos dio una charla bastante interesante ya que nos explicó cómo funcionaba el periódico, es una gran apuesta dado que solo están soporte digital y tiene muchos competidores, pero pese a eso está teniendo éxito incluso si hace seis meses que comenzó el nuevo periódico.

Después de acabar el programa, algunos regresaron a sus familias de acogida, y otros nos quedamos a dar una vuelta por el casco histórico de Zúrich. Fue un gran día, y con unas actividades bastante interesantes.

Jugendseminar/ Day 2: Bern

Tuesday morning, the second day of the congress. In the early morning we gather in Baden, from where will take the train to Bern

When we arrive in Bern we have to wait for two of our members, because they came separately.

Once we are all ready to go, it is time take a tram to the ASO. Where we are informed about what the ASO is, what she does and of course, how she is represented on social media.

The Famous 14 (#famous14 @bundeshaus)

After we've gotten the information from and about the ASO, both spoken as on paper, it is time for us to continue our journey through Bern.After a short walk, we found a lovely spot to have lunch on the Helvetiaplatz. From there on we walk over the Aare and on through the city. We are off to our next appointment with the SNYC ( The Swiss National Youth Council.)

Once we get there, they welcome us and start telling us about SNYC, their programs and different well known social media. Every subject is presented to us by a different person. As an example Sir Tschöpe tells us about the SNYC in general and Ms Nadler informs us about the Forum Federal Youth Session. The interesting thing is that hardly any people at SNYC are employees, most of them volunteers. But after our interesting session at SNYC we have to go again.
We have about an hour until we have to be at the House of Parliament for our tour, this means that we have some time to wander around the city, or just sit happily on a bench. After our short break, it is time to get going to the House of Parliament. When we are finished with our tour, which was very impressive, it is time for us to go home to our host families again.







Jugendseminar / Day 1: Kantonsschule Wettingen and Baden

Monday was the first day of our meeting for the seminar of the 29th congress of the Swiss abroad, taking place this year in Baden. Everyone met in the morning at the station, and we were led by Claudio to a classroom in the Migros Klubschule, where all the participants introduced themselves one by one. After getting to know everyone's age and hobbies, we had a lot of fun getting to know each other's spoken language abilities.

Claudio then handed out the course schedule, a map of Baden so we wouldn't get lost, and some administrative preparation was done, including the train tickets for the week. Furthermore, we got our first brief introduction to the political system of Switzerland and received a booklet on the topic "The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide".

After so much theory, we made our way to the former monastery in Wettingen in order to meet the students of the ib class 3c and their teacher Mr. Philippe Wampfler. We were divided into four groups together with the students of the class to debate certain issues raised by the rise of social media, and saw a quick video (Look up by Gary Turk) on the topic afterwards. In the end, we were treated to lunch at the cafeteria, and everyone enjoyed the cordon bleu with fries and salad.

In order to get to know each other better, we played a game of speed dating after lunch. We then made our way to the historic centre of Baden, which was a very pleasant walk for all, despite the slightly rainy weather. Annina was so kind as to show us around with many explanations, and led us to the Stein Castle ruins whose many steps we climbed with fun and agony, providing many opportunities for pictures and exercise.

We had a short meeting again towards the end of the afternoon in order to speak about the planning for the day ahead, which we are all very much looking forward to.

Heute war der erste Tag unseres Treffens für das Seminar zum 92. Auslandsschweizerkongress, welcher dieses Jahr in Baden stattfindet. Alle Teilnehmer trafen sich morgens am Bahnhof und wurden von Claudio, dem Leiter des Seminars, in ein Klassenraum der Migros Hochschule geführt, in dem wir uns nacheinander vorstellten. Nachdem wir das Alter und die Hobbys von jedermann kennengelernt haben, hatten wir viel Spaß dabei, uns über unsere unterschiedlichen Sprachfähigkeiten auszutauschen. Claudio teilte uns dann einen Seminarplan aus, eine Karte von Baden damit wir nicht verloren gehen, und einige administrative Angelegenheiten wurden geklärt, unter anderem die Zugtickets für die anstehende Woche. Ferner bekamen wir unsere erste kurze Einführung in das politische System in der Schweiz, zu welchem Zweck eine Broschüre "Der Bund kurz erklärt" erhielten. Nach so viel Theorie machten wir uns den Weg zum Kloster Wettingen, um in der dort untergebrachten Kantonschule eine Klasse und deren Lehrer, Herrn Phillipe Wampfler zu besuchen. Dort angekommen wurden wir in vier Gruppen gemeinsam mit den Schülern eingeteilt, um so über einige Fragen zum Thema Soziale Medien zu diskutieren. Außerdem sahen wir ein kurzes Video zu diesem Thema. Anschließend wurden wir in die Mensa der Schule zum Mittagessen eingeladen und jedermann genoss das Cordon Bleu mit gebackenen Kartoffeln und Salat. Um uns besser kennen zu lernen, spielten wir nach dem Mittagessen ein Speed Dating Spiel bei dem wir uns in jeweils 60 Sekunden mit den anderen Teilnehmern zu einem vorgegebenen Thema austauschten. Anschließend machten wir uns auf den Weg ins historische Zentrum von Baden. Dieses Vorhanden war trotz des leicht regnerischen Wetters ein schöner Spaziergang. Annina war so nett uns dort herumzuführen und erklärte uns einige Dinge zu der Stadt bevor sie uns die vielen Stufen herauf zum Schloss Stein Ruine leitete, die wir voller Freude und Energie bestiegen. Gegen Ende des Nachmittags hatten wir noch ein kurzes Treffen um uns über die Planung des morgigen Tages in Bern auszutauschen, auf den wir uns alle freuen.

SEMINAR 2014 IN BADEN GESTARTET

Welcome to Baden, the group has met and we've had a first day in Baden, visiting the Kantonsschule Wettingen. Introducing the #famous14 members of the Seminar Group 2014. (To be continued, read our daily report from tomorrow here.)

Ausflug ins Engadin und Schluss

Dimanche 18 août 2013

Dernier jour du Congrès !

Nous sommes partis dès le matin en excursion avec les autres congressistes.
Nous avons pris la ligne de chemin de fer rhétique depuis Davos, et nous avons voyagé à travers l'Engadine.
Une fois arrivés à Muottas Muragl, un long funiculaire nous attendait pour nous conduire au sommet de la montagne, afin que nous puissions déjeuner dans le restaurant qui s'y trouve.
La vue était juste spectaculaire !

Puis nous sommes rentrés sur Davos en profitant de ces derniers instants pour continuer à faire connaissance avec des Suisses du monde entier.
Nous avons ensuite pris notre ultime repas tous ensemble en se remémorant les meilleurs moments de la semaine.

Pour bien terminer, la plupart d'entre nous se sont rendus au bowling de Davos.





Lundi 19 août 2013

C'est déjà l'heure de se dire au revoir...

Rendez-vous à 10h à la gare de Davos Platz afin de faire nos adieux à la ville qui nous accueilli ces sept derniers jours.
Nous repartons des souvenirs pleins la tête et de nouveaux amis plein le cœur !

Nous remercions tous nos animateurs et toutes les personnes qui ont pris soin de nous cette semaine, car nous avons vraiment passé de merveilleux moments tous ensemble !

Nadeige

Treffen mit Bundesrätin am Kongress

Saturday, august 17th

We had breakfast at half past eight. We were all nervous and staring at each other’s outfits for the congress. We were all looking forward to the questions with Evelyn Widmer Schlumpf. At 10 o’clock we went to the congress fast (I really think Claudio was more nervous than us and he wanted to be perfect on timeJ) and everything started going well. We had some breakfast, we visited  some “shops” in the congress and at 11 we went to the workshops. Some of us went to the”Wirtschaft” workshops and some others to “migration”. I really think it was a very good idea.

At first, the man in our group spoke about the economy in switzerland vs. globalization and then people from the public made questions. They were some good questions or requests, for example asking for more councilors and there were other requests not so good. For example there was a guy who protested because the meeting was held in german and not in french, although the introduction had already been in french. But Nadia said that it often happened so we did not really think very much of it.

After the workshop we had lunch, which was really good and we had a really good time. After the lunch we organized everything to the meeting with Evelyn Schlumpf. Where should be sit, if we should wake up from the eats when she came, if we should say frau bundesratin or only “Frau”. We heard the speech that Evely gebt but after we left the room.

And at least,shecame to speak with us. Each one of us made one or two questions to her, depending on what we wanted to know, personal, of Switzerland or of the global world. It was really fine, because she took her time answering all the questions, even fo she had to do it in English, in german or in French.

Then we took some photos, Julie and Nadeige went on an interview and even we were on the tv. At 4, more or less, we went home. We got changed, we chill a little, and then we went to the schatzalp hotel, were all the personality that were on the congress would be one more time. In the hotel, wespoke, we had fun, we met new people and we listened to really good music from a boy who played really well the piano from Switzerland. At half past eight, more or less, we had dinner. It was a really fine dinner, with candels and all kind of expensiveness but from my point of view, the rations that we eat, they were really small, even do they were really good and art like.

After the dinner,we were so tired that we went straight home. I think we were so sad that It was almost the last night… but we enjoyed like every other time. Living and breathing, having friends and enyoying.

Thanks to the OSA, for all the good experiences we have had in this week. Thank you and one million times thank you

Amalia 

Samedi 17 août 2013

Attendus pour 10h au Congrès des Suisses de l'étranger, nous avons commencé par nous répartir dans différents groupes de travail, sur les thèmes de la migration et de l'économie face à la mondialisation.

Après de vifs débats, nous nous sommes retrouvés devant un excellent repas, et nous avons pu discuter de la matinée et échanger nos impressions.

Nous avons ensuite assisté à de nombreuses interventions, et notamment celle de Mme Evelyne Widmer-Schlumpf, conseillère d'Etat fédérale.

Enfin, nous avons eu le plaisir et l'honneur de la rencontrer personnellement afin de lui poser les questions que nous avions préparé tous ensemble cette semaine.
Ce fut une rencontre en toute simplicité et des plus enrichissantes !
Mme Widmer-Schlumpf a pris le temps de répondre à chacune de nos interrogations, et ce, dans nos langues respectives.
Une merveilleuse expérience pour chacun d'entre nous !

Le Congrès fermant ses portes, nous sommes rentrés nous préparer pour la soirée de gala à laquelle nous avons participé au Schatzalp, hôtel accessible grâce à un funiculaire.
Nous mesurons notre chance d'avoir pu faire partie des invités de cette soirée prestigieuse !

Monsteiner Bier und Ems Chemie

Donnerstag, der 15.08.13

Heute mussten wir schon um 7:00 Uhr aufstehen, damit wir um 7:30 Uhr frühstücken und unseren Lunch machen konnten. Um 8:00 Uhr machten wir uns auf den Weg nach Davos Monstein. Dort angekommen machten wir Gruppenfotos bis um ca. 9:15 Uhr dann kam Claudia, die uns durch die höchstgelegne Brauerei in der Schweiz führt. Als erstes erzählte sie uns etwas über das Dorf Monstein, dann gingen wir in den Keller der Brauerei. Dort dürften wir alle ein bisschen was von dem Bier trinken, währenddessen zeigte sie uns alle Bierarten, die die Brauerei herstellt. Danach schauten wir uns alle Geräte und Arbeitsschritte bis zu dem fertigen Bier an. 

Dann konnten wir alle unsere Fragen stellen und Bier als Souvenir kaufen.

Als die Führung durch die Brauerei fertig war, mussten wir auf den Bus warten während dieser Zeit konnten wir in dem einzigen Laden in Monstein einkaufen gehen. Um 11:20 Uhr ging es weiter mit dem Bus zum Bahnhof. Dort nahmen wir dann den Zug zur EMS-Chemie Holding AG.

Nele

Afternoon

After an interesting morning at the Monstein Beer brewery we headed to EMS-Chemie where we were greeted by Bruno Fischer, a retired former employee who was responsible for the construction and management of several EMS-Chemie factories world-wide.

Bruno Fischer firstly showed the main parts of the plant, where a storage facility holds over 30,000 different components responsible not only for the customers of the company but also for the main function of the factory itself-which specialize in producing plastics for many organizations worldwide including car manufacturers such as Audi, Mercedes and BMW.

We were taken on a tour of the museum in which we were shown the history of the company, from its initial idea from Werner Oswald who proposed to the government that he could use ethanol by burning trees and reducing fuel consumption by 30%. When he first came up with the idea, he was rebuffed by the government due to the price and location of a plant. However, the birth of World War 2 brought about new problems for the Swiss with the Italians under the control of Mussolini and the Germans under Hitler, refusing to give the Swiss fuel. Therefore almost immediately the government approached Oswald about building the plant, thus the birth of the EMS-Chemie.

We were taken through the history of the products the organisation made, such as the revolution in the Nylon fibre when injecting a specific polymer heated to around 300⁰C. We went throughout the company’s history with Mr Fischer revealing the times when the company was faced with bankruptcy and competition from other companies. This is when e discovered that Christoph Blocher, the former federal councilor candidate bought the company and got it functioning again on a global level.

Currently, it is producing many new products including components for cars in which reduce the weight and subsequent fuel consumption.

The group thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon at EMS-Chemie and sends its thanks to Bruno Fischer.

Sean

Jeudi 15 août 2013

Il nous a fallu trois bus et six trains pour voyager aujourd'hui !

Levés aux aurores, nous nous sommes rendus à Monstein pour visiter la plus haute brasserie d'Europe.

Ce fut l'occasion d'apprendre comment se brasse la bière, mais également de déguster les cinq sortes de bières qu'ils proposent !

Puis nous avons rejoint Ems pour visiter Ems Chemistry, grande entreprise innovante de chimie spécialisée.

Un ingénieur nous a narré l'histoire de l'entreprise et comment elle avait évolué au fil des années, tant au niveau de sa production, souvent renouvelée, que de ses locaux et de ses acteurs.

Et pour bien finir la journée, nous avons terminé sur une note sportive, avec différents jeux d'extérieur.

Nadeige