Going to Switzerland as part of the Macra exchange programme was one of the most spontaneous decisions I have ever made.

I decided I had to go somewhere after college and this opportunity appealed to me.

When I applied for the exchange I was in my last semester studying dairy business in University College Dublin. Thankfully, I passed my exams and two weeks later, I was heading to Switzerland for six weeks. I was really looking forward to the break away, and to seeing some new ways of farming.

During my stay, I was hosted by two very welcoming families. Although I had no German they both had sufficient English for us to communicate and I learned that the spoken language is not essential for communicating with others. Both were farming families and showed me around their farms and other farms after I expressed an interest. I learned a lot about the culture and social scene in Switzerland too.

We went on a lot a trips to tourist attractions around the region. The first family had children of a similar age to me, so it was great for nights out. Switzerland is a beautiful country, and I enjoyed hill-walking in some of the alpine mountains. We even visited a cheese factory on the top of one of the mountains.

At the European IFYE, I also met others taking part in the international exchange programme. They were from Costa Rica, Wales, Scotland, the US and South Korea to name a few and I’ve definitely made some lifelong friends (handy for a holiday in the future). I would highly recommend the exchange to others. All you need is an appreciation for what the family does and be willing to help out. There is something very special about travelling within a country with the locals.

Email amcdonnell@macra.ie if you are interested in travelling.