Summer Camps 2014 around Lugano

We all know the Swiss are organized. This is why the Summer Camps are advertised as of March already. Following is a list of available courses including dates and links for application.

The most extensive list of summer camps is without a doubt to be found under http://www.ticinoperbambini.ch/Colonie-Corsi. Just click on the course and it will give you more details.

Supertata Alessia offers great kids clubs for the little ones: http://kidsklub.ch.
In July special partnership between Kids' Klub and the Montessori school (www.irmamontessori.ch). Programmes will be open to children ages 4-12. For infos and more details: info@kidsklub.ch

More Sport Kids Week Summer camp in Tenero: http://www.moresport.ch/

Tasis, the American School in Switzerland: http://switzerland.tasis.com/

Check out the TASIS Summer Programs in Lugano and in Chateau d'Oex.

Active English, Lago di Como: http://www.activenglish.it

Scuola Steiner, Origlio: http://www.scuolasteiner.ch/centro-estivo/

Expat Expo in Lugano

Just a little reminder: Expat Expo is on tomorrow. Don't miss THE Expat event of the year!

If you are an expat you surely have heard about the Expat Expo that is returning to Lugano for the third year. If not, this is your chance to get to meet and greet many expats and like-minded locals who are offering their services, knowledge, expertise and products.

50 exhibitors from all over Switzerland along with many local companies and clubs from Lugano will be on hand to greet you and introduce you to their specialties and make you feel more at home in Ticino, whether you are here for a week or a lifetime! Join them for a day of discovery!

The Expat Expo was a huge success last year and lots of fun. It is a chance to meet and learn about clubs, schools, businesses and services that cater to the English speaking community in the Ticino.

Find more info at http://www.expat-expo.info

Venue: 3rd Expat-Expo Lugano
Where: Palazzo dei Congressi, Piazza Indipendenza 4, 6900 Lugano
When: Sunday, March 30th, 2014
Time: 11:00 - 17:00
Free admission!

International School of Ticino

There's a new kid in town. The International School of Como is opening a new section in Lugano called International School of Ticino.

The programme is welcoming students aged 3 to 6 to start. ISC will open an Early Years school in Lugano, more precisely in Lamone. For several months they have been working on its organization and start-up, as well as the construction work that has progressed rapidly. The new building will be ready at the end of March, and an Open Day will be organized as well as a visit to the facility for those of you who would like to attend.

For more info, you can meet the team directly at the Expat Expo on Sunday, March 30th, 2014 and learn more about the school or give them a call.

International School of Ticino

Tel: +41-91/971'03'44

or

International School of Como

Tel. +39-031/57'22'89

Take a Ticino photo for the Education Guide Switzerland

Today, I have a photographic challenge to propose to you:

Would you like to see your photograph published in the 2nd edition of Education Guide Switzerland due out end-of-May this year? It is a comprehensive catalogue of all English language schools and academic programs in Switzerland.

The organizers (http://www.knowitall.ch) are looking for one winning photo per canton. Each photo will be used as a full-page canton chapter separator. There are also have a few extra categories like “Academic Extras”, “Just Across the Border”, and “Other” which you can explore in the first edition of the book. They'll consider entries for those chapters as well.

RULES:
- Send in 1 photo per email (put EDUCATION PHOTO COMPETITION in subject line) to education@knowitall.ch specifying which canton it is for. - Each photo must have a recognizable name and not a series of numbers and must be digital or scanned. ONLY photos sent by email or through the website will be accepted.
- You must give your name, address, and telephone numbers to be eligible.
- Photos should have something to do with education, schools, universities, or the canton. Views of listed campuses and views from listed campuses are welcome.
- Any photos that include recognizable faces of minor children will require signed permission from parents. Signed permissions are the entire responsibility of the photographer.
- Finished size of photo used will be A5 vertical (148mm x 210mm). Photos will be cropped by Know-it-all passport® publishing to visually fit the page.
- There are no maximum number of photos that can be submitted.
 -The better the quality of the photo, the more likely it will be considered.
- Color photographs, please, but not necessary.
- Amateur and professional photographers are welcome to submit their entries.
- All ages can participate.

PRIZES:
- Each winner will each receive one copy of Education Guide Switzerland, 2nd Edition hot-off-the-press.
- The winners will be invited on a specific day to come to see the book being printed in Geneva at l’Imprimerie Nationale Rochat Baumann (transport not included).
- The winner’s name will be printed along with their photo in Education Guide Switzerland, 2nd Edition.
- The winning photos (and some honorable mentions) as well as a photo of the visit to Imprimerie Nationale Rochat Baumann visit will be published on the website www.knowitall.ch.
- The winners will be notified individually.
- The winners and their photos may also enjoy being featured on various multimedia platforms, including but not limited to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

DEADLINE: is Monday, March 31st, 2014 at midnight!

So, head out and about the Ticino to take your special photo that will make it into the next edition of Switzerland's Education Guide.

Furniture stores around Lugano

Are you feeling the spring coming? Reckon it is time for a little redecoration? Have the latest fashion colours inspired you? Or are you simply relocating and searching for furniture stores?

Following is a list of furniture stores that will keep you busy for the next few weekends, should you consider a relook of your living quarters:

Salvioni in Lugano: http://www.salvionilugano.ch (via Ferruccio Pelli 2, 6900 Lugano)
Interni Arredamenti SA in Lugano: via Pioda 14, 6900 Lugano
Kartell in Lugano: http://www.kartell.com  (via G. B. Pioda 9, 6900 Lugano)
Ikea in Grancia: (www.ikea.com)
Interior in Contone: (http://de.interio.ch)
Pfister in Contone: (www.pfister.ch)
Delcó Mobili in S. Antonino: (www.delcomobili.ch)
Lipo in Grancia and in Contone: (www.lipo.ch)
Conforama in Grancia: (www.conforama.ch)
Toptip in Bioggio: (www.toptip.ch)
Expo Arredo in Mendrisio: http://www.expoarredo.ch (via Vignalunga 2c, 6850 Mendrisio)
Grancasa in Mendrisio: www.grancasa.it (Via Francesco Borromini 5, 6850 Mendrisio)
Bernasconi in Mendrisio: http://www.arredamentibernasconi.ch (via Borromini 3, 6850 Mendrisio)
Abitare in Giubiasco: http://www.abitare-arredamenti.ch (via Baragge 13d, 6512 Giubiasco)
Arredopiu in Varese: (http://www.arredopiu.net/ita/index.php)
Mondo Convenienza in Como: (http://www.mondoconv.it)

Meet the most British Swiss of all...

Have you ever heard of the book Swiss Watching? It was on the Financial Times Book of the Year 2010 list. In Swiss Watching, Diccon Bewes' expert knowledge dispels the myths and unravels the true meaning of “Swissness”. It is an original and intriguing read about our landlocked island, going behind the stereotypes of banks and skis, francs and cheese.

Diccon Bewes is a full-time writer and speaker. After ten years at Lonely Planet and Holiday Which? magazine, he has now been living in Bern for eight years and continues to confound Swiss expectations of a British expat by not drinking tea.

Following the International success of his first book, he presents his latest publication: Slow Train to Switzerland, a fascinating travel adventure which retraces the first conducted tour of Switzerland, led by Thomas Cook in 1863. By following the same itinerary, Diccon Bewes discovers how much of Switzerland has changed - or hasn't!

Head down to the Scuola Club Migros on Friday, March 28th, 2014 at 6pm. The main event is from 7 to 8.30pm. The talk will be preceeded by a reception and followed by Q & A and book signing.

The event is free and open to the public, but you need to register in advance here. Places are limited, so hurry: http://www.klubschule.ch/Kurs/English-Event-an-evening-with-Diccon-Bewes

Venue: English Event - an evening with Diccon Bewes
Where: Scuola Club Migros Lugano, Via Pretorio15, 6900 Lugano
When: Friday, March 28th, 2014
Time: 18:00 - 20:30

Rivella Family Contest 2014

If you live in Switzerland, you will heard and seen - maybe even tasted - Rivella, created by Robert Barth in 1952, which is produced from milk whey. It's one of Switzerland's National drinks next to Sinalco, Isostar and Ovomaltine. Apparently, the name Rivella was inspired by the Ticino location "Riva San Vitale" and derived from rivelazione, in Italian, "revelation."

27 times Rivella's Family Contest organizers are building up their tents this winter throughout Switzerland. Don't miss the Ticino event in Bosco Gurin next Sunday, March 16th, 2014. Families can take advantage from this unbeatable offer: a day in the snow with the whole family for just CHF 85-.

What is the Rivella Family Contest all about?
Three to five family members start together with ski or snowboard down a simple race course. each team must have at least one grandparent, aunt/uncle or godmother/godfather, but max. two adults participating and at least one child born in 2000 or younger. The time stops when the last rider of the team crosses the finish line. Sounds like fun and an excellent excuse to get your family into gear before the snow melts.

Once you've crossed the finish line and the skis are stripped you can enjoy the activity programme organized by Swiss Ski and Rivella. The partners Reka and Switzerland Tourism also ensure attractive prizes.

The registration includes the following:
Race entry fee
Day ticket pass for max. 5 people
A warm snack at the end of the race
Children's entertainment by Swiss-Ski
Surprise gift for the whole family
Rivella six-pack

Register now here or for more info on Rivella Family Contest click here: http://www.swiss-ski.ch/.

Venue: Rivella Family contest
Where: Bosco Gurin (see map)
When: Sunday, March 16th, 2014
Time: 9:00 (race numbers to be picked up at Music Bar Rovana)
Race start: 10:30
Registration deadline: Friday, March 14th, 2014
Organization:
Gara Famiglie Rivella Family Contest
c/o Vallemaggia Turismo
Centro Commerciale
6673 Maggia

Girl Rising in Lugano

When great minds think alike....call it coincidence or call it obvious - given that yesterday the world celebrated Int'l. Women's Day - in any case, following my post of March 8th raising awareness for a project called "Girl Rising", tonight I stumble across a post on Lugano's Expat facebook page announcing the screening of this film. "Girl Rising" is a global campaign for girls' education. It brings together visionaries: girls, women, boys and men who know that educating girls is the smartest investment of our time. You can join the movement. Find out how.

Following is the film's trailer to give some insight why your support is needed:


To secure booking, payment in advance is advised. Insert your name and "Girl Rising" so the organizers know who paid. Please contact at Anna-Marie.Mathew@nielsen.com

Venue: Girl Rising screening
Where: Cinema Iride, Quartiere Maghetti, 6900 Lugano
When: Wednesday, March 12th, 2014
Time: 19:00 Aperò at the Golf Café, Galleria Via della Posta 2, Lugano
Screening commences at 20:00 at the Cinema Iride, Quartiere Maghetti, 6900 Lugano
Cost: Chf 30.- p.p incl. aperò and entrance fee. All proceeds will be donated to Girl Rising foundation.
RSVP: Anna-Marie.Mathew@nielsen.com along with e-mail proof of payment.

And don't forget, as Nelson Mandela once said: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

Curious facts about Women

Happy International Women’s Day! Ideally I would send each and every one of my reader's a bunch of yellow mimosas but in this virtual world I will instead share some amazing facts about women:

- Researchers have claimed that women speak about 20,000 words a day on average. It’s just 7,000 for men.
- According to Care.org, women produce half the world’s food but own only one percent of its farmland.
- Mary Queen of Scots has been attributed to creating the world’s first golf course.
- There are currently 17 countries with women as heads of government, heads of state, or both; this, according to the UN, is more than double what it was in 2005.
- Of the 161 million women currently living in the US, nearly 85.4 million (54 percent) are mothers.
- Generally considered to be the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji was written in Japan around AD 1000 by Murasaki Shikibu—a woman.
- The average woman owns more than 25 pairs of shoes.
- Research has shown that the probability of a woman giving birth to a baby girl instead of a baby boy increases significantly the nearer she lives to the equator.
- The two highest IQs ever recorded on a standard test both belong to women.
- According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 39 million girls worldwide are not enrolled in school and are denied a secondary education.

To learn more about the struggle for girls’ education around the world, please watch the film *Girl Rising", presented by 10X10. The documentary, directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins, tells the stories of nine extraordinary girls from nine countries, written by nine celebrated writers and narrated by nine renowned actresses including Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

A compliment a day can go a long way...

Did you know that yesterday was World Compliment Day? Thanks to Newly Swissed I am now in the loop and have discovered the most uplifting video. You'll never guess who produced this real life campaign ... MIGROS! Trust the good ol' supermarket chain to come up with something like this. If something touches a Swiss' heart, it is either Coop or Migros.

Some think Swiss are cold and humourless, I (along with other Swiss bloggers) am here to prove the contrary. This commercial does more than simply promote a product. Apart from the main character Stefu, none of the people in the scenes were actors, and nothing was rehearsed. Stefu, a Swiss German youngster, takes a trip across Switzerland and brightens people's day by simply paying them a compliment.

Look carefully and you'll recognize some places in the Ticino... and don't forget, look someone in the eye today and pay them a compliment, no matter in which language!

 

This is the link to the French version: https://www.i-am.ch/it-ch/home/video-player.