During this year in Zurich, Andy is attending the Zurich International School, a lovely school spread over three campuses providing pre-K through 12th-grade education to hundreds of children from around the world. Last night we attended a parent-teacher night, rotating through each of Andy’s classrooms to meet his teachers and to hear from the guidance counselors about their work supporting the college-admissions process. Three things were particularly striking:
- The families come from all over the world. Fascinating mix!
- Most of the teachers had ten or twenty years of experience, each having spent 3-5 years in a variety of countries and continents. There seems to be a particular sort of person who thrives on the multi-cultural experience and international lifestyle, migrating every few years (like most of their pupils) to a new place and a new experience.
- The guidance counselors work with children who apply to a wide range of colleges and universities across the US, UK, Europe, and beyond. The range of application requirements and procedures seems enormously complex, yet they seem cheerfully ready to engage with any student’s destination.
The school has beautiful facilities on the outskirts of Zurich. The drab industrial exterior belies a more inviting interior.
David Kotz 