Switzerland is known for its majestic views, cheeses, chocolates, watches and a flag that some have punnily observed is "a big plus."

Puns aside, Lakeland High School junior Jacqueline Gallus experienced a taste of what this European nation has to offer when she participated in the Rotary Youth Exchange through the Coeur d'Alene Rotary Club and visited Switzerland from July to August.

"I always wanted to travel," she said Tuesday. "There's not a lot to do in North Idaho."

After reading a Press article some time ago and at the encouragement of her mom, who participated in a program abroad when she was in college, Jacqueline applied for the exchange and selected her top five countries to visit, which included Austria, Finland, Argentina, Switzerland and Thailand.

"Switzerland was my top pick," Jacqueline said.

She flew into Zurich and, despite losing her luggage for two days, embarked on a grand cultural adventure.

"The family hosting me picked me up," she said. "They were so sweet and really kind and super easy to talk to. I thought it was a really good match. I had such a great time with them."

Through the Rotary Youth Exchange program, students around the globe are matched with counterparts with whom they will spend time for short-term programs in the summer months or long-term exchanges that lasts the school year.

Jacqueline matched with Vivianne Gymlüy, a Swiss teen who shared her family and culture with the Rathdrum teen. Vivianne will be staying with the Gallus family next summer.

"We had FaceTimed a lot before," Jacqueline said. "Meeting in person, we already kind of knew each other so we got along really well right away."

Big differences were noted right away — the language, the freshness of the food, the preference for walking over driving.

"There was this one food – it had a really strange name — it was like mac and cheese but then they would put applesauce with it," Jacqueline said. "It was really weird, but it was really good."

Similarities were plentiful as well, from protective parents who have strict rules by which to abide and teens being teens.

"A lot of the experiences of those kids are the same as mine, but at the same time it’s so different," Jacqueline said.

She said she recommends this sort of experience for anyone who wishes to broaden their horizons.

“I feel like a lot of people should go someplace by themselves to learn to deal with changes on your own without having to call your mom or your dad," Jacqueline said. "There you kind of learn how to do things on your own without having your parents help you. Without my parents, I learned to do more things on my own and how to navigate places on my own."

She also learned a big lesson that highlights beverage preferences between America and Europe.

"When you’re buying water at the store, make sure you get still water and not sparkling water," she said. "I don’t mind it flavored, but when it’s by itself I’m not a fan!"

She said she is looking forward to Vivianne visiting North Idaho and seeing the Northwest U.S.

“I want to take her to the Spokane Valley Mall because they don’t have those huge malls like that,” Jacqueline said. "I also want to show her Tubbs Hill and jumping off the rocks. They don’t have that either — they don’t jump off the cliffs into the water." 

Coeur d'Alene Rotary Youth Exchange Officer Claudia Brennan said the program has two host families and a student coming next fall, but the program is seeking more local youth to participate.

"We’re looking to get the kids in our area to go on exchanges," she said. "They are actually ambassadors from our country to whatever country they go to. Can you imagine being 16 and going to Switzerland for nine months to go to school? What other kind of life experience can you have that would be so fulfilling and so inexpensive?"

The school-year-long exchange is about $7,000. That includes medical insurance, airfare and more, "which is pretty economical," Brennan said.

The families and family members are all vetted with background checks and safety is a No. 1 priority, she said.

"When the students go to the exchange homes, they are treated like family," she said. "It's obvious why it would be a great experience." 

Visit rotary.org for program details.

    Jacqueline Gallus, left, stands for a photo Aug. 6 with host brother Yannick Gymlüy and host dad Jergan Gymlüy in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, during a trip through Rotary Youth Exchange. Program coordinators are hoping more North Idaho students take advantage of the experience in upcoming school years.
  

    Rathdrum's Jacqueline Gallus, right, is seen with her host sister, Vivianne Gymlüy, during an Aug. 2 hike in Weisstannen, Switzerland.