The Connectors
Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
Living abroad is all about making connections. From cultural faux pas to avoid and quirks of everyday life in Switzerland to the more important issues of living abroad, The Connectors explores what makes an expatriate life. By expats, with expats, for everyone—join Catherine Nelson-Pollard, Peta Tracey, Margriet van der Haagen, Faith McLellan, Muriel Siki, Bruno Wolfisberg and John Zimmer.
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Connect with us at theconnectors@worldradio.ch
The Connectors: Does Swiss hospitality live up to its reputation?Thursday, 10 November, 2011The Connectors turn to the Swiss hotel and hospitality industry this week—looking at how Switzerland’s hotel schools gained their world class reputation and why this training doesn’t necessarily trickle down to great service throughout the country. Plus Professor Stefan Fraenkel, Director of Product Development at Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, gives us an inside look at how training has changed and adapted over the years, and the team looks travel sites such as TripAdvisor and service norms in other countries:
The Connectors: Pros & cons of living over the borderThursday, 3 November, 2011Seventeen-year-old Sam Schoen joins the team this week as they tackle the good and the bad of living across the border in France—from the difficulties of the public transport system to the differences in the French and Swiss school systems:
The Connectors: Switzerland in film, from Bond to BourneThursday, 27 October, 2011The team talks about how Switzerland is portrayed on the silver screen. They chat with Stéphane Zurcher, (one of the skiers in the fabulous downhill sequences) in the James Bond flick, On her Majesty’s Secret Service. Stéphane, who took part in other Bond films, gives a few behind the scene’s anecdotes. He is now a location manager for other Swiss films and he explains why filmmakers like to come to this part of the world to make movies. Plus we hear about the alternative image of Switzerland portrayed through films such as The Bourne Identity and Syriana:
The Connectors: Swiss autumn traditionsThursday, 20 October, 2011The Connectors embrace the changing seasons and talk about some of the local autumn traditions, like the partying that goes on around the Bénichon in Fribourg, the Aelperchilibi in Stans and the beheading of the goose in Gansabhauet:
The Connectors: Where to find latin beats in SwitzerlandThursday, 29 September, 2011The latest addition to the team, José Santiago, talks about the music from his home country of Puerto Rico and other latin countries. The team learns about the differences between Salsa, Merengue and Bolero and where one can find latin beats in Switzerland. Plus, they announce the winners of the WRS competition to be a Connector on a live show this Sunday:
The Connectors: Expat life Puerto Rican-styleThursday, 22 September, 2011A new Connector joins the show. José Santiago is from Puerto Rico and the team talk to him about the food, the music and the climate he left behind, and what he likes the most about Switzerland:
The Connectors: Tips on learning the local lingoThursday, 15 September, 2011The Connectors talk about learning the language of the locals and get an update on recent expat Michael’s progress on mastering French. The team give out tips and shortcuts to learning based on their own experiences:
The Connectors: Balancing work and life as an expatThursday, 8 September, 2011The Connectors discuss whether or not it is harder for expats to achieve a balance due to the demands of work, family and being part of a global working culture that is full of cultural and time differences:
The Connectors: The strong franc and an anglophone invasionThursday, 1 September, 2011The Connectors discuss an eclectic mix of subjects from how the strong Swiss franc is affecting expats to a sketch produced by Radio Suisse Romande on the invasion of anglophones to French-speaking Switzerland:
The Connectors: Smart health tips for newly arrived expatsThursday, 25 August, 2011WRS’s own Dr. Michelle Wright gives health and safety advice for newly arrived expatriates. From duck fleas and the hazards of marching caterpillars to the important numbers you may need to call in an emergency, she fills us in on useful health-related issues: