Rae Kayla's visit to Switzerland and attending Aiducation's Impact Dinner
I am Rae Kayla Marie Magcalas but people outside my family just call me “Rae”. I am an Aiducation scholar from the Philippines and currently, I am a graduating student from the Ateneo de Manila University studying Bachelor of Science in Management, Majoring in Legal Management and Specializing in International Business. I also studied at the summer school program of the University of Southern Denmark in 2021 after being nominated by my university for our junior exchange program and graduated with flying colours, and first for in-class negotiation experiments.
I am also active in my community where I volunteer and spearheaded projects like fundraising events for typhoon victims, module and program creation for public elementary students coming from financially underprivileged families, food community pantry for my whole neighbourhood who suffered a lot because of the pandemic, rolling out community pantry to provide basic necessities to street dwellers in Quezon City, online events to increase digital literacy among teachers and students who had to adjust to the online learning, etc.
Aside from that, I pride myself on the strong internship experiences I have which include; working at PwC Philippines, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Manila Electric Company (Meralco), Edufied - FilPass, Kilos Ko Youth Fellowship, Harvard’s Policy for the People, Philippine Congress House of Representative, and BioTech in a Box from being legal intern, workforce transformation (consulting), corporate governance, to marketing and partnerships lead/executive.
Winning A Trip To Switzerland
Back in 2019, GYLA launched a challenge series where scholars from different countries are free to join. One of those challenges is to create a Ted Talk about anything under the sun!
The purpose of this is to improve our public speaking abilities, get to know each other better, and have a deeper appreciation for each other's perspectives. Numerous video submissions came in from several countries, and it was fascinating to see the wide variety of styles and subjects covered. Some talked about vegetables and how food is medicine, while others were about understanding one’s personality trait test results, technology, start-ups, cyberbullying, and more.
When I was coming up with a strategy for this, I tried to focus on what would be both universally relevant and helpful. Since everyone on GYLA (which was formerly known as "AiduLink") was essentially a new user, I thought it would be helpful to make a video explaining its history, how and why it operates, and its impact on everyone on the platform. Due to the pandemic, my trip to the country of chocolates, which I won with a significant majority of votes, had to be postponed until last November 2022.
Story Time
When I heard I would finally be able to get my award, I was ecstatic. Since I've never even been inside or near an aircraft, this was an exceptionally thrilling opportunity for me. Many people, especially Filipinos, have Switzerland as their dream country to visit, so I know how fortunate I am to have had it be my first flying destination. I recall praying to God for the opportunity to go to a neighbouring country or even within the Philippines, but it never came to pass; it appears as if He has higher plans for me, and it turned out that He does. Since this trip became an official university event, I had been granted time off from my courses, albeit I still had papers to do.
When everything was settled, I was so ready and excited to do the long flight. It was the longest and farthest I've ever been away from my loved ones, but we made it! (my parents cried at the airport). Because I was constantly updating my parents, Kat in the Philippines and Mhyma in Switzerland, I never felt lonely. I had a stopover in Dubai, and despite having flown for almost 17 hours, I felt ready to take on anything (they were all surprised I was not having any jet lag).
Mhyma and I at Zurich Airport
Adriana and I in front of the station at Dobendorf
As for the first day, it was very chill, and I finally got to meet two people I'd only spoken to online before: Mhyma from Aiducation who is also a Filipina, and my UBS mentor, Adriana. I remember having KFC chicken for lunch and Mhyma bought rice from another Asian restaurant just so I can have some rice (but I was ready to not eat rice for the whole one week there). Adriana gave me a tour of her apartment, instructed me in the proper usage of various household items, and spoke with me about her career and daily life. Later on that same night, we went out to a mart to get some food. The fact that individuals are so productive as to bag their own groceries was the thing that struck me as most unusual, given that in my own country of the Philippines, baggers are still a common sight (but I usually bag my own groceries to help them). Since I normally don't like bread, it was a big deal for me to find Swiss bread to my liking in Switzerland. A temperature of around 12 degrees Celsius was experienced, but my body managed rather well. We also watched a historical Filipino series where Adriana heard some Spanish words that are still being used in the Philippines.
Heading to the Aiducation Office, Zühlke Company, and UBS
The next day, I prepared my breakfast because Adriana had to go to her office for work. Even as I cleaned, I took in the morning's vista of the city shrouded in fog. Mhyma picked me up and brought me to the Aiducation Office where I met Matthias who will accompany me to Zühlke for a lunch meeting. The office was so cute yet organized and I found a magazine that featured me on one of its pages. By rail and foot, Matthias and I made our way to Zühlke, where we were greeted by Thomas, Tugba, and Fabienne, all of whom were thrilled to hear about our work and impact.
Lunch at Zuhlke with Tugba, Fabienne, Thomas, and Matthias
Zuhlke Company Tour with Franceso, Tugba, and Fabienne
We had a hearty meal while sharing stories about me, my academy experience, and the impact of Aiducation on my life, particularly in my education. I also Francesco who gave us a wonderful tour of the whole building. I remember being wowed by how different their setup and system are from how things work in the Philippines. Their workplace was aesthetically pleasing, spacious, and open. You can really see how the company deeply cares about its employees. Matthias and I then went to Sprüngli where I met Amelia. We discussed the flow of the event for the impact dinner while enjoying the cold authentic chocolate drink I ordered. I also had the pleasure of meeting WeRobotics' current CEO and company founder, Sonja Betschart. To this day, I find myself continually inspired by her drive to use science and technology, especially drones, for social good.
After that, Matthias and I went to UBS Zurich to see a display of futuristic artifacts made by the UBS Think Tank. It was hard to get my head around at first, but later on, I understood the exhibition and why it's crucial that we prepare for the unexpected. We had dinner afterward where I got to meet UBS employees and had discussions about our future plans, current situation, politics, and Aiducation.
Meeting the UBS Marketing Team
The next day, I went back to UBS to meet their Marketing Team and learn more about their structure, operations within the department, units, and roles. There, I was warmly welcomed by Constanze Hofer, Irena Knezevic, Sabrina Chineegadoo, Katharina Schenkenmeyer, Cristina Estrada, and Zsófia Schmid-Kántor.
Sharing My Story With The Audience
UBS Event with Adrian and Adriana on Stage
With Adriana and Zsofia
After this meeting, Adriana and I spoke to almost a hundred UBS employees about e-mentoring and how it benefitted both of us. Bruno Berlon and Atty. Anna Naomi also shared their experiences during the time they visited Kenya. As a public speaker and scholar sharing her own story, I take great satisfaction in knowing that my audience is enjoying my presentation, so watching their faces light up afterward was a highlight of the event for me.
The “Impact” Dinner: Creating More Impact Than There Was
Speaking at the Impact Dinner
With Matthias and Politician Andri
When the impact dinner finally rolled around later that day, I had the pleasure of meeting many more people from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. Conversations with new people never get old for me. It actually boosts my energy and helps me get out of tiredness. My extroverted personality was enjoying that night so much that I found myself making the rounds from table to table in an effort to chat with as many people as possible. I love how they were so excited to talk to me as I was to them. I also got to taste deer meat, but never got to finish because I kept thinking about Bambi. Nevertheless, they served a lot of Swiss food which was hearty and delicious.
My highlight that night was the amount of passion I felt from all of Aiducation’s supporters, friends, and donors who took the time to contribute to our impact. We have a new batch of scholars and also received a generous amount of support from everyone. They were all beyond my expectations and I still am grateful to them for seeing the best in us.
With Michel and Alice
Even though I arrived at my new house late and had to walk, I was grateful for the opportunity to stroll about Switzerland after dark. I stayed with the cheerful and sweet couple, Alice and Michel, with whom I got to share more about the Philippines and how my life has been so far. We talked about politics, culture, and hobbies which were some of the things I am really passionate about.
The “Home of Chocolates”, Swiss Re Company, and Street of Lights
The next day, Andrea picked me up and helped me move my bags to her place which will be my home for that night. Fabienne, my mentor from Zuhlke and best friend, picked me up and we went to Lindt Chocolate Museum where we learned about how chocolates are made and how Switzerland became the home of chocolates. We later strolled along the crystal-clear lake which was so calming and scenic, and I remember thinking, “I would love to bring my parents here.”
With Petra
With Esther
With Matthias, Nouria, Bruno, and Sandra
We then traveled to Swiss Re which has the nicest view of the lake with its huge glass windows. I first met Sandra Weinstock, the Senior Project Manager of the Swiss Re Foundation, and her intern, Nouria Gähwiler, then Petra Zehnder and Esther Baur who were my mentors from e-CCA earlier this year. Tita Mandin also joined online and she actually emailed me days before my trip to inform me that she is excited to see me again. We updated each other for a while and then proceeded to meet the previous mentors of Swiss Re’s Academies. It was fascinating to hear Petra's accounts of how her time at the eCCA had a beneficial influence on her and to share my own experiences during the two Swiss Re's academies I have attended in the Philippines.
With Dan, Fabienne, Chris, and Rico
Later that night, the four Zuhlke mentors I've had the pleasure of meeting years ago—Fabienne, Dan, Chris, and Rico—and I had dinner at a German restaurant named Rosi that offered high-quality and authentic set of meals. I appreciate how they really took the time to meet me despite their busy schedules and distance from the place. We took lots of pictures together and even had the other table join one of our polaroid photos. Dan had to leave early but the rest of us moved to Langstrasse which is the brightest area with bars and restaurants. Even though I couldn't drink anything due to my allergy, it was nevertheless fun to go to a bar for the first time with my friends. We also got into a karaoke bar and I love seeing people dancing and drunk singing. We couldn't stay to sing, but I'm glad we got to see more of Switzerland, and I really appreciate the opportunity to cross "go home alone in another country" off my list.
Walking With History (Old Town, Räbeliechtli, and More Cheese)
With Andrea
I got home pretty late that night so I slept until 9 am the next morning. Andrea’s kids are so nice, they even gave me one of their rooms. When I woke up, they were so eager to chat with me, and while they spoke German better, they made a sincere effort to communicate with me in English and in body language even if it isn't their first tongue. Andrea brought us to an old town full of admirable buildings with some dating back to 1300. It brought me joy seeing this majestic view of archaic architecture and I also learned from them some interesting historical information about the place. Andrea also bought me my birthstone which I still hold dearly now.
That night, their whole neighborhood is celebrating Räbeliechtli where kids walk around with their carved lanterns. The children walked past us while singing and holding their own lanterns. Some lanterns were also arranged together to create huge designs in a form of a spider, Ferris wheel, small house, etc. There were also young adults who joined accompanied by loud Swiss-German music which will wake you up from the inside. It was a merry and unforgettable event which is like how we celebrate festivals in the Philippines, aside from we have Lechon here (kidding). Andrea told me that this only occurs once a year and that foreigners hardly ever get to see a celebration like this, so I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been a part of it. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see this bright, unique, and festive occasion, right?
After this, I went to Matthias’ house to spend the night with his family. Matthias and Mascha prepared a raclette and taught me how to properly eat cheese with potatoes and slices of bacon. It was a unique experience for me because we don’t usually cook and melt cheese at home aside from when they are used as viand ingredients. I also fell in love with their sparkling red wine which was the best wine I ever tasted in my life. We talked a lot about how my stay was so far, my highlights and lowlights, how I am doing in the Philippines, and what my plans are moving forward. I also met their kids who reminded me a lot of my brother so I kind of missed my family that night. They watched TikTok videos on my phone and showed me how good they are at jumping on the bed.
Meeting the King of the Alps
The next day, I met Mhyma and her boyfriend at the station because we were visiting Mt. Pilatus, the king of the Alps, that morning. We travelled by train and saw the most breathtaking lake view of my life. I saw how the pictures on the postcards came to life with all the pastel colours scattered around. The mountains and huge rocks were picturesque - covering the other side of the lake but I didn’t mind. The trains there were very fast and efficient that the travel did not take long. When we transferred to another train going up the mountains and started seeing the snow, I could not stop myself from crying as I never imagined myself being there and seeing the view with my two bare eyes.
As I looked out at the snow, I felt all the tensions in my system from the events and emotions of the preceding several days finally released. They were all wonderful experiences but things happened too fast; I couldn't believe they really happened. I remember telling the Aiducation team that I really wanted to see snow days before my departure but they told me that it might be a little impossible because of the current temperature at that time, but when that Saturday came, the first snow also welcomed me. I took lots of pictures and even played with the snow just to confirm if it was real - and it really is, as I got numb seconds after a handful. My heart was full and more motivated to work harder because I hope that one day, my family and kababayans (Filipinos) will also get to see this.
Thank you, Switzerland!
The next day, we went to PWC Oerlikon and had a meeting with their team to discuss my experiences in my past academies and how a technology-related academy will make a difference in the lives of many brilliant young people in the Philippines and other countries where Aiducation works.
Matthias and I went back to our office and I had a hearty lunch with the Aiducation team. We talked about some personal things and I got emotional yet thankful that I got that chance to have alone time with them.
Hours later, we moved to Synpulse to meet my previous mentors, Janis and Laura, plus the CSR team of the company, to talk about Synpulse Project Management Academy. Janis played the video of the academy and shared that he still has our letters from the SPMA 2018. I also shared there my experiences, takeaways, and how the academy has been helping me until now in my university, organization, internship, and life, in general.
That was the last meeting during my stay there and we headed to the airport. Laura came with me and dropped me off at the airport where Mhyma was waiting. We had the last meal together, going back to KFC for chicken and rice from another restaurant. When it was time to leave, I remember talking to Switzerland and thanking him for showing me the best things he could offer. I experienced rainy, sunny, windy, snowy, and chill days - all of which I consider a blessing. As I walk alone towards my gate, I said to myself, “I will come back one day!” and I am a woman of my word.
Bringing Home The “Bacon”
Experiencing Switzerland is one of the best six days of my life! Before I boarded the plane, I had three goals:
- to deliver Aiducation’s and my story in the most honest and best way possible.
- to build a strong network with people beyond my current horizon founded on diverse stories and experiences.
- to understand the beauty of Switzerland and its systems.
After that six productive days, I am proud to share that I have ticked all those boxes. I have listed down below some of my highlights!
Understanding Culture Is Understanding The People
I think it was more helpful and practical that I moved from one house to another every night because I got a lot of exposure to different neighbourhoods and cultures of the people I spent the night with. I saw the variations in their way of life, the similarities in their values, and the distinctions in their points of view. In total, I visited five (5) different flats and they were the chance for me to observe some of the factors that contributed to the personalities, decisions, and personal values of the people living there like living conditions and lifestyle.
Talking Less and Listening More
The opportunity to spend over 85% of my time meeting new people and building connections with them was one of the best highlights. Talking less and listening more do not essentially mean being in silence for almost the whole time, but appreciating the value of learning through conversation. Although I was giving the talk most of the time, I made sure that I get as much story and information as I can from the people I am meeting. I asked questions, gave my thoughts, and listened to how we were similar and different. I realized that there are things that might seem weird or impossible to happen, but they really exist and it’s my box that is limiting me from seeing and understanding these. Talking less and listening more is removing that box so I can see and move better.
Fearless Chase of Dreams
Being in Switzerland made me realize that I am just 21 but I am 21. Being “just 21” is not putting too much pressure on myself so I can enjoy the world and its gifts. I realized that 21 is still young and I don’t need to run after things that will exhaust me from within. On the other sense, being 21 means becoming more mature and recognizing my role and responsibilities in our society. I realized that being 21 is doing an impact on my pace and I should never compromise my health just to climb up the ladder. Being 21 now means chasing my dreams freely based on how I want to move forward and not on how others expect me to run.
This whole trip was more magical and inspiring than tiring. I wish I could have stayed longer but those six days already showed me a different world - a place of transparency, efficiency, and accountability - all of which I hope that we can have in the Philippines. My goal now is to share what I have learned and see which gaps I can help address based on my resources and experiences. My Switzerland journey has never ended as it is now the time for application and evaluation.
Deep Appreciation To Aiducation
To the Aiducation Team, I know that you know how grateful I am for this opportunity to visit you and share our impact with our supporters, and I also know that saying “thank you” will never be enough to express my gratitude so my plan is to shift this appreciation to creating more positive impact wherever I am and especially in the Philippines. Your hospitality, generosity, and kindness toward me will never be forgotten nor ignored. I have kept all our memories together inside a little compartment in my head which will always be maximized for greater use. I promise to share what you taught, showed and gave me with others, and I really hope we can meet each other again (in person, soon)! I am always one email or WhatsApp away so let me know what help you need and shall comply as quickly and possible as I can!
Have a warm (hopefully) and cosy holiday!
Written by Rae Kayla Magcalas, AiduTalent from Philippines