Switzerland is the country where everything runs like clockwork. It is almost too perfect with its fantastic Alpine scenery, its elegant majestic hotels and its overall punctuality. It has clean air, wide billow meadows, serene beautiful lakes and it gives visitors a sence of being in a country where everything is fresh and flawless. Distances are short, which means you can make a day trip from your host family to any border by train.

It is one of the eldest democracies in the world. Nowhere in the world do people take as close and active part in their government as in Switzerland. It was in 1291 when three "cantons" joined together to protect their borders that the country of Switzerland developed. It is today a confederacy of 23 cantons and 3 half cantons and is situated in the heart of Europe, bounded by Germany, Austria, the principality of Liechtenstein, Italy and France.

The cantons retain broad autonomy. Each of the cantons sends one representative to serve in the capital city on the Council of States. This council together with the National Council constitute the two chambers of legislative authority. The federal government is led by a third council of seven members.

Switzerland is also one of the most politically stable countries in the world and has a history of taking a neutral stand in all armed conflicts. E.g. during the Second World War Switzerland and Sweden were the only two neutral countries in Europe.

There are four different cultures in Switzerland: French, Italian, Swiss-German and Romansh. The French and Italian areas are considered to be more lively and cosmopolitan than the German area, known as more cons