Switzerland Culture

CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

SWITZERLAND CULTURE

A FINAL PROJECT

By:

Dita Silitonga

NPM. 14120018

THE FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF HKBP NOMMENSEN

PEMTANGSIANTAR

2017

1.      Introduction

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a federal republic in Europe. It consists of 26 cantons, and the city of Bern is the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in western-Central Europe, and is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura, spanning an area of 41,285 km² (15,940 sq mi). While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately eight million people is concentrated mostly on the plateau, where the largest cities are to be found: among them are the two global cities and economic centres Zürich and Geneva.

The establishment of the Old Swiss Confederacy dates to the late medieval period, resulting from a series of military successes against Austria and Burgundy. Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was formally recognized in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The country has a history of armed neutrality going back to the Reformation; it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815 and did not join the United Nations until 2002. Nevertheless, it pursues an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world. In addition to being the birthplace of the Red Cross, Switzerland is home to numerous international organizations, including the second largest UN office. On the European level, it is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association, but notably not part of the European Union or the European Economic Area. However, it participates in the Schengen Area and the European Single Market through bilateral treaties.

Spanning the intersection of Germanic and Romance Europe, Switzerland comprises four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Although the majority of the population are German speaking, Swiss national identity is rooted in a common historical background, shared values such as federalism and direct democracy, and Alpine symbolism. Due to its linguistic diversity, Switzerland is known by a variety of native names: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); and Svizra or (Romansh). On coins and stamps, Latin (frequently shortened to "Helvetia") is used instead of the four living languages.

Switzerland is one of the most developed countries in the world, with the highest nominal wealth per adult and the eighth-highest per capita gross domestic product according to the IMF. Switzerland ranks at or near the top globally in several metrics of national performance, including government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic competitiveness, and human development. Zürich and Geneva have each been ranked among the top cities in the world in terms of quality of life, with the former ranked second globally, according to Mercer.

The English name Switzerland is a compound containing Switzer, an obsolete term for the Swiss, which was in use during the 16th to 19th centuries. The English adjective Swiss is a loan from French Suisse, also in use since the 16th century. The name Switzer is from the Alemannic Schwiizer, in origin an inhabitant of Schwyz and its associated territory, one of the Waldstätten cantons which formed the nucleus of the Old Swiss Confederacy. The Swiss began to adopt the name for themselves after the Swabian War of 1499, used alongside the term for "Confederates", Eidgenossen (literally: comrades by oath), used since the 14th century. The data code for Switzerland, CH, is derived from Latin Confoederatio Helvetica (English: Helvetic Confederation).

The toponym Schwyz itself was first attested in 972, as Old High German Suittes, ultimately perhaps related to swedan ‘to burn’ (cf. Old Norse svíða ‘to singe, burn’), referring to the area of forest that was burned and cleared to build. The name was extended to the area dominated by the canton, and after the Swabian War of 1499 gradually came to be used for the entire Confederation. The Swiss German name of the country, Schwiiz, is homophonous to that of the canton and the settlement, but distinguished by the use of the definite article (d'Schwiiz for the Confederation, but simply Schwyz for the canton and the town).

The Latin name Confoederatio Helvetica was neologized and introduced gradually after the formation of the federal state in 1848, harking back to the Napoleonic Helvetic Republic, appearing on coins from 1879, inscribed on the Federal Palace in 1902 and after 1948 used in the official seal. (The ISO banking code, "CHF" for the Swiss franc, is taken from the state's Latin name). Helvetica is derived from the Helvetii, a Gaulish tribe living on the Swiss plateau before the Roman era.

Switzerland’s national flag was adopted on December 12, 1889, which is one of the world’s oldest flags. The Flag of Switzerland is a red field, a white cross whose arms are one-sixth longer than their width. The relationship between the span of the cross and the width of the flag has not been established, but in practice the ratio is about 2:3 or 7:10.

The Swiss cross on a red field ultimately derives from a similar banner of the Holy Roman Empire, and thus has strong Christian connotations. The Swiss flag traditionally stands for freedom, honour and fidelity. The motto "Honor et Fidelitas" was inscribed on the cross of several Swiss mercenary flags of the 18th century. In modern times, through association with consistent Swiss policy, the flag has also come to mean neutrality, democracy, peace and refuge.

2.      Facts and Statistics

Location                      : Europe

Capital                         : Bern

Climate                        : temperate

Population                   : 8,458,052 (July 2017)

Ethnic Make-up          : German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other

Religions                     : Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1%.

Government                : Formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic.

3.      Language

Switzerland has some languages, they are: German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch 0.5%, other 2.8%.

Even though Switzerland is a small country, its people do speak no less than four different languages. Everything from the list of the ingredients on the package of the groceries to the manual of the most complicated TV set has to be printed in three different languages (German, French and Italian).

The so called "German speaking" Swiss don't speak the same German as the Germans or the Austrians do, but what is known as "Swiss-German". To make it even worse, each state has its own dialect, but there is no written "Swiss-German" at all. Fortunately, the Germans, the Austrians and the Swiss-Germans use the same written German language which in turn is close to the so called "high German", a "quasi-standard" of the German languages.

4.      Switzerland Society and Culture

Switzerland remains a place of tradition and respect for values of family, religion and homeland. This is particularly evident in more rural areas, where attitudes can seem old-fashioned to the foreigner. On the whole, there is a strong sense of community among residents and ties to Swiss history and culture are celebrated.

Social rules govern behavior, promoting a society that is, generally speaking, conformist rather than individualist and that is respectful of others. There can be low tolerance of any behavior that is considered disruptive or contrary to the good of the community.

This need to fit in extends as far as personal names, with baby names chosen from an official 'approved list' for Swiss residents, and even foreign nationals being required to choose names considered 'normal' in their own culture. Names that are 'absurd' are forbidden and the name must also match the gender of a child. Names which may apply to either gender (e.g. Andrea, Claude, Kay, Sasha) not permitted except where used following an official first name that can be considered clearly male or female.

To the outsider, Switzerland has a reputation as an efficient and well-ordered society. The country is held up as an example of pristine cleanliness, a place of healthy outdoor pursuits, somewhat insulated from the social ills that plague other countries. As with all stereotypes, there is an element of truth but also some exceptions. Public transport does, as a rule, run strictly to time. While glacial lakes and snowy landscapes help to promote the image of a clean, unspoilt land, there remains a pride in the community that ensures high standards even in the towns and cities, though anyone expecting to completely avoid graffiti or dog's mess will be disappointed. Villages in the alpine areas in particular can appear picture-postcard perfect, but inner cities in Switzerland face similar problems to those found elsewhere in Europe.

On the whole, however, Switzerland feels safer than many countries, again particularly in more rural areas. That said, it is not considered by residents to be as safe now as once it was. In terms of standards of living, Switzerland is near the top (rated number 13 in the Human Development Index for 2010). In line with this, Switzerland has high life-expectancy. Zurich and Geneva are ranked respectively numbers 2 and 3 (number 1 being Vienna) in the top cities worldwide for quality of living, as published by Mercer in 2010. Bern also has a place in the top 10 globally at number 9.

From watches to chocolate, "Swiss-made" remains a mark of quality. Other nations are prepared to pay a premium for Swiss goods thanks to Switzerland's reputation for high standards.

5.      Customs and Etiquette in Switzerland

a.      Greetings

·         Man greeting Man - Men shake hands when greeting one another while maintaining direct eye contact.  A light hug may be common between good friends and family.

·         Woman greeting Woman - Light kisses on the cheeks are the most common form of greeting.  These are light touching of cheeks rather than actual kisses. Three alternating cheek kisses starting with the right cheek tends to be the norm. At a first meeting, women generally shake hands. 

·         Man greeting Woman - Light kisses on the cheeks is the most common form of greeting for friends and family.  Three alternating cheek kisses starting with the right cheek tends to be the norm. At a first meeting a regular handshake will do.  

·         Note: The strong regionalism in and the influence of German, French and Italian culture is very prevalent.  Greetings in the French and Italian speaking regions tend to be warmer and longer than in the German speaking regions.

b.      Communication Style

·         Communication style depends greatly on personality but the Swiss are generally polite and direct in their communication. 

·         The Swiss tend to be private people and asking personal questions is not that common. 

c.       Personal Space and Touching

• It is not polite to be too close during conversation; at least an arm’s length should be maintained.  This space may be a bit less in the Italian speaking regions.
• If you accidentally brush someone on the train or touch on the bus, it is generally considered polite to excuse yourself. 
• Families and friends often touch when speaking but it is rare for acquaintances to do so.  It is certainly not accepted in business settings. 

d.      Eye Contact

• Eye contact is a sign of respect and should be maintained, regardless of whom you are speaking with. 
• Direct eye contact is not just acceptable, it’s required.  Not having eye contact with a person, no matter if it’s your boss, your child, your grocery store clerk etc., is considered rude.

e.       Views of Time

• In general, the Swiss are orderly, careful and conscientious, therefore, being late is considered rude.
• If invited to a friend’s for dinner or a party, being a few minutes late is acceptable, but certainly no more than 15-30 minutes. 
• Punctuality is highly valued throughout the country.  Being on time for business meetings, service appointments, etc. is expected. 
• Buses and trains are always on time.

f.       Gestures

• Flattening your hand and slicing it across your neck means, “I’ve had enough!”
• Tapping your temple with an index finger means someone is crazy. 

g.      Taboos

·         It is considered very rude to litter or leave trash lying around.

·         The Swiss appreciate peace and quite hence it is impolite to speak too loudly in public, especially while on your cell phone. 

h.      Law and Order

• To buy beer and wine, one must be 16 years old.  To buy stronger spirits, you must be 18. 
• There is a strong trend against smoking as it is becoming prohibited in more and more places. 
• Penalties for possession, acquisition, and trafficking of drugs are severe and include mandatory lengthy imprisonment in local jails. 

6.      Doing Business in Switzerland

a.      Dress

• For men: conservative yet stylish suits with shirts and ties.  A jacket and tie, rather than a suit tends to be acceptable as well. Business casual may be acceptable in certain industries.
• For women: stylish yet conservative business suits or dresses and blouses are a good way to go.  Accessories are usually worn, but it's best to stay on the subtle side.
• The Swiss value having clean, nicely pressed clothing along with well-polished shoes.
• Jeans and other casual attire are generally not acceptable.

b.      Titles and Business Card

• Titles are important and it is best to address people directly by using Mr., Mrs., or Miss, followed by the surname.  Note: for French-speakers: "Monsieur" is for Mr., "Madame" is for Mrs. and "Mademoiselle" is Miss. For Swiss-German speakers: "Herr" is for Mr., "Frau" is for Mrs.  For Italian speakers "Signore" is for Mr., "Signora" is for Mrs.
• You should always wait to be invited to use first names before doing so yourself.
• In German and French, there are two words meaning “you.”  One is formal, in French “vous” and one is informal, “tu.”  Therefore, depending on the situation you must know when to use the formal or informal pronoun.  When conversing with friends and peers, it's acceptable to use “tu,” but when in the business setting or speaking with elders, use “vous.”
• There is no set protocol surrounding the giving and receiving of business cards.

c.       Meetings

• It is best to show up on time for all meetings.  One can expect some preliminary small talk when dealing with the Italian and French Swiss while the German Swiss tend to get straight down to business.  
• Meetings tend to be taken quite seriously and follow strict agendas.

d.      Gift Giving

• Gifts are not generally exchanged at initial business meetings.
• If invited over for dinner or a drink to a Swiss home, it's a good idea to bring the host/hostess a gift.  Flowers (avoid lilies, red roses, chrysanthemums) and/or a bottle of high quality wine or spirits is an acceptable gift. 
• Avoid gifts like a letter opener, knives, and or scissors as they can mean a severing of relations.

7.      Education in Switzerland

a.       Introduction

Since Switzerland has no natural resources, education and knowledge have become very important resources. Therefore Switzerland claims to have one of the world's best education systems. Because the cantons are responsible for educational services (kindergarten, schools, universities), education may vary significantly between cantons. For example, some cantons start to teach the first foreign language at fourth grade, while others start at seventh grade. This can turn moving with children between cantons into a nightmare.

In Switzerland, most children go to public schools. Private schools usually are expensive and people tend to think that students of private schools probably didn't make it at the public school. Public schools include "Kindergarten", "Volksschule" (elementary school), "Gymnasium" (secondary school) and "Universitäten" (universities). Most municipalities provide kindergarten, primary and secondary schools. Most cantons provide at least one secondary school. There are eleven universities in Switzerland, nine are run by cantons, two are run by the confederation.

After elementary school, kids may either choose to go to secondary school or to start an apprenticeship. In the later case, after finishing the apprenticeship, it is still possible to start an academic career at either a secondary school or a so called "Fachhochschule" (FH) (university of applied sciences).

b.      Schools

In Switzerland, every child must attend at least the elementary school. Our country provides various schools at different levels. Because the cantons are responsible for the educational system, the names, the subjects, the starting age of the students and the duration vary significantly between the cantons. The rest of this document therefore focuses on how it works in the canton Zürich.

1)       Kindergarten

Unlike school, children may or may not be required to attend "Kindergarten", depending on the region. However, attending Kindergarten becomes more an more mandatory and most children do go to Kindergarten. They do not learn how to read and write but shall develop their social capabilities and get used to sit quiet for a while and pay attention to the teacher. Children may attend Kindergarten for one year or two years. Because they are supposed to start school at the age of seven, they go to Kindergarten when they are five and six years old.

2)       "Volksschule" (Elementary school)

The "Volksschule" (elementary school) is mandatory for all Swiss children. They must either attend the public school or must go to a private school. Elementary school starts at the age of seven and lasts at least eight, but usually nine years. Some schools offer an additional year for kids who haven't either yet decided what to do after school, haven't found a job to start an apprenticeship or haven't yet reached the age to start what they would like to do. The "Volksschule" is divided into "Primarschule" and "Oberstufenschule":

• In Zürich, "Primarschule" lasts six years. Usually, the children have only one teacher who teaches all subjects.
• "Oberstufenschule" lasts three years. Usually, there are at least two teachers for each class, one teaches some, the second the other subjects. There may be other teachers for some special subjects like gym, needlework, cooking and so on.

"Oberstufenschule" itself is divided into three different levels: They used to be called "Sekundarschule", "Realschule" and "Oberschule", but there were some recent changes to that. Today, the schools still provide three different levels, but students will be assigned individually to one level per subject. This is true for major subjects such as math, native language and first foreign language only; all other subjects are taught per class.

• "Sekundarschule" is the highest level. Some apprenticeships require this level of education. It is particularly required if a student wants to attend a "Gymnasium" (secondary school) afterwards. "Sekundarschule" includes math, geometry, native language (German in case of Zürich), first foreign language (french in Zürich), geography, history and more. In addition, students may attend other subjects like a second foreign language, usually English or Italian.
• "Realschule" basically teaches the same subjects but not to the same extend.
• "Realschule" takes care of students who have difficulties in learning.

After "Primarschule", students can also choose to go to "Gymnasium" (secondary school) directly without going to the "Oberstufenschule"; in this case, the "Gymnasium" takes 6½ years instead of 4½ years (see also curriculum).

3)       "Berufslehre" (Apprenticeship):

In Switzerland, most kids start a "Berufslehre" (apprenticeship) after elementary school. Depending on the profession, an apprenticeship takes two to four years. Apprenticeships include all kinds of professions, from handicraft (mechanician, carpenter, baker, hairdresser etc.) to office worker (secretary, bookkeeper, IT specialist etc.). Apprentice will get trained at a company or organization, but also attend school for one or two days a week. Some companies also provide additional classes on their own.

After apprenticeship and depending on their education, young people can either start a job or join other schools for further education, including so called "Fachhochschulen" (previously known as "Höhere Technische Lehranstalt" (HTL), University of Applied Sciences).

4)       "Gymnasium" (Secondary school)

There are various types of "Gymnasia" (secondary schools) with different emphasis and major subjects: The "Mathematisches und Naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium" (secondary school of math and science) focuses on math and science, but teaches German and two foreign languages as well (usually French and English or Italian). The "Neusprachliches Gymnasium" (secondary school of modern languages) focuses on modern languages such as German, French, Italian and English, but includes some math and science as well. The "Altsprachliches Gymnasium" (secondary school of ancient languages) focuses on Latin plus at least two other languages, but includes math and science subjects as well. There is also the "Wirtschaftsgymnasium" (secondary school of economics) that focuses on economy. Recently, new types of "Gymnasia" have been introduced, such as the "Musisches Gymnasium" (secondary school of art) which focuses on music and art and the "Sportgymnasium" (secondary school of sports) which emphasis on sportive activities.

All these secondary schools last either six and a half or four and a half years and lead to the so called "Eidgenössische Matura" (federal graduation diploma) which is recognized at all universities in Switzerland and at most universities in foreign countries.

The "Fachmittelschule" (upper secondary school) also leads to a graduation diploma. Typically, a student of the "Fachmittelschule" would become a teacher afterwards, but she or he is not limited to that subject.

Even after an apprenticeship, it is still possible to get a graduation diploma at a so called "Maturitätsschule" (graduation diploma school). After finishing such a "Maturitätsschule", a student can attend an university like a student who attended a "Gymnasium". This path in the educational curriculum is known as "Zweiter Bildungsweg" (secondary educational path).

5)       "Universität" (University)

There are eleven "Universitäten" (universities) in Switzerland, nine of them are run by a canton, two are run by the confederation. In general, the universities run by the cantons provide non-technical subjects, whereas the universities run by the confederation provide technical subjects. The later are therefore called "Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology".

To be able to attend an university, a student must have finished a "Gymnasium" and own a graduation diploma. The study at an university usually lasts four and a half years.

The following universities are run by a canton:

1. Universität Basel (BS)
2. Universität Bern (BE)
3. Universität Fribourg (FR)
4. Universität Genf (GE)
5. Université de Lausanne (VD)
6. Université de Neuchâtel (NE)
7. Universität St. Gallen (SG)
8. L'Università della Svizzera italiana (TI)
9. Universität Zürich (ZH)

One of the technical universities run by the confederation is located in the German speaking part of Switzerland, the other in the French speaking part:

1. Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ)
2. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

The two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology mentioned above are currently adapting their education process to the so called "Bologna declaration", an attempt of the European universities to align their educational program to make it not only easier, but first of all possible for a student to change from one university in one country to another university in another country during his or her study.

The education is now broken up into two parts similar to the education in the USA:

-          a bachelor study (three years)

-          a masters study (one and a half or two years)

After a successful completion of the masters study, one can start working on a thesis in order to get a doctor title. This takes usually three to four years.

6)       "Fachhochschulen" (University of Applied Sciences)

After an apprenticeship, a young person can still start an academic career. Depending on the profession, she or he may attend a "Fachhochschule" (university of applied sciences). A university of applied sciences provides a similar education as the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology but not to the same extend. While an engineer ETH (graduate of one of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology) has a stronger theoretical background, an engineer FH (graduate of one of the university of applied sciences) usually has more practical experiences because she or he had finished an apprenticeship which lasted four years. The study lasts three and a half years.

As an alternative to a full-time study, an employee may also attend a so called "Abendtechnikum" (evening college). She or he continues to work, but attends school at night and on Saturdays. Some employers allow students either to do some homework at the office or provide some other easements. The evening college lasts six years.

"Fachhochschulen" (FH) (previously known as "Höhere Technische Lehranstalten" (HTL)) are often also referred to as "Ingenieurschule" (school for engineers) and are spread all over Switzerland. Recently, technical collages of most regions have started to join forces, some have even merged. Therefore, the list below is most likely neither complete nor perfectly correct:

• Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW)
• Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)
• Fachhochschule Westschweiz (HES-SO), consisting of
• La Haute Ecole Arc
• La Haute Ecole Fribourgeoise
• Haute école de Genève
• Haute école Valaisanne
• Les hautes écoles du canton de Vaud
• Ecole d'ingénieurs de Changins
• Ecole Hoteliere Lausanne
• Fachhochschule Ostschweiz (FHO), consisting of
• Fachhochschule Sankt Gallen
• Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil
• Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft HTW Chur
• Interstaatliche Hochschule für Technik Buchs
• Hochschule Luzern
• Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana (SUPSI)
        including Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
• Zürcher Fachhochschulen: (ZFH), consisting of
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich (HWZ, University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration)
• Pädagogische Hochschule Zürich (PHZH, Zurich University of Teacher Education)
• Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHDK, Zurich University of the Arts)
• Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW, Zurich University of Applied Sciences)
• Which in turn consists of
• Architektur, Gestaltung und Bauingenieurwesen (Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering)
• Gesundheit (School of Health Professions)
• Angewandte Linguistik (Applied Linguistics)
• Engineering (formerly known as "Technikum Winterthur", TWI)
• Management and Law
• Life Sciences und Facility Management
• Soziale Arbeit (Social Work)
• Angewandte Psychologie (Applied Psychology)
• Akademikergesellschaft für Erwachsenenfortbildung (AKAD)

c.        Education Curriculum

There are many different opportunities for a child to get an education. The curriculum below shows some of the most common pathways through the educational system. Of course, there are many other ways to get an education and there are other schools and possibilities especially in the area of continuing education.

"Erwerbsleben und Weiterbildung" (Businesslife and further education)
... go directly to ...	"Abendtechnikum" (Evening college)	"Fachhochschule" (University of Applied Sciences)	"Maturitätsschule" (similar to secondary school)	"Universität" (University)
Berufslehre (Apprenticeship)				"Kurz-Gymnasium" (Short term secondary school, 4½ years)	"Langzeit-Gymnasium" (Long term secondary school, 6½ years)
"Oberstufenschule" (Elementary school 7th to 9th grade)
"Primarschule" (Elementary school 1st to 6th grade)
Kindergarten (usually for kids at age 5 and 6)

d.       Education on the Internet

In Switzerland, there are a number of activities on the Internet that are related to education:

1. The Center for continuing education at the ETH Zürich provides up-to-date information about all the opportunities in continuing education at the ETH Zürich (Post-Graduate Studies, Post-Graduate Courses, Short Courses). Moreover, additional useful information and addresses are given.
2. EducETH, the education Server of the ETH Zürich, provides a platform to exchange subject-matters and information for "Sekundarschulen"
3. Schools goes Internet, the book for brave teachers by Dr. Louis Perrochon

e.       Class Rules

• The school year consists of two semesters, the first starting in September and ending in December.  The second semester starts in March and finishes at the end of June.  Between the two are exams and essays.  There is a one week vacation for Easter and two weeks for Christmas. 
• At the university level, there are no rules regarding dress.  One can wear whatever they like, however, students studying economics or law will normally dress up more than history or art students. 
• In general, children are taught not to be different and that is it better to be reliable and respectful than outstanding, therefore, this neutrality is often reflected in their clothing choices. 
• Grades are based on a scale from 0-6, six is the best. 4 is a passing grade. 
• Lectures and discussion groups are used at the university level.  Most classes are accompanied by a seminar class in which a professor or teaching assistant will lead discussions and debates. 

f.       Socializing

• Going out to bars and clubs is common for university students. There are also school sport teams, so people will sometimes go to sporting events or exercise classes, such as kickboxing, to be social. 
• Drinking is acceptable and a common part of student life.  Smoking is becoming less acceptable.