Before traveling to Lugano, Switzerland, I had no idea what to expect. Even with thorough research and planning, I still had no concept of what I was really getting myself into. Upon arrival, I experienced a culture shock. For one, the Swiss put a huge emphasis on collectivism; everyone is expected to do their part for their community. This plays a key role in environmentalism and the way the Swiss treat their environmental standards. Air conditioning is rare, thus making it very common to ventilate houses/restaurants/shops through open windows. Luckily, temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, making it bearable to the everyday foreigner (like myself). Another piece of Switzerland that I was unaware of but quickly became aware of was the prices of goods. On average, prices are about 2-3 times higher than they are in the US – this makes sense because the average monthly income for a Swiss worker is substantially higher than it is in the US. For example, a slice of pizza in Lugano, Switzerland is typically around 8 CHF (Swiss Francs) and in the US it is $2-3 (depending on where you go). It is also very common to see a lot of Swiss in dressy outfits. It could be Sunday when all shops are closed, and you would still see a couple roaming the streets in their finest attire. The streets may seem a little bare on Sundays when everything is closed down for the designated “family day” of the week. Every other day, your best bet of getting into a shop is if you go around 10am-noon or 2pm-4pm. Other than that, its common for shop owners to open late in the day, close down for lunch hours, and close early before dinner times. The Swiss do not run by a schedule nor should anyone expect they would. They operate on the days they feel like it and that is just the way the Swiss are. The Swiss have every right to be a little stingy in their everyday life. The abundance of goods that their country offers excuses them from any American expectation. If it’s the chocolate, the wine, the cheese, the watches, or the Swiss army knives, the Swiss have it all and then some. On top of that, the mountains and overall landscape of the country is incomparable to any other. The view that I have awoke to every day is absolutely breathtaking, and it is something I will never forget.