In my previous post, I mentioned Swiss finishing school, and I told you not to laugh – here’s why. Finishing school was traditionally for the upper class women who had completed their secondary studies, and were required to learn the basic etiquette and home management skills to ‘complete their education’. The assumption is that this is a stuffy place for the Victorian Era House Wife – am I right? I used to think so too, even though I really loved the idea of being polished and a proper lady. However, since I am focused on changed perspectives, I feel this is a myth I must dispel for everyone else too.

Finishing school went out of fashion in the 60s, but has made it’s return in the 21st century with skills and curriculum for the modern woman. Studying world cultures, International etiquette, and how to present oneself confidently in a world of insecurity – these don’t sound so bad to me. Now I’d like to introduce my home for the next 6 weeks, and the first stop on my adventure: Institut Villa Pierrefeu. It is the last remaining Swiss finishing school, in the picturesque mountains of Glion – just above Montreux, for those of you wondering where that is. IVP is, “Elegant, exclusive and charming, it will prepare you for a role in the business world and society, aiming to help you become more effective in multicultural environments and dealings,” explains the webpage. After being here for a week I can tell you that all this is true. I have met incredible women from all over the world, and have fallen in love with the idea of learning more about their cultures and stories. In future posts, family names will be excluded for privacy reasons, but I can share what I have learned, and will learn about them and their countries.

I wish I could tell with you exactly what it is we do here, but it’s hard to explain. All I can say right now is that I couldn’t have chosen a better place to be for the summer. Madame Neri, MCC and Irene, along with the other teachers have an incredible wealth of knowledge and understanding of culture and tradition. They carry themselves with an elegance and grace that I could only hope to emanate by the end of the course. Although they’ve had many years of practice, they started on the same path I’m on now, so it seems there’s hope for me. For those who don’t believe that finishing school has any value today, these are the women I am proud to know as perfect examples of worldly citizens.

Maybe it’s not for everyone – this I know for a fact – but what’s important to understand is that finishing school is still relevant, and extremely beneficial. Institut Villa Pierrefeu has honestly opened my eyes for the better, and I have an inkling that the skills, relationships and confidence I will get out of the school could far surpass any honours or masters degrees I could’ve taken. I will leave here with the knowledge of 15 world cultures, diplomacy, understanding tradition and it’s importance in society, and the skills to be a polished woman and great hostess – besides, who wouldn’t want to come to a great party?