Aina Nepaya

AT work

I had the pleasure to be assigned to the Investment Accounting department (within CSAM) under the Reconciliation team. I remember being super nervous about my first day at the office. My host parents reassured me that it will be fine and that it will not be a strict (no mistakes) kind of environment. My host dad accompanied me to the office, while also showing me how to get to work and back home by public transport. Since it was still Covid times and most of the people from the office were still in the home office, I only got to meet the team head Jovan Kostic in person, while the rest of the team I initially met through Skype calls as they welcomed me to the team. My team ensured that I had (in my opinion) the best workstation that had a beautiful view of Zurich city. The onboarding process took a couple of days as CSAM uses a lot of systems and databases, but I eventually learned how to use them properly. The team then assigned me daily tasks to complete. In early March, everybody returned to the office, and it was very exciting to finally meet the team in person. My mentors and team were always so patient and supportive of me, they helped and encouraged me to ask questions whenever I needed further clarification on anything. I always have a coffee/breakfast break with my team every day and we discuss our different nationalities, best places to travel and work tips. I also got the chance to join and work with a derivative team, execution desk (CSAM trading floor, corporate actions team, the fund selection team, and the performance and measurement team. Rotating between teams was fun because I got to meet a lot more people as well as learn what they do and how they contribute to CSAM as a whole.

My Swiss Host Family

I was placed with the Ochsner family, and I could not have been more grateful. They warmly welcomed me at the airport when I first arrived and even more so when we got home. My family showed me how everything works in their home, they introduced me to their other family members and neighbours, how to fully use all transport systems including how to plan and board boats. We had a lot of authentic Swiss meals, and my favourite would definitely be the Raclette.

It really was so easy and smooth to feel integrated into the Swiss everyday life. Simone was my host mother, and she is incredible. She always makes sure that I have whatever it is that I need and cooks amazing meals. I can’t wait to go cook some of her recipes for my family back home. Simone is so full of life, very adventurous, and plans the most exciting excursions and activities. Andre was my host father, and he is awesome. He is very cool and relaxed, always thinking on his feet. He served as the finance and logistics ‘’guy’’; wherever you want to go, he knows how to get there. He also showed me around the Sihlcity, we sometimes had lunch together. I also got the chance to work with him, he showed me what he does for work and what systems/programs he uses. Lina is the eldest daughter, and she is amazing, the best baker and skips rope expert. Noé is the youngest, master Drummer and mountaineer, I am definitely going to miss showering and dancing to Noé drumming concerts. I really appreciate our family dinners, where we talked about our days, exchanged exciting future plans and ideas, as well as enlightening conversations about life and our cultural difference. The Ochsner family is definitely the nicest, warmest bunch.

Highlights and Challenges in Switzerland

Initially, the biggest challenge was the language barrier, the Swiss German spoken here sounded very complicated in the beginning but eventually, I caught on and noticed that it was not too different from the Afrikaans and German dialects spoken in Namibia. The weather was actually much colder than I expected but my family ensured that I had the appropriate clothes, shoes and accessories to face the Swiss winter.

My highlights definitely include playing in the snow at the Mount. Rigi as well as in Obfelden. My other highlight was our week-long family trip through (Ticino, Bellinzona, Lugano and Ascona) in Southern Switzerland. Additionally, the solo trip to Paris is definitely worth a mention, as it amazes me that I was able to navigate through a foreign country (whose language I don’t speak well at all) by myself.

My Future Plans

As for now, I look forward to finishing my bachelor’s degree and getting a job within the banking sector in Namibia. I would also like to obtain an MBA in finance one day, but wherever like takes me I will happily embrace that journey. This experience and being with the Ochsner family have really inspired me to travel more and do more challenging things. I look forward to further exploring Namibia and the rest of the world.

Personal Message

I am beyond thankful and will be forever grateful to B360 (and its donors) for making this whole experience possible, to Credit Suisse for offering me this internship, and to the Ochsner family for hosting me. Being here has taught me that there is a time for everything, to be patient with myself and others, to simply try your best and that it’s okay when you don’t always get it right. The food was definitely different but delicious and I hope to return one day, to try out the ‘SWISS Summers’.