Alicia Rita Johnson

Bank Julius Bär und Co. Ltd

Bachelor student in Informatics University of Lusaka

February 01 - April 30, 2024

AT WORK

Working for Julius Baer was an amazing experience. I was part of the culture and transformation team. One of my tasks was to create and redesign app3 pages. On the first day of work, I received a warm welcome. I was given a welcome bag and shown around the building.
Everyone was welcoming and whenever I was unsure or needed guidance they were always there to help. My team made sure I had tasks to do and were very supportive. I had the opportunity to shadow in different departments to see and learn more about what they do which was an amazing opportunity for me. I have attended workshops and training and they have all been great, I learnt something new everyday. My line manager and mentor always made sure I was a part of the team and I am grateful for that.
Some of the things I learnt while working in Switzerland are the need to learn new skills, willingness to contribute, teamwork, being punctual, efficient and effective.

MY SWISS HOST FAMILY

During my stay I lived with the Ochsner family. They were welcoming and helped me settle in. I enjoyed having dinner together and we would talk about our day as well as learn more about our cultures. I was able to cook a few meals we eat in Zambia and learn more about Swiss food, one of the Swiss dishes I tried was Raclette. We visited a lot of places together and I learnt more about the country.

HIGHLIGHTS AND CHALLENGES IN SWITZERLAND

So many highlights I don’t know where to start from! My biggest highlight was seeing and touching snow. I got to make a snowman! I enjoyed my trips to Paris and Germany. Apart from that I got to visit different towns in Switzerland like Lugano, Luzern, Bern and many others.
The challenge I faced was adapting to the cold weather. When I got here I was told that it was warm for February and I was thinking if this is considered warm, I wonder what cold feels like because for me I was already cold. It took a bit of time for me to adjust to the weather.

MY FUTURE PLANS

I will complete my Bachelors degree in Information Systems and Technology (IT) and would like to start working in web development or IT project management. Whilst I am working I would fund my studies and get a Masters. Open a restaurant and do what I like - cooking and baking.

PERSONAL MESSAGE

Step out of your comfort zone and follow your dreams, the sky is not the limit! I would like to thank B360, B360 partners, the companies and the host families. It has been an amazing experience and I have learnt a lot.