ADVENTURES AT FRANKLIN

Being in Switzerland, one of the most sustainable countries in the world, it is difficult to not catch the sustainability bug. Reducing, reusing, and recycling quickly become a way of life here on the Franklin campus. There are several ways that I have become a more sustainable human being in the four years at FUS, and I’ll list some of the most notable ones below; afterward, I’ll discuss some of the sustainable initiatives we have here on campus.
Public Transportation
When I lived at home in California, I used to drive everywhere: school, friend’s houses, grocery stores – everywhere. When I am at FUS I walk everywhere, not because I have to, but because I want to. The Lugano hills might seem a bit intimidating at first, but eventually you learn to love them – especially because it means you don’t have to hit the gym as frequently. All of my friends live within a five or ten-minute walk from my door, and the 15 or 20-minute journey downtown goes by quickly with all of the distractingly…

A Day in the Life Of:

Name: Ember Mulcahy Hometown: Marin County, California Year: Senior Studies: Major in International Management; minor in Communications and Media Studies FUS Dorm Residence: New A Interests: Hiking; running; water sports; cooking; eating (mostly cheese and chocolate); and traveling

The goal of this post is to show you all what an average day in my life at FUS looks like. Franklin is an extremely unique campus, and it’s difficult to explain everything that goes on here, so I figured it would be easier to show you…

Friday February 16th, 2018
I started off my day with a run around the Laghetto di Muzzano, a small lake located directly behind my Franklin campus. Franklin students spend a few days per academic year volunteering with the Swiss environmental protection agency Pro Natura to keep this lake clean and beautiful. Before coming to Franklin, I was not much of a runner, but it's too beautiful in Lugano to not hit the trails. There is no need to drive to a trailh…

February is an exciting time to be on Franklin's beautiful campus, not too far from the historic city of Bellinzona, the capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland, famous for its three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro) that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000. Yes, it is always nice to be within a 20 minute train ride of a beautiful medieval city full of castles, and February is a particularly exciting time because of the city's carnival festivities. Every year, the capital of Ticino practically shuts down and welcomes its "doors" to 150,000 guests from other parts of Switzerland and Italy. 

Most people have heard of the carnival festivals in Venice and Rio de Janeiro, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The celebration in Bellinzona is similar to these events; however, it simply has not acquired the same international fame. This particular six-day-long festival is known to the locals as "Rabadan," meaning "noise" in the P…

December is upon us, and the festivities are well underway! The trees are lit, markets are open, and snowfall has begun. While students are finishing up essays and exams, they are also trying to fit in the last few days of winter exploration.
Side note: If you plan on journeying to an Italian-speaking destination during the holidays, you should know the word for Christmas – “Natale” – as it will pop up everywhere.



It all began on December 1st with a series of tree lightings in Lugano. First, Franklin students decorated the FUS Christmas tree on campus with lights, decorations, and – of course – tinsel. There were cookies, candy canes, hot chocolate, and smiles so big that they could only be caused by holiday cheer. After the tree was sufficiently shiny, students wandered downtown to watch the city’s biggest Christmas tree light up in the main square (the Piazza della Riforma). After the long-awaited countdown, the packed crowd dispersed to explore the Christmas markets and warm up with…