Swiss students spend two full school days shadowing at RMHS. On the first day, they join their host sibling in classes to see what daily life in a U.S. high school is like, and switch partners on the second to gain a broader perspective on different subjects and teaching styles.
While kids from Reading are in school, Swiss students take day trips to explore Boston and historic towns across Massachusetts. Host families drop students off at RMHS or the Reading train station in the mornings, where they depart together with their teachers and guides. Destinations include the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, the Freedom Trail, Harvard Square in Cambridge, the historic seaport of Salem, and Plymouth, the site of the Pilgrims’ first settlement.
RMHS students take a day off from school to join their Swiss peers for a special field trip into Boston. Together, they tour the Massachusetts State House, explore the city’s historic neighborhoods, and enjoy a classic Boston Duck Tour that combines sightseeing on land and water.
Students from both schools come together throughout the exchange for various activities, including a welcome dinner to kick off the exchange, a chance to experience an American football game, and a farewell dinner to celebrate the two weeks. While parents and host families often plan structured activities, the teens themselves usually prefer spontaneous get-togethers — whether that’s casual hangouts, last-minute meetups, or even the occasional ad-hoc party.