At 15, Alexander (Sasha) Demishin arrived in Switzerland carrying little more than a suitcase. He left his tight‑knit family and friends in Rostov‑on‑Don in Russia and arrived at Aiglon College with limited English and a quiet personality that felt worlds apart from the loud, fast‑talking international community in Villars‑sur‑Ollon.

His first roommate was a Saudi prince who paused throughout the day to pray and asked Sasha to help move furniture so he could face Mecca. “That was completely new to me,” he recalled. Students from around the world would go on to become his closest friends, even if at first they felt impossibly different. “They were so loud, they spoke too fast, and I barely understood anything.”

Growing up in Rostov‑on‑Don, Sasha’s life centered around his family. The middle of three boys, he remembers a childhood shaped by strong relationships and stability. “Growing up in Russia, having two brothers and great friendships was awesome,” he says. “Leaving Russia was difficult for me; we’re very tight as a family.”

His parents managed and later owned several hotels in southern Russia. Hospitality wasn’t just a job; it shaped the values of their home. Attention to detail, genuine warmth, and an instinct for making guests feel welcome was a part of daily life. His parents wanted their children to experience stability and international opportunity after the political and economic uncertainty they had lived through during the fall of the USSR. Switzerland, with its reputation for hospitality and education, felt like the right next step.

At Aiglon, outdoor expeditions pushed students together and he forged quick friendships. Sasha was the map‑reader. His future best friend, “incredibly loud” and extroverted, made mediocre meals over the campfire and was happy to carry their dirty dishes back to school in his backpack, a chore Sasha could not fathom. “We bonded,” he said, “and we became very close.” A houseparent in their dorm modeled steadiness and empathy; “he was a role model to us,” Sasha says. “He led by example.” Today, Sasha recognizes how much of that influence he carries into his own work with students.

After Aiglon, Sasha studied hospitality at École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), refining practical skills and deepening his appreciation for service standards. In 2020, he returned to Aiglon College as a staff member, and more recently moved to Leysin American School, where he is a member of the Institutional Advancement team. He builds relationships with students, families, and alumni, applying the hospitality instincts he learned at home and refined at EHL.

Raised in hospitality, he has an instinct for warmth and attention to detail. “You approach people with genuine warmth and empathy,” he explains, “to make sure they have the best experience they can.” He also lives on campus, which allows him to be present in students’ daily lives. Being on campus and engaging with students daily has become “the best part of my job.” Whether hosting returning alumni or supporting residential life, he sees his role as creating connections that last.

Switzerland has shifted from a place of study to something more personal. “It’s crazy to say,” he said, “but next year I will have spent half my life here. Switzerland is really my home.” He also counts Russia, where his family lives, and Romania, where his girlfriend lives, as home. Aiglon will also always be home.

Each day in Leysin, Sasha looks out at the mountain range of the Dents du Midi. He first saw them as a student; now he lives with the view. “I try to remind myself that this is not normal,” he says. “I still take photos of it every week. It’s the best view in the world.” He hasn’t summited the range yet but plans to cross it off his list this summer.

For Sasha, the journey from Russia to Switzerland began with uncertainty and culture shock. Today he is grounded in connection, community, and the daily reminder rising above the valley of just how far he has come.