As we welcome students to campus for orientation this week, we’ve been thinking about those unforgettable first days in Leysin.

Maybe you took your first solo train journey from Geneva, or arrived with a car full of teary-eyed family members. Then came that first glimpse of the mountain, the moment the iconic view first took your breath away.

Below are a few memories and photos from the first days of the school over the years:

 

"Fall of 1964: J.Puig & B. Peyer introduced me to a pool table my first day arrival.. education without limits."

- Rick Penniman '66

 

1966:

 

 

"1968: I arrived from upstate New York as a junior the day before school officially opened. I met another Polish boy, Mike Skorupski '69 who was a senior, and we acquired a bottle of vodka to enjoy the day. We promptly were scolded later that day while singing and stumbling down the street back to our dormitory. We were not expelled because school had not yet started. That started a lifelong friendship and many mountaineering adventures." 

- Casimir 'Casey' Lorentz '70
 

 

"The first person to greet me when I arrived at the school in January 1970 was Gila Shoshani. I had come from San Antonio, Texas via New York City and Geneva on the plane. I was flabbergasted by the cog train up the mountain. I got off at Leysin village and a nice local couple gave me a ride up to LAS. I lived in a bubble in Texas and had no contacts with anyone other than Catholic and Protestant white people. Gila was from Israel and was the first Jewish person I ever met."

- Rob Jones '71
 

 

"I came from Egypt and the smell of the pines trees was intoxicating! I fell in love with Leysin from the very first moments."

- Bruce McKinzie '71
 

 

"Moya Bildstein '72 was there to show me the ropes. I think I got stung by a bee. Gila was a very special soul."

- Kim South

 

"I remember the fall colors riding the cog up the mountain. We don't have those fall colors quite so vividly in California, and I remember being really amazed and in awe. That was 1973."

- Hallie Lever '74
 

 

1977:

 

 

1989:

 

 

1993:

 

"Fellow teachers Al Maturo and Kate Perry picked up me and Ian Cornell from the airport in the year 2000. My first overseas teacher posting! On our way home, Al stopped and picked up a mattress. I still visit the Magic Mountain!"

- Tracy Sons (Former Faculty)
 

 

As you began to explore your new home, who was the first person to welcome you, and what role did they come to play in your journey at LAS?

Share your first impressions of the Magic Mountain by emailing advancement@las.ch!

 

Send Us Your Memories!