Adrian Nussbaumer is from Switzerland and studied at ELC Santa Barbara for 12 weeks in our Cambridge Advanced Preparation Course. Adrian was known for being the class clown! Need a laugh? Just go see Mr. Nussbaumer and you’ll soon be laughing until you cry! He was a very tall man with a great sense of humor, a kind smile, and a insatiable yearning to see the world. Learn more about Adrian here!
Is this your first time in the US:
Yes. It is the first time for me in the U.S. First I was a little bit scared because I didn’t know what to expect, but as soon as I left the airport, I expected the friendliness and kindness of local Americans.
What were you surprised to learn about the US or Santa Barbara? Did you experience culture shock?
I was surprised about the huge size of America. Switzerland is such a small country, that makes it even more impressive. We’re not used to it, but it was an amazing experience. I also didn’t expect that SB has that many beautiful places. From the Butterfly Beach all over to Hendry’s Beach are so many stunning spots where you can enjoy yourself.
What do you miss about your country?
I think it’s not a big secret: it’s the bread and cheese. Almost every Swiss that I met was complaining about that, but I think there is a bunch of delicious food and very good restaurants here.
What do you do for fun?
I really like to go to the beach and playing volleyball. It’s also a pleasure to go to the batting cages or enjoy the beautiful weather in one of the parks. The “Funk Zone” is one of my favorite places, especially “Lama Dog.” Delicious food and courteous service are the things that I like about them the most. Walking down State Street is also fun.
What are your hobbies?
I’m a big sports fan. I like to play or watch soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and a lot of other sports. I also like to spend quality time with friends and I laugh a lot. You can all of these activities in SB. This is why I like this city so much.
Do you have tips for people who want to learn English?
Hang out (stay) with the locals! The most Americans are so open-minded and friendly. Just start to talk with them and make some new friends. They will show you places you wouldn’t see without knowing them, so don’t be shy and start to talk and you will have fun and learn English for sure.
What is your favorite place in Santa Barbara?:
Another of my favorite places is definitely the “West Beach”: sun, fun, ocean breeze, and a lot of nice people down there. I played volleyball for hours down there and made a couple of friends.
What are your favorite moments in class at ELC?
Definitely Becca time on Wednesday. When she makes her announcements with all the passion she absolutely lights up your day.
What are your plans after ELC?
I will go travelling for three more months. I want to travel the West Coast and Hawaii. Then I want to come back to SB because it’s just awesome here. After that I’ll go to the East Coast and visit some places over there. After all the travelling, I want to go home and start to work with children with special needs.
