it's 4pm and i'm sitting in my room, listening to jose gonzalez, and getting a bit nostalgic, as this is my last afternoon in geneva. and while in theory i'd like to go out and take in my last hours with the city, i've resolved to just sit here and be a little sad. this evening we are having our farewell fondue dinner in the old town, which will be nice, but several people have already left, so it'll still feel incomplete.
today i did two loads of laundry, since i don't know when i'll have the chance to easily do it again, and i'm slowly deciding which books and pamphlets to take with me. for lunch i ate the last of the food in my icebox and i'm currently drinking my last glass of wine. the bottle is already in the trash.
i've also been having some crazy dreams. many about the restaurant industry and people from my past life. weird. if i knew how to write in a journal, i would right now. oh man desperado just went on...it may be time to go outside.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
mont blanc is not just a pen company.
after not making it home until LATE on saturday night, up ilana and i got at 7.30am to be at the bus station by 8.30 to take a bus to mont blanc (well, actually to chamonix, the town at the bottom of the mountain). unfortunately, the bus schedule changed saturday night, which meant we missed our bus. as we stood at the bus stop, weighing our options, ilana flagged down a swiss police car. they would not take us to the bus station. then several hired taxis passed us. finally at 8.15 one of the taxis that had passed by came back to get us. we made it to the bus station by 8.25 and off we went!
by the time we got to chamonix at 10am, we were exhausted. but we quickly found our way around the adorable alpen village to a superb patisserie. i picked up a great little danish-y pastry with custard and fresh blueberries. we took them to this hole in the wall internet cafe, where we figured we could buy coffee without being embarrassed about the pastries we bought elsewhere. this cafe was BOMB. one of the best "renverse" i have had. maybe because i was so tired and hadn't had a cup of coffee in a LONG time. we then bought 2 sandwiches a emporter to eat on the mountain.
we took the funicular up the mountain. it was spectacular. basically just lots and lots of photo ops. on our way down, we stopped at the halfway point to eat our sandwiches. these random sandwiches from the internet cafe were fabulous. i had one with chorizo, goat cheese, pesto, lettuce, and tomato. ilana's had smoked chicken, mozzarella, avocado, lettuce, and tomato. i would basically eat them non-stop if i could. after our lunch we took a hike to lake bleu, which was a bit difficult in my birks, as there was still snow to trudge through. and my foot definitely got stuck in snow a couple times.
and somehow i've gotten the tannest i've been in a long, long time.
by the time we got to chamonix at 10am, we were exhausted. but we quickly found our way around the adorable alpen village to a superb patisserie. i picked up a great little danish-y pastry with custard and fresh blueberries. we took them to this hole in the wall internet cafe, where we figured we could buy coffee without being embarrassed about the pastries we bought elsewhere. this cafe was BOMB. one of the best "renverse" i have had. maybe because i was so tired and hadn't had a cup of coffee in a LONG time. we then bought 2 sandwiches a emporter to eat on the mountain.
we took the funicular up the mountain. it was spectacular. basically just lots and lots of photo ops. on our way down, we stopped at the halfway point to eat our sandwiches. these random sandwiches from the internet cafe were fabulous. i had one with chorizo, goat cheese, pesto, lettuce, and tomato. ilana's had smoked chicken, mozzarella, avocado, lettuce, and tomato. i would basically eat them non-stop if i could. after our lunch we took a hike to lake bleu, which was a bit difficult in my birks, as there was still snow to trudge through. and my foot definitely got stuck in snow a couple times.
and somehow i've gotten the tannest i've been in a long, long time.
Monday, June 23, 2008
hup holland hup!
saturday - lausanne. supposedly one of the two must-see places on lake geneva. the other is chateau chillon. clearly we read guidebooks.
lausanne was a lot like montreaux. upon arrival, susi, ilana, and i started walking up to the old town, through a market, of course, and stopped at a great little cafe. we had carac, susi's favorite swiss dessert and, while eating, were found by lisa and abbie. i think it may be time for someone to write a travel book on "market days through europe."
we then went to the olympic museum. and then went paddle boating. and then ate. and then ate a little more.
and once we came home, back we went to the music festival and to fanzone. but the russia v. netherlands game was truly ruined for me by some anti-american brit who basically yelled with me through the whole overtime period of the game. loser. too bad he was well-educated.
lausanne was a lot like montreaux. upon arrival, susi, ilana, and i started walking up to the old town, through a market, of course, and stopped at a great little cafe. we had carac, susi's favorite swiss dessert and, while eating, were found by lisa and abbie. i think it may be time for someone to write a travel book on "market days through europe."
we then went to the olympic museum. and then went paddle boating. and then ate. and then ate a little more.
and once we came home, back we went to the music festival and to fanzone. but the russia v. netherlands game was truly ruined for me by some anti-american brit who basically yelled with me through the whole overtime period of the game. loser. too bad he was well-educated.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
la fete de la musique and FANZONE
this weekend was la fete de la musique. everyone in geneva was out walking around the parks, listening to various types of music, drinking and eating lots of cheap, good food.
susi came in at 7pm, just as we were getting back from montreau. we went straight to the park to join in with the rest of geneva.
however, as we made our way to listen to some bossa nova, we suddenly found ourselves at the fanzone for the turkey v. hrvatska game. which was intense. not only did we get like dix churros pour cinq franc, instead of the usual six, but the game went into overtime, with turkey scoring in the last moments of the period to send us into penalty kicks. turkey fans had already started leaving and suddenly were sprinting back once the roar had erupted. lucky night for them, as hrvatska missed 2 shots.
susi came in at 7pm, just as we were getting back from montreau. we went straight to the park to join in with the rest of geneva.
however, as we made our way to listen to some bossa nova, we suddenly found ourselves at the fanzone for the turkey v. hrvatska game. which was intense. not only did we get like dix churros pour cinq franc, instead of the usual six, but the game went into overtime, with turkey scoring in the last moments of the period to send us into penalty kicks. turkey fans had already started leaving and suddenly were sprinting back once the roar had erupted. lucky night for them, as hrvatska missed 2 shots.
lifestyles of the rich and famous.
friday, after our oral exam, off we went to the swiss riviera, i.e. to montreaux to see chateau chillon.
again, it's a bit unfair that our weather has been this spectacular.
montreaux was like disneyland. everything perfectly pruned, with walking paths along the lake, some sailboats, and a giant castle. after about a 45 minute walk, we reached chateau chillon, which was not at all like french chateaus, but like the castles we read about as children. the best part was that we were able to see almost the entire castle and from every window we saw lake. and mountains. and beauty. ahh.
oh, and i went swimming in the lake. finally.
again, it's a bit unfair that our weather has been this spectacular.
montreaux was like disneyland. everything perfectly pruned, with walking paths along the lake, some sailboats, and a giant castle. after about a 45 minute walk, we reached chateau chillon, which was not at all like french chateaus, but like the castles we read about as children. the best part was that we were able to see almost the entire castle and from every window we saw lake. and mountains. and beauty. ahh.
oh, and i went swimming in the lake. finally.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
daydream believer.
this week, my class was on international organizations. but really, it was on the un and its pitfalls. i enjoyed it, but the french professor was a bit too anti-religion and pessimistic about the fate of america. apparently i'm still the eternal optimist, as i can't believe that 8 yrs of the idiot bush (and Strauss theory) could actually reverse the world's opinion of the u.s. and set us back several generations of human rights policy. but in any case, i may be able to make the world a better place for MY children.
last night we had a pizza and beer party. it was much fun. now that many of us have been together for close to 5 wks, we've all become pretty close, despite the natural separations during "freetime." we also played 5 v. 5 soccer before dinner. it's quite possible i sprained my toe. it's okay since my team won and i actually scored/assisted a few goals. all of the euro 2008 stuff really makes me miss field hocky and competitive sports. perhaps my fh hiatus is soon to end...
tomorrow after my oral exam we are going to montreau, i.e. the swiss riviera, on lake geneva and to chateau chillon. this weekend geneva is hosting a music festival. here is the website http://www.ville-ge.ch/culture/fm/. and on saturday, susi is coming in from lyon to go to lausanne, also a village on the lake. i want to take a side trip to gruyere to go to a dairy. and eat some fondue.
the weather has just become beautiful. and basically nothing has yet to change my positive feelings about this city. i may be coming from a skewed opinion because i love what i'm studying, despite sometimes disagreeing with speakers and the non-stop negative feelings we've been developing about the international system, and i love the people i'm surrounded by. most inspiring is the fact that all the students here are as inspired and determined as i am that we can make a difference. when the palestinian ambassador to the u.n. spoke to us last week, probably the best words he left us with were about the difference that our generation will get to make. we just have to seize the opportunities and truly believe that the sky is the limit.
one of my classmates is an llm student named kathleen. she lives in portland and has three kids. when we were in the hague she met with one of her greatest role models, a female judge on the icj (who may be elected the next high commissioner for human rights) and was offered a temporary job. kathleen is an international law junkie and serves as an incredible inspiration. even with a family, she is still able to be in the forefront of international human rights law. and she fulfills my belief that as long as you remain true to yourself and your dreams, your path will unfold before you.
sometimes i freak out that there is too much for me to do in my lifetime, especially when i want to have a family. but when i look at kathleen i'm assured that it will all work out.
last night we had a pizza and beer party. it was much fun. now that many of us have been together for close to 5 wks, we've all become pretty close, despite the natural separations during "freetime." we also played 5 v. 5 soccer before dinner. it's quite possible i sprained my toe. it's okay since my team won and i actually scored/assisted a few goals. all of the euro 2008 stuff really makes me miss field hocky and competitive sports. perhaps my fh hiatus is soon to end...
tomorrow after my oral exam we are going to montreau, i.e. the swiss riviera, on lake geneva and to chateau chillon. this weekend geneva is hosting a music festival. here is the website http://www.ville-ge.ch/culture/fm/. and on saturday, susi is coming in from lyon to go to lausanne, also a village on the lake. i want to take a side trip to gruyere to go to a dairy. and eat some fondue.
the weather has just become beautiful. and basically nothing has yet to change my positive feelings about this city. i may be coming from a skewed opinion because i love what i'm studying, despite sometimes disagreeing with speakers and the non-stop negative feelings we've been developing about the international system, and i love the people i'm surrounded by. most inspiring is the fact that all the students here are as inspired and determined as i am that we can make a difference. when the palestinian ambassador to the u.n. spoke to us last week, probably the best words he left us with were about the difference that our generation will get to make. we just have to seize the opportunities and truly believe that the sky is the limit.
one of my classmates is an llm student named kathleen. she lives in portland and has three kids. when we were in the hague she met with one of her greatest role models, a female judge on the icj (who may be elected the next high commissioner for human rights) and was offered a temporary job. kathleen is an international law junkie and serves as an incredible inspiration. even with a family, she is still able to be in the forefront of international human rights law. and she fulfills my belief that as long as you remain true to yourself and your dreams, your path will unfold before you.
sometimes i freak out that there is too much for me to do in my lifetime, especially when i want to have a family. but when i look at kathleen i'm assured that it will all work out.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
honey, i'm home.
this morning i awoke with "as i went out one morning" stuck in my head. weird.
on friday, after our exam we went biking along lake geneva. we stopped at the botanical garden for a picnic and then at the lakeshore. it was so relaxing. the relaxation continued yesterday, when some of us took an hour long boat tour on the lake and then another boat to the medieval village of yvoire. (unfortunately, it was the one day i forgot my camera. ugh.) this morning i went to church for pentecost. the church is so beautiful. words can't even express it.
i think i've found where i want to live.
on friday, after our exam we went biking along lake geneva. we stopped at the botanical garden for a picnic and then at the lakeshore. it was so relaxing. the relaxation continued yesterday, when some of us took an hour long boat tour on the lake and then another boat to the medieval village of yvoire. (unfortunately, it was the one day i forgot my camera. ugh.) this morning i went to church for pentecost. the church is so beautiful. words can't even express it.
i think i've found where i want to live.
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