Adventures in Europe, Part II

Yes, I know it’s been a while. I’m sorry. My program is keeping me super busy. So, since my rather long rant about Palin’s interview, I have:

Gone to Geneva! This is now my second visit to the city, and I still don’t feel I’ve seen much of it. We were in Geneva for approximately 26 hours, including 5 meetings, sleeping, a long IES-sponsored meal of fondue, and a search to find lunch at a reasonable price. That last bit was tougher than you might think. A burger at Burger King costs 14 francs, or about $12.50.

I spent much of my time in Geneva at the UN, where we met with a press secretary who gave (or, ahem, tried to) give an overview of the structure, a representative from the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the French ambassador to the UN, a rep from the High Commissioner for Refugees, and a press secretary from the WTO. Meeting with people whose job is to deliver info sessions like these is frustrating. We’re all here because we’re studying the EU, and to only be given basic, easily-googlable information and to not have our specific questions answered defeats the purpose of this program. Our speaker from the HC for Refugees, however, was amazing. He had served in the field for several years and gave us so many specific examples from his personal experiences. I left feeling like I had a better appreciation for the complexity of human rights work and refugees. The sense of lacking, however, might be somewhat indicative of the UN as an institution. It sounds like such a beautiful idea on paper, and, like most people, I want for it to achieve some of its goals. However, reality sets in, and political considerations interfere, and suddenly you have a lot of well-intentioned people who’ve been castrated. This is something I had always heard during the realism vs. liberalism discussions in IR or US Foreign Relations, but I think I really am beginning to experience why realism works (or, I suppose, why liberalism fails… I’m not sure I’ll call realism a huge success at the moment), whereas I was always more inclined to aspire to the lofty ideals of liberalism while reading. (Do you hear that, Palin? You DO learn while abroad.) In any case, I’m still 20, so I naturally still want to try to make the world a more cooperative, friendly environment. Is that not what youth is for?

Gone to the Alps! I signed up for the group trip to go hiking in the Alps, without thinking that maybe it was silly to pay 30 euros to do what I did for free all last semester. This feeling was compounded when they told us to bring an additional 16 euros to take the cable car up. (Have I mentioned Switzerland is expensive??) All my friends were going, however, so I was still excited when I put on all my hiking gear. When we got on the bus, however, they told us that it had snowed, then melted a little, then frozen over, so they were not allowing hikers on the trail we were going to go on. Instead, they took us to Truebsee, an adorable little lake with some trails around it. About 30 20-year-olds then proceeded to have an hour-long snowball fight. I’ve never really been in one before, and I found I really enjoyed it. Except when I got beaned in the head with a huge snowball (thanks, Bradley), or hit in the butt from at least 20 yards behind me- twice! (Thanks, Warren.)

Then they felt bad for not giving us our money’s worth, so they took us to Luzern. That’s Lucerne for all you silly anglophones. Unfortunately, I had NO CAMERA and was dressed in hiking gear. It was a cute, albeit pricey little city that is known for its covered bridges and for having a view of the Matterhorn, which apparently isn’t just a Disneyland ride. Who knew?

I told my German roommate that I felt self-conscious every time well-dressed European women would look me up and down, and she assured me it was ok because I was probably more comfortable. As you probably know, I wasn’t convinced. She then told me, “We actually went hiking today, only it was in a car. That’s my kind of hiking.”

Drowned in a sea of work and otherwise settled in: France taught me the terrible lesson that one need not work while abroad. So when I have classes that give me reading, my reaction is something along the lines of, “Excuse me, I think you must have this course confused with another…” I have no idea how I’m going to react to being back in Claremont when I’m already reluctant to read 60 pages a week for a class. But, to be fair, I do have some reason to complain. For example, I have 3 essays due the week after my Eastern Europe trip…

I still enjoy my roommates. I wish CMC would be more open to the idea of letting students live in apartments with local students where necessary. CMC has the rule that if the program offers homestays, you need to take it. I think I’m starting to feel more of a kinship with Germany, however, because I am in an apartment. When you are with people your own age and who are also in the situation of having been thrown in an apartment together, you’re more likely to forge a substantive connection. While living with a family can be a really worthwhile experience, it could also backfire because families are less permeable than sets of flatmates. I felt oftentimes like I observed France, but I feel like I live here. If only I had less work and could enjoy it more… One roommate passed an import med school exam today, and they’re celebrating. But I’m not because I have work (which means I’m blogging instead.)

Booked two trips to Spain! I’m going to Majorca! And Barcelona! I’m SO excited. Especially since Spain is supposed to be much cheaper, and that is a much welcome break from Switzerland. Though I must say, I could easily see myself living in Geneva if paid appropriately…

To conclude, I am off to Eastern Europe soon. Four countries with four currencies in 9 days. Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Prague, Czech Republic; and Krakow, Poland. I love how I am crossing off so many cities from my own Bucket List during this semester. It’s presenting an interesting conundrum though. I’m spending so little time, and I find myself wondering that, if given the opportunity, should I return and try to get a deeper understanding, or should I go somewhere new? In any case, I know I must come back at some point because it’s looking like I won’t make it down to Italy this semester, and Rome-Florence-Venice have always been must-sees. I just have to work on that pesky little money thing, first.

Once again, realism squashes my lofty dreams.