Fondue Swiss Style

Yesterday I attended a conference about "Renewing the Western Community." It was put on by Webster and mediated by a professor here. They had some great speakers from all over the globe. My favorite part was the conclusion when the mediator, a Hungarian immigrant to the US, and now professor here, went on a tangent and pretty much attacked everyone sitting around him. He had the Japanese ambassador to his right and a Swiss professor to his left and I quote "Europeans and the Japanese need to be more like the Americans." It was hilarious.

(skate ramp in Plain Palais.)

After getting home from the conference, we quickly changed and met up with everyone for our dinner reservations at 8. It was a busy restaurant not far from our apartments in Plain Palais. We ordered 6 pots of fondue!! Some steak and some cheese. I haven't eaten steak since I've been here and it was delicious! I miss meat!

The meat is brought out raw and cooked in the oil in front of you.

Over-indulgence :)

The group from Tomasso's POV

We all over-indulged and enjoyed ourselves. It was AMAZING! Everything got eaten :) The restaurant owners were Italian so we finished the meal with a round of limoncellos. Soo good.

Megan, Roberto and Me

Afterward we went to Cafe De La Presse and had drinks. It turned into an interesting night with a group of dancing men surrounding my chair in the middle of the floor and another shirtless man dancing on the bar. Imagine a classy wine bar with dark wood and church pews for seating. Not what I expected from the night, but fun either way!

xoxo
A

Quarter Century Club

Yesterday I turned 25! I'm officially a quarter century old now. It was a busy day with lots of discussion of IR and a little bit of celebrating :)

I spent the morning in a lecture on the WTO and ICTSD (International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development). It was interesting hearing another point of view of the ag business (not the only thing they talked about but what I found the most interesting). I had to write and ask my mother about subsidies for farmers after that topic was brought up. So if any of you farmers want to give me the other point of view, feel welcome! International trade doesn't look too highly on them. Understandably, no one else wants the US to be self-sustaining.

In the afternoon I attended a NATO workshop. The Italian speaker, Antonella Cerasino is the head of the Public Diplomacy Division. She was an excellent speaker and gave a good overview of NATO's role in today's Post-Cold War era. (It doesn't sound that interesting but it was, I swear!) Afterward, the mediator had students give their opinion of NATO. He chose students from the US, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Africa, Russia, Ukraine and Brazil. Each gave their biased opinions of their nations. The Russian and Ukrainian opinions from two blonde haired skinny girls were both stereotypical of the Eastern view of NATO.

The evening was spent in class with our 80 year old Iranian professor that shows VHS! I haven't seen a VHS in years. It's amazing. But he is really a fascinating man. He is the former Director of the Third Political Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Former Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Iran to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva. His teaching style is a bit bland at times but if you get him on a tangent he will talk forever.

Finally, at about 11 o'clock I made it back to Geneva from campus and headed to a bar with about 10 friends to celebrate! We had a good time and headed home to stay up and listen to Italian music in the kitchen, of course with the Italian singing along.

Tonight the plan is to go out for a Swiss fondue dinner!

Better get back to the last conference of the week. Just heard a speech from the ambassador of Singapore. Cute little man :)

until next time

xoxo,
A

Clash of Cultures, In a Good Way

Inspired by a deep conversation with my mother over Skype. I thought you would all find it interesting the new neighbors and friends I have met since I've been in Geneva. Webster in Europe caters to a different crowd than in the States. Many of the students are sons and daughters of ambassadors, royalty, and even one of the fourteen judges at The Hague! (his son coincidentally failed International Law... so I guess he didn't take after his father's footsteps)

On my floor alone here in Geneva, there are students from Peru, Libya, Bahrain, Lebanon, Germany, Britain, Nigeria, South Africa, Trinidad, America, and a few other nationalities. Most of us share a community kitchen which happens to be where I've had some of my favorite conversations and meals :) including Afghani tea, Nigerian spicy chicken and Lebanese deserts. It is definitely a clash of cultures, but in this setting there are no wars, only new friendships over loose-leaf tea and baklavah.

My new friend Ayoob from Afghanistan, has opened my eyes to a different way of thought. He is a fullbright scholar and ex-Afghan soldier. His English is amazing and has spent almost a year in Northern California for studies. His story is amazing... One of his brothers was killed fighting the Soviets years ago and he still carries his Koran with him. I've heard his stories of the wars he's fought and the pride he takes in being a soldier. His Muslim beliefs give him a different view of women where women can do no wrong and a man should never say no to her. (this is my understanding, not Islamic law) His ideas for Afghanistan's development are much different than that of Obama's plan, hopefully we can get it right. I've realized that even if I don't agree with everything he says and believes in, I can learn a lot from listening to him as well as enjoy a new friendship.

My neighbor is a member of the royal family in Bahrain, Al Khalifa. She is actually one of two members of the family in the building.

Agada, my Nigerian neighbor has told of his father's four wives and family of over one hundred people. We asked him if he wanted four wives and didn't think it would be a good idea with this economy the way it is right now.

I've been exposed to Italian superstitions, Mexican music, French films, Romanian dances, Balkan slang, South African tea, Czech folklore and countless other experiences and firsts. I wish every one could have these conversations that open you up to another part of the world. It truly changes perspectives on what it means to be an American, a Catholic, and anything else you thought didn't need to be questioned.

Here are some pictures of my amazing new friends

Girls with Vlad, our Romanian Dance Coach!

A night out in Vienna with my Balkan loves :)

Halloween! (An American holiday, but we found the other ex-pats in Geneva!)

King's Arms in Old Town, Geneva

Geneve!

This weekend I took a walking tour of Geneva, my new home for the next 2 months. It is such a beautiful city. Right now the fall colors are bright and wonderful. Here's a few photos of the day.

Chess Game in the park.

I love fall.

Old Town

Lake Geneva

After exploring all afternoon, my classmate Steve and I stopped for a drink and met some Swiss guys and ended up talking to them for several hours. It was amazing conversation with another IR student from the University of Geneva and a Swiss watch maker! After being told that there are few people truly from Geneva, Steve and I found some that were interesting and fun! Discussing foreign policy and getting French lessons over drinks is always a good time :)

xoxo,
A