Getting the Hang of Things

Bonjour! That's still one of about 6 French words that I can speak now. I also know how to ask for tap water, because as I mentioned in my previous post, normal water costs money. So, in case you're interested, "Tap water, please," is "l'eau de robinet, s'il vous plaît."
So fascinating. Anyway, not many things have changed since my last post. I completed my first week of school and have become quite proficient in all forms of public transportation, including being able to read military time. I'm never going to make fun of people for being exhausted after a day of work, because after my 9-5 days of school, I can't wait to go to bed at 10 o'clock.
Last week we went to the UN, if you saw my Facebook picture, and got our "official passes," which is fancy way of saying we can use the library, attend various conferences, and eat in the cafeteria. But, it's pretty neat, I have to admit. I still don't think I can fully grasp that I'm in a place of such international importance, but I'm very excited for our guest lectures from a few of the UN diplomats and to get more involved with the organization. It's also the cheapest place to eat lunch... international grounds means no tax :)
In case you didn't see my picture, here is a small group of us in front of the UN:

Just a couple of nerds on a lunch break! Actually, we had to do a research project at the ICRC across the street, which is the Red Cross World Headquarters. Not a joke, the security to get into that library is way more intense than all security into the UN.
After just completing our first weekend on our own, I would have to say it was successful! In Nyon, the last bus leaves to come to my apartment at 11:58 from the transit center, so if we stay in town, that is as late as my nights will ever go. Not trying to walk by myself down any dark alleys on the way home. Anyway, we went out on Friday for a little bit in Nyon, and although I couldn't socialize myself as I cannot communicate with anyone, my friend Azline speaks fluent French and very much enjoys the locals. I am just her wingman (woman)!
Yesterday was a fantastic day. My host family had recommended that we travel to Gruyère, a place in the Alps with a picturesque castle, and known for its fondue and mineral baths. I don't know why anyone would turn that down, so at 11:10am, a few of us embarked on the two hour journey through the countryside to see what Gruyère had to offer. We were not disappointed. It was snowing, and much like Colorado, was absolutely beautiful. Our first stop was the mineral baths. My camera is not waterproof so I am adding this photo courtesy of Google:

Yeah, I'm not complaining. Imagine that with snow all around, and the baths were steaming. It was wonderful. In addition to the heated mineral baths were saunas and turkish baths. I don't know that my skin or my body have ever felt better! Then, after a stressful series of events (everywhere closes at 4 and most restaurants open at 6:30, and we were trying to eat at 5) we found a restaurant that was open and served fondue. I'm not the biggest fan of cheese, but this was phenomenal. I'm probably going to come back (definitely going to come back) a huge cheese snob. After a delicious dinner of fondue and a dessert of tiramisu ice cream and wine, we returned home, and called it a night.
Today I am actually having to do homework and apply for a few internships, and have decided I am going to need to buy a parka because I have never been this cold in my life.
That's about it!
Until next time, friends!

Things I've Learned So Far

It still hasn't actually hit me yet that I am in SWITZERLAND. I'm in another country! Halfway across the world, 7-8 hours ahead of everyone else I know. Where everyone speaks another language. But everyone is so civilized, and clean, and it's extremely diverse, much like the American cities. I feel almost as if I'm in a French speaking Chicago. It's very confusing, because literally the most stressful part of my day is when I don't have anybody at home to talk to until about 2pm my time, and trying to figure out what awesome place I'm going to go on the weekend, not really a hard life. However, many things are different here, obviously, because this is actually different country. This is what I've noticed so far:
1. Everything is clean. I'm probably going to cry the first time I have to use a public restroom in the US again, because literally everything here is spotless. The trains are clean, the busses are clean, and even the trash cans are clean. I've seen at least 10 dogs poop on the sidewalk, yet I've only seen one poop without a dog. It mysteriously disappears. I've only counted 3 pieces of garbage not in the trash can, AND I've seen someone sweeping the streets. SO CLEAN.
2. Everything has a place. At least in my homestay family, every item has a specific place that it is meant to go, and each person sits in the same chair at every meal. With the same napkin. In the bathroom, we have rags to wipe the sink and shower down after use (clean) and the rag has a specific rod to be placed on afterward. Shoes have mats, and everything has a basket or a shelf or a container.
3. Chocolate and desserts are not jokes. Instead of mints after dinner, mints are handed out instead. Each cup of coffee comes with a chocolate candy, and I swear that every other shop on the street is a pastry shop. I don't know how how these people consume as much sugar as they do, and still remain the skinniest collective group of people I've ever seen!
4. In Geneva, the cars DO NOT STOP! Jaywalking does not happen. After a few near death experiences, I now am incapable of walking across a street without a green "walk" sign... even if I can't see any cars. They'll come from somewhere, I just know it. The trains also just run through the middle of the street at high speeds, so probably just look both ways so you don't die.
5. But, in Nyon, cars come to a screeching halt to stop to let you cross the road. It's the strangest thing. Apparently, if you get caught not stopping for a pedestrian, you can get fined up to CHF 100. And today I watched a bus run over someone's foot.
6. At restaurants, asking for water does not mean that it's free, like poor people like me expect. Even though the water from the tap is wonderful and very tasty, if you ask for water at dinner, they will give you a bottle that costs at least CHF 5. No thanks, monsieur.
7. It's offensive to not eat a lot. Seriously, I don't know how they do it. My host mom is 5'1" and probably 100 lbs, and can pack away so much food, I don't understand. Her mother was in town this weekend, and even though she didn't speak English, every time I would not want seconds (or thirds or fourths...) she would get angry and say that "I ate like a little bird." I am a little bird! I am not a big bird! A person of my size can only eat so many crepes! However, the food IS delicious. If I come back morbidly obese................it was a cultural custom guys, I had to abide.
8. Apparently, there is a huge underground drug trade going on that's not so underground anymore. My host sister, who is 13, can point out everyone on the street that is a drug dealer and whether or not the police know about them. I guess that many refugees come to Geneva and surrounding areas without identification, and when the police confront them, cannot do anything about it, so the problem persists. I have not investigated the topic much further, but I do find it interesting.
9. To be on time is to be late. Aside from the buses, I have not had one person or train be late. It's very nice for consistency purposes, but on an off day when I just can't seem to make it on time... I can pretty much be certain that I will miss my train. I also can expect a phone call if I return home more than 5 minutes past the time I estimated I would be arriving.
10. Ugg boots and rain boots are not business casual.

Au revoir & grands baisers,
-Dana

Bonjour?

Hello, everyone! I apologize for not being able to update this earlier, I have received some angry Facebook messages. However, as you may have assumed, I am safe and sound in Switzerland! I also forgot my camera on the day we toured Geneva, so I snapped a few quick photos today to have something to post. 

So, I arrived without difficulty early Wednesday morning. Although I thought I was going to be embarrassed by the amount of stuff I had, I actually I have close to the smallest amount. Which, for those of you who have seen my body bag of a suitcase, is completely ridiculous. It became extremely problematic when we arrived at the Youth Hostel in Geneva, where we stayed for 3 nights, and I was sharing a room with 5 other girls and minimal, minimal floor space. Except after we moved our stuff in, there was no floor space. Nothing like tight living quarters to forge fast friendships! 

Most of the past few days have been spent in orientation sessions, discovering that all of us chose the Nazi Germany of study abroad programs. Our program is proving to be as intense as they promised! We only have 8 weeks of classes, so we have to learn a lot of things in a short amount of time. All of us have our morning class together at the SIT office (up six flights of stairs, watch out for my stellar glutes when I come back), have an hour and a half break for lunch, then will go to French class from 2-5 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We have Wednesday and Friday afternoons off. Although it will be hard and I’m not looking forward to doing an independent study project on my own for the last 4 weeks of the semester in a country where I don’t speak the language, we spend many days at the UN actually participating in international organization activities. Neat! 

Which brings me to my next point. The program description failed to mention that EVERYONE in Geneva speaks French. And many people don’t speak English. So... it’s been a little rough, as French is close to impossible to understand. AND everyone here talks extremely quietly. It’s not a joke that Americans are notoriously loud, because we’ve been traveling around in a herd of 30 for the past 3 days and have been hated by all parties on all the public transportation we have taken. But, I’m not alone. There are about six others who have had zero French background themselves, so at least I’ll have other people to learn colors and animals with. 

It’s a pretty mixed bag of people on the program, but I enjoy it! I’ve already found very good friends, I would say, Sam (picture)  especially. 

I moved in with my homestay family today! They too speak French, but English as well. The family consists of a Swiss-French mother, a 13-year old who speaks the fastest French I’ve ever heard, but also speaks English, German and Italian, and a step-father from Egypt who also speaks French and English. I’ve only been here since noon, and this post is already extremely long, so I’m going to just end now. 

I forgot my camera on the day we took the walking tour of the city, but this morning I snapped a few from the hostel window! 

your new fascination

Well, I've been told that I should start blogging and I don't think I'll ever have a better opportunity to start than with my semester abroad. I'll be living in Nyon, Switzerland and attending classes in Geneva, as well as traveling around Europe from the 17th of January to the 1st of May. If you're at all interested in what I'm doing, I'll try to make these posts as entertaining and informative as possible... so bookmark it and get ready for a great semester!