On the days when I do research, I usually hole up in the UN library. Everyone there is so serious; they all wear suits and ties while reading important-looking documents and pouring over thick, leather-bound international law books. It definitely motivates me to get off Facebook.
The landscaping at the UN building is also gorgeous, so when I need a study break, I spend time just walking around the grounds:
I've also been taking a lot of hikes around my neighborhood in the Alps. Springtime has made everything so beautiful. Although sometimes you have to ignore the smell of cow pies and manure, because there are cows everywhere now.
Now, as I noted in a "fun fact" post before, the president is not a very big deal here. As my host mom put it, "he takes the train to work just like everyone else." No special treatment, no nothing. The president is also a rotating position, so it changes every year and most Swiss people can't even keep track of who the current one is.
So, the reception in town for the president was about equal in scale to a mayor's reception in the U.S. Actually, Mayor Bloomberg or Mayor Menino probably have events even larger! There were no secret service agents and no barriers, so we just strolled up to the front row.
Ueli Maurer, the current president, stopped to have a nice chat with us students - apparently his wife lived in Seattle for about 4 years and he has been to the U.S. before. Then we posed for a picture and a local reporter interviewed me about the experience. Totally surreal.
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| Posing with the pres |
After that crazy experience, we all embarked on a ship to France to take a casual day trip to the medieval city of Yvoire. It's right across the lake and very picturesque. We mostly lounged around in the sun and at gelato. All in all, time well spent.
That's about all to report for now though. Back to work for me!
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