Bon Voyage--A Semester in Geneva: "There's time enough, but none to spare!"--1 month updates

So 4 weeks have come and gone--can you believe it?! I know I'm having a difficult time comprehending this awesome feat. I month ago today, I was downstairs with my 47 travel companions too tired to comprehend what was going on, sipping my first coffee of the trip, and in awe that these people in front of me would be the ones I learned to love and call my friends. Well 30 days later and while the awe is still a part of certain elements of this experience, I would have thought I had known these people for much longer than a month. One of my beliefs that has been reaffirmed on this trip is that fact that people need other people to survive and keep their sanity. We love to share stories about ourselves and in return reciprocate the time spent talking with time spent listening to other people's experiences. Additionally, at the ripe old age of 20, I have had enough encounters with people to know who I get along with well. This process is only accelerated through the frequent travel opportunities and condensed time spent with under 50 people. However, I have been pleasantly surprised by some people, who I guess I pre-judged or something to that extent, early on. I can now affirm the fact that I am a person who does like the feeling of "instability" and am quick to get comfortable with what I know. This weekend, I spent some time with people who I am now incredibly excited to get to know better and spend more time with these next several months! Like I learned in my Sociology class last quarter, only if pre-judging turns into prejudice is there a problem. You have to give people some time to surprise you and I guess that's one of the many lessons I have learned here in Geneva these past 4 weeks.

Other qualities about myself that I have reaffirmed durning my time here...

1) I LOVE to travel. Being on the go is something I really enjoy--new experiences, getting to know and love a new place and people you share these experiences with, and trying something different than I have ever done before. Travel is the basis for these new insights and I love it! Looking forward to this weekend's day trip to Lugano and especially FALL BREAK (t-minus 10 days!!) in Madrid and Marrakech!!

2) I LOVE food. Even though things were expensive initially (the exchange rate has altered in our favor in the last week or so wahooo!) we still managed to eat food we enjoyed. Even if that meant a loaf of French bread and a chunk of cheese. Also, while I do love food I need to improve my cooking skills and repertoire. Pasta gets old quickly (like within the first day) and your body really starts hating on you if you eat a chocolate bar every day of the week. Also, my affinity towards wine has grown immensely! I am no wine-o but I do enjoy a nice glass of wine. While it is hard for me to admit to this, because I feel old saying "I like wine," I recognize I am drinking cheap wine and am no connoisseur. A 4CHF wine will do for me and of course the whole "wine experience" also includes who you are sharing your bottle with. Good company overrides taste for me ANY day:)

"Les Flots Bleus" Yvoire, France

3) I LOVE new experiences. "Keep new friends but make the old" definitely holds true on this trip for me. I am missing everyone at home like crazy but have been able to suppress this sense of "missing" people due to the other amazing people who have come into my life. Whether we are trying to navigate the Swiss train system, unknowingly paying 40CHF for water at a restaurant, or romping around the Alps, new experiences shared with new friends is an UNBEATABLE experience. While I like the comfort of familiarity, pushing myself outside of that comfort zone is definitely something that builds character and a better sense of understanding myself. I am an independent person but like being surrounded by people. Going to soccer practice that first Wednesday two weeks ago really challenged me but now I LOVE going! Doing things that may kind of scare you is an important part of life and trying things completely on your own is a completely different feat on its own. However, when it's all said and done you feel good about yourself for trying something new--even if it doesn't meet your expectations, you have learned something new about yourself. And who knows, maybe it has exceeded your expectations! :)

Happy hikers on Mt. Blanc

4) I am an emotional person. While this is something I don't readily admit, after a misfortunate experience in class on Monday, I have only reaffirmed the fact that I am emotional. While I feel like I take constructive criticism well, I recognize I also take it personally. If something does not go how I expected it to, this is more with respects to school work, and I invested time in it and do not see the results I was expecting--I am not a happy camper. Maybe I don't deal well feeling like I "failed" or "disappointed" someone but tears are often my response. Something to work on perhaps, or maybe just something to embrace. I knew walking into my professor's office I would likely well-up at some point, but maybe that's not such a bad thing after all. I know myself well enough to know how I respond in situations and sometimes that's not such a bad thing. Anyways, I am emotional when it comes down to it and I recognize and have embraced this quality about myself...or am on the way to doing so.

Highlights from this week so far? Definitely our Sunday trip to Chamonix! I have posted endless pictures on facebook but similarly to Interlaken, pictures just cannot do these mountains justice! After having been sick at the end of last week and a lazy day on Saturday, the fresh Alpine air was incredible. I have literally never been that high (altitude wise, don't worry M&D:)) in my entire life! Standing at 3842 metres, or nearly 12,000 feet was mind-blowing and definitely a natural high in itself. You could look out and be directly "face en face" with Mt Blanc! Our hike and guides were hysterical and made the day even more enjoyable. The day was definitely surreal and yet another confirmation of my ALPaholic tendencies. My Monday morning visit to the Stettler Chocolate factory also has topped the charts. Incredible. Delicious. Biggest sugar rush in a while. We took the bus in the direction of the UN and got off in this industrial looking neighborhood. Upon entering the back room where the chocolate production takes place, we suited up in "snappable garbage bags,"footies, and hair nets before entering the actual room. As soon as we crossed through the doorway, my slightly stuffy nose was greeted by the delicious, warm scents of, you guessed it, chocolate! Stettler does not actually produce the cocoa bean but sells chocolate products of their chocolate brand across Switzerland, France, and Germany primarily. During the first demonstrations, we were kept silent by a sample of the liquid chocolate that fills the molds and creates the products sold and distributed by chocolate. With little spoons, so you don't just chug this liquid form of heaven, we meticulously scraped and re-scraped our glasses while Robert explained to us the tempering, molding, and producing procedures. We were treated to demonstrations of how to make chocolate flower pots, marzipan flowers, and Stettler's famous pavés, or chocolate bricks, that are meant to represent the cobblestones and bricks of Old Town. During these demonstrations we were treated to samples of these pavés, which literally started to melt as soon as you touched them!, and dark and milk chocolates (plain and with rice krispies inside). Needless to say we were a quiet but satisfied audience. We learned more about the history and process of chocolate production and had the opportunity to ask about Robert's training experience etc. Lets just say, I'm ready to start my 3 years of training ASAP! Probably one of the best Monday mornings I have ever had. Pictures to follow:)

View from Aiguille de Midi (3842m)

Mountains beyond mountains

I am still happy as a clam here in Geneva and am looking forward to continuing my exploration of this country--as well as a few others along the way:) Even with a minor bump in the road this week, I am still looking at things in a positive light and trying to re-vamp my motivation these finals days of Part 1 of the academic time here in Geneva. I still cannot believe phase 1 is starting to wind up already. I am definitely not a fan of the emails we have received indicating our "part 2" activities, which include our Farewell Cocktail party...but it's time to continue living in the present and continue enjoying every day I have here!

Things I am looking forward to?

1) Being done with Art History.

2) FALL BREAK! Madrid and Marrakech with the girls and exploring Switz with Danny!

3) Seeing Casey and Liz in Madrid! Essentially ALL of SCU is meeting up in Munich for Oktoberfest this weekend (except for Liz and me) so getting a Santa Clara fix in a week and a half will be very exciting to say the least. Refer to #4 of the "things I have learned" and I think that will sum up the reunion.

4) This weekend's day trip to Lugano! Bekah (friend from home, one of Andrew's best friends from high school) went to school there for 2 years and Andrew visited her his Sophomore year at Brown. Cannot wait to finally see the town especially since they are hosting a Harvest Festival this weekend!

5) Mom and Paula's visit at the end of October. Perfect timing for another taste of home in Geneva:) Who doesn't love seeing their Mom and getting to show family around a place you have grown to love so much?!

Much love from Geneva:) xx