WOW. As much as I do not like to face the reality that this is the truth, we have 7 weeks left and I can say without a doubt they are going to fly. While this past week was challenging in terms of getting into the swing of an internship work week, getting up early and wanting to go to bed early too, finding time to visit with people after work, etc. it truly did fly by. Friday was definitely an epiphany kind of day--I attended a work meeting where I could understand the witty yet scholarly "work" jokes, I was assigned my first "big" project along with another intern during a meeting with one of my supervisors, and all that was asked of me truly made sense and I felt like I had a purpose and could finally meaningfully contribute to office affairs. The assignment I will be working on all next week includes performing a systematic review of adolescent friendly health services and compiling information into a document that will be sent to the Regional Office in Bangkok and used as a scholarly article. WOW again. I think it finally sank in that a lot of the work that will be asked of me does play a part, however large or small, to the WHO and to addressing the needs of adolescent health. Who would of thought I would have such an incredible opportunity at the ripe old age of 20?! All in all, week 1=success. Definitely getting into the groove of office life and starting to see where I will truly be contributing.
The work week couldn't have ended more beautifully. My supervisor (who is the best!) sent us home early to enjoy the amazing fall weather we were treated to yesterday. I somehow rangled up enough motivation to go for a run--something that is hard to do when it is as brisk as it has been, but totally necessary when pastries have been consumed at work every day this week. While it was freezing outside, I loved every second of my run. The sun was beginning to set, the air was crisp, and the leaves crunched beneath my feet as I purposefully crunched on as many of them as possible as I ran down by the lake. Anyone paying any attention to me as I ran must of thought my stutter steps or extended strides looked ridiculous as I made sure to crunch on the crunchiest looking leaves:) As I turned back by Geneve Plage, I had decided it was necessary to turn back a little earlier than I would have liked seeing as I couldn't feel my rear end, bottom lip, or hands, the trees were beginning to turn dark as the sky became brilliant with light. The mountains were sillhouted in the pink/orange glow of sunset. The Jet d'Eau's water glistened as it came cascading down and the 6 visible airplane's jetstreams looked like shooting stars in the sky--taking off and landing at the Geneva Airport. It was one of those "movie moments" when an amazing song blared on my iPod and I soaked in the true beauty of where I am living. I couldn't help but smile as I made my way back home, following the lakeside path on a gorgeous Friday night. I remember thinking in my head "pourquoi pas" or "why not" as I purposefully went out of my way to crunch leaves, take another glimpse of the sunset reflecting on the lake, and reflected on my first week at the WHO. Maybe it was in this beautiful moment that these revelations came to mind but I seriously couldn't think of a better way to approach these last 7 weeks abroad. Why not? Why not go out tonight and explore Geneva's nightlife even if I'm tired from a long week at work? Why not go to the vineyards Sunday even if I have a write-up to do and an article to read? Why not give my internship tasks my all? Etc. etc. etc. Hopefully I can maintain this attitude, especially in terms of motivating myself in the work place!, and carry it back home with me in December:) I don't know if any of that made sense to anyone else but me, nonetheless wanted to share...even if it sounds kind of dorky! Why not, right? :)
Why not? Terrific post, Lindsey.
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