So first let me apologize for stinking at this updating game...but this time it wasn't just laziness. I had a midterm on Thursday that I was studying my butt off for. Promise :)
Last weekend, Jim, Dayna, Carlin, and I ventured off to Geneva, Switzerland. What a fantastic city...I'm ready to find a job with the UN and just move there. I think we tried to do just about everything and succeeded. We stayed at City Hostel near the train station, which was really nice. After getting in on Friday mid-morning, we went off to find Lake Geneva and le jet d'eau. So beautiful...and you can see the jet from just about everywhere. After lunch, we wandered up Rue France toward the Place de Nations to see the Landmine Chair...annnd play in our first fountain of the weekend. We also saw the UNHCR monument to people lost in their missions, stumbled upon the World Intellectual Property Organization, which had beautiful grounds (and more fountains), and the Ariana Museum of Ceramics and Glass (also had a fountain). Then we headed up to Old Town, which is absolutely adorable. Because of the way Geneva is set into a hill the roads are narrow and all over the place. So we wondered for a bit and discovered the Reformation Wall as well as the life-sized checker/chess boards on le Promenade des Bastions. Jim and I played a game of checkers with the help of a crazy Swiss man. That night we headed to the Paquis Bath for fondue on a jette in the lake for dinner. Soooo delicious and the best view. We ended the evening at Lord Jims Pub.
Saturday, we got up and went watch shopping. (What else would you do in Switzerland!?) Jim and I both bought Tissot watches :) After that, we went to St. Pierre's Cathedral and climbed the towers there. Absolutely amazing. You could see forever. Then we went down to the archaeological dig that is underneath the cathedral. It was preserved for display really well and was very interesting. The site was religiously important since before the Roman Empire. After that, we took a boat ride (for free with our complementary transit passes) across the lake toward the hostel for lunch. After lunch, we rode the 8 bus to the end and crossed the boarder into France to go up a cable car to Mont Seleve. The view from the top was again amazing (you could still see the jet d'eau), and fall was everywhere. We also got to see some guys para-gliding which was cool. After that we returned for a brief nap and then headed to a Swiss restaurant for dinner, which was delicious. We returned to Lord Jim's to watch the end of the France v England rugby match, which England miraculously won. That night, we wandered along Lake Geneva with a bottle of wine and just enjoyed the atmosphere.
Sunday, we headed back up toward the UN and went to the Red Cross/Red Crescent museum. The museum was really good and eye opening. After that we went back to the lake to find lunch and found a festival of some sort going on. We were able to get a really good sausage for lunch for only 6 francs! After that, we went to the UN which was by far my favorite part (of course). The tour was really good, and while we were in le Palais de Nations we could see Mont Blanc waaaaaaaaaaay off in the distance. The hall in the original League of Nations building was so ornate and beautiful, and the gifts from all the member states were interesting. After our tour, we went back to the lake for one last boat ride and then it was off to the airport to go home.
I really liked Geneva and the whole atmosphere there. I definitely wouldn't complain if I could get a UN job there.
This week was good too. I worked both days (go figure!) and got some guidance on the briefing note that I'm writing. We had the Law midterm on Thursday, which I studied intensely for. But I think it went well. Next and last is the Econ one on Monday. Wish me luck.... I'm in Leuven this weekend though, so I have no excuse to not study...
That's it for this week!!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
hmm...what to say...I know it's Thursday already again, but sometimes I just can't make myself sit down and type.
The last week and a half have been pretty routine...Classes and back to my internship last week and this week (well sort of, but more on that in a minute).
Last week, I was still coughing, so the sent me home at noon on Tuesday. But that day I found some cough syrup so I was able to go in on Wednesday. Gundars outlined what they see me doing in my time there, which is more research and writing the background for a report to the Environmental Committee. So while I'm not excited that I get to spend my days mostly in front of a computer, I am excited that what I'm working on will eventually be presented and used in the European Parliament.
Over the weekend, I had no set plans so Liz and I went to Brugge for Saturday. It was such a cute city. (Once again, check out the pictures.) It seemed everywhere we turned there were lace and chocolate shops. The city is criss-crossed with canals, so we took a boat ride which was sooo nice. We also toured the Choco-story chocolate museum and visited Michelangelo's Madonna and Child which is in the biggest cathedral in Brugge. It's one of the few of his statues that left Italy in his lifetime. And it is absolutely beautiful. It's so amazing that stone can be carved into something so intricate, detailed, and life-like. We also saw their Markt and Burg.
This week we had our History midterm on Monday, so I had spent most of Sunday studying. It went alright, but we probably won't get grades until after break Dr. Malone said. On Monday, Chris from my internship called and told me that I didn't need to come in on Tuesday because both she and Gundars were ill. I actually still went in and sat in on some meetings that interested me, including an exchange of views with the Armenian Foreign Minister. After lunch, I wandered around Brussels to some of the areas I hadn't seen yet. So just kind of a relaxing day. I didn't get another phone call from Chris, so I assumed that I was going in on Wednesday. So when I got there it looked like no one had been in since last week. I waited for awhile, then called Chris to make sure I was supposed to be there, and she said yes, Gundars would be in. So I waited...and waited...and waited. No Gundars. It was lunchtime by that time, so I left a note with my cell number and told him I was going to lunch and then to watch Plenary. I never received a call, and I left right from Plenary at 6pm. Soooo I'm assuming he never came in either. But oh well at that point. And I had wanted to watch Plenary because it's the only one held in Brussels while we are there. It was interesting at first and then just turned into everyone stating the same position over and over again for two hours. And they really didn't get to the item on the agenda that I had wanted to hear. But it was a good thing to hear.
And that brings us to today. We had Law this morning and then Margaret called a History class for this afternoon since SHE had canceled one earlier...grr. It's not my fault she couldn't make it before! I don't appreciate being told only a half hour before class that we are having it, and it is not fair that some people had already left for the weekend. I don't approve.
This weekend we are headed to Geneva! Check back for that tale and more pictures :)
The last week and a half have been pretty routine...Classes and back to my internship last week and this week (well sort of, but more on that in a minute).
Last week, I was still coughing, so the sent me home at noon on Tuesday. But that day I found some cough syrup so I was able to go in on Wednesday. Gundars outlined what they see me doing in my time there, which is more research and writing the background for a report to the Environmental Committee. So while I'm not excited that I get to spend my days mostly in front of a computer, I am excited that what I'm working on will eventually be presented and used in the European Parliament.
Over the weekend, I had no set plans so Liz and I went to Brugge for Saturday. It was such a cute city. (Once again, check out the pictures.) It seemed everywhere we turned there were lace and chocolate shops. The city is criss-crossed with canals, so we took a boat ride which was sooo nice. We also toured the Choco-story chocolate museum and visited Michelangelo's Madonna and Child which is in the biggest cathedral in Brugge. It's one of the few of his statues that left Italy in his lifetime. And it is absolutely beautiful. It's so amazing that stone can be carved into something so intricate, detailed, and life-like. We also saw their Markt and Burg.
This week we had our History midterm on Monday, so I had spent most of Sunday studying. It went alright, but we probably won't get grades until after break Dr. Malone said. On Monday, Chris from my internship called and told me that I didn't need to come in on Tuesday because both she and Gundars were ill. I actually still went in and sat in on some meetings that interested me, including an exchange of views with the Armenian Foreign Minister. After lunch, I wandered around Brussels to some of the areas I hadn't seen yet. So just kind of a relaxing day. I didn't get another phone call from Chris, so I assumed that I was going in on Wednesday. So when I got there it looked like no one had been in since last week. I waited for awhile, then called Chris to make sure I was supposed to be there, and she said yes, Gundars would be in. So I waited...and waited...and waited. No Gundars. It was lunchtime by that time, so I left a note with my cell number and told him I was going to lunch and then to watch Plenary. I never received a call, and I left right from Plenary at 6pm. Soooo I'm assuming he never came in either. But oh well at that point. And I had wanted to watch Plenary because it's the only one held in Brussels while we are there. It was interesting at first and then just turned into everyone stating the same position over and over again for two hours. And they really didn't get to the item on the agenda that I had wanted to hear. But it was a good thing to hear.
And that brings us to today. We had Law this morning and then Margaret called a History class for this afternoon since SHE had canceled one earlier...grr. It's not my fault she couldn't make it before! I don't appreciate being told only a half hour before class that we are having it, and it is not fair that some people had already left for the weekend. I don't approve.
This weekend we are headed to Geneva! Check back for that tale and more pictures :)
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Rain, rain go away...
So apparently I have fans clamoring for an update...this one's for you Laura...haha.
The weeks in Leuven are usually pretty quiet. We had class on Monday and Thursday, and a makeup Econ class on Friday. I didn't intern because it was plenary week for Parliament, so everyone was in Strasbourg. Classes are going fine...midterms start next week, which is kind of scary. I'm glad our Econ professor is back from his conferences...he's hilarious and I'm really liking economics more and more (as long as I don't have to do the calculus behind the graphs).
After I came back from Dublin, I got a pretty nasty head cold, so that made this weekend pretty relaxing too as I tried to recuperate. I'm almost better now (all that's left is a pain in the ass cough). So on Friday and Sunday, I stayed in Leuven and worked on research for work. My roommates were also in Paris for the weekend, so I got to enjoy some space and peace and quiet.
But on Saturday, Carlin, Liz and I used our GoPasses and headed to Antwerp, the diamond capital of the world, about an hour away by train. Unfortunately, the rain never really let up like it was supposed to, so it was a rather soggy trip. It was still really pretty there though. We saw the Cathedral of Our Lady which is home to many of Peter Paul Rubens' famous paintings. The cathedral itself is magnificent as well. I don't really understand the whole Catholic faith, but they sure good at building enormous, gorgeous churches. After the cathedral, we wandered around their Grote Markt, admired the really cool fountain in the middle, headed down toward the Scheldt River, and then wandered through the very very extensive shopping district (both affordable and not so affordable sections). It was a really nice city, and maybe one day when it's not raining, I'll get a chance to go back and appreciate it even more.
That's all for this weeks adventures, please tune in next time for more :)
The weeks in Leuven are usually pretty quiet. We had class on Monday and Thursday, and a makeup Econ class on Friday. I didn't intern because it was plenary week for Parliament, so everyone was in Strasbourg. Classes are going fine...midterms start next week, which is kind of scary. I'm glad our Econ professor is back from his conferences...he's hilarious and I'm really liking economics more and more (as long as I don't have to do the calculus behind the graphs).
After I came back from Dublin, I got a pretty nasty head cold, so that made this weekend pretty relaxing too as I tried to recuperate. I'm almost better now (all that's left is a pain in the ass cough). So on Friday and Sunday, I stayed in Leuven and worked on research for work. My roommates were also in Paris for the weekend, so I got to enjoy some space and peace and quiet.
But on Saturday, Carlin, Liz and I used our GoPasses and headed to Antwerp, the diamond capital of the world, about an hour away by train. Unfortunately, the rain never really let up like it was supposed to, so it was a rather soggy trip. It was still really pretty there though. We saw the Cathedral of Our Lady which is home to many of Peter Paul Rubens' famous paintings. The cathedral itself is magnificent as well. I don't really understand the whole Catholic faith, but they sure good at building enormous, gorgeous churches. After the cathedral, we wandered around their Grote Markt, admired the really cool fountain in the middle, headed down toward the Scheldt River, and then wandered through the very very extensive shopping district (both affordable and not so affordable sections). It was a really nice city, and maybe one day when it's not raining, I'll get a chance to go back and appreciate it even more.
That's all for this weeks adventures, please tune in next time for more :)
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