I am officially old. Had I not chosen to study in the US, I would probably be engaged now and working in some boring law firm in Santo Domingo. Life would be simple, easy, and certain. But I chose the US and this weekend I turned 23 in Geneva, with what little family I have in all of Europe and with my boyfriend. I must say, one year ago I would have never guessed I would spend this birthday in Europe. It has indeed been an exciting path and I’m happy I took it. The time is also coming to think ahead: after Strasbourg, after the summer, after senior year. God, it’s all happening so fast and every step taken can determine where I will be in the future.
What better way to celebrate it than visiting a possible Grad school? Since I was in Geneva, I took the opportunity to visit a Graduate Institute of International Studies and Development. I also went to museums: Ariana and the Red Cross. The Red Cross is really something to see, it is a complete documentation of the organization’s existence. With videos, pictures, recordings, etc., you can feel how the Red Cross has really been everywhere, in every crisis, every war, and every disaster relief operation. It was really touching, so if you are ever in Geneva, Go!
Saturday we went to Charmonix, again. It is a very touristic town because it is the closest town to Mont Blanc. So it is just full of restaurants and souvenir stores, I am not sure I like it so much and I’m pretty sure that the French living there do NOT appreciate being part of a theatre show. In any case, you have to visit it because Mont Blanc will surround your view when you are there. Unless of course you ski, then you can go all the way up to the mountain. I don’t skii, so I settle for Charmonix.
I spent the rest of the weekend at my boyfriend’s aunt’s house in Thonon, a French town close to Geneva. I am happy to have seen that part of France, because it really fits the stereotype of la Provence in France, something that Alsace certainly does not because there is too much German influence in all its cities. But Thonon is just lovely. The saucisson…the milk…the breads…it is the heart of the French countryside; the perfect getaway from the real world, just 45 minutes away from Geneva.
Now I’m back in Strasbourg. Another two weeks of work, class, work, class, until the next break. Countdown…
