On Saturday, one of my friends, who happens to have a car, suggested that we go somewhere. In our very prepared way we decided to go to Annecy. However, none of us thought about finding directions or even having a map. So, we decided to do the next best thing: just drive. We left about 3 in the afternoon, with the promise of rain from the weatherman, with no idea how to get to Annecy. As we left the house we saw a sign that said : Evian, this way. With that small sign our plans changed. We decide to go to Evian instead. As you may, or may not, know Evian water comes from a town in France on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva in English). We drove the 30 or so kilometres to Evian. (With a stop in a small French bakery for a baguette and a Swedish sandwich). The whole trip was rather beautiful. It is amazing to think that I can on a whim just decide to spend a Saturday afternoon driving around the French countryside.
We found the "source" of Evian water, we wandered around the small town a bit, had a picnic of the bread and cheese that we bought in a "fromagerie" that smelled of feet, as all good cheese shops should. We also sat in a small cafe and drank coffee and ate crepes. The weather, obligingly, was warm and sunny. (The weathermen were decidedly wrong, as they usually are here in Geneva. They had predicted a cold, rainy weekend. Instead, we had very warm weather with little to no rain. It was actually a gorgeous weekend.) Our spur of the moment tip to Evian was worth it.
As for work, I am still working on Student World. I am spending a lot of time going through old articles. Some of them are fascinating. Some are boring. Some are racist - although I am judging them by my very post-modern deconstructionist standard. Some are laughable. It is a joy to read these articles and see what people in my Federation thought so long ago. Very interesting.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday and no where to go
I am planning a trip to Cannes. (I spent the academic year 2007-2008 there) I was planning on going July 10, but then due to some reasons I thought that date might not work. So I talked to my friends and we thought (for about 2 days) that we would go this weekend. I got my hopes all up and I got all excited! Now we are back to the original date. I guess I have to wait to two weeks before I can actually go!
In between I am going to do quite a lot. I am going to the UNESCO Conference on Higher Education in Paris. I am sort of excited about it. I am glad to be going to Paris. It's such a wonderful city, but I don't know enough about the conference yet to be too excited. I have started my research. It is a long process. Luckily I have about a week to finish it. I think it will be tiring. I also do not know anyone in Paris, except for my fellow intern that is going with me. I am glad we are going together. I am also working rather hard on Student World. It would be nice if I could get it all finished before I go to Paris. (By all finished, I mean the articles typed up, not done completely). That way we could work on designing it and then get it published ASAP.
I am amazed that in this age of technology we have trouble putting out one a year when for decades from the naughts to the 60's they managed to put out a quarterly journal. We are working hard in the office to fix that. I wonder if the excessive amount of communication actually makes for less information. It's like the 24 hour news cycle. They have to ALWAYS have something on the TV so usually they are not actually saying anything. So you just tune them out. When they do actually say something no one is listening. More communication going on, but less exchanging of information. Perhaps that is just me. I am rather lazy so I tend to ignore things and just read what is right in front of me.
In between I am going to do quite a lot. I am going to the UNESCO Conference on Higher Education in Paris. I am sort of excited about it. I am glad to be going to Paris. It's such a wonderful city, but I don't know enough about the conference yet to be too excited. I have started my research. It is a long process. Luckily I have about a week to finish it. I think it will be tiring. I also do not know anyone in Paris, except for my fellow intern that is going with me. I am glad we are going together. I am also working rather hard on Student World. It would be nice if I could get it all finished before I go to Paris. (By all finished, I mean the articles typed up, not done completely). That way we could work on designing it and then get it published ASAP.
I am amazed that in this age of technology we have trouble putting out one a year when for decades from the naughts to the 60's they managed to put out a quarterly journal. We are working hard in the office to fix that. I wonder if the excessive amount of communication actually makes for less information. It's like the 24 hour news cycle. They have to ALWAYS have something on the TV so usually they are not actually saying anything. So you just tune them out. When they do actually say something no one is listening. More communication going on, but less exchanging of information. Perhaps that is just me. I am rather lazy so I tend to ignore things and just read what is right in front of me.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Slow, Slow, Slow
This week is going very slowly. It is nice because I am not working at the break neck pace that I had been working last week. Although, somehow I feel slightly guilty about that. This week is also going by very slowly.
There is not much to tell about this week, so far. I have been working on Student World. I am enjoying reading old articles. For 2008 (yes, I do realize it is actually 2009) we are doing a centennial edition. Student World was first published in 1908. So this edition will be a collection of old articles. I am going through the old articles and that is interesting. I feel connected to the past in a very real way. I am also excited to be doing the work that I came here to do.
There is not much to tell about this week, so far. I have been working on Student World. I am enjoying reading old articles. For 2008 (yes, I do realize it is actually 2009) we are doing a centennial edition. Student World was first published in 1908. So this edition will be a collection of old articles. I am going through the old articles and that is interesting. I feel connected to the past in a very real way. I am also excited to be doing the work that I came here to do.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Impact
You never know what impact you will have. You never know what effects your decisions will have on other people. I recently got an email from someone I have never met that found my blog through searching the internet for "taizé" This is not too surprising since I often write about Taizé and I even had a two whole posts on it here and here. I was surprised when I read this email and I was flattered. I know that people I do not know and have never met are reading my blog. I assumed this because I don't know anyone in Indonesia, for example. I was surprised that my words had such meaning for someone that they went out of their way to tell me so. I am very glad that this person did. This person is preparing a trip to Taizé in the near future and I am glad that my words inspired the trip. I was actually talking to a German girl in my residence hall just yesterday about Taizé. She said she liked it because there was no forcing of doctrine. That is also one reason I like it.
My friend left yesterday and now I am back at work. Thinking about what the next step will be. Thinking about what the next activity will be. This week should be slightly more relaxed because both of my bosses are off to Jordan to evaluate a project we have there. I am slightly envious of them - getting to go off and work like this. I know it will be tiring for them, though. The support staff in my office, the accountant and the administrative assistant are also out this week. They are on vacation. Our office is very quiet. I like it. I also feel less urgency to do work. Hopefully that will change. We will see. (Posting on this blog is one very good way I can procrastinate - that and facebook).
Publications, Publications, Publications. Now that we have successfully sent off Red Book and Federation News it is time to start on Student World. We are still working on Student World 2008. I am hoping to do both 2008 and 2009 this year so that next year at least the intern will not have to play catch up. It will be a lot of work, but I am looking forward to it. We'll see how it goes....
My friend left yesterday and now I am back at work. Thinking about what the next step will be. Thinking about what the next activity will be. This week should be slightly more relaxed because both of my bosses are off to Jordan to evaluate a project we have there. I am slightly envious of them - getting to go off and work like this. I know it will be tiring for them, though. The support staff in my office, the accountant and the administrative assistant are also out this week. They are on vacation. Our office is very quiet. I like it. I also feel less urgency to do work. Hopefully that will change. We will see. (Posting on this blog is one very good way I can procrastinate - that and facebook).
Publications, Publications, Publications. Now that we have successfully sent off Red Book and Federation News it is time to start on Student World. We are still working on Student World 2008. I am hoping to do both 2008 and 2009 this year so that next year at least the intern will not have to play catch up. It will be a lot of work, but I am looking forward to it. We'll see how it goes....
Friday, June 19, 2009
Developing Friendships
Last night one of my friends here invited me to her house for dinner. It was lovely. I felt, almost for the first time here, that I just relaxed and hung out with a friend. Yesterday was my three month arrival anniversary. I arrived three months ago to the day. Since I have been doing so much work here and I have learned so much about myself and met so many new people I have forgotten that I have been here only three months. Last night I was reminded of how long it takes to build true friendship. I am beginning to feel that I am beginning to get to know the people that I have met here. There was something in me that had been pushing me to have these deep friendships instantly with everyone I met. However, that is not possible. Instead, I am learning to build slowly the friendships that are important. I am learning to take small steps instead of trying to take giant leaps.
Another of my friends arrived today to visit me. She and I went to college together, but she is currently studying in London. It was so nice to see her. It is amazing to think back to the person I was in college. To remember the person that she knew. It is also nice, though, to be around someone that I have known more than 3 months. I have known her for 5 years. We have history. We know people in common, we have a shared experience. I am very glad to see her.
It is good for me to have both of these friends. The friends that I am just coming to see how blessed my life is to have them in it and the friends that I already know how blessed I am because of them. It makes me realize just how blessed I am. God is giving me amazing experiences and amazing people to share them with. Thank You.
On another note: this weekend is Fete de la musique. I am very excited about it - I will be going to concerts all weekend! I'll write more about that on Monday.
Another of my friends arrived today to visit me. She and I went to college together, but she is currently studying in London. It was so nice to see her. It is amazing to think back to the person I was in college. To remember the person that she knew. It is also nice, though, to be around someone that I have known more than 3 months. I have known her for 5 years. We have history. We know people in common, we have a shared experience. I am very glad to see her.
It is good for me to have both of these friends. The friends that I am just coming to see how blessed my life is to have them in it and the friends that I already know how blessed I am because of them. It makes me realize just how blessed I am. God is giving me amazing experiences and amazing people to share them with. Thank You.
On another note: this weekend is Fete de la musique. I am very excited about it - I will be going to concerts all weekend! I'll write more about that on Monday.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Listening
I had not really been following the news in Iran. I was informed enough to know there are major protests going on there because of an election. Yet the details escaped me.
A few nights ago I was sitting in my building dining room having Italian Risotto (made by an Italian) with some friends. A Iranian young woman who lives in my foyer was asked about her family. She shared with us that her family is safe in Tehran, however the people that are protesting are not. The police are attacking anyone that is on the streets. Interestingly, the opposition leaders that "lost" the election a few days ago urged people not to come out and protest for their own safety. She shared that the police had invaded a student dormitory in the middle of the night to beat people. She had seen videos on YouTube. She had heard about it through Facebook - even though the Iranian government is working hard to suppress access to the internet.
I listened to her tell this story of what her friends were doing. I listened to her tell about the activities going on there. I listened as she told that she would not go home as planned because of safety. I listened to her story.
Often in my work at the International level I do not have "time" to listen to people. I have to write a proposal and find statistics and tell everyone how great my program is. I wish I had more opportunities to listen to people tell their own stories and the stories of their families and friends. I cannot have the experience of being an Iranian woman living through this time, but I can attempt to understand what that feels like by listening. Simply listening.
A few nights ago I was sitting in my building dining room having Italian Risotto (made by an Italian) with some friends. A Iranian young woman who lives in my foyer was asked about her family. She shared with us that her family is safe in Tehran, however the people that are protesting are not. The police are attacking anyone that is on the streets. Interestingly, the opposition leaders that "lost" the election a few days ago urged people not to come out and protest for their own safety. She shared that the police had invaded a student dormitory in the middle of the night to beat people. She had seen videos on YouTube. She had heard about it through Facebook - even though the Iranian government is working hard to suppress access to the internet.
I listened to her tell this story of what her friends were doing. I listened to her tell about the activities going on there. I listened as she told that she would not go home as planned because of safety. I listened to her story.
Often in my work at the International level I do not have "time" to listen to people. I have to write a proposal and find statistics and tell everyone how great my program is. I wish I had more opportunities to listen to people tell their own stories and the stories of their families and friends. I cannot have the experience of being an Iranian woman living through this time, but I can attempt to understand what that feels like by listening. Simply listening.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Summer time
It is feeling like summer here in Geneva. This weekend we had beautiful weather. It was about 85 degrees Fahrenheit and 30 degrees Celsius. I think that is about the perfect temperature - it could be a few degrees warmer, but I like it. It was nice and sunny on Saturday. I went down to the lake with some friends and just sat and enjoyed the lake and the crowds of people that had decided to also enjoy the lake front there. Just beautiful.
I am back to work now and even though it is a little cloudier today the weather is still pretty nice. However, instead of being out by the lake I am in an office with a window open so that I can listen to the sounds of birds muffled by the sounds of traffic and airplanes. Ahh.. Geneva.
Work is going rather well. I am doing some funding applications that I hope are promising. I am also working on a project with the WCC about eradication of violence against women that I am very excited about. This project is really just starting to get off the ground and I am looking forward to being able to see it through. This morning we spent a large portion of our meeting discussing the different forms of violence against women. You have to know what you are fighting against. I realized just how pervasive this violence is and how even I, a white woman from the United States have internalized the opopressive ideas and actions that contribute to violence. I suppose that is why this project is going to be useful. By sharing stories of hope and overcoming this violence we can show women like me, and women all over the world that change is possible. I hope and pray that this project will work out. It is going to take a lot of work - but I am looking forward to it.
I am back to work now and even though it is a little cloudier today the weather is still pretty nice. However, instead of being out by the lake I am in an office with a window open so that I can listen to the sounds of birds muffled by the sounds of traffic and airplanes. Ahh.. Geneva.
Work is going rather well. I am doing some funding applications that I hope are promising. I am also working on a project with the WCC about eradication of violence against women that I am very excited about. This project is really just starting to get off the ground and I am looking forward to being able to see it through. This morning we spent a large portion of our meeting discussing the different forms of violence against women. You have to know what you are fighting against. I realized just how pervasive this violence is and how even I, a white woman from the United States have internalized the opopressive ideas and actions that contribute to violence. I suppose that is why this project is going to be useful. By sharing stories of hope and overcoming this violence we can show women like me, and women all over the world that change is possible. I hope and pray that this project will work out. It is going to take a lot of work - but I am looking forward to it.
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