eh

Thursday I went to the jetty and hung out with Brian and Nathan for a while. Drank a few beers and just enjoyed the sun. Then grabbed some rum before the store closed. Made and ate some dinner and then crashed for a while. Then just hung out at the hotel with Devin and Brian. Made it to breakfast and class the next day. The class was really empty because so many people took off for random locations: Barcelona, Paris, Nice, Bern. The class was really chill through. After class I topped off my phone and got some groceries. Hector made some plans and so we went out that night. Pre-drank at my room which was very sufficient for me. We walked down and saw the Friday night craziness on the lake. Walked to this bar we were looking for called the Clubhouse. It was very English-speaking friendly. Met a Brazilian girl who was nice and cool to talk to. Also talked with a few guys from the states working here. Then we walked across the bridge to try and find somewhere else to go, but basically couldn’t find anything. However—we were walking on a street and Devin goes, “hey you know that guy we hung out with in Dublin leo? That guy we just passed looks like him” so then I called out, “swiss leo!” and he turned around! Totally met that guy in Dublin through the Barry people and hung out with him at Turks Head toward the beginning of the trip. So random to run into him on the street! He directed us back across the bridge to find somewhere open. Walked back and actually found somewhere. Drank a pitcher and watched some cricket. Then walked to a Kebab place which was amazing and cheap and they made them special for us—like way to order with extra everything. Delicious. Back to the hotel and stayed up late on skype.

Saturday managed to get everything together before leaving for our day trip, except for the charging of my phone battery. Even managed to make lunch and eat breakfast. Made it to the train station and got my ticket without any problems—Hector did have some problems getting there on time though so we left without him. Then we took the train to Montreaux which was like an hour away. I literally slept the whole time, instantly. Got our boat tickets and then went walking around Montreaux. I liked watching the skydivers attempting to land on a platform on the lake. We saw one person make it, but then every single one after that hit the lake. One hit some spectators with their parachute! Took a boat to Chillon where there is a gorgeous castle. We did a self tour of the castle which was actually a lot of fun. The history of the rooms was cool and interesting. My favorite part was the views from the top. Hung out and Hector finally showed up after he walked from Montreaux. Then took the boat back. Had about 30 minutes and tried to watch the flying man, but he was taking forever. The flying man was a person with a jetpack wings. I did see him, but he was really far away and it wasn’t that cool. Got on the boat and took a nap. Stopped at Luasanne for 25 minutes and tired to find something to keep us busy on the boat, but there was nothing. Then on the boat (2^nd class because all 1^st class was taken even though we have the seats!) for what felt like forever. Ran into some UC Davis people. Talked with the people who came with me (uhm not my favorite people, boring). Didn’t run into Professor Rice which was the plan for the boat the whole time. Switched at Yovire. It is technically France! Then boated back. It was a 5 hour boat ride. I was hungry! Walked back made dinner and crashed.

Sunday I slept most of the day. Did half of my final. Hung out and relaxed. Chatted. But then went out to meet up with Swiss leo with Devin and Brian. Then Trent met us there. Drank some tasty shaker that was passion fruit. Watched the half pint chugging contest where Devin beat Leo—Leo’s first loss in Geneva. Got invited to a cook-out which we are going to tonight. Ran into Lauren and her roommate from Rome on the way so walked back with them. There is one person I want to hit in the face. Gah go home already.

Monday class was almost unbearable. The first class I was completely bored out of my mind. Lunch was relaxing, but then the second class was terrible. Like falling asleep, no idea what is going on, totally not paying any attention bored. I definitely spent half the class staring out the window at the wake boarders. It was hot and we just ate, it was like instant food coma. But after class was really cool. Devin, Megan and Jordan, and I went down to the jetty. We went to the diving board and were jumping off all the different levels of the diving platform. I definitely hurt myself once, but it was a lot of fun. The water was pretty cold, but the sun was warm enough to dry us off and stuff. Definitely a nice day. So relaxing and pretty. Watched some of the crazy kids jumping and almost killing each other. Got some good photos and videos of the jumping.

After we headed back and managed to stop at the grocery store to grab some food for the cook out. Met up with Swiss Leo and rode the bus to his friends house. It was really hot. After walking a bit of the way we got to this nice house. All the shrubs makes it seem really private and had a good time hanging out in the front yard. We made veggie skewers and I made hamburgers. It was pretty cool to see the really Geneva, you know outside of a hotel. Most of the people only spoke French, but we ended up playing never have I ever—bilingual version. Got pretty dirty which was funny. Got a ride home with a random guy who was at the cook out which was nice because we got to stay later and got back faster than the bus. He was nice—mostly French speaking, but we managed.

So over these classes.

Tuesday we went to the UN. It was so hot and I was feeling tired, but it was beautiful and definitely something you have to see while in Geneva. I definitely liked this one room with a cave ceiling. It was painted in all sorts of colors and there were nice lights. I also liked all the various gifts that countries have given. The other coolest point was the cheap soda machine! Strange the things that have excited me here. I was definitely having one of those days were I felt like just keeping to myself all day. Definitely relaxed a lot and watched DVDs and for a while went to the bus stop for internet. Studied up for my exam—like an hour. The least work I have ever put into a law school exam, considering we didn’t have any reading for the class and then just an hour in class exam. Had a good night though.

Definitely took my exam this morning and I was as expected. I think it was alright, but let’s just see how the curve works out. I really need to figure out how hastings grading works.

another day another CHF

Americans are selfish. From being in Europe for the past 5 weeks I have realized that we live in a bubble. Sure we sort of pay attention to world news, but we really just pay attention ourselves. I don’t know if this is an international thing that happens for individuals in each country being selfish about their own nation, but Americans seriously thing everything relates to us and needs to have an analogy to the US. I feel like the people of the other countries of the world have to dumb things down for Americans and try and relate things to concepts from the US that we could understand. I know part of that is because I am in classes where we are doing comparative lessons so analogies make sense, but even in like regular conversations I have had—people feel the need to analogize for us. I think it is strange to think about much longer European land has been inhabited but how little I know about any of it. It makes me feel like I live in a bubble.

Went to the jetty beach yesterday because the weather was nice, but then it got freezing. Devin and Trent went in the water though—it was hilarious to see their faces in the freezing water. There were little girls playing in the water and throwing rocks at a duck. Other than that it got cloudy and slightly cold as we hung out.

Made dinner again—I think I am doing alright on this saving money thing.

Still figuring out my travel plans for this trip, but next weekend might be Amsterdam or Italy—whatever works out best and is hopefully affordable.

Classes are hard to pay attention still. After class went to the jetty again and had a few drink which was cool. Nicer weather today. Then to the Coop for some reasonably prices alcohol purchases. Definitely good for the rest of the trip.

Happy birthday lil sis Brittany! Yay! 21!

Chill night tonight I’m sure, but we will see. And then everyone leaves for paris tomorrow and I should get to work on my final!

Home soooonnn

craziness

Surviving through class can be tough. After we walked to the shopping district of Geneva. It was super high end but nice looking. Went to the Apple store and figured out what to do about my apple care. Then stopped by this bar. Oh my gosh it was expensive. 12 CHF for a Heineken—so ridiculous. Then took the bus back. Definitely got semi lost when trying to change buses because the stupid bus stop had like a million different stops on different parts of the triangular area and beyond. Spent like 30 minutes trying to figure out where my bus freaking came from. Eventually found it which was good and got a seat. Back at the room I had a cheap dinner of ramen and sandwich and watched a movie.

Then I went to the street to go on the internet. I was talking on skype when this old French man came out the apartment building near where I use free internet. He tried to speak French to me, but I told him that I only spoke English. He was trying to talk to me about something and I think he was talking about the internet being good—so I said yes good. Then he walked away so I kept talking on skype (yeah I know talking to a computer on the streets is a little weird). Then the old creepy man came back with beer and cigarettes. He tried to talk to me again. He tried to say something and eventually got out the English word: “bedroom” and pointed at the apartment. CREEPY. I said: no and acted like I didn’t understand. He went inside for like a second and then came back to smoke and said: “apartment” and pointed. And then I decided to leave because I think the man wanted me to come into his apartment. Said goodbye and left.

Definitely don’t think I will be sitting on that street anytime soon. I’ll just go to the bus stop from now on or use my roommates internet that she bought. I just feel bad if I use it too much and it cost her a lot. Maybe I will pay her and I won’t feel bad at all.

Skyped for a while and then studied for the rest of the night—movie and sleep.

making it happen

Day two of classes here in Geneva. This program is way more school focused for me so far. I like that I have a roommate though because otherwise I would really just be by myself like all the time with no one to talk to and just school to do all the time. Well so far I have made a few new friends and they are all from Arizona. Some are from U of A and one is from ASU. It’s nice have some people from the West of the country this time. Plus there are several people in the program actually from CA. It’s cool to have people that can know what I am talking about.

Yesterday after class I went to do errands with the Arizona people. We got sim cards. I got a Swiss number where the minutes are only 9 cents a minute to the US and texts are 10 cents. Pretty nice. So I sent some text messages and it has been good to be back in touch with people. Then we went to the train station to get the Arizona’s public transportation passes. Then me and Andee went to the grocery store. I definitely tried to get lunch meat, but failed because I couldn’t read the French or German on the package and didn’t want to buy nasty meat. But I did get the essentials that I have been cheaply surviving on for like weeks now: pasta and noodles. At least this time I don’t see needing the noodles for drunk food in Ireland—I can actually eat them for a meal haha. Andee had a funny moment with a creeper in the grocery store that followed us to mcdonalds! She was trying to get ice cream from mcdonalds, but didn’t know the French words so she made the motion to the clerk…lick and all. And then she redid this motion for me and the creeper was right outside the window looking at her making a licking motion.

Spent my afternoon reading the stuff for today and then an hour outside on the internet chatting on facebook with some great people from Ireland. It made me really happy to be online and connected back to the world. Then cooked some dinner and did more reading. Me and andee decided to split the reading which was helpful. Then movie and sleep.

Plan for the day is just post office as far as things out. But I definitely plan on doing one of the questions of my childrens rights exam today. Then maybe one tomorrow or Thursday. Definitely want to be done by the end of the week.

photo

attempted update from class

Well, hello from Geneva, Switzerland. I feel like this part of my blog of my European adventure is going to be filled with complaints more than excitement. Boo.

Let me first talk about how much I loved Dublin. It was seriously one of the best experiences of my life. I think a lot of it had to do with the people that went. I seriously feel like I made some really close friends that I will keep in touch with for a long time and I cannot wait to have some reunion eventually. My apartment was filled with great girls who were down to go out, talk, or just hang out around the campus. The campus was nice including the pubs. The dorm situation was so fun being with people all the time—never really a boring moment until people started doing exams. I loved the drama of people you don’t like and the drama of the hook ups. Such juicy stuff. I loved the random bus trips sober and drunk. I liked working for Refugee Legal Services even if I was just observing most of it. I liked the late late nights spent having fun. I liked hanging out with the Barry people. They were my favorites. Always a good time. I liked drinking and dancing and chatting. I did not like the prices! But I was willing because it was part of the experience. The sites were absolutely gorgeous and fun. The weather for some reason was amazing almost the whole time. Classes were interesting. It was just great.

Now to complain: I woke up early on Saturday morning to say goodbye to the Barry people and my apartment. Then I packed up and headed to the airport myself. I took the bus. It was a struggle with my luggage. A bus even gave me a ride because I looked so pathetic. I made weight fine. Flight was delayed but I was with people so it wasn’t that bad. Instantly slept on the plane—a little bumpy, but alright. Getting luggage wasn’t that bad, but taking public transportation with all the luggage sucked. I wanted to take a cab so bad. Train, street car, walking, elevator—gah. settled in my room, then off to find some food. ate a kebab which was tasty. then we went for a walk. went to the lake and it is beautiful and has this cool jet fountain thing in it. then walked to a jetty where there is swimming and watched people. then walked across the bridge to the other side of the lake where lake parade was going on. it was basically like a rave on the streets. so many like floats with djs and a gagillion people dancing everywhere in weird costumes. there were people painted and slutty outfits and pirates and it was just weird. beer everywhere and hard alcohol. it was cool to drink on the streets but way crowded and i was sooo tired from that day of travelling. still hung out and saw the craziness including an under cover arrest and then went to a pub and played darts.

next morning met my roommate--she is cool..from asu and loves travelling. really easy going and nice. had a good breakfast that is included with boarding. has meats and cheese and breads and yogurt and cereal and all that--basic plan is to eat breakfast and then dinner. went to an orientation lunch at 12 which was basically dolled up can chicken--way gross. then a city tour on a bus. there was a random down pour which was kinda cool and made me not feel like i was dying from the heat. eating lunch was just gross sweating. the city tour was alright--kinda got to know the regions and saw pretty things, but nothing too amazing to talk about...photos another time probably. after hung out with some people from the program watching the tennis match and then ate another kebab and went to their apartment to hang out on their balcony...it is really nice. i wish that i went with some people so that we could have gotten a place and it would have been cheap--because this stupid hotel is not cheap and doesnt have itnernet

i know i complain about not having internet, but it really does suck and so i am doing everything i can to figure something out. i am currently just sitting on the street stealing it. but anyway.

class today and then picking stuff up to survive hopefully. definitely going to be a lot of movie watching

no internet

no internet in geneva so i dont think i will be updating much.