An Alpine Getaway...my power boost

Hey all!
This weekend, I met up with my old Canadian buddy Mac and traversed a bit of the Swiss Alps. It was a great 3 days. Trains, cable cars and walking was the name of the game as we got to the ceiling of Europe despite the weather forecasts. I had seen, with great disdain, that there was a heavy chance of rain this past weekend, which would thus result in clouds and fog covering the beautiful snow capped mountains at that altitude of about 10,000 feet. We woke up early on Saturday in Interlaken, the gateway to the central Swiss mountains, and looked out the window. The sun shone on a snowy peak far in the distance; a good sign. So we got moving, a 20 minute train ride, a 15 minute bus, and then a 30 minute, harrowing cable ride. As we went up through the first two stations, we could see green hills and houses. Once we reached Muerren (a town about 5000 ft up the mountains) however, everything dissapeared. For a good 15 minutes on the final 4000 meter leg, we were surrounded only by white nothingness and cables. Nothing else. Once a returning car was passing by us, but that was just a small glimpse of hope in an otherwise vast emptiness. It was only when we got to the top did things appear again. And did they appear. As we stepped out onto the viewing deck, the clouds, as if they knew we had arrived, decided to part and give way to a breathtaking view of the Swiss Alps. It was a beautiful day, with a 57 degree temperature not even warranting a jacket like it would in Texas. It only seemed proper to do UTD proud and whoosh at that height. And so we did.
George Lazenby, the least famous James Bond, shot a scene of his only movie atop Schilthorn. It seemed very 70s in nature, this Alpine station; inside was a wood paneled revolving restaurant, with mirror ceilings as you ascended the escalators; very classy. I could see James killing some Dr. No type here and then jumping off the mountain with some Swiss Bond Girl.
Nevertheless, there was more. We thought it was over for the weekend; now just a chance to relax. But no; we ran into a hotel with the most character I have ever seen. It was a building housing a hostel and hotel; the hotel was a reasonably named "Mattenhof". The hostel was called the "Funny Farm". The name fits. When you walk in, you see a ridiculous mix of people. Huge dogs populate the stairways and Mariachi bands are serenading a wedding party outside. A regal drumline proceeded down an old hallway at 10 pm to greet a bride and groom. This place was insane. However, the room was one of the most entertaining things I have seen; it was because of the TV (the oldest I have ever been in the presence of: I think Mac has a video of us trying to figure out the buttons), the bathroom (best, tackiest shower curtain and tiling) and the location (right above the Mariachi Band and wedding reception).
If this was not enough, we wandered into a wonderful little surprise. We decided to take a 20 minute, partly lost walk to our hostel from the West train station and encountered a crowd of people congregating in front of some fun looking building. We were immediately intrigued. Upon arriving, there was a crossbow shooting game, a Dulcimer quartet and all things medieval. We approached an information desk and immediately bought tickets to the premier open air reenactment of the story of William Tell, the father of Switzerland. It was a great performance, with the players acting right through torrential rain, so as to add more emotion to the situation. I could not help but be proud of this country as the cast sang the national anthem. I am not Swiss, but it felt great to be a part of this nation, at least for a short while.
More than anything, I got to reunite with a familiar face from back home. We talked about anything and everything on trains and buses and in the hostels. We reminisced and looked to the future. It was an escape I needed, a wake up call to be motivated to drive through my last month here in Europe.

The Little Things

Clerical work saved me today. I came into the office this morning and did nothing for 45 minutes. I just sat with a blank stare. Finally, I got the desperation to ask "is there anything I can start off with?" Thankfully, the database entry of Country Information and printing off reams of paper came to my rescue. It has been an incredibly painful 24 hours. Even going to the Medical Services in the UNOG and finding out I got bronchitis was something to look forward to; it was something to do, after all. Busy work, doctor check ups, watching Kurdish people protesting in front of the entrance and writing this blog. All a distraction, a welcome distraction.

I'm pretty lonely in Geneva, to be honest. Sure, I have made friends, but these people already have PhDs and Masters and at least Bachelors Degrees. I feel happy that I can hang with such a professional crowd, but it is quite an issue being the only one as young as me. My work, my laptop, my Skype and my drinks with the usual suspects here are what I rely on.

I just want to say that this is a wonderful town, though. Many people will say, "college is the best time of your life", and "savor this time while you can", and "when you're in Europe, take any chance you have to party and go crazy". I really don't believe that last one. I am perfectly content with the working life and the relaxing parts in the evenings and weekends. It gives me the time to reflect and slow down. I don't think personal discovery is aptly performed by living fast all the time. Thus, I like small, relatively quiet, yet diverse Geneva.

I am anticipating greatly the next few weekends; weekends I will get to see some fellow travellers from UTD. We need to connect, and though it is important to be able to be independent, there comes a time to be together. This is one.

Though it may seem extremely sensitive at this time, I want to dedicate this post to our friend David. He was a great guy, a great mind, and a calm demeanor. It was wonderful working with him. It was wonderful getting to know him. I will remember him as I last saw him: happy, thoughtful and kind. I will live to my fullest to remember such a great soul, and I will try to fill this optimism in everyone else I see. I will try my best.

Rest in Peace, David. Here's looking at you.

OM

Friends, Deutschland, and Rain

Hey everyone,

So this period of the World Cup has gone by extremely fast. It's already time for incredibly unpredictable semifinals.

1. Ghana should be there; I was so upset when they didn't make it. It seemed like they gave up in Penalty Kicks. What a disappointing way for Africa to go. Well, I guess at least they made it this far.

2. Good for Uruguay to be the only South American team to make it through to the Semis when we thought that 2 others would, and when all 5 went past the Group Stage.

3. Oh my god, Germany and Netherlands! Two of my favorite teams. What games you played!

In this post, I would like to discuss the joy of watching Germany get to the Semifinals amongst a big crowd. Since watching Estudiantes de la Plata in La Plata, Argentina, this was the first time I viewed true football passion in a year.

There are always reasonably large crowds (for Geneva) to watch teams play the World Cup outside the Geneve-Servette Hockey Club stadium in Vernets. It's a huge TV screen, much like the set up in many other cities around the world, with tents walling off the venue, selling latin themed food and drink. With the Rolex building casting its shadow onto the stadium, it's like a Genevois football paradise.

But the best part, the reason you are there, are the people. Understand, it was hot for Geneva, like almost 90 degrees, with that amplified by the blacktop. It was like Summer Marching Band again, except with more people and less coordinated movement. In any case, it was worth the sweat, because we (me and a group of interns from the ILO, some of whom were German) were right in between a cluster of German fans and Argentinian fans. Understand, who I was supporting yesterday was a difficult decision, but even though I was in Argentina for a month, I had been loyal to Deutschland for 4 years before that. So, I put on my Klose jersey and went to town.

The people were great. Songs on both sides, but I had to be unilateral on deciding which ones to sing. It's okay, because Germany had a lot, and we got explanations from Christoph, a german ILO intern. It was great discussing with people the technicalities of the game while still being fans with such fervor. That is what I wanted. And, at halftime, I saw a certain spirit of communal brotherhood. I went and joined a juggling circle with some people clearly labelled as German supporters and others who were for Argentina. Despite this we were passing the ball around to each other like we were all friends. It was the cooperation that I wanted proof of all along, and I got it finally.

4 goals to nil. I felt bad for Argentina, specifically for Messi, for having so many wonderful shots but no goals. But I was so proud of Germany for playing so efficient, for playing a style close to the Dutch Total Football of the '70s. All 4 goals were well deserved and well executed.

Klose got 2, and I was jubilant. I have been pushing for him this entire tournament; he is old, maybe out of shape compared to the rest of the team. But he has stuck with it the longest and has been modest about his work. There's nothing I could admire more.

After the game, the celebrations were amazing. We all ducked down to the ground to do a "Give me an A" sort of routine in the pit of Deutschland fans. And then we rose to dance around for about 5 minutes. It was exhilarating. And then, going out on European streets (obviously to a lesser degree than in Germany, but a good dose) and seeing truckloads of German supporters driving by and honking. It was great. It was European Football. My experience of it came to a climax yesterday. And I loved it.

One person said that "god waited for us to win to rain". Because right after we got out of the match, it started pouring. Destiny and fate still exist, my friends. It all just depends on whether you want to view them with having real possibility in our world. I just saw that as destiny.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! OMG YES.

That is all. You know what it means.

The Mix of Emotions this World Cup is producing within me is RIDICULOUS

Ok. So weirdest World Cup ever.

-I guess after all that news of France refusing to train and Nicolas Anelka cussing out Raymond Domenech, they got what was coming to them. I only feel sorry for France, because as my friend Valentine said, "without football, French Patriotism is in the trash".

-OMG I am so pissed at that ref. You know. America knows. Maurice Edu, that was a brilliant finish. In every one of my stat books, you're getting that goal.

-Switzerland: the impenetrable defense cracked in the saddest way. Behrami should NOT have been sent off (let me mention here that this is like some business expo meeting thing with all the cards handed out), Derdiyok should've hit that goal. But that's in the past. Hopp Schwiiz against Honduras!

-ARGENTINA! The first sure success of my World Cup! Albiceleste have done wonderfully, and I think it will earn them the title.

Football is crazier here than I thought it would be. On Monday, during the Chile game, there were notices at all public transport stops to watch out for the River area because there were huge perturbations during the match. I saw a do not enter sign with a vertical line painted perpendicular to the horizontal white line to make a cross like the Swiss flag during that day. Amazing support.

Watching the reality show on Youtube, the Bud House, is increasingly entertaining. It's that stupid, no brain entertainment, but this is a novel idea for this World Cup. It's wonderful seeing 32 people representing their countries forced into a house to watch matches together, to sleep within their preliminary groups, to interact as humans as well as fans at appropriate times. You get to know people beyond their fanaticism with this sport. This is the wonderful thing. But it's also what I finally wanted to see; people going batty over their country's teams. I couldn't stop watching.

WEDNESDAY. Today. The day of truth. My ability to boast my country relies on this game against Algeria. Let's do it USA.

FRIDAY. The day of truth, part deux. Switzerland HAS TO beat Honduras to have any chance of going through. Go Chile, edge Spain out! Go Switzerland, score so many goals!

Less Frequent Posting Ahead

Hello all. Just wanted to let everyone know to either their delight or discomfort (I doubt it'll be the latter), that my posting will be less frequent now that I have reached Geneva. I will try to bring everyone up to speed on interesting things I see or do which I am at liberty to tell everyone about. However, I will be working on things, and therefore, this will bog down my blogability. Just thought I'd give fair warning.

DEUTSCHLAND UBER ALLES! Also, Geneve.

The first paragraph, with fair warning, is going to be spent by incessantly babbling about how great the German Football Team is. It sucks that Australia got beaten so badly, but I wouldn’t be more pleased now that I know it is by Deutschland. Yay for Miroslav Klose; I really think he’s going to hit the top of the World Cup goal scorers list this time around. I’m proud I ironed his number and name on my jersey at Euro 2008. Furthermore, I am raring up for a crushing of Spain. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the Spanish team; I think they play beautiful football. HOWEVER, nothing can make up for the fact that they crushed my dreams of German victory during the Euro 2008 final. This feeling was similar to the one I had when the Netherlands got overwhelmed by Russia; pure anger.

Enough about soccer, let me tell you about Geneva. I love it. Free transportation with lodging, free internet everywhere, an incomparable mélange of culture. Furthermore, “Le Palais”, or the UN compound here, is amazing. There’s a supermarket and several post offices in there. It’s its own city! Only downside is no A/C, but you can’t argue about being across from the room where the League of Nations met. That’s pretty sweet. I work with some very laid back and awesome people, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone on the floor.

It’s going to be very interesting walking around with people in their traditional national clothes; Indian diplomats in Nehru suits and African ones in their garb. It’s going to be interesting walking in every morning to protest. Today, one was going on that was dear to my heart and heritage; fate, I guess. It was a cry to the Human Rights Commission on the situation of the abandoned Tamils in Sri Lanka in the era post-Tamil Tigers. Being Tamil, there was something about this that I identified with closely. In an odd way, protest let me know that I didn’t have to feel left out here; the whole WORLD was here.