by Jorge Ferreira
Bonjour!
I just wanted to share with you some of the feelings my first week in Geneva and at WHO, which in summary has been...perfect!!!
All the information that we were provided by the Duke programme staff was very very useful...Thank you! Just two small tips: at the airport you will NOT be able to pay the "bag cars" with a credit card. You will need a 2 euros or swiss franc coin. If you do not have them, you can always ask for help at the information desk! Also, if you are staying at "Cite Universitaire" you will get the "public transportation" pass "free" from them, so you do not need to buy it at the airport...I took the taxi option...and it was funny because the taxi driver was...Portuguese...as me!
Geneva is really a nice city, and we are being lucky because the weather has been wonderful. And with the excellent public transportation system that the city has, it is really easy to move around.
At the WHO, the working atmosphere is very good. It is such great opportunity to have the chance to meet so many people, working in different and fascinating areas. Also important...the network between the interns works really well!!!
"See" you next week!
Jorge
Jorge Ferreira is a student at North Carolina State University, Comparative Biomedical Sciences PhD programme, Population Medicine and Public Health concentration area, with the minor in Public Policy. He is participating in the ¨Health track" of the DukeProgram in Global Policy and Governance and working as an intern at the World Health Organization.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Geneva 101
by Jenny Knoester
Bonjour!
Je m'appelle Jenny, and that is the extent of my French language skills.
You can imagine how helpful those phrases were when I first arrived at the Geneva airport, keeping my bulging suitcase from falling over with my left hand and clutching a flimsy sheet of instructions to my apartment in the other while my whopping over-the-shoulder threatened to cut off the blood supply to my right arm.
Thankfully, *most* things in the airport were labeled in both French and Anglais (English), and I eventually made my way out of the airport.
Leçon numéro un (lesson number one): Get a pass, go up a floor, and THEN go out the door!
While the Program does a great job of prepping us for our arrival at the airport, here is my hassle-free distillation:
4. The 10 (on its way to the airport after dropping me off at work in the photo on the left) takes you right to Cornavin Station, aka le Gare, at stop 22-Ganton. Once off the tram, facing the direction the tram was heading, the center of the station is to the left.
Sort of impossible to be anything but enamored with work when the view that greets you every single morning is this one, non?
Which brings us to Leçon numéro deux: Say Cheese!
Riding the busses and trams is on a semi-honor system: All citizens are expected to purchase bus tickets and passes, but no one routinely checks. If you do make the mistake of freeloading on that lucky day when a transportation officer comes aboard your tram, apparently there's a hefty fine. Incidentally, the same is true in Berlin (More on this later!).
Miraculously - and I am still not sure how I managed to get on the right tram with a driver who spoke just enough English to tell me when to jump off - I got to Cornavin. I followed the program's instructions to catch the 1, and, heaving my bags the entire way over to the Drake and back to get my key because reception is closed on Sunday, I arrived at RUI in one - albeit sweaty, exhausted, and hungry - piece.
Which brings us, finally, to Leçon numéro trois: Pack a Snack.
...because nothing* is open on Sundays!
And, if your internship hours are anything like mine (8 or 8:30 am to 6 or 7 pm), it'll behoove you to get to know the grocery store hours so you don't arrive home late to an empty cupboard. Stores are open from (plus/minus a half-hour):
...luckily my lovely flatmate at RUI had some food her mother sent with her, so we had our first meal in Geneva seated at our little table...and then I did a face-plant into bed.
Jenny just finished a grueling third year of medical school at the University of Michigan. She is a Global Health fellow in the Duke Program in Geneva on Global Policy and Governance, and she is delighted to be the Policy and Advocacy Intern at the International AIDS Society.
Bonjour!
Je m'appelle Jenny, and that is the extent of my French language skills.
You can imagine how helpful those phrases were when I first arrived at the Geneva airport, keeping my bulging suitcase from falling over with my left hand and clutching a flimsy sheet of instructions to my apartment in the other while my whopping over-the-shoulder threatened to cut off the blood supply to my right arm.
Thankfully, *most* things in the airport were labeled in both French and Anglais (English), and I eventually made my way out of the airport.
Leçon numéro un (lesson number one): Get a pass, go up a floor, and THEN go out the door!
While the Program does a great job of prepping us for our arrival at the airport, here is my hassle-free distillation:
- When you disembark, follow the signs to collect your luggage. If you're arriving for the very first time, snag a free, 1-hour public transportation pass from the machine next to the carousel (Only free when you get it from the airport, then you have to buy a bus pass).
- When you pass through the glass doors - or "customs" - take the escalator UP one level instead of just walking out the door. This will put you on the same level as the tram stops.
- Walk out of the airport and go to the left, toward the neighboring bus station. Just outside the bus station is a tram stop for the 10 (Aeroport --> Onex-Cite). I am particularly fond of this line because I take it to and from work every day, but there are other options to get to and from the airport.
4. The 10 (on its way to the airport after dropping me off at work in the photo on the left) takes you right to Cornavin Station, aka le Gare, at stop 22-Ganton. Once off the tram, facing the direction the tram was heading, the center of the station is to the left.Sort of impossible to be anything but enamored with work when the view that greets you every single morning is this one, non?
Which brings us to Leçon numéro deux: Say Cheese!
- If you have a chance before arriving in Geneva, get a passport-sized photo of yourself ($15.00 from the US post office), because you'll need one for your bus pass.
Riding the busses and trams is on a semi-honor system: All citizens are expected to purchase bus tickets and passes, but no one routinely checks. If you do make the mistake of freeloading on that lucky day when a transportation officer comes aboard your tram, apparently there's a hefty fine. Incidentally, the same is true in Berlin (More on this later!).
Miraculously - and I am still not sure how I managed to get on the right tram with a driver who spoke just enough English to tell me when to jump off - I got to Cornavin. I followed the program's instructions to catch the 1, and, heaving my bags the entire way over to the Drake and back to get my key because reception is closed on Sunday, I arrived at RUI in one - albeit sweaty, exhausted, and hungry - piece.
Which brings us, finally, to Leçon numéro trois: Pack a Snack.
...because nothing* is open on Sundays!
And, if your internship hours are anything like mine (8 or 8:30 am to 6 or 7 pm), it'll behoove you to get to know the grocery store hours so you don't arrive home late to an empty cupboard. Stores are open from (plus/minus a half-hour):
- 8:30 am to 7 pm Monday-Wednesday
- 8:30 am to 9 pm Thursday (woo-hoo!)
- 8:30 am to 6:30 pm Friday
- 8:00 am to 6 pm Saturday
- Closed Sunday
...luckily my lovely flatmate at RUI had some food her mother sent with her, so we had our first meal in Geneva seated at our little table...and then I did a face-plant into bed.
Jenny just finished a grueling third year of medical school at the University of Michigan. She is a Global Health fellow in the Duke Program in Geneva on Global Policy and Governance, and she is delighted to be the Policy and Advocacy Intern at the International AIDS Society.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Mont Salève
by Shan He
Last Saturday, a group of students from the Duke program visited Mont Salève.
It was a happy trip. We separated into two groups. One hiked up to the peak, the other took the cable bus. I was in the cable group because Mont Salève looked pretty tough. It only took us probably 5 minutes to arrive at the top of Mont Salève .There was a great view on the peak. We saw all Geneva, including the Jet d'eau and Palais des Nations. Some people did mountain biking and parachute jumping there. We hiked a little and then sat on the grass, enjoying the Saturday afternoon sunshine.
Visiting Mont Salève is a great way to kill a Saturday.
Shan He is a student at Vanderbilt University in the Master of Graduate Program in Economic Development Program. She is participating in the Trade track of the 2009 Duke Program in Global Policy and Governance and working as an intern at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Last Saturday, a group of students from the Duke program visited Mont Salève.
It was a happy trip. We separated into two groups. One hiked up to the peak, the other took the cable bus. I was in the cable group because Mont Salève looked pretty tough. It only took us probably 5 minutes to arrive at the top of Mont Salève .There was a great view on the peak. We saw all Geneva, including the Jet d'eau and Palais des Nations. Some people did mountain biking and parachute jumping there. We hiked a little and then sat on the grass, enjoying the Saturday afternoon sunshine.
Visiting Mont Salève is a great way to kill a Saturday.
Shan He is a student at Vanderbilt University in the Master of Graduate Program in Economic Development Program. She is participating in the Trade track of the 2009 Duke Program in Global Policy and Governance and working as an intern at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Happy Hours
by Shan He
There are very strong connections among interns of all the UN offices at Geneva, which is called UNOG, and other international organizations.
There are very strong connections among interns of all the UN offices at Geneva, which is called UNOG, and other international organizations.
Take UNCTAD as an example. We interns have a lunch plan. We have lunch together in groups everyday. And every Wednesday, we try to make a large lunch group for all the interns at UNCTAD.
Usually, the highlight is on Thursday when there is a Happy Hour. Interns get together on Thursday evening at some nice bar, drinking and talking. Even some young staff join into the happy hour. You can meet many interns from other organizations, make contacts and get more information.
So even if we are not in the same track of the 2009 Geneva Program, we may meet at the happy hour.
Shan He is a student at Vanderbilt University in the Master of Graduate Program in Economic Development Program. She is participating in the Trade track of the 2009 Duke Program in Global Policy and Governance and working as an intern at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The First Day of My Internship
by Shan He
The first day is very exiting, although you may not have much work to do. Today is the first day of my internship.
The first day is very exiting, although you may not have much work to do. Today is the first day of my internship.
I intern at UNCTAD. Usually interns of UNCTAD should first meet Mr. Alain Genoud at 9:00am. Please make sure that you can arrive at the Pregny Gate at 8:45am at the latest, since you have to collect a one-day badge. There are some crowds in line and the computers not have woken up, so it may take some time.
I work in E-building. My office faces Villa Le Bocage rather than lake view, but I also appreciate my window-view very much. In the B-building there's the UN library, which has a strong database and collections. You have to open your library account by yourself. You can read periodicals there. And the library is free. There's also a staff library on the way to B-building on the ground floor, which provides some leasure readings. But you have to pay 10 CHF deposit and 10 CHF fee.
The people are very nice at UNCTAD and the coffee is very good! There is also an intern's association.
The powerpoint Mr. Genoud sent is very helpful. Please read it carefully. Then, you can have a smooth first day.
Prepare for your first day well and enjoy your intern life in Geneva.
Shan He is a student at Vanderbilt University in the Master degree of Graduate Program in Economic Development. She is participating in the Trade track of the 2009 Duke Program in Global Policy and Governance and working as an intern at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development for Investment Trends and Data.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)