The summer is coming to a close and many students are leaving for home. It is sad to say goodbye to new friends but we know we will stay in touch and some of us already have reunions planned. It is incredible how quickly bonds are formed when you go through an experience like a summer in a foreign country together. I feel like I have known some of the students here for much longer than just one summer, and am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet them. I am also very impressed with what many of my peers are doing and accomplishing – from HIV research in China to starting their own non-profits to improve maternal and child health in developing countries. I am inspired to follow in their footsteps.
As for me, I have decided to stay on in Geneva and have some good news to share: I was offered a short-term contract at the organization where I interned. I am working with the policy department on expanding some of our harm reduction work based in Eastern Europe / Central Asia, which is a great fit with my interest in the region, policy work, and my Russian language skills. I really admire my boss and am already learning a huge amount as well as making some new connections. Every day is new and interesting; I’m reading UNODC reports about drug policy, looking up research papers and am in the process of setting up briefings with experts at WHO to provide us with some technical information for our project.
I'm including a few photos from our program reception. An enormous thank you to the Duke Program and all of the participants for a fantastic summer and ‘bonne chance’ to all!
