Barcelona: A Magical World

My body is weaken and my mind wonder windlessly. However, it has been more than a month since I last wrote something. So here I go...

I feel very fortunate to live in Geneva, Switzerland where traveling to other Europe country is short and easy. Is basically in the middle of Europe. This evening I am going to give you an update on this past weekend in Barcelona, Spain.

This trip I decided to fly instead of driving and taking the train. Once I arrived in Barcelona airport I felt so comfortable. Spanish was written and spoken everywhere! Si yo entiendo, con fin! I was able to use my Spanish at the tourist information box. I asked in Spanish where can I take the bus to Karma Hostel where I was staying. The lady was very helpful. She provided me with a map and circle where I can take the bus and need to be drop off. Within 15 to 20 minutes I arrived in the center of Barcelona.

With my Spanish ability,it was easy for me to find the hostel until I was in the building. I was able to find it from a small sign on the left hand side wall. A very friendly Catalan man assisted me and show me around the hostel. Right away I felt comfortable talking to him. The help information person who became my new best friend kindly show me on the map of places I could visit and see for my first day, which was last Thursday. I took his advice since he is a local native Catalan in Barcelona. I walked around the barrios (neighborhood)and was a pleasure seeing the structure of each individual building as I wonder around.

Colorful United Nations

Last Monday I attended a conference, which I thought was on Humanitarian Assistance. As I lost my way through the giant building of the United Nations, I was excited that I made it pass the security into the flags side of the fence. I asked anyone doesn’t matter how they look but to guide me where the conference is taken place. Then, I ran upon the help desk. Of course, he was speaking to me in French. So I smile and said vee, vee..(yes, yes). I had no idea what he was saying but to follow the direction that he point his hand to. I met two French girls that spoke English. They were very nice. We went back to the help desk and they asked me which conference am I going to attend. I was not aware that there were many conferences happening at the same time! So of course, a big screen with words on them like you would see at the airport, list of flights. It shows the time and where. Great! Which is what I needed it. However, I was not sure where building E was or where to even go. My two new French friends asked the help desk person for direction and they translated to me in English. I made my way to a long hall way to a dead end. I was lost again, the next victim I asked for direction was happen to go to the same place as I was.



My other new friend is a native Swiss from Switzerland. She is a United Nations representative for Thailand but does not speak Thai or look anything like Thai. Just a regular blond hair and blue eyes Swiss girl. As we made our way to the conference room, I can’t help notice but the security checking at the entrance. I was blow away by the country name in front of each chair desk. So she find her desk, which said “Thailand.” I sat where there an open chair.

Although, I took really good notes, I was distracted by the structure, various ethnic backgrounds and sounds which was unfamiliar in many level. There a half ear set for each chair that come with channel tune to and sound level adjustment. Of course, I turn my channel to English. I believes there were at least five languages you can tune to. Up above the room, translators sat in their cubical boxes. It is amazing how fast they can interpret the message.


I was disappointed by the amount of distraction it was existing. People were on their cell phone or internet while the speaker where presenting. If not that, they chat with each other. I am not sure if they received the message. They probably did but it was not able to comprehensive the message.I myself was as well distracted that half way through the conference, I realized I attend the wrong conference! I found out that I was a week early on the conference. This conference was about sustainable development. Which by the way was very helpful but not towards my 15 pages paper!


I stayed until the end of the conference and end up walking and chatting with my new Swiss friend. Overall, I would say there were some positives and negatives side to the conference. You get to sit in an elegant half circle shape room filled with very interesting and high authority figures. You can be very comfortable of listening to the language you understand most with and exchange policy update to the world current issue such as climate change. Of course, the downside is people chatting with one another, on their cell phone and checking their email. In a way is like your watching CNN news but live and get to participate in it.

Living with Cool and Hip Nuns

I would say that I am very lucky to find such an affordable place to live in Geneva where everything is very expensive! I live in a all female dorm setting. I have my own small private room filled with desk, chair, twin bed and a closet. Plus, my bed come with sheets and blanket. On top of this, I get free breakfast! So I thought I am pretty set for the next three months. However, I realized I needed to get pan, plates, silverware and etc. The next day, one of the sister had ask me in French and limited English if I needed kitchen supplies. Another great deal that they have to offer here is that they supply guests with kitchen goodies! So now I cook rice of course and sometime chicken with veggie. I don’t need to go and buy new item of kitchen equipments.

Living with nuns is not all that bad. However, there are good and bad sides to this. For example, the nuns here does not dress or is cover all in black uniform. Which is good because otherwise, it would always remind me being at a church or something. Yes, they dress normal! I think there are about 5 of them from variety of background, race, and age living with us (other female). Only two that speak well in English and the rest speak French.





When I first met my room, I was very please and content. Except one odd thing that I discovered about my room. The fact matter is there a toilet looking located near my sink by the door when you entry. It has a turning on and off for water to flow out. However, there is no flash button anywhere. I was not sure if I should use it. I couldn’t find the bathroom anywhere because I don’t read French! So I hold it until I find one of the sister that speak English for explanation. She told me, “It is not a toilet, that is for you to wash your feet and mop the floor with.” I respond with a relieve, “Well thanks goodness because I almost had an accident in there! She laugh and lead me to the right toilet. Which by the way toilet in Geneva is a restroom.



The building is located across from a bar, hospital, behind restaurants and mini shops. It is a five stories building with kitchen, shower and restroom on the second floor, which is where I stay. The complain I been hearing from other girls is that it is hard for them to get their stuff and sometime not knowing where their things are at. For example, their food is in the freezer upstairs and the kitchen is downstairs especially those who are on the fifth floor! I guess I have it easy since my freeze and food is on the same floor as my dorm!





Transpiration in Geneva is very reliable and easy access! It seems as though everyone take the Tram- semi subway to work and anywhere else in Geneva. In every stop there a ticket booth you can buy your ticket. The system of getting on the bus, tram or any transportation in Geneva is like an honor system. Basically, they check for ticket every now and then. Some if people don’t feel like buying a ticket that is a risk they take. However, from what I noticed is that people do buy their ticket! Because the cause of getting caught is very high! This small city does not really need cars to pollute it air. The city is so small that I can either take the tram or walk, which is about 5 to 10 minutes from downtown. Also, one of the tram go directly to my office which is about 20 minutes! That is always a plus!



One thing that I look forward to on the weekend and off work (of course) beside Skpying with my handsome fiancé Eric, is getting to know very interesting girls in my dorm. They are from all over the world and doing amazing thing! Sometime, I would have breakfast with girls from India, Vietnam, Ceska Republic, Nigeria, and Colombia at the same table sharing stories and interests of international work and fighting for humanitarian cause. We make sure that everyone is comfortable speaking in English. Since there are various languages that are spoken. I would say most girls speak at least two or three languages. So if one language does not work, we try another one. Sometime, I would surround myself with new friends from the states who are from everywhere. So really, it is an amazing place to be if you love to learn about other languages and cultures. It is an honor that every I go, I encounter someone that either speak English or Spanish. Even though I get loss I end up finding my way with my language skills. I guess this is the life of an international traveler.

Switzerland 101 (June 16-18)

I left LAX airport on Wednesday the 17th at 6:00am. However, I truly arrived at the airport on Tuesday at 10:00pm. Since my sweet younger sister does not want to wake up at 2:00am, we decided it would be best to dropped me off on Tuesday night instead.

I did not get to sleep at the airport like I planned to. I did not make it to the other side of the security clearance! Of course like many places, the city do sleep. There were no one except for worker that were cleaning the airport. I managed to finish all of my grading that night until the morning. I don't recalled how many hours it took me from LA to Geneva. I know that I did not sleep for almost three days!

When I arrived to Canada, I met a very important historical person. He told me that he was a vice chancellor at UC Berkeley and started the new UC at San Diego and Santa Barbara. The whole night I could not sleep because there were many interesting story to learned about San Diego and Santa Barbara. He is a resident in Switzerland for over 40 years now! Mr. Luis as I called him because I could not pronounce his real name.

The following day, Mr. Luis gave me a prep for the Geneva ahead of me; from money to the culture of the city. This is what I value and learned from his lesson.

Language: There are four main languages that are recognize in Switzerland. However, only three are use through out the country in everything! They are French, German and Italian. From what I understand, these languages does not sound like the original language from it original country. They all have influence of Swiss in them. As you might be aware these languages are base from the boarder countries. For example, Geneva where I am at, is boarder to the France boarder therefore, everyone speak French. Beside these three languages, there are also languages being spoken from all over the world. Is amazing to hear them all in such a very small city!

Culture: Geneva is the international world. You have the United Nations, Private sectors, and Non-governmental organizations located here in Geneva. This is where the decision on policy take action.

The sun doesn't set until 10:00pm at night. Therefore, people always out walking, drinking coffee and setting on the grass in a well clean park. However, during the week the stores close at 7:00pm and Sunday all day. So this is good to know. I learned this the hard way. There is so much to learn about Geneva but this is the basic fact I gain and experience from this last week.