The Swisser the Better

All right, so hopefully everyone's already aware that I am safely in Switzerland. Now, I am sitting in the UN Library with a bit of free time, so some classmates and I are here checking email, blogging and... well... facebooking, of course, for free! Bear with me through this entry as I am still getting used to the keyboard. I'm getting better! But, for example, that would have been-- Iàm getting better++ So zou see what I mean__ hahaha$$

Anyway, the flight over went ALMOST without any hitches. I am apparently simply not having great luck on this leg of the trip because, of course, they lost one of my bags during the transfer. Fortunately, however, they were able to deliver my bag back to me last night already... so no problems, there! Besides, flying into Geneva... oh my goodness - there are not even words. I just had my hand clapped over my mouth and was muttering, (if I can find the quote marks, here...) "Ohhhh my gosh.... ohhhh mmyyy gooossshhhh" I really wish you all could have seen this... Those of you in Colorado remember my excitement the first time I came back from Boston --- MOUNTAINS!! And, trust me - I still love Long's Peak... but seriously? The Rockies have some learnin' to do. I tell you what... I may not return from this general Alps-region of Europe... ever. Beautiful.

Anyway, I was welcomed by one of our teaching fellows at the door of my hostel and, shortly after, we met up and I was warmly welcomed, too, by the entire class. Everyone is glad that I'm healthy and that I am now here. It feels as though I've been here all along! Last night I had (ready for this??) Mexican food... yup... in Switzerland. We were surprised - it was better than we thought it'd be... but still not Yasmin's Brazillian or my good-ol-fashioned Colorado Tex-Mex haha... Then, I was invited by another set of people to join them for coffee (which ended up being hot chocolate as their capuccino machine was broken). Wonderful first day - and I tell you what... I slept QUITE soundly.

Today, we sat in on the floor during some opening remarks on the negotiations surrounding cluster munitions. I won't bore you all with the nitty gritty details... but at this point - nothing really exciting is happening with that anyway. Just a throwing-around of terms and whatnot. We were then joined by some of the US delegates who discussed SOME of the US's stance on the issue. Deep stuff!

I have been in touch with my Austrian host family and will be visiting with them this weekend. I already have my professor's blessing and allowance to go, so that is all set. Other than that, the weather here continues to be GORGEOUS. You all have my permission to be horribly jealous of me. Hopefully there will be photos soon.

All my love and all the best of luck to all of you happy readers out there!!!

(Oh, and Grandpa - yes, you're doing it right! To Gramps and everyone else: keep those messages coming!)

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