I Heart Barcelona

There is not much to say about Barcelona, you just have to experience it. That sounds a bit dramatic, but I do adore it. It's a city where you can just keep walking and get lost in all the different neighborhoods and alleys, as well as all the subtle, yet ornate details of every building, sidewalk, park bench, stool, fountain, street sign, bus stop, ...

The highlights include:
* all things Gaudi - where architecture and art truly meet
* the streetlamps - I am not too often that intrigued by inanimate objects. But the streetlamps were just beautiful. Streetlamps!
* the fact that even though it is a pretty touristy city, it didn't feel too touristy - I'm not sure how to explain this...but the vibes of the city were genuine

I think I was pretty giddy just seeing familiar faces too. It's fun being over here in Europe, but it can get exhausting try to make new friends and get to know people. Sometimes, you just want to chill or experience things with people in silence...or complete, unabashed enthusiasm. And I was able to do that with Brian, Dot, and Angel.

We were like four peas in a pod.

Declare Independence

Just days before Taiwan's elections, China rears its big ugly head again. [note: when I say, "China," I mean the Chinese government.]

China has put on a great front that they truly care about human rights, especially in the face of increased monitoring by the rest of the world as the summer Olympics approach. But if their prioritization of dangerous, eco-destroying industrialization over the safety, health and dignity of its citizens isn't enough of a clue that justice isn't really a value of the Chinese government, then certainly this week's forceful quelling of Tibetan protesters is.

While politics are incredibly gray and morality is in the eye of the beholder, there are hardly any redeeming qualities for China's policies - internally or externally. But it's becoming more and more evident that China's government operates purely through the lens of saving face. Is it not slightly ridiculous that Beijing will try to force rain just before the Olympics?!

Interestingly, because of the Tibetan riots, the Taiwanese polls have shown a slight increase in Frank Hsieh's (the Democratic Progressive Party's candidate) favor. While the current president's (Chen Shui-bian) term has been smeared with corruption and highly criticized economic policies, it is a big election. If Ma Ying-Jeou wins the election (which unfortunately is being forecasted), then Taiwan will return to the rule of the Kuomintang. The KMT is certainly more democratic and civil than it was just a couple of decades ago. But as my father put it, "Ma may not be a bad person in someway. But he is a dangerous person to trust in regarding to the dealing with the Red China." After sixty years of corruption, martial law, and abusive power, I wouldn't trust the KMT either.

The other day, I was at the 7th session of the Human Rights Council at the UN, and as I watched country representative after country representative respond to the presentations, I realized how sad it was that Taiwan did not have a seat. And how ironic it is that Taiwan doesn't have a seat because of China, which has one of the worst, ongoing human rights records in the world.

Unfortunately, all the petitions in the world won't really help as long as the US and other powerful countries continue to get closer to China, without enforcing accountability measures on their government. At least there is a lot of attention on them right now because of the Olympics. But what happens after the Olympics? And they aren't able to force enough rain to truly purify their air? And they continue to abuse their human resources until they, literally, collapse? How many years will it take for them to embrace the value of one individual?

As Bjork so boldly stated at a Shanghai concert earlier this month, "Declare Independence!"

Left photo taken from democracyinaction.org.

Xtreme Leslie

So, what do people here in Geneva do? They ski.

Well, I don't ski. But I figured I needed to give it a try. If I spent six months in Switzerland and never tried skiing, I would certainly regret it.

All seemed to be set for a great weekend...my friend, Seth, and a bunch of his friends rented a chalet in Verbier for the entire season where we could crash, plus we would be there for some of the Xtreme Verbier events on Saturday. So, head up on Thursday night, ski Friday and Saturday morning, and then watch some crazy amazing skiing Saturday afternoon.

It didn't quite go as well as I had anticipated. It all started when I couldn't get a lesson on Friday. Among four ski schools, there were no group lessons being offered, and no private lessons available. But my gracious friends, Tim and Ashley, offered to teach me how to ski in the afternoon. So, I met them for a late lunch at Attelas (at ~2700m up), about halfway to the highest peak, Mont Four. We finished around 3pm, and since (we thought) the lifts were going to stop running around 4pm, Tim and Ashley suggested we just ski down the entire way to teach me.

Maybe I should have listened to the little voice in my head that was saying, "Are you absolutely nuts?!" But I trusted them and thought...this is exactly what I need to fight. My FEAR. So, we headed out to start my first ski lesson. I get my skis on and they start trying to teach me how to stop and turn. For the most part, the beginning part is just a slight slope, so I start trying to do little runs, but then force myself to fall over in anticipation of falling off the slope into the black hole that I'm *certain* is just over the edge of the slope.

No less than 10 to 15 minutes, we come to a cross of several slopes, all of which is surrounded by this abyss that I'm certain I will fall into. Even with my knees shaking, my mind is saying, "Go, Leslie...go!!!" Well, one more run and a prompt falling over and sliding down the hill for way longer than I was comfortable with, I was done. I was terrified and quite literally, paralyzed with fear.

So, Tim and Ashley suggest we try a flatter slope lower down the mountain. I agree, although am really ready to go back to the safe, secure, flat chalet. So, I take off my skis and start walking down the slope (trying to dodge skiiers and boarders alike)...which is actually still a bit scary for me. About halfway down the hill, I find myself quickly surrounded by a Verbier ski patroller along with her class of five-year old ski prodigies. With a prompt, text-book ski stop, she takes off her sunglasses and scolds, "What are you doing?!" My feeble attempt to explain our grand plan was not very convincing. She demands that I walk back up the slope and take the gondola down. I tell her that's fine, but I point to my friends (who are now at the bottom of the hill) and let her know that they have my skis. She tells me to turn around and walk back up and she'll let them know that I am going back up to the cable car. All the while, all the kids are laughing at me. (Ok that's a lie...but in my moment of humiliation, that's how I imagine it in my head. =P) The ski patroller heads down and I can see her yelling at Tim and Ashley. So, I headed back up the mountain and then took the telecabine back down to a lower mountain, and sat in the sun the rest of the day.

We even managed to miss all the Xtreme Verbier events the next day, because we thought they were at the highest peak, Mont Four. So, we spent two hours getting to the top, and then found out that it was at a lower peak. So, another hour and half in transit, and then the competition was over. But I did check out the highlights online, which are amazing.

But all in all, I am really happy I went up to Verbier, and that I "tried" skiing. The views from Mont Four were absolutely breathtaking. But I think I'll try cross-country skiing next time ;P

Laughter. Serenity.

"The shortest way to serenity is through laughter."

The 6th annual International Human Rights Film Festival of Geneva is currently under way. Tonight, I was able to catch Face2Face, a documentary about a French photographer, Marco, and street artist, JR, who decide to put up huge portraits of Israelis and Palestinians next to each other all across polarized cities such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Jerusalem. They videotaped the journey and actual posting of portraits as well as the reactions from passer-byers. And they often polled people on who was the Palestinian and who was the Israeli.

What I loved about the film was that they didn't go into a deep history about the issues, managing to make it a mostly unpolitical documentary. Through the simple, yet powerful, statement of the possibility of "neighbors" being real neighbors, they were able to catch the visceral reactions of Israelis and Palestinians alike. For most, there was sincere interest in the beginning, mostly in the form of laughter. But once enlightened to the idea behind the photos, some became visibly disturbed.

The film really brings out the absurdity of it all. It's an incredible expression of just how perverse, yet beautiful this world is.

Photo taken from the face2faceproject.com website.

Ode to Geneva Public Transport

I missed the 8:52am tram this morning. How? Because I got there at 8:51am.

Yes, that's right folks. Akin to being the world's best watch-makers, the Swiss are uber-efficient. The trams and trains actually come on time - and often, early. It's nice, but sometimes frustrating. Even their buses pretty much run on schedule. It's incredible.

Loompaland

It's true. The Swiss know about chocolate.

Over the weekend, I found myself at the Geneva Chocolate Festival in a cute little town called Versoix. And let me tell you...it was more than all my senses could handle. Sweet, rich aromas of chocolate goodness wafted through the streets of Versoix, while kids and adults alike were dotted with smears of chocolate from top to bottom.

For the chocolatiers, it was an opportunity to showcase their latest inventions, as well as their amazing chocolate statues and models. The festival's main attraction was a tour of one of Switzerland's most famed chocolatiers, Faverger. During the tour, I found out that the Swiss consume the most chocolate, per capita per year, in the world. The average Swiss eats about 25 pounds of chocolate per year. The US was actually much lower than I expected - coming in at #11 at close to 12 pounds per year. Interestingly, 16 out of the top 20 chocolate-consuming countries is European.

If high chocolate consumption is the sign of a true Genevan, then I am well on my way to becoming one :)

Pursuit of Happiness

You gotta love a city that names its streets after food establishments.

Unfortunately, the food is more than sub-par, for ridiculous prices. An average lunch will cost you 13-15 swiss francs (currently 1 to 1 with the dollar to my dismay), while an average dinner will cost at least 25-30 francs. And this is for nothing special, and certainly nothing tasty.

However, being in such close proximity to France, the cheese is marvelous. Yes, glorious, unpasteurized cheese abounds here. Sure, it may be a bit risky to digest, but life's too short I say. Let your hair down, and eat up all the questionable bacteria you can.

But even the fondue is disappointing. Well, I've only had it once - so I will have to test the waters again. But the melted cheese was really thick and oily--perhaps that's how it is supposed to be (?). The only saving grace was the burnt cheese on the side and bottom of the fondue pot. And (you may need to sit down for this)...there is no chocolate fondue. !?$!? Apparently, that's an American phenomenon. Who knew?

And for all you inquiring minds out there -- no, you cannot find Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate here. Shocking, I know.