Switzerland: Interlaken

I spent my first weekend in Switzerland in Interlaken. It is a picturesque city with two lakes surrounding two sides of the city and the Swiss Alps forming the last two borders. Tourists flock to Interlaken for its extreme sports and its breathtaking scenery. I had an absolutely amazing weekend. I participated in an extreme sport (see next post), hiked a mountain (a strenuous, 2 hour hike but with stunning views of the lakes and the Alps) and walked through caves. Interlaken indeed has set the bar high for my weekend trips.

We stayed at Balmers Hostel and never before have I felt so old. The hostel has its own beer-garden as well as an underground club, which is the party hotspot for both locals and tourists. The 20 year-old me would have loved this place. The 25 year-old me, wasn’t as impressed. Throughout the weekend, I wondered: Why are people still partying- it’s 3am? Why are there two teenagers making out on that couch? And most importantly, why is that 16 year-old girl drinking beer with a straw? I did venture down to the club one night to show those teenagers how a real 25 year-old woman busts some moves. Sick dance moves, thankfully, have no borders.

Switzerland: World Health Organization- Celebrity Status

This week I attended the World Health Assembly (WHA) at the WHO. The WHA is an annual meeting of the WHO’s member states.  The WHA appoints the WHO director general, directs the financial policies of the organization by approving the budget. The WHA also reviews reports from the WHO Executive Board and decides on additional action of the reports. This year focused on WHO reform and non-communicable diseases. I attended the address from the Director-General Margaret Chan, Bill Gates and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh (Sheikh Hasina). I also attended technical briefings where the members proposed amendments for various resolutions.

 I feel like I’m on a Hollywood film set. Every time I turn around I feel like there is another Minister of Health of some country. On the elevator? BAM there’s the Minister of Health from Ethiopia. Sit down for some coffee? BAM there’s the Ministers of Health from the EU just finishing up a meeting on health policy. Basically, global health superstars surround me. It takes every bit of self-control to not constantly have my camera at bay ready to snap pictures as soon as the next badass global health policymakers walk by. (Though I have to admit I have snapped a few inconspicuous, or at least what I thought was inconspicuous, pics here and there. Before people noticed there was even a flash, BAM, I was gone.)

In full disclosure, while I did see the terrific triad speak at this year’s WHA (terrific triad= Margaret Chan, Bill Gates and Sheikh Hasina) I was not fortunate enough to take that picture posted below. I was, however, able to take a picture of Margaret Chan from the 6^th floor balcony. She looks like a tiny, beautiful speck of glory in a sea of policymakers. And I did snap a picture of Bill Gates because I saw him up close and personal. (Or maybe that was a picture of Bill Gates projected onto a screen in a viewing room for us little guys. Meh.)

My Homies

Switzerland: Geneva

Headquarters of many UN Agencies (including WHO, UNHCR, ILO…) French-speaking, Third Ranked City for Quality of Life in the World, Efficient Public Transportation, Rhone River, Chocolate, Second Largest City in Switzerland, Global City, Fourth Most Expensive City in the World, Red Cross Headquarters, Cheese, Global Financial Center, Hundreds of NGOs, Law-Abiding Citizens, and, most importantly, Swiss Liz

Switzerland: "Global Health is the Cornerstone of Global Prosperity"

At the World Health Assembly, I was fortunate enough to hear Bill Gates address the WHO member states. I found his speech inspiring and he naturally conveyed the qualities of a true leader. He was enthusiastic and innovative, and had clear and lofty goals. In addition, he had a concise plan of action and the resources to achieve his goals. 

 Bill Gates first began his work in global health in 2005. In 6 years, he went from knowing little about global health to becoming arguably the largest influence on global health policy. (In the words of Travie McCoy- I wanna be a billionaire.) He addressed the problems of global health in the context of diseases limiting worldwide potential.  Bill Gates looked forward to healthier nations and therefore more productive, innovative and highly functioning nations. 

His newest global health initiative is increasing vaccine coverage. He encouraged all of the leaders present to make this the “decade of vaccines.” He choose vaccines because he believed it was elegant technology, yet inexpensive, easy to deliver and fruitful because it provides life-long protection from various disease. Bill Gates outlined his Global Vaccine Action Plan, which will serve as a blue-print for the decade of vaccines. His immunizations goals were to have every country above a 90% vaccine coverage rate and every district above an 80% coverage work. He stated that his Global Vaccine Action Plan could be easily implemented and his goals achievable if the leaders of the world ban together in this common fight against diseases. He concluded that the reduction in morbidity and mortality that would follow would drastically increase the productivity of nations because “global health is the cornerstone of global prosperity.”

Switzerland: First Day at the World Health Organization

8:45am- Arrive to get badge

9am- Meet supervisor in lobby

9:01am- Get a cappuccino with my supervisor

9:10-10:10am- Chat over a cappuccino

10:10-10:45am- Tour of WHO

10:45-12pm- Complete my first assignment: “Go to the library, Liz, to check your e-mail”

12-1pm- Lunch

1-2:30- Wait for a speaker to arrive

2:30-4- Listen to speaker

4pm- Go home 

 Yes, it’s true. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into my first day on the job. Not everyone can truly influence global health policy all in one day’s work.

Switzerland: Lost Sheep, Big City

Maybe I didn’t come completely prepared for my first weekend in Switzerland. Since the front desk wasn’t open during the weekend, I couldn’t get access to the internet. I had no map of the city, street names or even directions for getting anywhere. Plus, I’ve been ranked in the top 10 individuals in the world who have the most horrible sense of direction. (For example, I had to pick up my keys upon my arrival in a hotel that was located about 2 blocks away. On the way home, I turned the wrong way onto my street and got lost for a few minutes.) Place me in a paper bag? I can’t get out.

While I would like to say that I spent the first day or two exploring the beautiful city of Geneva, I can’t say that I did. Instead I slept 18 hours since I super tired from finishing up exams, going out to celebrate exams, spending the next day packing and then not being able to sleep on my flight here. I also spent a significant amount of time trying to figure out how to pull up the blinds and turn on the lights. I spent my first hour in Geneva in the dark (literally and figuratively). Apparently you have to insert your room key into a little box in order to turn on the lights. And, you have to fold up the blinds cord in order to turn it to open the blinds. Who knew (Ok, so my roommate just told me that apparently it’s common to have to insert your key in order to turn on the lights at hotels in the US- so you probably knew that along with millions of other people. Meh.) I also spent some time figuring out how to make instant macaroni and cheese without a bowl or a microwave.

Not having internet this weekend would have been a huge problem. Considering that without it, I didn’t know how to get to work (seems important). Thankfully, I ran into a person in our program who let me use her internet, who walked me to the grocery store, showed me how to get to work, and who let me borrow a map of the city. Armed with my new tools for survival and my new ability to turn on the lights, I officially am no longer a completely lost sheep.

Switzerland: Traveling on Friday the 13th

Call me superstitious, but maybe I should have brought some garlic with me or began my morning chanting prayers over a fire in a dark room with an abundance of crosses to ward off the evil spirits of Friday the 13^th. Instead, I started off the day by having a bagel and butter in a well-lit room.

Clare (what a great friend!) drove me to the airport to begin my journey to Switzerland. Thankfully, about 20 minutes before she picked me up I remembered that I should probably write down my address in Switzerland before I hop on the plane (oops). Once I arrived at the airport, I went to check in. As the lady was punching in my confirmation number, her computer crashed (da da daaaa!). The only other computer that Continental had was occupied with a lady checking in a dog named Charlie who was beginning his journey alone to St. Thomas so he could be with his original owner. I had to wait about an hour while Charlie was being checked in. As soon as she began to check me in again, the manager came out and told us that our flight was being delayed about 2 hours. I would therefore miss my connecting flight. Thankfully, I was able to get re-routed through Chicago. My next two flights were delayed. But, the evil spirits must have been preoccupied trying to ruin other people’s travel days that I still had enough time to make my connecting flights.

Everything else went alright traveling to Switzerland except:

1. 3 flights= 3 middle seats= 4 obese people

 

2. Overnight flight with a snorer to my left

3. When I put in the coin to get the cart to carry my luggage, it jammed. Which normally wouldn’t be too big of a problem except:

4. Suitcase broke so that I couldn’t wheel it (it weighed about 50 pounds, and I had 2 bags). It was a struggle to say the least. I dragged one suitcase and wheeled the other large suitcase and looked like the most awkward, sweaty, and uncoordinated person one can imagine.

5. 10 minute cab ride in Switzerland was $60

6.  Front desk wasn’t open as I expected when I arrived. 

All in all, good triumphed over the evil spirits of Friday the 13^th even without a ritualistic chant or garlic. I arrived safely at my new home in Switzerland and was thankful that it was now Saturday the 14^th.