It's a staple of every University of Chicago abroad program to give students a week off to travel around. Last quarter I went to London and Dublin, one of the best adventures of my life. This quarter the plan is a little different. I'm going on two short trips, but allowing myself a few days in Paris, just to hang out.
The first adventure I'm going on is a weekend trip to Amsterdam. I'm going with my friend and future roommate Sara. We are taking the train tomorrow (Friday) morning, and I'm heading back towards Paris on Monday morning. We don't have any super solid plans for what we are doing yet, but I think one of them is to rent bikes!
The second adventure is a short jaunt down to the Cote d'Azur. I really wanted to go to Nice when I was traveling in December but the train tickets just wouldn't work out. Earlier this quarter I was talking to my friend and former Biology labpartner Mara and she was interested in going too. We managed to find cheap flights and a cheap room in Nice so we booked for two nights. We are heading down on Tuesday in the morning, and then coming back Thursday night. The plan includes the Matisse Museum in Nice, a day trip to Monaco, and the beach!
Then I'm back in Paris from Friday to Sunday just to relax, and maybe see some stuff that I have yet to see. Maybe start writing some papers. Relaxing. Then its two weeks of super intense work and then back to the US.
WOW time has flown.
Anyways, I'll talk to you soon!
Love, Nora
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
OECD
Monday our class had session at the OECD, the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development. Our session was a general overview of the organization, and it was so far my favorite presentation we've been to. Generally the organization was formed as a forum to determine the distribution of aid under the Marshall Plan after World War Two. The OECD actually began as the OEEC, the Organization of European Economic Cooperation, but now it has evolved into a more international organization. It's newer mission is to promote development and the expansion of globalization through the world, but they also promote the sustainability of the economies of the member states. Many people call the OECD the "Rich Man's Club" as the organization is mostly comprised of the richest countries in the world. This is evident in a visit because the facility is incredibly fancy. We got fancy nametags that allowed us to pass through the security and the room where we had our session was very nice. The Speaker was very interesting, and he normally works in the media and publicity department, though he has some considerable experience with working with the post-Soviet bloc and the World Bank. He mostly outline the general history of the organization, but he also talked about its future as well. The future stuff is actually what interests me the most, particularly the expansion of membership. What's more is that the same speaker is coming to our Center on Wednesday to do a second session with us, on the day-to-day workings of the organizations, something I am very stoked to hear about due to my Model UN involvement.
Fountainebleau
Friday I had to go to Versailles again for the same tour I did last quarter. Needless to say I didn't stick around very long (as I'm not really partial to Versailles) and I ended up in a McDonald's while everyone else continued the tour. This trip, however, influenced my decision to go with several classmates to Fountainebleau, and to visit the grand palace situated there.
It takes about 45 minutes by TER train to get to Fountainebleau, and let me tell you, we had quite the Amazing Race moment when we got to the train station! We were running a bit late, and Gare de Lyon in Paris was packed with people. We couldn't find the ticket counters, and we were literally watching the clock tick down to the moment the train was leaving. We literally managed to jump on the train seconds before it started to roll out. Crazy. The ride to Fountainebleau was nice, quick, and we arrived at the station there in good form. From the station its about a 40 minute walk to the palace, or about ten minutes on local bus. I quite like ridding the bus, so we jumped on and headed through the city. Fountainebleau, the city, is very characteristic of mid-size French cities. There is a main drag with most major chains, and then smaller streets where the residences are. Very cute.
The palace at Fountainebleau has a much longer history than that at Versailles. While Versailles was just hanging around as a hunting cabin, Fountainebleau was already the hub of the French monarchy. From Henri II on French monarchs have called Fountainebleau home, for at least part of their reign. Even Napoleon kept apartments there! This means that there is much more to see at Fountainebleau than Versailles, even though size-wise Versailles is much bigger. You can see the history of the palace as you past from room to room. Where some apartments are done in the Renaissance style, others are done in the classic or post-revolution styles. You can also see some very curious places that are important to French history. The last remaining throne room in France is at Fountainebleau, as it was spared by the revolutionaries, and the room where Napoleon abdicated his position as emperor is also in Fountainebleau. While at Fountainebleau we walked around on our own terms, with the audio guide, which is where I learned all of this. Just an aside, I am much more partial to audio guides when learning French history. Only because I get tired of art so I can fastforward. Unorthodox, I know.
The gardens at Fountainebleau aren't of the same nature as those at Versailles, but they are very impressive none the less. What is interesting in going to places like these is that the front of these palaces usually faces the city and is on a busy-ish street, but then you go out back and you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. It's great! We wandered the gardens for awhile before heading back towards the train station. Oh, and we grabbed some of the local specialties too... huge croissants filled with cheese and meat!
Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011368&id=1599570086&l=cea87
It takes about 45 minutes by TER train to get to Fountainebleau, and let me tell you, we had quite the Amazing Race moment when we got to the train station! We were running a bit late, and Gare de Lyon in Paris was packed with people. We couldn't find the ticket counters, and we were literally watching the clock tick down to the moment the train was leaving. We literally managed to jump on the train seconds before it started to roll out. Crazy. The ride to Fountainebleau was nice, quick, and we arrived at the station there in good form. From the station its about a 40 minute walk to the palace, or about ten minutes on local bus. I quite like ridding the bus, so we jumped on and headed through the city. Fountainebleau, the city, is very characteristic of mid-size French cities. There is a main drag with most major chains, and then smaller streets where the residences are. Very cute.
The palace at Fountainebleau has a much longer history than that at Versailles. While Versailles was just hanging around as a hunting cabin, Fountainebleau was already the hub of the French monarchy. From Henri II on French monarchs have called Fountainebleau home, for at least part of their reign. Even Napoleon kept apartments there! This means that there is much more to see at Fountainebleau than Versailles, even though size-wise Versailles is much bigger. You can see the history of the palace as you past from room to room. Where some apartments are done in the Renaissance style, others are done in the classic or post-revolution styles. You can also see some very curious places that are important to French history. The last remaining throne room in France is at Fountainebleau, as it was spared by the revolutionaries, and the room where Napoleon abdicated his position as emperor is also in Fountainebleau. While at Fountainebleau we walked around on our own terms, with the audio guide, which is where I learned all of this. Just an aside, I am much more partial to audio guides when learning French history. Only because I get tired of art so I can fastforward. Unorthodox, I know.
The gardens at Fountainebleau aren't of the same nature as those at Versailles, but they are very impressive none the less. What is interesting in going to places like these is that the front of these palaces usually faces the city and is on a busy-ish street, but then you go out back and you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. It's great! We wandered the gardens for awhile before heading back towards the train station. Oh, and we grabbed some of the local specialties too... huge croissants filled with cheese and meat!
Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011368&id=1599570086&l=cea87
Catacombes
I went to the Catacombes on a Friday afternoon, sort of on a whim. Let me tell you, it is not a good idea to go into underground caves, filled with bones, by yourself. It was freakkky. The catacombes originated as limestone quarries for Parisian building projects like 500 years ago, but as limestone started to become less desired the quarries started to close down. At about the same time there was a crisis in the center of the city. Due to remanants of the plague and other public health crisis, there were lots of dead bodies lying around (nice huh?). Although they had a large cemetery near Les Halles (just north of the Ile de la Cite, where Notre Dame is situated), the cemetery was filling to quickly. On top of that the dead bodies in the cemetery were continuing to infect the population of Paris. It was decided then, that the bodies would be exhumed, and moved into the abandoned quarries. Now if you go you'll be able to see millions of bones lined up in what literally appears to be a sort of decorative fashion.
When you start a visit at the Catacombes you must descend down into the quarries. This is done by going down about eight floors on a spiral staircase. You then arrive in a small chamber where they have some posters explaining what you are going to see. The first 500 meters of the Catacombes are just narrow tunnels, not for the claustrophobic. These tunnels show the nature of the quarries, and there are some explanations of the methods the French used to mine out the limestone. You then reach a doorway with a large sign that says something like "Beware, you are passing into the realm of the dead." A bit morbid and strange, but really eerie too. Going through this doorway you are immediately see stacks and stacks of bones. It is strange because the bones are stacked very neatly, femurs together, arms together, and so on. It's quite morbid and freaky. I walked through really fast, I didn't really like it. At the end of these tunnels you arrive at another staircase and have to climb back up. Before exiting they check your bag, to make sure you haven't stolen anything from the tunnels (ha! Like I would stick a femur in my purse!), and then you step out into the fresh air. It's strange, but really refreshing to be back outside.
There's some photos in here, with some others!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011293&id=1599570086&l=14f0b
When you start a visit at the Catacombes you must descend down into the quarries. This is done by going down about eight floors on a spiral staircase. You then arrive in a small chamber where they have some posters explaining what you are going to see. The first 500 meters of the Catacombes are just narrow tunnels, not for the claustrophobic. These tunnels show the nature of the quarries, and there are some explanations of the methods the French used to mine out the limestone. You then reach a doorway with a large sign that says something like "Beware, you are passing into the realm of the dead." A bit morbid and strange, but really eerie too. Going through this doorway you are immediately see stacks and stacks of bones. It is strange because the bones are stacked very neatly, femurs together, arms together, and so on. It's quite morbid and freaky. I walked through really fast, I didn't really like it. At the end of these tunnels you arrive at another staircase and have to climb back up. Before exiting they check your bag, to make sure you haven't stolen anything from the tunnels (ha! Like I would stick a femur in my purse!), and then you step out into the fresh air. It's strange, but really refreshing to be back outside.
There's some photos in here, with some others!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011293&id=1599570086&l=14f0b
Friday, February 6, 2009
Strasbourg
Our train out there was at 6:50 or so in the morning, which meant that we all had to be at Gard de l'Est (on the northside of town) at 6:30. This meant a good 30 minute metro ride for us, so I was rolling out of bed at the nice healthy hour of 5:30. I'm not really a morning person (clearly) so this was not very fun for me. We took the TGV direct out there, so it was a relatively quick ride, just a little under 2.5 hours.
Once we were there we walked to the European Parliament Headquarters. The EP splits its time between Strasbourg and Brussels (which is really inefficient but has to do with France wanting more importance in the EU), and we were in Strasbourg because the EP was in session there for the week. We were originally supposed to go to Brussels, but had to change when we found out they were in Strasbourg. I was a bit disappointed by this, because it would have been cool to go to Belgium, probably won't legitimately get there now (my train to Amsterdam goes through, but I don't know if that counts).
At the EP we did a question and answer session with Pervenche Beres, the chairlady of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Policy. She is a big deal right now, with the financial crisis and all. The session was really interesting, and topical because we've been studying the Economic and Monetary Union in my EU class. Most of the stuff she talked about had to do with the euro and what the EU is working on to withstand the financial crisis. She highlighted the fact that the EU is a strange case because in the eurozone (countries on the euro) there are 16 separate economies. It's difficult, then, to regulate a currency that effects all of these countries in a time of crisis. Some economies are doing much better than others. For example, Germany is doing better than Slovenia. So its been especially difficult for the EU. But also not difficult because most of the trade in the EU happens between EU countries so they don't have to worry about exchange rates right now. Really interesting stuff, I wish I knew more about economics.
After the session with Mme Beres we got to sit on about a half hour of plenary session and voting in the EP Assembly Hall. The EP currently has some 700 members, so this hall if ginormous. The debate was about agriculture and it was pretty clear that most people had already made up their minds on the resolution on the table, so it was a bit dull. It was cool however, because in the EP it is required that all members speak their native tongue... which means that everything is being translated into 23 languages. We got to wear headsets so we could hear the English, and it was incredibly impressive how quickly the translators worked. The delay was only 2 or 3 seconds on the English... not bad at all. Once long ago I thought about being a translator, but now I see how much work that would have been. The voting was quick because the have a lightboard, so delegates only have to push a button at their seats and it electronically tallies the vote. It's kind of cool to see the result all of a sudden flash up on the screen. Someday I hope all Model UNs have them so we don't have to count placards anymore!
After the EP we walked to our restaurant for lunch. We ate at a really really fancy bowling alley, and it was one of the better meals I've had on my excursions. The first course was a salad and a quiche. I used to hate quiche, but it's been growing on me since I got here. It is very french. The main course was a huge piece of salmon with an amazing sauce and rice. Salmon is my favorite so I was pretty stoked about this... especially because last time we had rabbit which I didn't like. The dessert was an apple strudel with cinnamon ice cream, delish. I had a coffee too, for good measure.
In the afternoon we did a small tour of the Cathedral in Strasbourg (which looks like most of the ones I've seen but wider), and of the old part of town. The tour was interesting but sort of the same as every other one I've done. After we had a bit of time to just wander and do what we wanted. I went with Sara and Felicity to find some bretzles (they're German, but we were practically in Germany and I really wanted one) and to shop around. Strasbourg, I found, is like a bigger and french version of Freiburg in Germany (where I went a couple of weeks ago). I really liked it there. After about an hour we met back up and headed towards the train and 2.5 hours later we were back in Paris and all exhausted! What a day!
(pictures coming soon)
Once we were there we walked to the European Parliament Headquarters. The EP splits its time between Strasbourg and Brussels (which is really inefficient but has to do with France wanting more importance in the EU), and we were in Strasbourg because the EP was in session there for the week. We were originally supposed to go to Brussels, but had to change when we found out they were in Strasbourg. I was a bit disappointed by this, because it would have been cool to go to Belgium, probably won't legitimately get there now (my train to Amsterdam goes through, but I don't know if that counts).
At the EP we did a question and answer session with Pervenche Beres, the chairlady of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Policy. She is a big deal right now, with the financial crisis and all. The session was really interesting, and topical because we've been studying the Economic and Monetary Union in my EU class. Most of the stuff she talked about had to do with the euro and what the EU is working on to withstand the financial crisis. She highlighted the fact that the EU is a strange case because in the eurozone (countries on the euro) there are 16 separate economies. It's difficult, then, to regulate a currency that effects all of these countries in a time of crisis. Some economies are doing much better than others. For example, Germany is doing better than Slovenia. So its been especially difficult for the EU. But also not difficult because most of the trade in the EU happens between EU countries so they don't have to worry about exchange rates right now. Really interesting stuff, I wish I knew more about economics.
After the session with Mme Beres we got to sit on about a half hour of plenary session and voting in the EP Assembly Hall. The EP currently has some 700 members, so this hall if ginormous. The debate was about agriculture and it was pretty clear that most people had already made up their minds on the resolution on the table, so it was a bit dull. It was cool however, because in the EP it is required that all members speak their native tongue... which means that everything is being translated into 23 languages. We got to wear headsets so we could hear the English, and it was incredibly impressive how quickly the translators worked. The delay was only 2 or 3 seconds on the English... not bad at all. Once long ago I thought about being a translator, but now I see how much work that would have been. The voting was quick because the have a lightboard, so delegates only have to push a button at their seats and it electronically tallies the vote. It's kind of cool to see the result all of a sudden flash up on the screen. Someday I hope all Model UNs have them so we don't have to count placards anymore!
After the EP we walked to our restaurant for lunch. We ate at a really really fancy bowling alley, and it was one of the better meals I've had on my excursions. The first course was a salad and a quiche. I used to hate quiche, but it's been growing on me since I got here. It is very french. The main course was a huge piece of salmon with an amazing sauce and rice. Salmon is my favorite so I was pretty stoked about this... especially because last time we had rabbit which I didn't like. The dessert was an apple strudel with cinnamon ice cream, delish. I had a coffee too, for good measure.
In the afternoon we did a small tour of the Cathedral in Strasbourg (which looks like most of the ones I've seen but wider), and of the old part of town. The tour was interesting but sort of the same as every other one I've done. After we had a bit of time to just wander and do what we wanted. I went with Sara and Felicity to find some bretzles (they're German, but we were practically in Germany and I really wanted one) and to shop around. Strasbourg, I found, is like a bigger and french version of Freiburg in Germany (where I went a couple of weeks ago). I really liked it there. After about an hour we met back up and headed towards the train and 2.5 hours later we were back in Paris and all exhausted! What a day!
(pictures coming soon)
Monday, February 2, 2009
La Puce a l'Oreille
Translated to "flea in the ear" this is the name of a play I had to go to for French class this past weekend. We read the play for class (which was a bit dull because it is very long), and then the Center got us tickets to go see it at the Theatre Athenee. The Theatre is in a very belle quartier (cute neighborhood) of Paris, to the northwest of the main Opera house (L'Opera Garnier). It is of the same time period as the Opera I believe, and was very beautiful.
The play itself was actually really really good. I was a bit dreading it because its 2 hours and 30 minutes without intermission, but it flew by. The cast was all very fun, and they really hit their stride in the second act. The story is a big jumble of people thinking that other people are cheating on each other, and it's all misconceptions and unclear language. Their is actually one guy in it who can't even speak consonants! The first act sets up the story, the second act is where all of the major suspicion takes places, and then the final act is the resolution. The second act was particularly funny because of the speed at which it was played out. It takes place in a hotel, and it was a constant motion of people leaving the stage, coming onto the stage, running through... exhilarating. I don't know if I've ever seen a play that was that "on" before. Very good.
Now I'm pretty much done with the theater, unless we get some surprise tickets, but I'm glad I got my chance to get dressed up a few times and go out with the French people!
The play itself was actually really really good. I was a bit dreading it because its 2 hours and 30 minutes without intermission, but it flew by. The cast was all very fun, and they really hit their stride in the second act. The story is a big jumble of people thinking that other people are cheating on each other, and it's all misconceptions and unclear language. Their is actually one guy in it who can't even speak consonants! The first act sets up the story, the second act is where all of the major suspicion takes places, and then the final act is the resolution. The second act was particularly funny because of the speed at which it was played out. It takes place in a hotel, and it was a constant motion of people leaving the stage, coming onto the stage, running through... exhilarating. I don't know if I've ever seen a play that was that "on" before. Very good.
Now I'm pretty much done with the theater, unless we get some surprise tickets, but I'm glad I got my chance to get dressed up a few times and go out with the French people!
UNESCO
Last Monday my International Organizations class went on our first visit to an actual International Organization, UNESCO. We went over for a presentation during normal class hours, which meant hoping on the metro across town after French class in the morning. UNESCO is located near the Eiffel Tower and the Ecole Militaire, so it wasn't too hard to find... we had more trouble figuring out which was the visitors entrance than which was the building! Upon arrival we were giving credentials (nametag) so we could pass through security, and we were led down to a conference room.
UNESCO is the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization, and based on that name you better believe it has a broad mandate. Their work is generally administrative based, meaning that while UNESCO deals with education they do not directly provide teachers to third world countries. Instead they write reports that influence non-governmental organizations and national politics. Thus while UNESCO may not seem like they are doing a lot, they are actually very influential in their dealings within the international system.
Our visit to UNESCO was highlighted with a presentation about UNESCO's work with UNAIDS. While UNAIDS is the UN agency devoted to AIDS relief and research, it does not actively do anything (story of the UN). Instead it serves as an umbrella organization to other UN subsidiary bodies, like UNESCO. UNESCO's mandate on AIDS is in the sector of education, so our presentation was about some of the work UNESCO has been doing in Kenya to help with the AIDS situation, through education. It was very enlightening, and it underlined the fact that it is very difficult for International bodies to work in a world where state independence is key.
I enjoyed the visit immensely, although it was a shame that our presentation was so focused and a bit too technical. I would have preferred a more general presentation on all of the workings of UNESCO, and maybe a tour. I did talk to the presenter afterward, explaining my activity in Model UN, and she showed me the main meeting hall (akin to the UN General Assembly hall in NYC). It was impressive, though not on the scale of New York. This visit slightly solidified my desire to be a civil servant and work in an IGO when I graduate. I still need a little more to push me that way though... maybe my next visit (I got to the European Parliament on Thursday, and I still have visits to the OECD and IEA later this quarter)...
There are a few photos of UNESCO in here... among other more recent pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011066&l=5c1d1&id=1599570086
UNESCO is the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization, and based on that name you better believe it has a broad mandate. Their work is generally administrative based, meaning that while UNESCO deals with education they do not directly provide teachers to third world countries. Instead they write reports that influence non-governmental organizations and national politics. Thus while UNESCO may not seem like they are doing a lot, they are actually very influential in their dealings within the international system.
Our visit to UNESCO was highlighted with a presentation about UNESCO's work with UNAIDS. While UNAIDS is the UN agency devoted to AIDS relief and research, it does not actively do anything (story of the UN). Instead it serves as an umbrella organization to other UN subsidiary bodies, like UNESCO. UNESCO's mandate on AIDS is in the sector of education, so our presentation was about some of the work UNESCO has been doing in Kenya to help with the AIDS situation, through education. It was very enlightening, and it underlined the fact that it is very difficult for International bodies to work in a world where state independence is key.
I enjoyed the visit immensely, although it was a shame that our presentation was so focused and a bit too technical. I would have preferred a more general presentation on all of the workings of UNESCO, and maybe a tour. I did talk to the presenter afterward, explaining my activity in Model UN, and she showed me the main meeting hall (akin to the UN General Assembly hall in NYC). It was impressive, though not on the scale of New York. This visit slightly solidified my desire to be a civil servant and work in an IGO when I graduate. I still need a little more to push me that way though... maybe my next visit (I got to the European Parliament on Thursday, and I still have visits to the OECD and IEA later this quarter)...
There are a few photos of UNESCO in here... among other more recent pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011066&l=5c1d1&id=1599570086
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