La Première Semaine

Looking over La Place de Neuve, Genève

Hello Internet,

First and foremost: today, I hiked in the Alps. Like what??? I never thought I would be able to say that statement and let me just begin with saying: it was incredible.

My roommate Jason and I climbed to the summit of Mont Salève, right over the border in France, with an elevation of 1,379 meters. It was difficult but so incredibly worth it. We made it to the top in about 2 and a half hours (this includes our multiple stops to take pictures). After making it to the top, and after we had our fill of admiring the view, we took a cable car back down. The entirety of our trek was filled with beautiful, picturesque scenery. Take a look:

It was a journey unlike any other I’ve taken before and I can’t wait to do it again when it is warmer.

Classes began on Thursday for me and I have to say I am going to enjoy them. I am in two classes for the first two weeks of my program. The first is an Art History course focused on learning the history of Switzerland through its art and architecture and the other is an international relations course focused on the Swiss identity within Europe.

I had the Art History course on Thursday and we had about an hour in the classroom and then we took a short walk to a local park, le Parc des Eaux-Vives. There, we discussed some neo-classical architecture that we found, but here’s why this is important: during this short trip, it was snowing: our first snow in Geneva, and this made the park absolutely beautiful. Again, Take a look for yourself:

On Saturday, I took a tour of Old Town, Geneva with a local tour guide along with a bunch of the rest of my BU classmates. It was very interesting and I learned a whole lot about the history of Geneva in the just the two hours with the guide. The history here is amazing. In the States, our entire history only ranges until the 17th century, but here it ranges as far back as civilization can go. If you can believe it, I also have pictures from Old Town:

Mosaic depicting the Middle Ages

Chapel within Saint Peter’s Cathedral, restored to how the church would have looked pre-reformation

Huge Cathedral Organ Pipes

That’s about all that I have been up to. It’s been a great first week and I don’t think I could have asked for better. The trip continues to amaze me with what I’ve been able to do and see. I hope that continues but I also hope it slows itself down.

Au revior,

Matthew