Voulez-vous...learn to like tomatoes...avec moi?

Let's talk food. Two reasons: 1) Because, that is the only thing my lovely Indian mother seems to care about, "What are you eating? Did you eat today? Describe what you ate, Urvi." 2) Because, food is a topic that transcends cultures; I think it may just be the thing that can resolve conflicts (Dear IA buddies- I'm kidding!). In Geneva, food is abundant and diverse. I have seen about every type of cuisine: Thai, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Indian, French, Italian. I have yet to figure out what traditional Swiss food is other then cheese, wine, bread, chocolate, & coffee (which you can have 9 times a day if you so desire, someone will join you at the cafe). I did, however, discover what a traditional Swiss breakfast is...see picture below (yes, that is two blocks of Gruyere cheese...once again, I can definitely make a life here). Also, to my surprise, there are about 200 Indian restaurants and approximately 76 Indian people in Geneva. In addition, I have seen more Indian grocery stores here than in all of Maryland. It is true. I think I have found the "Edison, NJ" of Switzerland! Jackpot.

Unfortunately, as a broke student, I cannot partake in enjoying the plethora of food available here, so don't expect many blog entries re divine meals I have had. My (pre-)wealth manager, better known as my dad, advises me that given my financial condition, I will have to stick to eating tomato-mozzarella sandwiches everyday. Thus, restoring my "like" for tomatoes (running count of how many sandwiches I have eaten in the past 12 days I have been here...16). I am either coming back to the States a chub-ster with a belly full of cheese and bread or a starving artist with nothing but a blog to her name and a caffeine high. On the bright side, Alicia, Stephanie and I have decided one splurge meal (aka $20, we are talking maybe a pizza or a falafel) a week. Holler at an outgoing dollar as currently, I am chowing down on some pasta with Tabasco sauce on it (not bad if i do say so myself). Once again, my love for hot sauce saves the day; bon appetit!

Voulez-vous...visit Nyon...avec moi?

Sunday, 9/12/10.

Today was a wonderful day! Took a day trip to Nyon, Switzerland, a small town outside Geneva. The theme of the day was best stated by Alicia, "let's take pictures that make people back home jealous." And that is just what we did.

But, because I want you to enjoy Geneva as well, I'll make this post a picture-heavy entry. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words and we all know I should talk/write less sometimes... :)

Voulez-vous...seesaw...avec moi?

Saturday, 9/11/10.

Another day, another failed apartment search. Today might be what you call an "epic fail." Why, you ask? Picture it...

Apartment Viewing No. 1:

Stephanie and I venture to the city centre to see an apartment with an appointment time of 10:30am, timeline of viewing...

10:30am: I call the sweet old (and i mean, old) lady as she told me to. What does she say? "Hellooo, youu come at 11:15, yes? yes?"...Sure thing, madame! Where should I meet you? "I told you yesterday!" Click.

11:15am: "Helloooo? You call me before? Yes, you come in 20 minutes another girl here to see"...Ok, lady what is going on?

11:25am: "Hellooo? OK, come now"

Description of the room: smells like old lady, Goodwill & Salvation Army use her living room as their warehouse, has no internet, no working kitchen AND costs Fr. 900/month.

Apartment Viewing No. 2:

Stephanie and I venture to the another part of the city, Carouge. Great location, very quaint! We think we are early for our 1:00pm appointment, so what do we do? Grab a baguette sandwich and mosey our way to the apartment, naturally. It can't be that far, right? Wrong. After 25-minute-uphill hike while chowing down on a tomate-mozzarella baguette and gasping for air, we arrive to some quite charming apartments. Timeline of this viewing...

12:55pm: We are early! Let's just stand in front of the door and revel in the fact that we are punctual people.

1:00pm: Swiss people aren't late, where is this guy?

1:05pm: Let's take a seat on the step and wait it out.

1:15pm: hmm, maybe I should buzz the apt he told us, Floor A (Attique). No answer. But Apt B has Hector's name- the guy I am supposed to meet, but it is a different last name. To buzz or not to buzz? Nah, that is rude.

1:25pm: Wow, guy. We are leaving.

1:30pm: There is a seesaw! This day just got 10x better. Forget that I didn't get to see an apartment. I burned off that entire baguette I ate (always a plus) and seesawed like it's 1996 (see picture above!)

3:00pm: Back at the hotel. Email to Hector- Dear Hector, Where were you?

3:05pm: Dear Urvi- I was waiting in my apartment for you.

Separated by a wall and shrubbery, Hector and I waited patiently for one another, neither of us making a move...

Perfect segway to the topic of nightlife in Geneva. Let me rephrase that, LIMITED nightlife in Geneva. I went to a bar yesterday that had about 12 people in it from 11pm-1:30am. Apparently, people in Geneva do not party and forget about making a move on each other at a bar. Apparently, people here do not pick each other up at bars either. While some people throughout the U.S. should take a hint, how do people meet? Stay tuned...

On another note, I promise I will find an apartment soon and then my blog entries won't be about my intense search for an abode.

Voulez-vous...sleep by Lake Geneve...avec moi?

Yep, that's right...I am asking if you would like to sleep with me by the lake. Any takers? Because it looks like the Geneva housing market is just that crazy. I was warned, but UJ is wayyy to positive for those cautious words. Now, after 1.2 million messages sent, 5 messages in response, and 1 (yep, ONE) viewing...I believe those words of wisdom were right on; finding an apartment in this grand city is no easy task. But let's stay positive and remember, sleeping by the lake or at the train station are always options. At least I can sprawl out across my three suitcases.

On another note, today has been eventful to say the least. Let's run down the day in chronological order:

1. I blew the fuse in our hotel with my hairdryer...AND, I had a converter. Can anyone say aye caramba or wow, your hair = hot mess!

2. Alicia, Stephanie and I visited the school and our program director. The literal translation here: we got off at the wrong bus stop, could not find the entrance, went to the wrong building and bothered a whole lot of otherwise peaceful swiss people.

3. Orange Juice costs $6 for a liter and a sushi roll at the grocery store, $28. Momma always said OJ was expensive.

4. Bought cellular phones. You're thinking: Yay! Unfortunately, not the case, as the three of us AND the girl who was renting her apartment that we viewed, couldn't figure out how to get our phones to read our Sim Cards. Major fail. (Dear Oscar- You were so nice to sell us phones, speak english/spanish/french with us, but QUE TAL, amigo? we want our phones to work!)

5. Late to my only apartment viewing. Yup in a city that functions with punctuality in mind, I was late. Fortunately, the lady was Italian and didn't mind too much. At this viewing we learned it's hard to rent in Geneva, there is a lot of paperwork, it's a renter's market, and this is going to be a tad bit harder then we thought. Plus side, we made a new friend!

6. Alicia's apartment. Apparently the gates close at 6pm. So what do you do? Curse it out and then walk through the park threatening every tree and lizard (yup, there are lizards in Geneva) that you are going to have a word with somebody tomorrow and climb that wall if necessary until you discover the pathway to the secret garden.

Now, the positives:

1. My school sits on the lake and is beautiful. View the picture above, enough said.

2. We have one week until school starts, so plenty of time to explore Geneva and travel elsewhere.

3. People here speak Spanish as well. Que bueno!

4. Alicia and Stephanie are here with me. Read: UJ, is not curled up in a ball at Gare Cornavin rocking back and forth.

5. When you are having a tough day, a little vino and brie by the lake overlooking the mountains, helps a lot!

Corrections/Additions to yesterday's posts.

I think it is Jaywalk, not J-walk.

Also, the title of my blog originates from my lack of french language skills + my favorite phrase (until I learned what it meant), "voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" I figured that should not represent my experience in Geneva; thus, I am learning more French. So, you ask, what do I know after two days? To that I would say, "Je ne pal pa frances. Parle vous Anglais" ;)

Voulez-vous voyager a Geneve avec moi?

Greetings from Geneva! I am here and in love with the city. It is a little rainy and chilly, but for a girl who is sad about missing autumn in DC, I'll take it! My first day in Geneva and I have already learned three lessons:

1. It is expensive. $30 for Thai food? No, thanks- I'll starve!

2. When a guy with crutches J-walks right by you, fair to say you can practice J-walking. Now, that I can appreciate!

3. Wherever you go in this city, it is beautiful. Cameras out!

I have never blogged and hope to post daily, but I believe it will be a great way for you all to experience Geneva with me, hence the title of my blog...would you like to ___ with me?

So, Voulez-vous voyager a Geneve avec moi?