A Giddy State of Affairs

There are several reasons for my present state of giddiness. Firstly, I am returning to Europe after a yearlong hiatus. Despite having never been to Geneva, I feel an affinity to the city: its outward looking stance, its relevance to international trade and banking, its European customs and beautiful backdrop. Aware that I am romanticizing, I can’t help but look forward to reliving European living, as I did when I was jovem, (a younger person) in Lisbon, Portugal.

Secondly, since my first days as a student of the social sciences, I have sought to gain an understanding of international organizations within the context of an increasingly interrelated globe. Needless to say, the World Trade Organization – one of the most prominent international organizations in the world – will be a metaphorical stones’ throw from my hotel window and an excellent introduction into the world of international diplomacy and negotiation.

Thirdly, a good film or book (or blog, for that matter) can never fully replicate first hand experience. Frankly, nothing can take the place of phenomenological experience: that first hand, up close relationship between you and the environment, something that re-presentations of experience rarely succeed in capturing. In this instance, the choice between experience and its representation is clear: sans doute, I’d rather be in Geneva.