by Piper Lee
This week, we traveled to Geneva, and it has already been one of my favorite parts of the trip so far. Geneva is such a beautiful city, and I loved getting to experience both the culture and the global health perspectives that make the city so unique.
When we first arrived, we went on a walking tour around Geneva. It was interesting to learn about the city’s history and culture while also getting to see the amazing views. Later that evening, we all went to dinner together and tried traditional Swiss foods like fondue and raclette. I personally enjoyed the raclette much more than the fondue, but it was fun getting to try both and experience a part of Swiss culture. After dinner, we got gelato together as a group, which quickly became one of our favorite traditions during the trip.
We also had the opportunity to hear from a guest speaker, Dr. Theresa Diaz, who spoke about public health careers and health data. I really enjoyed hearing about everything she has accomplished throughout her career and learning about how she started a nonprofit organization to help address gaps in funding. It was inspiring to hear how one person can make such a large impact in public health.
The next day, we toured the United Nations, which was one of the highlights of the trip for me. As a political science major, I found it fascinating to learn more about how the United Nations operates and the role it plays in international cooperation and policymaking. It was exciting to see a place that has such a major impact on global issues. Afterward, we visited the Red Cross Museum, which I also really enjoyed. The exhibits were interactive and engaging, and there was even a game at the end that we all played together. After the tour, we obviously had to try Swiss chocolate and it was delicious!
That afternoon, a group of us went on a hike and then had a picnic dinner by the lake. After dinner, we rode a Ferris wheel; the view of the city and the lake from the top was incredible. One of my favorite memories from the trip happened later that night when a group of us jumped into the lake together. It was honestly the highlight of my trip so far. We swam around laughing and acting like little kids, and it was such a fun and carefree moment.
The following morning, we heard from another guest speaker, Dr. Henry Ntuku from PATH, who spoke about malaria and neglected tropical diseases. His presentation was very interesting because I did not know much about malaria before. I learned how early treatment is difficult because symptoms can look similar to common illnesses like the flu. As someone interested in law and politics, it was meaningful to see how government funding decisions can directly impact healthcare access and outcomes around the world. Overall, this experience in Geneva has been amazing and very educational, and I am excited to continue learning more throughout this program.
