by George Proctor
After an incredible two weeks in France, we traveled to the second leg of our trip: Geneva, Switzerland. Here we had an educational, exciting, and overall wonderful time exploring such a gorgeous city. We began the stay with a lecture from Theresa Diaz about her time working for the CDC, WHO, and now creating DataHEARD, an NGO dedicated to boosting global health through research. We then went on a tour of the city, learning about its history and key figures, such as Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. We closed out the night with an incredible dinner featuring raclette and fondue.
The next day consisted of two unforgettable tours of the United Nations and Red Cross museum. The United Nations took us through various meeting points and taught us how they operate among themselves. One thing that I found very interesting about the process is that they are based on directions rather than mandates, generally being unable to directly impose orders on members. The Red Cross museum taught me a lot about its origins and its work as a humanitarian organization. I definitely found direct parallels between our curriculum and these two tours by imagining how differences in healthcare policy between nations could lead to discourse between them. The Red Cross plays a huge role in healthcare as well by being a prominent advocate for international care.
After a great day of learning, we took a gondola up to an unbelievable view of the city and even got to see paragliders begin their descent off the mountain. From what I have learned about Swiss healthcare, I was comforted that they seem to be in good hands if something went awry.
To close out our time in Geneva, we had a very interesting lecture from Henry Ntuku about his work on various diseases, including malaria. He taught us about how incredibly dangerous this can be for children in low-income countries. His work on the disease was very inspiring and has changed so many lives. He explained that funding from the United States for malaria research and care has recently been modified, which has changed how other countries are able to fight against the disease. This was definitely eye-opening for me as I saw firsthand how the news headlines that I see genuinely affect others in such a significant way, altering my global understanding greatly. After such a phenomenal time in Geneva, we departed back to the beautiful city of Aix-En-Provence.
Though Geneva was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, there was no doubt we were all a bit tired. Luckily, we had a day of rest and rejuvenation ahead of us as we headed down to the breathtaking town of Cassis. This day, which turned out to be my favorite so far on the trip, offered some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. Swimming in the crystal-clear water was an experience that I will never forget. We left the beach for an incredible boat excursion throughout the grand coves surrounding the town. To close out a perfect day of relaxation, we had some incredible seafood right by the harbor for dinner.
This trip has truly been the experience of a lifetime full of new friendships and unforgettable memories! Au revoir!
