WTO Protest in Geneva

Today was the long awaited protest against the seventh ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization. I was at the library trying to finish my paper when I got a call from my friends to join them at Rue de Paquis where a huge crowd had accumulated to protest in the morning. I joined them and we were carried with the crowd, the aim was to attempt to get past the police to the WTO HQ. There were thousands of protesters with placards, people who just came to watch, people who didn't know what the hell was going on but joined the screaming for the fun of it, teenagers being foolish, parents dragging their little children away from the chaos... Not long after I joined my friends, the police began to shoot rubber bullets and rain tear gas on the crowd. It became like a cat and mouse game (I lost my friends at this point). I got pushed around while trying hard to escape the tear gas and bullets. At that moment, I was thinking, "Who sent you here?"... I did not come to this country to get arrested and beaten down by the police... my parents will probably have a fit if they find out about where I spent my Saturday :)

I have to say, the police was very well prepared, there were officers dressed like robocop with huge batons and weaponry (hehehe), an armored truck was around the corner, officers on power bikes zoomed past towards the front of the crowd where the rowdiness was high, police cars lined the streets and everything in the Geneva slowed down or stopped (i.e traffic, restaurants, stores etc), some streets where blockaded. This experience reminded me of some the protests I have witnessed elsewhere, the only difference was that the soldiers shot real bullets at the protesters not rubber bullets. I always seem to find myself in protests for some reason (hehehe)... that is another topic for another day!

Anyway, it was a very interesting experience, it is always great to see the masses organize for a cause. Whether or not the protest will change anything about the reality is a fruitless discussion, I think. It is good (sometimes, on rare occassions... hehehe) to get out of the safety that we so carefully surround ourselves with and stick it to the man... or woman. I got a bit tired of running around with the crowd and the police, my throat and eyes were beginning to hurt from the tear gas. It took me a while but I was able worm my way out of the chaos and carry myself to the safety of the nearby Gare Cornavin... phew!

A Thousand Words

I know this video has been on numerous blogs already but I couldn't help it! :)

A Thousand Words from Ted Chung on Vimeo.

Cesária Évora coming to GENEVE!!!!!

I LOVE this woman, I only got to hear her music on the radio (yes, I still use a radio hehe) or watch her via youtube and I have one of her CD's. I found out from a friend today that she is having a concert here in Geneva on Wednesday!!! While I have a paper due on Thursday morning, I cannot resist the urge to chuck school work down the toilet and spend a wonderful evening listening to her amazing voice!!! I bought the ticket with immediate alacrity (never mind that I was too broke a few moments ago... hehehe). It was surprisingly cheap even though I bought it late (45 CHF)... no matter what, I don't think I will ever regret choosing to go to her concert over working on my endless paper... yep.

One of those weeks.

I have been sooo broke recently, it has not been funny at all. All the money I saved this past summer was drained quicker than I thought... I am not allowed to work here until February so until then I have to hang on tight. I was looking for an informal job on the side like babysitting for quite a while and then I as lucky to find a temporary stint babysitting a 6 year old kid (I'll call him 'this kid'). This kid's parent's are VIP's. I was awestruck. They get only grad students to babysit their kid (interesting, right?). They wanted someone to help him with his english and french. This was my tryout session. The kid can understand 4 languages already (german, spanish, english and french). Can you believe that??? At the age of 6??? What the heck! How many is he going to know when he is grown??? Geez. Anyway, I was trying my best to keep up with this kid the whole time, he is very brilliant but rather bratty. He asked me why I am brown, like poop... I was like Obara Jesus!!! I would have knocked the hell out of his little head if it was not for the fact that I was getting paid a very fine sum to babysit him. I sweetly smiled back at him and asked, "well, if I am brown like poop, what are you??? The smart Alec said "I look just like my father." I couldn't say anything then because if I did, he would probably tell his parents when they got back. Na wa, the things a hungry student will go through for a little pocket money! I babysat for about 4 hours (very exhausting).

We spent the time playing language games and throwing legos all over the place. I think I burned more calories running around because of this kid than when I work out at the gym. When his mother got back, I was glad it was over. She asked me if I was exhausted (well of course!). She told me she will call again if they need a tutor for him... I don't think I can do this again. I think I am better as a happy but broke student. I went back home feeling as if I just ran a freaking marathon!!! (but it was nice to have some cash in hand... hehe). I won't be going back there, if all else fails, I will call my parents and beg for money (I know, I have no shame). It just sucks to be trying to live independently but having so many stinking bills to pay that independence remains a distant dream.

Speaking of languages, I thought I was good... it turns out not so much... (Well, to me, I am awesomely wonderful... haha). I go to a school that is so international, over 100 countries are represented. Almost everyone speaks a minimum of 5 languages (yes 5)... and not just "je m'appelle" levels oh, they are fluent in all. I have a very good friend who speaks 7. How in the hell can people be so awesome? I am going to work hard and speak 50... just wait and see! hehehehe