Study Abroad: Bern, Switzerland

Dreaming of Paris

First of November! Officially two months into the autumn semester of my studies here in Berne! :) My friend Johanna had her two Finnish friends come to Switzerland as guests this weekend, and she invited another friend Alma and I to come join them on a day trip to Chamonix, France to visit Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain (4,810 m above sea level). Last picture shows this mountain's peak (it's the one covered in all snow). As the Finnish girls hiked the mountain, Alma and I explored the town and listened to some Bob Dylan and others while lying on the benches of a small park that had a great view of the Mont Blanc. It was a good fall day, and even the trees looked very colorful and autumn-like. When we came back to Berne around 8 in the evening, I decided to visit a friend Sarah at a cafe in town to enjoy some jazz/oldies music that they were playing, which was so lovelyyyy because Sarah was also really into the music and we were both loving the scene. We met some other friends at the cafe and ended up walking around the old town looking for some Italian and Swiss restaurants to potentially visit in the future. 

Luzern at night. A classmate and I went to a Halloween birthday party at a friend's place, which has a great view of Luzern, its lake, and the mountains nearby. The party then moved to Luzern's Loft1 clubbing spot. I had such a great time with the birthday girl and her friends, and even the train ride back to Bern at 1 in the morning was interesting. SO many drunk people on the last train back, and I ended up conversating with a drunk French fellow who ended up telling me his life story.  And I definitely MUST visit Luzern again, but in the daytime because it looks like an interesting city with lots to do.

After visiting a part of the university that I hadn't seen yet, I saw this restaurant while walking back and remembered that my internship buddy was the manager of the place and was probably working at the time. I came in to see her and we ended up having a meal at the end of her shift. Definitely made my day to spend some time eating Indian cuisine with this one!  http://www.tulsi-bern.ch/

So. One of my favorite parts about studying at the University of Berne is doing an internship at the plant sciences department. I'm part of a lab team that has been focusing on the plant Eragrostis tef and its agricultural use. My project goes into looking at six different species of Eragrostis and finding genetic similarities. The internship involves both computer and lab work, and I'm really loving it. I truly enjoy my lab team and doing both the lab/computer work. It's usually eight hours a day twice a week, but I feel like once I go to work, time flies by and it's already the end of the day. Which is great! Really, I did not expect it to be so fun before I started. I'll probably get tired of teff by the end of the semester, but for now, I'm glad I'm enjoying what I do in the lab. Plus the plant sciences department is located next to an open garden with greenhouses and many types of plants and trees, which is nice to look at from time to time, btws. 

Unexpected clubbing and night exploring.  Babysitting crazies while the parents were out. Going to France for shopping. Coming and leaving Geneva pictures.

Got to end the day with a light show on the Bundeshaus and with great company. :)

Took a walk and came across a farm. I got to see horses kissing! Also, accidentally touched an electric wire and got shocked. Best day eva. :)

Visited the Federal Palace of Switzerland, or the Bundeshaus, in the city's old town. The tour was in German since the English tour filled up before we tried registering for it and we just really wanted to see the place. Two of the four of us who went understood some German, so I pretty much got the whole package of a guided tour through the place. :) The ceilings were my favorite part of the building. 

I really liked today.

Lebanese food & hookah with the floormates!

Sunday, I had brunch with lovelies at a restaurant next to a museum. I forget the name. We also spotted a group of Swiss natives who were in traditional clothing. Twas an especially chill day.

http://unifestival.ch/

10/3 After a long week of feeling awful because of my sore throat and long 9-to-5 lab classes, I ended the week off with making pizza with a couple of friends. The pizzas turned out really well & I very much enjoyed the great company of friends that night. 

9/28 Spent much time with Genet & her friends being very habesha. I also went to the Greek Orthodox church here for the first time for Meskerem, which was different & interesting. When the priest came around, I was reminded of Liya and how she hated when the priest came to her and offered the cross for her to kiss. I wish she were here so I could see how she would have reacted! After, I got to babysit the cutest kids ever! The weekend was great.. but I ended up getting sick the next day. No bueno.

Some of my favorite shots from hiking the Niederhorn mountain. Waking up early for this hike was definitely worth it!