fUN times

So we've been hanging around the UN all week. We take the long route to get there every morning up the big hill. I leave the hostel looking amazing but after 45 minutes of walking uphill in the heat I'm cranky and sweaty. And I have to grab another cup of gross and extremely strong coffee before I am ready to get down to business and negotiate about bombs.

Its been extremely interesting watching the CCW negotiations on cluster bombs, but even more so interesting talking to the delegates who are doing these negotiations. We spoke to members of the US delegation, the Canadian delgation, the Norweigian delegation and the Secretariat of the meeting. Getting the perspectives from each of these countries is amazing because the US has an extremely different view on cluster munitions than the Canadian or Norweigian view. The CCW negotiations were slow to begin with but then they have picked up after Wednesday when the US' new policy on cluster munitions became public and we actually saw REAL arguing today. We are all anxious to see what the outcome of this conference will be and how it will effect the Oslo process (started by Norway and six other core countries and established a comprehensive ban on cluster munitions at the end of May, but it will be signed in Dec.)

Its great to be able to walk around the UN recognizing the delegates as you pass them in the hallway and use the computers in the library. Everyone is very nice to us and they seem to be so pleased to get to talk to us. The UN is a huge enclave and its slightly confusing at first but after you wander around a get lost a few times you start to explore and understand it better. And the cafeteria is amazing! i love being able to eat something other than bread and cheese. Green food is nice.

This weekend we are supposed to go to Paris, but Id rather stick around for the Lake Parade which is going on tomorrow all day/night. Its a big parade/party/techno fest which I would love to take part in. I will probably "forget to set my alarm" for my train to Paris in the morning hahah.

In other exciting news:
I am apparently a regular at the Kebab place up the road, which is slightly embarassing. Most of them do not speak English and they just laugh at me every time I come in for food...which seems to be a lot because its the only place open late at night!
We are still on a mission to find lindsay and Erin swiss army men
Wine is cheaper than soda here. and Geneva wine goes down like water
We sat on Bus 1 for an hour and "took a tour" of the city because we were too lazy to get off
and I have yet to make it to the grocery store because things close too early around here! (which is why ive been living off of bread and carbs for the past week)