UN Visit: Take 2

Because of the rain and snow expected to fall in Luzern, our next planned destination, we stayed in Geneva and visited the UN (photo cred to Maysam, cause I wasn't smart enough to bring my camera). I had already took a tour with my Activities of International Organizations course, but I went with a bunch of Public Health people and, just going to come out and say it, I am a IR and politics nerd.

We missed the first tour, but got on the one right after. Thankfully, we were able to peruse the gift shop. The UN gift shop is amazing. Reasonable prices, every corny Swiss gift a girl could want, and tons of books. Most hilarious book sold? The Bro Code. Barney Stinson makes an appearance at the UN.

 

 

 

 



We toured through many parts of the United Nations Office of Geneva (UNOG) including a few meeting rooms. The coolest part, for me anyway because we didn't get to see it when I had my tour, was seeing the ceiling of the Human Rights Council meeting room. That's the last picture with all the stalagmites. It is supposed to represent the ocean waves. How, I have no idea, but it sure does look cool. Another fun fact about the ceiling: it was painted all the different colors in such a way that there is a different perspective every which way you look at it. It keeps on telling people to have an open mind. I like it.

Other greatest hits of the visit: pretending to be important while sitting in the meeting rooms; seeing the big globe outside; making myself seem super smart with all my knowledge of the UN, politics and the like; and the Chinese tapestry, in which the viewer always has the perspective of walking straight into the temple picture. Cool stuff.