yesterday i ran by all 23 human chromosomes
Posted by torytolles | Filed under Switzerland
Le Jardin Botanique is my favorite place in Geneva and they just opened an exhibit on the human genome, complete with 20 ft inflatable chromosomes. Amazing. Le Jardin is the same place where Chris and I recently invented a yet-untitled version of tag: (Chris+bike) x (Tory+running shoes) / (gravel paths+winding brooks+innocent bystanders) = |hilarity|.
And now for the rest of the comprehensive update.
My dear friend, Paula, procured an invitation from a UN official so that I might join her for a luncheon feast at the United Nations. To enter the United Nations domain, one needs an official invitation, and the ever-so-flattering staff(?!) badge pictured above. Following the feast, Paula escorted me on a private tour of the building and grounds. Standing in the Assembly Hall (the room televised during important negotiations and announcements), I felt the reverence usually reserved for grand cathedrals; the walls emit a portion of the grandeur absorbed during high profile negotiations.
Two weekends ago, Heather and Lois, other friends from Crossroads Church, invited me to join them in un natation (a formal swim) in Lake Geneva. For fifteen francs, I was given a swim cap, UNICEF baseball cap, t-shirt, the pleasure of swimming 1km in sixty degree (fahrenheit) water, and a parasite infestation. About twenty hours post-swim, I started to itch. I woke Chris. ”I think I got duck lice.” ”Yuck! Are they crawling around our bed?” That was not the reassuring response I had hoped for. Instead, WebMD explained that the mosquito-bite-esque red bumps then covering my body result from tiny worms burrowing into my skin and dying there because they cannot survive with humans for hosts. Thank goodness I am not a duck. On the whole, the experience was totally worth it - and might be repeated (minus the parasite) next weekend in a sprint triathlon.
While training for the aforementioned natation, I got an internship! One night Chris played ultimate frisbee with some other interns by the lake - and I met Johanna. She is an environmental policy lawyer who swims 1k each day with her two golden retrievers. I’ve ben swimming and working with her for two weeks now. I’ve been editing papers of her for the Earth Charter Initiative. It has been super fun and super interesting and I really enjoy feeling like a productive member of society once more, even if it means I’ve slacked on keeping you all updated.
9 Responses to “yesterday i ran by all 23 human chromosomes”
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ruth tolles Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 8:51 amoh this makes me smile so. thanks for the fun update - what a great way to start a Sunday.
love to you both. keep up the fun (and postings….)
xo mom -
Zdenko Juskuv Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 10:01 pmUSA!
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Molly Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 10:38 pmeew. That’s all I have to say about that.
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Steph Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 9:21 amAwesome. I love the equation, because it is so you on so many levels. And I second Molly’s comment - eww.
Thanks for the updates… keep them coming! -
Able Parris Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 9:54 amOh my! All I heard was “duck lice.” Gross!
I’m wondering how you will prevent it the next time? Thanks for the update!
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chris g Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 10:55 amlooks like you’re having fun - keep up the updates.
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Christian Says:
September 11th, 2008 at 10:05 amtory! emma and i were talking yesterday about how much we miss you both. be ruthless with those european parasites! isn’t skin wonderful?!!!
i’m so glad for you both and proud of the work you’re doing. your posts are encouraging to my heart! -
tom Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 6:29 pmlets hear it for scientific art!
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tabitha Says:
September 17th, 2008 at 10:52 amsounds like you’ve been busy and doing great (besides the being scammed out of money thing)!
we are back in RI . . . its been good. better than i thought.but WE MISS YOU!!!!
