Webster Feminist Club Magazine

Webster Feminist Club Magazine

By Lorelei McCampbell

Introduction 

Lorelei McCampbell 

After spending three terms at Webster, I noticed the lack of community and organization surrounding gender advocacy—a topic which is often found naturally in university spaces. In creating Webster Feminist Club, my goal was to create room for discussion on campus surrounding the broad topic of feminism, in a space which welcomes everyone. Regardless of previous knowledge or thoughts on the subject, whether you are a passionate advocate or you have never heard of feminism before, the club is for you. 

The Webster Feminist Club magazine is a collection of art made by students and of art admired by students. Whether it be poetry, photography, drawings, or excerpts from books, students were asked to respond to the general theme of intersectional feminism.  

The theme is broad and purposefully so—Webster is a community of diverse identities, and this journal provides space for students to touch on any aspect of their identity they wish. 

 

Key Terms & Definitions 

So we’re all on the same page going forward, here are some terms and definitions which are important to know.  

Feminism: the belief in social, economic, and political equality of the sexes.1 

       “Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” 

Misogyny: dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. 

Patriarchy: a system of relationships, beliefs, and values embedded in political, social, and economic systems that structure gender inequality between men and women.4 

Intersectionality: the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups.

Anonymous 

“My postpartum was the hardest thing I had to go through in my life. The people I loved the most were my enemies, and their support was their words of judgment towards me as a mother. I was disgusted at myself because I was disgusted at my baby.” 

The House

Lorelei McCampbell

The House: three girls, Mom and Dad. A house of femininity, dolls, basement dress-up. A house of dancing in the kitchen and singing too loud—cookies bake in the oven. A house of encouragement to daydream. Daydream like a romantic:

Open fields of wildflowers and summer evenings by the lake. Soft songs sung by a crackling fire, guitar soothes the room to sleep. The world is limitless and beautiful and warm in the House.

But the world grows fast and your mind does too. Because suddenly that girl in your seventh grade class gets prettier every day. And when you layed in bed with your best-friend freshman year, well, you’ve never felt that way before. And your chemistry lab partner makes you laugh so embarrassingly hard and you like it so much it’s bad.

The House asks:

how’d you all end up like this?

Heads get shaved, ears, noses, eyebrows, lips get pierced. You bring someone home to meet Mom and Dad but it’s not who they were expecting.

But it’s so good, god, it’s so good. We all get it.

We share our femininity as we share our rejection of it as we share our acceptance, our empowerment of it. We challenge the world and we try to be strong, but we know we cry so easily, far too easily (it must be genetic). Because I don’t know how we all ended up like this.

So different, each our own to the extreme. Yet so similar, the instructions on ‘how to live’ have been ingrained into us in the same way. To struggle and to blame the House to blame our lives. And to celebrate and to love the House and to love our lives.

How’d we all end up like this?

 

Journal Entries 

Anonymous 

 

Embrace and Empower 

Ashli Sartorelli   

This series captures the raw, unfiltered essence of femininity through close-ups of skin and form. Each photograph is a testament to the power of physical expression and the intimate embrace of one’s own body. These images challenge the traditional perceptions of femininity, celebrating the beauty, strength, and complexity inherent in the female form. Focusing on tight skin grabs and the natural curves of the body, the collection confronts societal norms and advocates for a feminist perspective that honors autonomy, consent, and personal identity. 

 

In capturing these moments, I hope to provide a canvas for viewers to project their interpretations and see a reflection of their inner selves within these frames. The session was a celebration of body positivity, marked by an atmosphere of self-acceptance and love. Through these images, I share a part of my identity and express a belief that everyone should embrace and love themselves for who they are and how they appear. It is my desire that this series not only resonates on a visual or aesthetic level but also inspires a personal journey of empowerment and self-discovery. 

was i raped quiz 

Anonymous 

Those quizzes I used to frequent on the internet: 

am i gay quiz 

anxiety quiz 

am i depressed quiz 

am i some-feeling-or-symptom-i’m-experiencing quiz 

 

If the results said what I wanted, then they were right. 

If the results said the very answer I was dreading, then they were very wrong. 

I wasn’t going to let a quiz (no matter how many said so) tell me I liked women.  

 

And years later I found myself in a similar position. 

Up later than I was supposed to be 

And typing questions into the search bar, scared for someone to find me. 

No one can know what words I’m typing, no one can know what links I’m clicking. 

And no one can know what answers I am filling into these inaccurate, stupid, fucking, quizzes. 

 

But perhaps the differences of the situation mean more: 

 

In front of my laptop rather than a hand-me-down ipod touch  

In a dorm room, not my childhood bed. 

 

And the series of letters, which made three distinct words in the search bar.  

The last word of utmost importance. 

One far different from what I used to search: 

 

Was       I       raped    ? 

 

And I clicked on the links. And I read the articles and did the stupid, fucking, quizzes.  

But they kept telling me incorrect information.  

They kept showing the very answer I dreaded. They therefore,  

were wrong. 

  

What is consent? they said 

That sounds like sexual assault, they said.  

Click here for more support, they said.  

Want to talk to someone? they said. 

 

But I wasn’t raped. 

Because the thing with rape, is that you’d know if it happened to you, because it’s 

Rape. 

If I was raped I would know.  

If I was raped I would know. 

 

It actually was everything but rape. 

It was a bad mistake, an unfortunate accident, some trauma I’ll deal with later. 

It was my fault, I slipped up, he did nothing wrong,  

It was just one night gone awry. 

 

But the thing online quizzes didn’t tell me when I was thirteen 

And didn’t tell me when I was eighteen 

Though I guess knew the entire time 

Was that they can’t tell you shit. 

 

And if you’re searching the question ‘was i raped’ 

Into the search bar, nine-out-of-ten-times 

you’ve answered it for yourself. 

 

Searching for internal validation through online quizzes 

Validation that can never be met 

Searching the internet because if it can tell me I was gay  

It can tell me I was raped.  

Title: Summer Bradford

Photography by Metin Volkan

Admired Artists’ Work 

 

Still I Rise 

Maya Angelou 

 

You may write me down in history 

With your bitter, twisted lies, 

You may trod me in the very dirt 

But still, like dust, I’ll rise. 

Does my sassiness upset you? 

Why are you beset with gloom? 

’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells 

Pumping in my living room. 

Just like moons and like suns, 

With the certainty of tides, 

Just like hopes springing high, 

Still I’ll rise. 

Did you want to see me broken? 

Bowed head and lowered eyes? 

Shoulders falling down like teardrops, 

Weakened by my soulful cries? 

Does my haughtiness offend you? 

Don’t you take it awful hard 

’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines 

Diggin’ in my own backyard. 

You may shoot me with your words, 

You may cut me with your eyes, 

You may kill me with your hatefulness, 

But still, like air, I’ll rise. 

Does my sexiness upset you? 

Does it come as a surprise 

That I dance like I’ve got diamonds 

At the meeting of my thighs? 

 

Out of the huts of history’s shame 

I rise 

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain 

I rise 

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, 

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. 

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear 

I rise 

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear 

I rise 

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, 

I am the dream and the hope of the slave. 

I rise 

I rise 

I rise. 

Artworks created by Angel Gutierrez 

The Right to Sex

‘Talking to My Students About Porn’ 

Amia Srinivasan 

 

Peggy Orenstein’s Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape (2016), her bestseller about the sexual reality of young people in the twenty-first century, opens with a description of a welcome back’ school assembly at a large high school in California. 

After reminders about attendance and warnings against alcohol and drugs, the dean addressed his female students directly: Ladies, when you go out you need to dress to respect yourself and respect your family… This isn’t the place for your short shorts or your tank tops or your crop tops. You need to ask yourself: if your grandmother looks at you, will she be happy with what you’re wearing?’ The dean then moved on to a discussion of sexual harassment. One of the seniors, a young Latina woman, jumped up and took the mic. “I think what you just said is not okay and is extremely sexist and promoting “rape culture”, she said. ‘If I want to wear a tank top and shorts because it’s hot, I should be able to do that and that has no correlation to how much “respect” I hold for myself. What you’re saying is just continuing this cycle of blaming the victim’ The rest of the students cheered.  

I finished high school in 2003. At the time, girls wore their jeans slung low, pocketless and tight on the ass; shirts and sweaters were cropped to reveal pierced belly buttons and (if you were lucky) jutting hip bones. At a faculty board meeting – I was the student representative – the teachers discussed their alarm at how the girls were dressing. I don’t see how the boys are supposed to learn the quadratic equation, my maths teacher complained, ‘if they’re staring at a girl’s thong? I remember hearing him say the word thong made me feel sick. Were the boys really distracted – they seemed fine – or was my teacher projecting? I was furious, but at the time didn’t have the conceptual resources – slut shaming, victim blaming, rape culture – to say anything articulate. I think I may have managed something about how schools should be a safe place for students to explore their self-presentation, that it was the boys’ responsibility to learn how to do quadratic equations, that no one told the attractive boys to put bags over their heads lest the girls be distracted. But maybe I just thought these things. After the meeting faculty members took it as their right to tell girls to pull down their shirts and pull up their jeans. 

The young women Orenstein discusses in Girls & Sex would have known, unlike my younger self, exactly what to say. They would not have been ashamed, as I and all my friends were, to call themselves feminists. How should we understand the relation between this raised state of feminist consciousness among young women, and what appear to be their worsening sexual conditions: increased objectifica-tion, intensified body expectations, decreasing pleasure, and shrinking options for sex on their terms? Perhaps girls and young women are becoming more feminist because their worsening circumstances demand it. Or perhaps, as Orenstein suggests, feminist consciousness is for many young women a mode of false consciousness, which plays into the hands of the very system of sexual subordination they take themselves to be opposing. Does a discourse of sexual empowerment and autonomy mask something darker and unfree? The feminist philosopher Nancy Bauer writes about asking her women students why they spend ‘their weekend evenings giving unreciprocated blow jobs to drunken frat boys’. They tell me they enjoy the sense of power it gives them,’ she writes. You doll yourself up and get some guy helplessly aroused, at which point you could just walk away. But you don’t.’  

 

Malak Mattar  

Mattar is a Palestinian artist from Gaza. She began exploring art during the 2014 Gaza War as a way to express trauma and emotions. 

Acknowledgements 

Thank you to all students who submitted work, making the first edition of Webster Feminist Club’s art magazine possible! 

Resources

Amia Srinivasan. The Right to Sex. Bloomsbury, 2021.
Malak Mattar.
Maya Angelou. “Still I Rise.” Poetry Foundation, 1978.
My Secret Geneva – Swiss Bliss: A Sweet Review

My Secret Geneva – Swiss Bliss: A Sweet Review

Introduction

Nestled within the pages of Diccon Bewes’s Swisswatching lies a captivating chapter that unravels the mysterious origins of Swiss chocolate, inviting readers on an intriguing exploration of this highly wanted delicacy. In the 19th century, the introduction of milk chocolate by Daniel Peter in 1875 and the subsequent collaboration with Henri Nestlé allowed Swiss chocolate to gain widespread popularity, revolutionizing the industry and solidifying Switzerland’s reputation as a chocolate powerhouse. Delving beyond the borders of Switzerland, this chapter embarks on a sensory quest to trace the journey of chocolate from its humble beginnings to the luxurious Swiss confections that grace global palates. At the bottom of this exploration within our group lies a thought-provoking thesis: the price of Swiss chocolate may not always serve as a reliable indicator of its quality. This chapter is a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship, and the intertwining narratives that have shaped the world of Swiss chocolate. Upon reading this chapter, our team was inspired to conduct an experiment on whether the price of branded Swiss chocolate is worth paying for. The experiment includes visiting four chocolate stores in Geneva, tasting different chocolates, considering the prices, taste and quality to be able to compare which chocolate is really worth its price tag.

The first location we tried was Martel Chocolatier at Rue de Cornavin 16 1201, Geneva. The store was easy to access as it is very close to Manor and visibly sticks out thanks to its clear window displays. Our overall experience was somewhat negative as the employees seemed to be dismissive of customers. They didn’t ask us if we needed any help or recommendations and quickly prioritized the french speaking customers. It appears the employees were rushed and didn’t aim to offer any special experience. The seating area was pretty full and loud making the atmosphere stuffy and a bit chaotic which wasn’t helped by the absence of music playing to drown out any noise. Comfort wise the tables were small and the chairs were of a plastic quality which didn’t make us want to stay very long. In terms of design, the look of the store is minimalistic with a gray and gold tone theme as well as large windows bringing in natural light to the store.

As for the chocolate, the taste is slightly above average. In our subjective opinion the chocolate tasted very artificially sweet with a strong aftertaste. The texture was hard at the first bite but became sandy as we chewed. For 11 francs the quality could have been better. There were no pre packaged bars as they offer asymmetrical cut pieces that are then weighed to determine the price. To put it into perspective, for the same price we could have bought approximately four more Lindt bars (2,50 francs). Packaging wise, no bag was offered aside from a thin plastic bag closed by a sticker.

Overall Ratings

Customer service: 4/10

Atmosphere: 5/10

Comfort: 4/10

Design: 6/10

Taste: 6/10

Texture: 6/10 (sandy)

Quality based on price: 5/10

Packaging: 2/10

The second store that we visited was Guillaume Bichet, located in Rue du Rhone 17, 1204 Geneve. It was not easily located as it is overshadowed by the construction taking place just in front. We were welcomed warmly the second we entered the store by the employees. We started looking at the chocolates that were arranged nicely. After a few moments, the lady kindly offered us to taste one of their most popular products, the “Almond Princesses” which are chocolate covered almonds. After which, we purchased the chocolate. We then asked them if we could take pictures from their store and interview them, which they gladly agreed to, since they were so easy going and polite to the customers. Their nice and warm behavior made us feel free and comfortable to come up with our questions and inquiries about their store and job. The atmosphere of the store was quite pleasing as it was located near the lake and the limited number of seats led to a quiet and intimate atmosphere. Classical music could be heard which added to this ambience of leisure. Comfort wise, the chairs are plush, covered in a velvet material, making the store look luxurious. The view from the window of the lake only enhances this comfort, encouraging customers to stay longer. The design of the store is sleek with brown and white themed displays accompanied by many glass displays of their products.

In terms of taste, the chocolate was not overpoweringly sweet however the flavor was a bit muted. The texture was creamy and easy to chew. In our opinion, the chocolate was appropriately priced at 11 francs seeing as the store seems to be more catered to higher class customers. In terms of packaging, they kept it quite simple with a smooth white paper box with a plastic cutout showing the chocolate.

Overall Ratings

Customer service: 10/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Comfort: 6/10

Design: 8/10

Taste: 7/10

Texture: 8/10 (creamy)

Quality based on price: 7/10

Packaging: 8/10

Guillaume Bichet: Employee Interview

As the Guillaume Bichet employees were the most welcoming and patient ones, we decided to interview them and inquire about their products. We asked about their most sold chocolate, which was the “Almond Princesses”. We asked one of the staff members to see if they have any personal favorite chocolate and it turned out it was not really a popular chocolate within the store, named “Corsica” which is a praline chocolate. Regarding the origins of the chocolates, we found out their chocolates are produced in a factory in Versoix by specialists and are then delivered to the store. In terms of what differentiates their store from others they emphasized on the elegance they offer in their design with muted color schemes and an elevated customer experience.

The third location, Läderäch was not easy to find because it was hidden among the buildings, at Rue du Mont-blanc 30, 1201 Geneva. When we entered the Läderäch chocolate shop, we were amazed with the design, as it was very captivating, yet reserved, giving it a wealthy atmosphere while keeping it interesting for the customer. There were chocolate sculptures, colorful chunks of chocolate bars and designed stands of a chocolate candy variety. It is a good place if you want to make a gift to someone and choose something sweet yet creative. For example, their petite boxes of chocolate popcorn with different flavors, or their gift boxes of minimalistic chocolate candies. There were no places where we could sit and drink coffee or rest, the shop was crowded, and the employees looked busy. We had to make a choice quickly and leave because the atmosphere wasn’t too comforting. When we tried to interview a staff member that wasn’t occupied with customers, she seemed to be not eager at all to answer any of our questions or interact. We had to stop our attempts because she looked clearly annoyed with our presence and we didn’t feel welcomed. As for the taste of the chocolate, it was moderately sweet with a clear taste of milk. The texture was crunchy at first and then creamy. The price was surprisingly lower than we thought, at 6 francs per bar, half as expensive as similar stores such as Martel, which added to the value.

 

Overall Ratings

Customer service: 3/10

Atmosphere: 5/10

Comfort: 2/10

Design:7/10

Taste: 8/10

Texture: 8/10 (crunchy then creamy)

Quality based on price: 9/10

Packaging: 10/10

The last location we visited was Lindt at Rue de la Tour-de-L’île 1, 1204 Geneva. The store was easy to find, since it had a big colorful label and was not hidden by any shops or buildings. When we entered the shop, it seemed like a little museum because everything was very bright, colorful and designed in a way that attracted the most attention. There were big stands with rainbow coloured candy wrapped chocolates, brand themed toys, easter bunnies covered in gold wrapping, chocolate hearts and huge sculptures made of chocolate which was all very captivating. The store seemed to be great as a tourist attraction. Furthermore, it had a lot of choices: from raspberry flavored chocolates to coconut and dark chocolate flavors, valentine themed chocolates for couples, basic designs for average tourists and even funny little animal figurines for kids visitors. However, there was no place to sit, so we were expected to just buy chocolates and leave, which we were eager to do as there were quite a lot of people. As we were buying the chocolate, the staff members seemed friendly and polite. And as we left the store, buying a milk chocolate bar for a relatively low price, we were given 6 candies to try for free as a gift, which was very nice from the employee’s side.

As for the chocolate itself, it tasted quite good for the price of 2.50 which we paid. It was very sweet and milky, melting in the mouth, with some creamy aftertaste. However, it felt a little sticky and not as smooth when we chewed the chocolate.

Overall Ratings

Customer service: 8/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Comfort: 2/10

Design: 9/10

Taste: 7/10

Texture: 6/10 (creamy but sticks on teeth)

Quality based on price: 8/10

Packaging: 2/10

Coop

When we tried the coop’s vegan (oatmilk) chocolate bar, we were first excited to find out what this rather exotic chocolate is. But shortly after, we were hit with an atrocious taste that reminded us of grass mixed with sugar that also left a bad aftertaste and it felt ‘sticky’ in the mouth. The packaging was colorful and rather attractive, but the taste was very disappointing. The price was very cheap, similar to Lindt’s price but in terms of quality Lindt is marginally better.

Afterwards, we tried a regular milk chocolate bar from Coop for a relatively low price to cover the traumatic experience from the previous bar but it was almost just as bad, because it tasted too sugary with a hint of spoiled milk. The packaging was generic.

Overall Ratings

Vegan version: Taste: 0/10; Texture: 2/10; Quality based on price: 3/10; Packaging: 3/10

Regular: Taste: 3/10; Texture: 3/10; Quality based on price: 4/10; Packaging: 1/10

Conclusion

To sum up, our favorite store was Guillaume Bichet and our least favorite was Martel. However, in terms of chocolate we had different favorites. We found the Läderch chocolate the best tasting, while Coop had the worst tasting ones. Through this review we proved our thesis that price is not really the best indicator for the quality of products. To further test our thesis, we will conduct a blind taste testing of the chocolates we tried in class for our presentation.

Greece Trip 2023

Greece Trip 2023

We are pleased to showcase three student-produced videos, each offering a unique perspective, from a captivating visual poem to exquisite portraits capturing the essence of Greece. We hope you take delight in these presentations.

Title: “To Be Found In Greece”

By: Angel Gutierrez

Presenting a visual poem with content captured during her study trip with Webster University Geneva in Greece.

Title: “Learning in Greece”

By: Sarah Fresard

Presenting a video based in Greece showcasing different parts of the study trip while exploring a variety of cities.

Title: “Webster University Geneva Greece Trip, 2023″

By: Antonella Borjas

A stunning portrayal of Greece complemented by enchanting bouzouki melodies.

 

 

 

Greece Media Trip, 2023

Greece Media Trip, 2023

The Media Communications department of Webster University in Geneva has launched courses which include a field trip experience since 2007.
In collaboration with the Webster campus in Athens, the two courses PHOT 3150 Topics in Photography and DESN 1210 Concepts of Design brought students to Athens and the Cycladic island of Paros. The aim of this experience abroad was to expose them to the production of media in the field while living in a different cultural context. Being the cradle of Western culture, Greece was the perfect environment for this purpose. Students were led by the professor through the basic elements of design and composition. They were challenged to understand the connections with contemporary creativity and innovation in the fields of media production.

Webster University in Geneva Media Greece Trip, held in October 2023, was a life-changing experience for the students of PHOT 3150 and DESN 1210. Beginning in the ancient city of Athens, the journey opened doors to a world of history and culture.

Sarah Fresard
Greta Sigona

Their adventure began among the ancient ruins and streets of Athens. All equipped with cameras, they explored the city by foot, discovering iconic sites such as the legendary Acropolis and its museum, and the treasures housed within the National Archaeological Museum. Every step through the little town of Anafiotika provided another view into ancient Greece. One of the highlights of their time in Athens was a day trip to Cape Sounion, where the Temple of Poseidon formerly stood as a symbol of hope as it marked the end of several sea expeditions.

Giulio Giannicchi

Leaving Athens behind, they set sail for Paros, a captivating island in the heart of the Aegean Sea, with the ferry trip which started with a breathtaking sunrise. They stayed in the charming Cycladic village of Parikia.

Tamara Daher
Sarah Fresard

As the students explored three magnificent beaches in Paros, they were captivated by the island’s clear waters and white sand.
Hikes allowed them to discover even more places, the first one was from Lefkes to Prodromos, where they were welcomed in the town’s local restaurant. They went on another hike to get to the lighthouse, where they had a packed lunch while taking in the view of the ocean and the island’s coastline.

Angel Gutierrez
Angel Gutierrez
Giulio Giannicchi

They had the unique opportunity of being invited to the Paros Photo Club’s weekly meeting. Here the students were able to share their photographic work and make connections with local artists.

Antonella Borjas

Students were able to well immerse themselves in the spirit of the historical ruins and small towns in Paros due to the timing in their trip, which allowed them to enjoy the beauty of the different locations visited at a much less busy season.

Tamara Daher
Sarah Fresard

The students left their wonderful journey with lots of memories and some of their best photographs that told the story of their Greek trip.

Greta Sigona
Angel Gutierrez
Antonella Borjas

Chocolate Stores in Genève

Chocolate Stores in Genève

William Fischer, Giulio Giannicchi, Mina Ilic and Ryan Mitchell

Guillaume Bichet Choclaterie et pâtisserie Genève

Rating; ★★★

The first place that we went to as part of our project was called Guillaume Bichet Chocolaterie et pâtisserie Genève; which is located at Rue du Rhone 17. In order to get to Gulliaume Bichet, we took the train by Webster University from Genthod~Bellevue to Geneva. It took us 10 minutes to arrive in Geneva from Genthod-Bellevue by train. After arriving in Geneva by train, you have to walk about 14 minutes from the train station in order to get to this chocolaterie; though we would recommend using google maps in order to see what direction you need to head in to get there. When we first entered Guillaume Bichet Chocolaterie, we were greeted by a warm and welcoming lady who worked at the chocolatiere. She made us feel welcomed and comfortable coming in as she asked how we were, and if we had any questions about the chocolates there. We saw a large display of a variety of chocolates that were mostly presented behind glass display cases. Every chocolate that was displayed had its corresponding flavor, price, and short description about the chocolate as well. In other sections of the Chocolaterie, you could find bars of chocolate wrapped in white boxes in neat displays as well. The
chocolates all had varying prices, ranging from 11 dollars to 55, depending on the amount of chocolate you wanted to buy and the flavors. Before we decided to buy a chocolate bar, we wanted to test out the quality of their chocolate first to ensure that it was worth the cost. We tried their speciality recommended by the lady, which was almonds caramelized in dark chocolate. After trying the almonds, we decided that we wanted to buy a dark chocolate bar, as shown in our photo. The cost for it was 11 dollars, which was a bit expensive for only one bar of chocolate. Overall, this place was a little expensive when it comes to affordable chocolates for a university student to buy, as one bar and one box of chocolate ranged from 11-29 dollars; so we would recommend a cheaper chocolate place for university students, especially since a lot of food in Geneva is generally expensive to buy, let alone chocolate. We would recommend this place for people in their 30’s or older, as they have stable jobs and would be able to afford buying more expensive chocolate than a young university student would. We think people would love this place because of its accessibility as it isn’t too far to walk too, fairly visible to see on the outside, and has a variety of chocolates to try; along with a warm and friendly atmosphere to it.

Review on Switzerland Chocolatier

Rating; ★★★★

The second place that we went to as part of our secret geneva project was a chocolate shop called Switzerland Chocolatier, which is located at 5 Rue du Mont-Blanc in Geneva. In order to get to Switzerland Chocolatier, you can take the train by Webster University, from Genthod-Bellevue to Geneva. After the train arrives in Geneva, it is about a 7 minute walking distance from the train station to Switzerland Chocolatier. When we entered Switzerland Chocolatier, we were greeted by the sweet smell of chocolates and the workers there. It was a bit crowded, with people at every aisle looking at chocolates, so it was a bit hard to pass by to look at different chocolates at times. The workers weren’t the friendliest as they were busy managing the chocolatier and making sure everything was running smoothly, but the chocolatier was very clean and well organized. There were large cases of chocolates behind displays, arranged by the different flavors with the corresponding prices below them. CHF 10 to CHF 50, depending on the amount of chocolate you wanted to buy, and also on the flavor. We decided to buy the Riders fantasy chocolate, which came in a green packaging and had a honey flavor. The chocolate was organic and had about 38% coca made from Ecuador, and was CHF 10. There was less chocolate in this packaging than there was with the previous chocolate bar from Guillaume chocolatier, and although the chocolate ended up tasting good, we thought it wasn’t worth CHF 10; as it ended up being about half a chocolate bar compared to the previous chocolate, which was a whole bar of chocolate at least. We ended up taste testing the honey chocolate when we got back to the university, and it was pretty good quality, but the price could’ve been lower as there was less chocolate to it. Overall, this place was a actually a bit more expensive compared to the last place, mainly because their chocolate bars were smaller than the previous chocolate places, and weren’t as affordable for the quantity. We would recommend a cheaper chocolate place for university students, as this place had higher prices for smaller amounts of chocolate. We would recommend this place for middle class people, as they would be able to afford buying more expensive chocolate than a young university student would. We think people would love this place because of its accessibility as it isn’t too far to walk too, has a different range of chocolate flavors, and is a clean and well organized chocolate shop.

Review on Martel Chocolatier 

Rating; ★★★★★ 

The third place that we went to as part of our secret geneva project was a chocolate shop called Martel Chocolatier, which is at Rue du Rhône 48, in Geneva.. In order to get to Martel Chocolatier, you can take the train by Webster University, from Genthod-Bellevue to Geneva. After the train arrives in Geneva, it is about a 15 minute walking distance from the train station to Martel Chocolatier; but we would recommend taking trains 6 and 10 to get there instead, as it’s faster and only takes about 10 minutes to get there. When we entered Martel Chocolatier, we were greeted by friendly workers and a smaller space than the previous two chocolate places. The workers were easy to talk to and were better at explaining details for the chocolate making process than the previous two places as well. There were large cases of chocolates behind displays, arranged by the different flavors with the corresponding prices below them. CHF 7 to CHF 45, depending on the amount of chocolate you wanted to buy, and also on the flavor. We decided to buy the dark chocolate that was made in Brazil, with 40 % cocoa in it; with its price being CHF 7. There was actually more chocolate in this packaging than there was with the previous two chocolate bars we had, with a rich flavor to it as we tried it back on campus. It was definitely worth the price because of its quality, and because there was more chocolate included in the packaging than the previous two chocolates. The price, CHF 7, was also reasonable for the quantity of chocolate. Overall, this place was actually a little more affordable in comparison to the previous two places, but we would still recommend this place mainly for tourists wanting to try Swiss chocolate for the first time, or some university students who want to spend some money on chocolate on a rare occasion. We think people would love this place for its more affordable prices for more chocolate.

Review on Manor Chocolatier Geneve 

Rating; ★★★ 

The fourth place that we went to as part of our secret geneva project was a chocolate shop called Manor Chocolatier, which is at Rue de Cornavin 6, Geneva. In order to get to Manor Chocolatier, you can take the train by Webster University, from Genthod-Bellevue to Geneva. After the train arrives in Geneva, it is about a 7 minute walking distance from the train station to Manor Chocolatier, as it’s near the train station. When we entered Manor Chocolatier, we were greeted by a more crowded environment. Manor Chocolatier was bigger than the previous 3 places, and is located on a busier street with lots of crowds. Inside, the workers were mainly at the cash registers or organizing the shelves, as there was more than just chocolate being sold, as there were all kinds of foods being displayed. Chocolates were by far the cheapest at Manor, with prices ranging from CHF 3 to CHF 25 at the most. We decided to buy the lait suisse milk chocolate that had the most amount of chocolate in it compared to the previous three chocolates we bought. It had a sweet yet bitter taste to it, and we didn’t like how sweet it ended up being. The price was by far the most affordable and reasonable, as it only cost CHF 3.50 for it. Overall, this place was actually the most affordable place to buy chocolate, and we would definitely recommend this place to university students, as you can get a good price for bigger quantities of chocolates compared to the more expensive chocolatier places. more affordable in comparison to the previous two places. We think people would love this place for its sweet chocolates, affordable and reasonable prices, and the fact that they sell other food so you can shop for chocolate and other groceries all in one. 

Review on K Kiosk Geneve 

Rating; ★ 

The fifth and final place that we went to as part of our secret geneva project was a kiosk shop called K Kiosk, which is at Pl. de Cornavin 3, Genève. In order to get to K Kiosk , you can take the train by Webster University, from Genthod-Bellevue to Geneva. After the train arrives in Geneva, it is a 2 minute walking distance from the train station to K Kiosk, as it’s right by the train station. When we entered K Kiosk, we were greeted by a small and tighter space, filled with various snacks, magazines, and small chocolate bars. Chocolates at K Kiosk were smaller and a lot cheaper, but there wasn’t a large variety of flavors to them. Chocolates were the cheapest here, with prices ranging from CHF 2 to CHF 15 at the most. We decided to buy the crunchy nut chocolate that was CHF 2, and seemed to be the most reasonable price out of the 5 chocolate shops. We ended up taste testing the chocolate when we got back on campus, and we didn’t really like the crunchy taste of it, or the fact that it felt like artificial chocolate instead of real Swiss chocolate. Overall, this place was actually the most affordable place to buy chocolate out of the five places, and we would definitely recommend this place to university students. It has affordable and cheap chocolates, and is close to the train station in case students are in a rush to buy other things as well. We think people would love K kiosk for its close location by the train station, and cheap prices for chocolates and snacks.

How You Can Make the Most out of Your Paris Vacation

How You Can Make the Most out of Your Paris Vacation

How You Can Make the Most out of your Paris Vacation I feel as though every little American girl dreams of going to Paris. We marveled at the Eiffel Tower, recognized the romance of the city and imagined what the desserts tasted like. That dream came true for this American girl. I was lucky enough to celebrate my 22nd birthday in the iconic city of Paris. Everyone knows that Paris is a beautiful city, but there are ways to plan your trip to get the most out of your stay. With a little bit of planning, you can hit all the tourist destinations while navigating the city like a local.

Here are some of my favorite experiences—and how you can have similar ones, too.

FINDING A LOCAL BAKERY – BUILDING A CONNECTION

If you want to live like a local in a new place, it is imperative that you make connections with the people around you. A great way to do that is find a business to support and frequent that place as often as you can. Food is a great place to start, and in Paris, who wouldn’t want to routinely eat croissants and pastries? So, my travel companion and I found Maison Landemaine, a bakery that was one minute away from our hotel. We visited the bakery every morning Friday through Monday, and sometimes later in the day when we had a sweet tooth. We often saw the same employees, who were very kind and remembered us after a couple visits. Recognizing a friendly face in a new city instantly makes you more comfortable and feel less like a visitor.

TAKING THE METRO

In my opinion, routinely utilizing public transportation in a new city is one of the biggest steps you can take in order to feel like a local. Taking the Metro in Paris is not only extremely convenient, but you’re literally sitting side by side with locals. Instead of repeatedly paying for bus tickets or Ubers, buying a metro pass for as many days as you’ll be staying saves money when you’re hopping from place to place. For example, I purchased a three day metro pass for 30 euros, while a one time ticket is two euros. With going from museums to restaurants to tourist stops, this was definitely worth it.

 

*Tip = do not place your metro pass near your phone for long periods of time, this demagnetizes the pass. I learned my lesson with this at least four times and it was quite embarrassing to keep asking for a new pass.

PURCHASING A MUSEUM PASS

There is no doubt that Paris is an art lover’s dream. Because I love art myself and have been studying it for some time, I had to make sure to visit as many museums as possible. When researching tickets for various museums before my trip, I stumbled across the option of purchasing a museum pass. You have the option of purchasing a museum pass for two, four, or six days, and with this pass you are able to get into a vast array of museums and attractions throughout Paris. I decided to purchase a two day pass for 52 euros, and visited about eight spots throughout Paris where the museum tickets ranged in pricing from 10 to 15 euros. So, if you want to see a variety of museums, I urge you to take advantage of this. Plus, the pass allows you to skip lines, which in the tourist capital of the world is very nice.

FINDING A DINNER SPOT

When traveling, we all want to visit restaurants and eateries that not only have great food, but are Instagram worthy. I urge you to hop on to TikTok or Instagram and see what Paris has to offer, and make a reservation for the spots you find. I was in Paris for my birthday, so I wanted to have a nice dinner that night, and I found the restaurant, Bambini on TikTok. The restaurant was beautiful, the food was amazing, (the truffle pasta specifically was to die for) and our dessert came with a sparkler and four employees who sang happy birthday. It was a memorable experience that I will never forget that came about just from scrolling on TikTok.

SAFETY IN PARIS

Because Paris is a tourist destination, some people take advantage of tourists that are not familiar with the area, and pick-pocketing and theft is common. Stay off your phone, bring a bag that can be worn in front of you, and be mindful of your surroundings. Just by utilizing a few of these tips, a trip to Paris suddenly becomes a bit more seamless. Hopefully, my visit makes your future stay one to remember.