Almost Someone
I am taking FTVP 3150, the video class for the Tuscany trip. Before going to Tuscany during the spring break, I had to complete a few introductory assignments. I knew practically nothing about video and film making, so I learned basic shots and angles. Later I started using these basic shots and exploring themes for a video project. The assignment consisted of telling a story on a particular theme using five shots of five seconds, a type of video called 5 by 5.
I wanted to explore the theme of mannequins and statues. I find mannequins and statues quite interesting, there is an eeriness to them that I find is worth exploring. I believe it is fascinating how we attribute emotions and feelings to inanimate objects. I am curious to see people’s interpretations of what these mannequins might feel and the stories people build around them. I decided to film the mannequins through windows to evoke feelings of loneliness, confinement, and more specifically the feeling of longing to be human like the people who walk past them every day. Note that all the shots were taken in Geneva using my smartphone.
Kristian Skeie, a Norwegian, Swiss based award winning photojournalist, a contributor to Keystone SDA Photo Agency, working with a number of organisations and publications as well as private clients.
Explored topics have focused on post war humanitarian issues in places like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rwanda and Iraq. Other topics have been on science and food as well as medical research. The watch industry in Switzerland, with its traditions and craftsmanship is also an area of fascination in the work by Kristian Skeie.
In addition to photography, Kristian Skeie also run regular photography workshops throughout Europe. He also teaches photojournalism at Webster University in Geneva, Switzerland.
The migration situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a provoked and unjust situation caused by the European Union closing the boarders about five years ago. The world is currently in a situation where there are an estimated 1 billion migrants on our planet. Many (around 760 million) are internally displaced, the rest are international migrants. It is not difficult to understand that many wishes to explore and try to find a better way of life for their families and themselves. With news about the world conflicts and disasters being updated 24/7, we know that life can be unbearable for many. Continued troubles in the middle east, conflicts on the African continent as well as complicated situations in south east Asia, Europe is seen as a safe heaven and a destination of hope for many.
However, all is not what it seems. We are in the middle of a pandemic. The European Union is going through changes with unrest amongst the members. Brexit, a right wing movement with Hungary’s President Orban, Austria and others creating the ‘Identity and Democracy’ bloc furthering their right wing ideas and distancing themselves from the ideals often EU. Finding a common voice in Europe is seen as difficult. Bihac is the unlikely destinations where migrants hoping to reach the EU are stranded as the boarder to Croatia is closed.
Migrants continues to try to reach the EU territory. Many experience extreme violence by the boarder police, particularly in Croatia. ‘Push backs’ from Italy, all the way back to Bosnia is spoken about regularly, even though this, of course, is against international law. The result is a serious humanitarian migrant situation in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the poorest countries in Europe
This little 4 year old Iranian girl has lived her entire life as a migrant. The boarder between Bosnia and the EU has been closed for 5 years. Food distribution is ‘illegal’ in BiH. The boarder police arrived, gave a warning and asked everybody to leave. April 2021.
Food distribution near Sturlic, not too far from Bihac and on the boarder to Croatia by No Name Kitchen to refugee families.
Welcome, New Residents! Bellevue is your new home, so let’s get you comfortable with the area. As a service to you, we compiled a whole range of information about places and services, and this is not all. As Tik Tok has recently become one of the world’s most advanced and utilized mobile apps during the COVID 19 pandemic and lockdown, we chose to showcase Bellevue through this app as a convenient and effective way to discover the opportunities surrounding you.
Most surprising places in Bellevue
The stress of transition to college can result
in anxiety. It is important to take breaks from this hectic life and enjoy a few hours of rest. Bellevue might seem small, however, you’ll be surprised by the number of activities you can do around here. Our campus is surrounded by surprising places, incredible views, and a few “secrets” spots. Here we have a few suggestions for every one of your tastes.
Dog Park
For all the dog lovers out there, this is THE place for you. Whether you pull out your AirPods and blast your favorite songs, or simply enjoy listening to the sounds of nature, you can take a lovely walk through the dog park along a cute trail taking you to the hill’s top, where you will be amazed by the splendid view of the lake and the mountains across it. On the south side of the
park, a gate gives you access to the Bains de Saugy. The path, passing through a tunnel down the railway, takes you directly to the lake: on summer days you can splash in the water directly from the pier! Dogs’ access to the lake is separated from people’s one.
A little further along the forest, some large wooden benches are perfect to host a picnic: such a lovely place for a gathering!
The Bioparc Genève
Bioparc Genève, also known as Parc Challandes, is a sort of small zoo created in Bellevue in 1991 as a rescue place for lost, abandoned or wounded animals. Some of them came from official zoos and circuses who had to get rid of them. The Bioparc is a very special place run by wholehearted people and allows you to wander around, discover, learn, and recharge your batteries. Anyone can volunteer to help for one day or more.
It is approximately a 12-minute walk from Webster Geneva to the park. Whilst walking there, we encountered nice neighbourhoods and many places that could come in useful one day including a beautiful local florist. Once we reached our destination we were warmly welcomed by some of the workers. The tour of the park did not take longer than 30 minutes and we were able to see more than 250 animals including kangaroos, owls, peacocks and many more. At the end of the tour, we saw a gift shop, where whatever is purchased, the money will go towards these animals and taking better care of their living space. This small zoo is something we definitely recommend to everyone!
Best views in Bellevue
Belle Vue in French means “pretty view”! The name of the town does not do justice to the views it has to offer from literally every angle. Whether you are looking outside your room, eating at one of the restaurants, or just walking around, there is a constant view of the mountains, the lake, and the greenery. Though most of this information applies to the summer and fall times of the year, the town is just beautiful in winter, with the Mont Blanc and the Alps covered in the whitest snow.
Lake View
“Let’s go to the lake”, has been the most used phrase during orientation day and every
week since then. Naturally, you’ll be curious to visit it, as it’s one of the first things that catch our eyes in Switzerland. Just a few steps from the campus, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Mont Blanc and the Alps surrounding the lovely lake. You will not be disappointed by other people’s appreciation for it. Welcomed by the inhabitants of Bellevue and surrounded by a peaceful and beautiful scenario, you will be definitely convinced to visit the lake again.
The lake view not only is justified by its popularity, as it gives you a very calm and relaxing feeling, but it is also a perfect spot to spend time with friends after classes or for some time alone. This gem is additionally surrounded by 2 restaurants and a small gas station shop for your quick cravings. If you are more of a scenic person, during sunrise or sunset, the lake has the most beautiful glow with a few benches, a large wooden sitting area, and rock borders with flowers, trees, and the greenest grass.
Vineyards
When we think of Geneva, we immediately think of the jet d’eau. We can easily forget that it’s also about the countryside, particularly its vineyards, which fun-fact, makes this canton the third largest wine country. On our way back to Webster University from the dog park, we discovered a new path to our destination. We walked through this street with many benches next too some beautiful vineyards. The view from there is breathtaking. Its landscapes are reminiscent of both the vineyards of southern France and those of beautiful Tuscany. This street is part of many Bellevue citizens’ daily walk. There were many old couples, families with small children and teenagers enjoying a picnic sitting on the benches.
Location: Chemin Des Rousses
Webster views
No need to go too far! We’ve been tourists of Geneva for the past month and a half and we’ve noticed that some of the best views could be seen right where we are, at Webster University. This can either be from the benches outside the LLC building, any window on campus or even walking around campus. We are lucky to live in a place that looks beautiful when hot or cold, sunny or rainy, and even windy.
Our favourite spots to socialize
Socialising is a big part of the whole University experience, and a very fun one. If you pay attention to what is around you, you may notice some places where a lot of students hang out with each other, excluding classes, these are the benches.
The Bench Next to LLC
This spot at the parking lot is known for being one of the benches where most students have small talks with each other, but also because it is one of the few places where you can smoke on campus. Some of our first conversations with people on campus have taken place on that bench, and it will always be a spot to meet new people. Another pls is that, on your right you have a beautiful forest, which you are missing out on if you have not walked through it yet!
The bench near the cafeteria
It is mostly crowded when the students or staff go and eat. The cafeteria has 2 benches, one surrounded by stunning flowers, and the other which is part of a large table. Most of the time during lunch, the bench is taken as it is in a very convenient spot where everything is right next to you; classes, cafeteria, library, and the elevators on both sides.
The benches in the woods
They are right next to the campus, and as soon as you enter the woods trail, you are sure to see them. Here most students hang around in late afternoon or evenings, however, this is not known as a place to get to know people but more of a place to go with the friends you made. This bench could also be used as an area to relax, and have some alone time and connect with nature…
If you are looking to make friends at Webster, you should consider going to these spots for a little during the day, it will spark small conversations and maybe you’ll have yourself a new friend, multiple friends or just a really interesting conversation.
Hopefully, this information will help you feel at home, not only by residing in this beautiful area but by joining our active community and taking part in the many events that make this place a better place to live and study!
By: Warona Mouyeme, Greta Sigona, and Sara Kullolli
My Secret Geneva
Museums have always been active in shaping our views and perceptions. They help us gain knowledge about past practices yet manage to make the process of learning fresh. We chose museums as “A secret Geneva midterm project” because it is our belief that they provide the most effective way of learning. Since we are university students, we find the idea of time-saving resources essential. Furthermore, a single visit to the museum can assist in exploring in-depth information on a particular subject. Both of us are genuinely interested in nature and its history, as well as in art and archeology. Therefore, we chose to explore the “Museum of Natural History” and “Musée d’Art et d’Histoire” in Geneva.
Let us kick off with the “Museum of Natural History” (Figure 1). To begin with, the museum is located on Route de Malagnou 1. Webster University students can take a train from the Genthod-Bellevue train station to Genève-Eaux-Vives, gare, which is 10 minutes away from the learning center. The museum itself is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, except Monday when it is closed the whole day. We came there on Saturday at approximately 4 pm. It was not crowded since we witnessed only a few families and students around. What is more, the entrance and Wi are entirely free. Nevertheless, an essential part is bringing the negative PCR / Rapid Antigen test / COVID certificate and an identity document that the staff members check at the entrance. We came to the museum with negative tests, which had to be confirmed with a passport / ID. We had only pictures of passports, and unlike in most restaurants and shopping malls in Geneva, the workers did not accept the photos. We had to go back to the university to get the identity documents and bring them to the museum.
Right after the entrance to the museum, we were surprised to see the real conserved species. Figure 2 below reveals how it looked to us. There were crocodiles, turtles, snakes, and the descriptions of them. Then, when we ascended to the first floor, we saw a cozy cafe, which was, unfortunately, closed because of COVID-19. However, on the same floor, we got a chance to explore an extensive collection of stuffed and preserved animals. For example, the tropical part exhibited camels, donkeys, and leopards. For the record, did you know that the last wild Bactrian camels live in the Gobi desert, where they face an arid climate? In order to resist the drought, such a camel can drink up to 100 liters of water in one go. That is an astonishing fact that we read in the tropical section of the exhibition. Besides, the descriptions of animals and facts about them are written down in both French and English languages. Furthermore, what we have valued on this floor was the contrast between exhibitions. As we have already mentioned, there was a tropical one. Yet, the exhibitions of various species of birds and the Antarctic were present too (Figure 3). Thereupon we checked out the second floor, which manifested such stuffed animals as jellyfish, sharks, and just fish. You can see the demonstration of jellyfish in Figure 4. We found it an exciting idea for the inventors to use glass and metal since they connected biology with art. The last but not the least floor exhibition is dedicated to geosciences, astronomy, and the evolution of man. It may seem boring to some, but the museum practically enlivens the presentation by offering biology-linked games and fun activities (Figure 5). For instance, there is a computer that helps us gain knowledge on the parasite ecology and the parasite of the day. By clicking on each concept, profound information on the topic is provided. We think that it is a great idea to come up with such activities since this exact way the younger generation can be attracted to the museums as much as the older one. Overall, the “Museum of Natural History” is a considerable place to visit for those who want to learn more about animals and geosciences yet make the observations fun and absorbing. Our personal museum experience is absolutely positive. We have enjoyed it and definitely recommend everyone to check out the exceptional quality of the museum.
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After spending quite some time exploring flora and fauna, we decided to visit the “Musée d’Art et d’Histoire” (Figure 6 and 7), which is located on Rue Charles-Galland 2 and, for the record, is 8 minutes away by walking from the “Museum of Natural History.” It is open on Thursday from 12 pm to 9 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11 am until 6 pm; closed on Monday. First things first, we were impressed by the dimensions of the museum. It seemed vast and eventually emerged to be so. Besides, built in 1910, the building is pretty ancient. When entering, the negative PCR / Rapid Antigen test / COVID certificate was required as well as the original identity documents. We came there at about 5 pm, and it was crowded. The entrance and Wi-Fi are free. We decided to start our visit with the exhibition on antique fashion. At the outset, not only were we impressed by the ancient dresses, costumes, and shoes, but we got a chance to look at how these clothes were produced. Near one of the 18th century pink dresses, there was a TV where visitors observed how and which materials were being used to make the dress (Figure 8). It is a fun arrangement that is certain to amuse a regular visit to the museum. As well as a great idea to manifest the contrast between the technology (in this case the TV) and the historical stuff in the present-day time. Then we came across a small shop, where guests buy such souvenirs, as postcards (2 franks), bags (10-15 franks), etc. (Figure 9). Thereupon we have entered the room of ancient military and hunting supplies. It looked fascinating to Misha since he is a fan of earlier special forces. As for Angelina, she loves cooking, and therefore it was interesting to explore the food that middle- and high-class people prepared before (Figure 10). Later, we decided to check out the art exhibition (Figure 11). We believe this part of being our favorite since art is our common interest. The pictures of the museum exhibits are all quite big and of various artists from different times. We carefully surveyed portraits, as well as religious illustrations. Above all, we were fond of landscape drawings. Have a look at figure 12, which is the drawing called “La Montagna.” We liked it a lot due to the direct rays of sunshine on one of the mountains in Geneva. Closer to the end, we surveyed the Japanese culture. There was a broad exposition of Fans in Japan, made of paper on a bamboo frame. As a matter of fact, fans are an integral part of Japanese rituals and an essential accessory in theatres, shows, and traditional dances. They are highly successful products that were sold out from the very beginning. Eventually, we have concluded our visit with a quick glance at the archeology exhibition since the museum was about to close. Besides, there is a café that does not work because of COVID-19. Yet, it provides a beautiful garden where visitors can get some fresh air (Figure 13). An overall, the “Musée d’Art et d’Histoire” is a great learning center that offers various exhibitions and lots of historical artifacts. In such museums, visitors learn actively when they reflect on their own impressions and construct personal interpretations. It is highly recommended by us, especially for those genuinely interested in plunging into the past of art, fashion, and archeology with the help of such a good-quality museum.
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Suppose we compare the “Museum of Natural History” and “Musée d’Art et d’Histoire,” then a few points need to be mentioned. First of all, the first museum focuses on exhibitions of stuffed animals, whereas the second one on art, history, and archeology. These are exciting fields that are very distinct yet, so significant for common knowledge. Second of all, the first museum has more fun activities than the second one in general. Unfortunately, today mostly the older generation visits museums and contributes to the development of communities. However, the promotion of education needs to be taken into consideration by the younger generation too. By doing fun activities in the museums, we can attract students and thus influence the value of knowledge in present-day societies. What’s more, as for us, Misha is a fan of animals and therefore liked the first museum more. Although his major at Webster university is management, he spends his free time gaining knowledge on creatures. However, it is his belief that the second museum is way bigger. He would prefer surveying more animals of different categories and read more various facts in the first museum. As for Angelina, she enjoyed the second museum more since her university major is international relations, and thus she is a fan of history. She found particularly interesting the exhibition of archeology due to the fact that she could observe the tangible evidence of our ancestors. Despite that, we enjoyed visiting the museums, and we think that the beauty of art is what these two have in common. We believe that these museums are community centers that offer various interpretations of illumination. The expositions of stuffed animals, links between fashion and history, religious drawings, and cultural illustrations establish art.
All in all, we visited two precious community centers, which are the “Museum of Natural History” and “Musée d’Art et d’Histoire.” We strongly believe that museums provide an effective way of learning and are not time-consuming at all. They inspire us to study, give us an opportunity to develop culturally and are a great way to spend time with friends or family. When visiting a museum, we recommend you take notes of the information or facts that are usually written under exhibitions. Taking photos is also a great way to capture the moment. As for these two secret places in Geneva, they are highly recommended by us for anyone who wants to spend time educationally yet amusingly.
By: Anhelina Tkachenko
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