Week IX: Passports, Plans & Project Pauses

From Alps to Apartment Keys

This week was supposed to be extra special because my parents were planning to visit me in Geneva. Flights were booked, restaurant reservations were made, and we had a full list of sights to see together. But just before they were set to depart, we realized that my mom’s passport expires at the end of the month, which meant she wouldn’t meet Switzerland’s entry requirements. Leading to a very last-minute and disappointing cancellation.

So here’s your friendly PSA:
Always double-check your passport expiration date, even if it’s technically still valid. Many countries require it to be valid for at least three to six months beyond your travel dates. It’s a small detail that can completely upend travel plans.

Thankfully, we all still managed to get a bit of a break. I spent the weekend checking off the last items on my Geneva to-do list and farewell to Switzerland, but more on that later. My parents turned their change of plans into a staycation, setting up shop in my apartment in Williamsburg and exploring the area. So while it wasn’t Geneva, everyone still got some rest and a change of scenery, just not all together.

Winding Down While Waiting Up

As my time in Geneva draws to a close, so are the projects I’ve been working on. One of the most significant is the Kigali grant, nearly finalized, but still awaiting internal approval. At this stage, we’re waiting on the completed budget from IBJ’s Director of Finance and Administration, which is the final component needed before submission.

This kind of pause is a familiar part of grant development. After weeks of writing, revising, and coordinating across teams, sometimes the last step is simply waiting for everything to align. It’s been a valuable insight into how multi-layered and collaborative international grant work really is, and how patience and precision go hand in hand.

In the meantime, I’ve been reviewing draft materials, tying up loose ends, and ensuring that everything is ready to move forward the moment the final budget is in place.

Beyond Work

Goodbye Cruise and a Gruyères Getaway

Even though my parents couldn’t make it to Geneva this week, that didn’t stop me from going ahead with the plans we had made together, just solo. From the boat cruise to the fondue and chocolate tastings, I decided to keep the itinerary (mostly) intact and enjoy one last Swiss weekend.

I started with a peaceful morning in Geneva. I picked up a cappuccino and macarons from Ladurée, boarded a Lake Geneva cruise, and spent the ride reflecting, praying, and taking in the views. Afterward, I found a quiet spot near Jardin Anglais, with a view of the Jet d’Eau in the distance, and read for a while before wandering through the old town. I visited St. Pierre Cathedral, and when the rain started, I made my way to the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire for a final stroll indoors.

    

The next day, I took a trip to Gruyères. My first stop was the Cailler chocolate factory, and I truly felt like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory. The immersive tour leads you through themed rooms with automatic doors, telling the story of chocolate from its roots in Aztec culture, where cocoa beans were once used as currency, to the Swiss innovation of adding real Alpine milk, which set the global standard for smooth, high-quality chocolate. My favorite part was watching chocolate roll straight off the machine into my hand.

               

After Cailler, I visited the La Maison du Gruyère, the region’s famous cheese factory, to see how my favorite cheese is made. Next was the medieval town itself, where I walked the castle grounds, admired sweeping Alpine views, and ended the day with fondue in the town square, a fitting farewell, even if the locals would never eat it in July.

     

And for me, it really was the perfect ending. Gruyère cheese has been my favorite since I was a kid, so getting to enjoy it in the town it comes from was the cherry on top, a delicious, full-circle goodbye to Switzerland.

    

À la semaine prochaine,

Sydney