₦airaland Forum

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Geneva

In fact, nah now the thing dey get me angry, I need refund

Back to my Red Cross Museum story.

I wasn't impressed or say I was deceived by the price. The temporary Museum was just an empty place with war pictures and quotes.

What is MrPhysics doing with such kind of stuff? Was it what I paid 5 France for. There's also a projector showing videos taken during the war in African countries.

I just assumed I used the money to pay to use their rest room, what nonsense.

Just see the empty place I paid 5 France for.

International Conference Centre Geneva

I know Geneva is home to about 200 international organisations. I think most of them are headquartered in Geneva.

Deloitte office is just very close to PWC office in Geneva, perhaps their Switzerland headquarters.

Deloitte headquarter/office Geneva

Fidelismaria:
Welcome back Monsieur physics.

Thanks bro. Happy to know you are doing great too.

Ajibade123:
mrphysics do you speak French before leaving for France or you learnt French there or you still don't speak French at all now??

Well, I didn't know anything in French before leaving. Even now, my French is not good. If you ask me, I will say I am level A2. My school is trying in teaching us French. Like I said in earlier pages, the problem is combining intensive classes with learning a Language that requires you to go out and interact with people. Anyway, there's no reason for not learning the language up to conversational level.

Pour maintenant, je parle un peu francais.

If you want to know what it looked like inside, I got you covered.

It has a Museum called "Musee Geneve."

I thought it was going to be free since they are into humanitarian services and has money. But I was wrong, it wasn't free and it wasn't even cheap. I was told that access to the Museum is 15 France. I told the ladies it was expensive and they both agreed. Lol.

However, they said they have a cheaper Museum. Wish I knew what it was, I know I wouldn't have accepted that option.

So I paid for the "Temporary Museum" which costs 5 France.

The Red Cross headquarters was just 100m away.

At first, the trip seemed boring. Boring because I had a different expectation for the the country. So when I got there and it has the same structure or building style of European countries, I wasn't wowed. However, since I was there, I had to make the best out of the trip and enjoy it.

I wanted to go inside the UN office to explore, but when I asked, I was told that due to Covid-19, they no longer allow tourists into the premises. Of course, Covid-19 is a good reason for anything. Lol.

I shall took some pictures of the gate or surrounding should incase someone decides to visit or for your viewing pleasure.

Joyeux Noel.

popeshemoo:
Good to have you back mrphysics.
I've heard terrible stories about French education.. I Think it is a French thing not a school thing. I wish you success bro. I am applying for a program in central nantes... Though I am really not convinced with the reports I am getting, I still hope I get in

Thanks bro. Yes, it's the French thing and also some schools also give enough stress.

If you are in the Grande Ecoles and/or Grande Ecole Engineering schools, you should expect a tough study time. And I can confirm with you that Centrale Nantes is one of the Grande Ecole Engineering School in France. Finished this year as the 4th best Engineering School in France.

I wish you all the best in your application. It's good to have a taste of the French Engineering programme. That way, you have a 'first-person' experience.

When you visit the United Nations Office in Geneva, you will be offered a seat. However, this seat is called the "Broken Chair."

It's symbolic and anyone that has visited or will visit Geneva will like to take a picture close/with this symbolic chair.

According to Google, "the broken chair is constructed of 5.5 tons of wood and is 12 metres (39 feet) high. It depicts a giant chair with a broken leg and stands across the street from the Palace of Nations, in Geneva. It symbolises opposition to land mines and cluster bombs, and acts as a reminder to politicians and others visiting Geneva."


With this, we will go on a break and reconvene in the evening

The only place I know, of course which I learned on nairaland is the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. I did little due diligence on the city and saw it was just a country of about 177k people. So one expects it to be relatively peaceful, small, with nothing much happening in it.

It's a beautiful, quiet, and normal city.

It boasts of having over 200 international organization headquartered in it. Known as the city of Peace, it houses among other international organizations, the Red Cross, "Croix Rouge" en Francais The currency is Swiss France. According to Google, 1 Swiss France is 0.92 Euro. You can use both Euro and France here. They speak both English and French, but French is the first language of communication, however, if you don't speak French, feel free to speak English and it will just be as though you speak French.

As the only place I know is the UN office, it thus became the first place I visited. So I bought the daily transport ticket. This ticket is 8 France (the currency is commonly called France, instead of the long Swiss France).

So this is the United Nations Office environment or surrounding. I took the Tram "Nations" (The train destination which is what trams are often called or identified with)

These are the first two pictures I took in Geneva. I am posting them alone because to me, it's symbolic.

You know that feeling you have when you touch down on a country you have always wanted to visit? Well, you don't get this feeling when you are on transit from one country to country. It's more like your bus stopping in Kogi for 15 minutes break and you count it as visiting Kogi. This feeling is different.

I must say, I had this feeling that Geneva will be a complete different country with France. Little did I know it is everything European.

It all started in a small neighbouring town which is 30 minutes by train and 40 minutes by car, 9 hrs if you wish to trek to Geneva.
To and fro cost me 15 euros.

Lodging is less expensive here and its better to stay in this French side when visiting Geneva except if you have enough money. It's expensive in Geneva.

Unfortunately, my ticket wasn't checked and the ticket is valid for 1 week. Meaning I can go back if I wish or I lose the pictures taken during this trip. So don't worry

I am having issues uploading on nairaland

So yesterday, I visited Geneva in Switzerland like I promised. I have been on a short vacation.

Leaving my prison cum room gave me one of the best feelings to end the year. I actually don't lack money, not that I have enough of it but in life, I am always contented with whatever I have. But I have lacked communication with people. I disassociated myself from human interaction and relationships and its been killing me. The difference between my room and prison is just that in prison you don't have the freedom of movement whereas I have. Fortunately in Nantes, I have free transport card to go anywhere but my school won't even want you to step out.

This led to the decision of traveling this December. I wanted to come to Nigeria but it wasn't an option until the end of my studies when I will come back and reengineer everything about living abroad. I would want to be in an English Speaking country or remain in Nigeria (maybe we will talk about this later, however, it has nothing to do with France. The only difficult thing in France is studying in France. Every other thing is easy and great too).

So let me use pictures to show you my Geneva experience.

Hi Guys,

Thanks again for the secret and open show of love and care you guys bestowed on me. To be very honest, it's not been a great studying experience and this is basically same for me and most of my classmates. This means implies it could be peculiar to only Nuclear Engineering program in IMT Atlantique. I think it could be much more organised and delivered.

It's either the French education system chose the difficult part of life or that my school decided to inherit difficulty. I tried to know, aside from my classmates, if other Nigerians in my school feel same. And the ones I asked share same opinion.

Maybe its just difficult coming out with a distinction grade GP in France, but the effort put towards pursuing this isn't a wasted one. You know that feeling of giving your all to something and their difficult system keeps frustrating you.

Also, I have not had a good emotional and psychological states and this is normal, given the lockdown, inactivity (exercises, etc), and the choking timetable. And this is why I think studying in UK, US, and Canada is much better. Because I don't see the reason why someone doing a 2 years masters will have a more tight schedule than students on a 1 year masters programme. For instance, this semester started September 2nd and will end February 10th. It's been crazy honestly. Hence, I think the programme could be better organised and delivered.

I know every student passes through same situation, be it masters and/or Ph.D. So do not see this as a negative review, but normal thing or say studying in France. I am just trying to explain my absence. I decided to give the 2nd year everything but the French system or say my school will find a way to make you feel it doesn't matter when you give everything, and that what matters is the French system and it's difficulty.

Again thank you for always checking on me. I gave everything for this second year, not going out, meeting people, or even wanting people to meet me. I thought it would be enough, but again, it proves life is more about humans/people than the activities (whatever) humans created while living life.

themaestro08:
Welcome back man. Its great to have you back.

Thanks boss. I will soon update the thread.

Fidelismaria:
Mrphysics longest time ooo

How Nantes?

Yes bro. Attached below is the my schedule that pushed me inside. It's my timetable from January 4th.

I hope you are doing great?

Nantes is fine, I think I hardly go out bro.

Brightfab:
MrPhysics it's been a long while since we last heard from you, hope all is well?

Hi bro. Thanks for checking up on me.

It's been a hellish studying period. Lol, my school makes studies difficult. Learning from 9am to 5:30pm everyday is too difficult plus the reports, homeworks, and sudden exams. All these pushed me inside.

I will be traveling this Christmas, hopefully, I will get some pictures and update this thread. I hope to visit Geneva in Switzerland. So expect an update soon.

Soro Soke to help Nigerian students

Heartlessbanker:
don't sweat it. This kind of thread will never smell frontpage.

Lol, it maybe difficult to get to front page, but I have seen the moderators move informative threads to frontpage.

I am however shocked on why the delay. I made the research myself, I didn't copy from anywhere, and the link to the raw data exist. Lol. Maybe, just maybe Myd44, Seun, lalasticlacla, Fynestboi, Richiez, dominique, etc will decide to save the students from paying additional fee for textbooks in this recession.

Seun, lalasticlacla, Fynestboi, Richiez, dominique

Your attention is need on this thread please.

Unfortunately, this is not given a wider audience.

Seun, lalasticlacla, Fynestboi, Richiez, dominique we need to Soro Soke this thread. The students are really suffering. This has been happening for a long time. No one wants to talk about it especially in this school. The lecturers are notorious for this.

Not moving this thread to front page is actually an injustice to this students next semester. Aside struggling to pay tuition fees, these students struggle to buy mandatory textbooks. Some of them prioritize this textbook over their school fees because without this text, you will not pass a course.

edoairways:
mrphysics well-done. This work is good however it needs some improvement. Your population of study is missing rather you went straight to your sample. Secondly you didn't state which department (s) you studied. It possible that you focused on one department. Thirdly, you didn't state your sampling technique ( probability or non probability sampling).
These should have been considered before concluding your findings.

I understand your point bro. This is not a full research as I am not on ground to conduct such research. I also do not want to see the distribution by departments (I may consider it for the next school).

Like I stated somewhere above, the students were not willing to speak up, any information relating to who they are will chase them away. I had to make alot of changes and got people to spread it in their groups. I stated that its very anonymous. As you can see from the gender chart, a good number of them preferred not to say their gender.

The research gave us a highlevel overview into the state of things in the school. For instance, someone sent me a message and told me that she bought same textbook twice for different courses she did in her ND2 and HND 1 simply because it was same lecturer that teach the two courses. You can imagine.

I have dated one. Actually, I don't believe in those shenanigans they do. Their belief system is too odd but who cares. I hated she attends that church anyway.

She's nice, sexually free, and you will hardly deduce she's a member. However, she's committed in the church as she holds one little leadership position in their youth wing.

She recently got married (last week). I missed her though. She was everything I wanted. And no, we didn't break up because of her religion because I don't care. And I know if we had continued till marriage, she will quit.

Op, their beliefs are odd. They see Obu as god. They pray in his name. Like ending prayers with..."In the name of Olumba Olumba Obu"

They go to Calabar every December. There's a river their women swim/bath inside stack naked. A whole lot of shits they do in the church. Sometimes it could be scary. But for me, if you like belong to Ogboni, it's your business. Nothing you do will ever affect me.

Modified

I forgot to add, the dad is a Bishop there, you can imagine. I'm sure she got married to one of their members. It's even good for her so they can continue that odd way of life.

She eats meat and every other thing other people do. Take alcohol, go to club, name it. On Sunday, she'd wear their white (a cloth which she had never taken pictures on). One day, she was in church and we made a video call. Seeing her in that cloth was really something else. I took screenshots and laughed at her after the service. They don't wear any makeup when going to church. Alot of memories anyway. But she was one lady I wanted to marry. But life happens to us all.

@ Seun, lailaisticlacla, Fynestboi, Richiez, olawalebabs

I still don't know why we haven't moved to front page.

This is worth front page. If this means ranting to the mods, I will keep ranting until this thread is moved to front page.

A thread like this should be given a wider coverage. We need institutional revitalization and the only way to achieve this is push those hidden rots in our system to the front page.

Unfortunately, no one wants to talk about this. It's easier when we blame FG for all things but shy away when we can help the system to change.