Loaded down with cheeses, sweets, and meats packed by Jacqueline for our trip, we headed off on the top deck of the TGV towards Geneva. As soon as we got to the station, we went straight to the US Embassy to the UN, where we sang a concert and even got to sample the drinks and hors d'oeuvres afterwards. Henry's aunt helped set up these performances, and it was a pleasure getting to know their whole family.

Our host family, the Fukuda family, were the greatest possible hosts for Brandon, Daniel, Spencer, and me. Turns our Mr. Fukuda is a huge expert for the WHO. We knew we'd be healthy here.

Our first full day, we sang at the International School, then walked to the UN for a tour. They have a roaming peacock in their gardens, but the gardens are off limits for humans, sadly.

Then, we explored Lausanne, which is just up the lake shore, seeing the cathedral, the synagogue, the Olympic Museum (closed for renovations but we saw the flame!) and an awesome pagoda (a diplomatic gift of some sort).

Then we came home and ran to France!

It's only 5 minutes to the border, so we jogged over to a beautiful lake just beyond the border, right next to stables and a hippodrome. It was gorgeous in the sunset.

The next day, the Whiffs all met up for fondue at Café du Soleil, where we all had huge salads and even bigger servings of fondue and bread. It was a uniquely Swiss experience that we were told we had to do. It didn't disappoint. Full to the brim after all that food, we made our way to the grassy park along the waterfront, where we read and napped in the sun while the Jet d'Eau blasted up at the sky.

Finally, it was time to get ready for our concert in l'Auditoire de Calvin, where John Calvin expounded his reform views centuries ago.

It was easily the most fun concert I can remember from tour because the audience was so appreciative. It was charity concert for two great local organizations: one to assist women and another for the English library. Afterwards, the Fukudas took us out to a delicious pizza dinner. I had a smoked salmon and caper pizza!

Our last day, we wanted to repay our hosts' kindness with meal of our own, so we made pasta with pesto, while Dan made delicious lemon bars. We at it all in a lovely picnic on the back patio before heading off to the airport for Rome.