One of the best parts about living in Geneva is the vast international community. But every now and then, it's nice to return to your roots and socialize with some good ol' fellow Americans. In Geneva, there are definitely spots that are more popular among the American expat population. U.S. citizens are usually seen in small groups near British-run pubs, where you're guaranteed to find an English-speaking bartender. Expats also gather near the American government's buildings. Go figure. This week, my program friends and I met several American Marines working at the U.S. mission to the UN. They invited us and the other members of our study abroad program to attend the prestigious Geneva U.S. Marine Corps Military Ball on Friday evening, celebrating the 234th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marines.
Seeing it as our patriotic duty to attend an American military celebration, about 13 of us from the program decided to go. It was held at the Intercontinental Hotel up against Lake Geneva. When we walked in, the Marines were standing in a line at the door. Military protocol required that we walk down the line, shake their hands and thank them for their service. They were all very pleased that we decided to come, given that most of the guests were retired Marine Corps and their families or diplomats working at the U.S. mission. After an hour of socializing, there was a dramatic flag ceremony in conjunction with a speech by Douglas Griffith, the charge d'affairs at the U.S. Mission to the UN. There were several interesting traditions as well. For example, it is customary that at every celebration of the Marine Corps anniversary, they receive a giant cake, cut it with a sword and the eldest Marine passes the first slice to the youngest Marine. Afterward, there was a moving, impassioned speech by a senior Marine officer, who told a story about his friend who returns to Vietnam every summer to search for the remains of his troops lost there, claiming that "the mission is still not over." Regardless of your views about politics or the military, the ceremony was emotional enough to inspire great patriotism and respect for the men and women of the armed forces who put their lives on the line every day.
The food theme was classy American cuisine, complete with mini steaks, grilled vegetables and chocolate mousse cake. It was nostalgic for us to experience food that reminded us of home and to talk to some of the Marines who currently serve the country. Many of them were our age or a couple years older but had already lived everywhere from Afghanistan to Honduras to Japan and had seen a lot more than we could ever dream of. Despite some of their horrific experiences, they put aside their pasts for the evening and were incredibly fun and light-hearted hosts.
After dinner, there was dancing in the Intercontinental Ballroom. In an attempt to cater to all audiences, the DJ made a somewhat random mix of proper foxtrots, Latin salsa and modern hip-hop. The dance floor was packed with everyone from interns to Marines to senior diplomats. Possibly the highlight of the night was turning around and seeing Douglas Griffith rocking out with his wife to Flo Rida's "Right Round," singing along with every word. Another highlight was when one of the Marines - who was in a temporary leg cast after a drill accident - grabbed his crutches and led the group dance to Soulja Boy, hopping on one foot with his crutches in the air during the "youuuu" part.
Needless to say, my friends and I returned home that night feeling proud of our American passports and more than a little nostalgic for home.
Chelsea's column runs biweekly Tuesdays. She can be reached at c.kelly@cavalierdaily.com.
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