So I found out more about the prize I won.

I have to fly to Geneva on Friday for a long weekend where I will be transported to a spa type hotel in Megeve and will have a choice of 2 activities on Saturday - mountain biking for 2.5 hours, hiking through a pasture, visiting a goat farm and making goat cheese, getting on another plane and flying around Mont Blanc, or one 45 minute spa treatment.

Then we have a glacialist come and give us a talk about glaciers to prepare us for the glacier hike on Sunday.  After which we are transported back to Geneva and another spa type hotel with a day for shopping in Geneva (bring lots of $$$$), and a gala award ceremony on Monday night.  Fly home Tuesday.  And you know what?  I'm going to have to work on the Friday and Monday because of the project we have due and I may have to fit in work during the weekend too.  Doesn't sound like much of a prize does it?

Oh yeah - did I tell you US winners have to fly coach?  Which means being jet lagged for the whole physical activity filled weekend.  I just don't get it.  It's supposed to be a huge honor.  They're spending big money to put us up at these 4-5 star hotels but can't afford to send 9 of us from the US business class?  Maybe I sound spoiled but I just feel like it falls short. Oh and the local award winners are bitching that they can't bring their spouses so some of them aren't going.

Finally, the money that goes with the prize is being donated back for a party for the whole team.  I don't have a problem with sharing the prize with the team but I would rather see a nice momento purchased for each of us instead of throwing a party that I won't be able to travel for.  I was put in a bad position about the whole money thing.  It was decided for me that the money would be donated and what would be done with it.