Walk With Me

The Franco-Swiss border runs through the CERN campus in Meyrin, almost in equal halves. I live in France, and walk to my building which is right in the middle of the campus. Walk with me.

The time is 23 minutes past 8. I’m ahead of time. Shoes have been worn, laces tied, jackets zipped. I could leave right away and reach a few minutes early, perhaps even walk slower and smell the flowers on the way. Or, since I have two minutes in hand, I could reply to a text and leave right at 25 minutes past 8.

Owing to the lack of better judgement, I do the latter. I reply to Chaithra on WhatsApp. Then I reply to Chaithra on Instagram. She’s sent me a reel. Funny. I like it and scroll. Elephant crossing a stream. I send it to Chaithra and scroll. As my thumb swipes across the screen, it almost reaches the top where I see the time. 8:27. I’m officially late. I pull at the door handle to run out, the door is locked. I reach into my jacket pocket, struggle to find my keys among a bunch of chocolates and chocolate wrappers, finally manage to find the keys and unlock the door. It’s 8:28. If I walk slightly faster, I can make it. Or maybe I should run until the townhall and then walk at a normal pace.

I exit the lift and step out. Chilly. Not like I didn’t know that. At this point, the weather app is the most used app on my phone. I wrap my scarf a little tighter and walk. I call Ajji on the way. It’s a ritual now. My 8:30, her noon. In all 25 years of my existence, she happens to be the coolest person I know. I talk to her for 10 minutes.

By the time I hang up, I’m right in front of the bakery. Someone opens the door to exit with a bag full of Pain au Chocolats - easily 15-20. A common sighting at the workplace - people buying croissants for the team. The first time I bought them for my team, I felt like the person in the math problems. I thought about how out of place I looked walking around with two bags of croissants. Took me a while to learn that it is completely normal. The smell of the croissants is very inviting, but now it’s 8:40 already, we are LATE.

If I make it to the gate by 8:44, I can walk at a peaceful pace until my building. 5 minutes to the gate is doable for someone who walks fast and takes big steps. For me, who is neither, it is a challenge. I cross the large car collider (yes, that’s a thing) and badge in at 8:46. Not bad, not bad at all. Hoo chendu hudugi playing in my ears.

I walk past the CERN shuttle stop. It’s an uphill climb. As I walk on the left, I see bikers on the right side. I make it a mental note to fix my bike and start biking to work. I reach the water tower. The water tower is the highest point in the surroundings. I can see it from my balcony as well. 8:54. On time. I’ve finally caught up. From then on, it’s all downhill. I see the city of Geneva ahead of me in the distance. Vineyards on the other side of the road.

I finally make it to my building. The CERN Animal Shelter for Computer Mice is my absolute favorite spot in the whole campus. A great practical joke. I could enter the building from the other side but I take the slightly longer route to see the animal shelter every morning before I start work.

8:58. And we’ve made it in record time, with 2 minutes to spare.