Last day and the end of an era - so long little blog!

This past Friday was a Christmas / goodbye party for the interns, where I received a few gifts and a card signed with the kind sentiments of the attorneys on my team. I gave a small halting speech, thanking them for nurturing my legal career and trying to express what an honor it was to work here. Around the time that all eyes were on me, reality started to sink in. This is really wrapping up...

And so, as much as I tried to resist it, today was my last day at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. I cannot believe how fast this past half year has gone. From conversations I've had with attorneys at the court, I don't think this is the last I will see of the Tribunal, and I hope I will be breaking into international criminal law within the next few years.

It was a bittersweet day. I said goodbye to my office, to my teammates, and tonight I will have drinks with my friends one last time. I managed to keep my United Nations ID card, so I have a fantastic memento. As much as I've adored my work, my amazing friends, and my cozy flat, I'm so very much looking forward to getting home to the states, hugging my parents and romping with the dogs. Without making this sound like an acceptance speech, I have to thank my sweet supportive parents for everything they have given me. They supported me financially and emotionally throughout my time here, and I am incredibly grateful for that. They are pretty much getting a J.D. along with me for all of the tears and stress-induced hair pulling they have put up with, and I am especially thankful I could talk to them after the rough days of testimony. Ich liebe euch beide!

Well, it's back to packing I go. I fly to Boston early Wednesday morning, via Dublin, then continue on to Phoenix on Thursday. Think good thoughts, as I hate to fly!

On that note, thank you dear friends for reading this blog - I have loved sharing this experience with you. It warmed my heart to get your comments, emails, and letters. I am sending you my love, and I will hopefully share all of my stories with you personally in the months to come!

All my love,

ELF

Across the street

If you peer closely through the curtains, you can see a lovely Christmas tree decorated in the apartment across the way. I wasn't able to make it to 3rd of Advent services last night with friends, but it was comforting to see the celebrations happening in this flat while I worked on an abominable term paper. I haven't really felt like Christmas was on the way - it's easy to forget without Jingle Bells repeating on the radio, or without the ubiquitous decorations that spring up around Halloween. Things here have not been as quaint as Uppsala was, but there are still small signs that it's time to go home. I am enjoying the Dutch sense of openness which manifests itself with gauze curtains and open windows, as I can enjoy their celebrations vicariously.

Light at the end of the tunnel

As I write this I only have about a day and a half left at work. I've started saying my goodbyes, to my mentor and colleagues... I can't believe that this week has blown past me so quickly, and now I am staring down my departure date. I am frantic with my stacks of work, trying to get through things as fast as I can, but with my mind completely distracted by the prospect of going home.

As hectic as life is right now, I can't wait to see all of you again!

Sweden by way of Germany by way of Holland

Windy winter weather

Fiddler

Visitors!

Hello all!

I am very happy to report that I am getting one last round of visitors here in Den Haag before I jet off. Christian, Nicole, and her husband Jens will be coming into town tomorrow for one night, and I am thrilled to play tour guide for them!

I'm also very happy to have an airtight reason to not work over the weekend. I have been given a portion of our final trial brief to write, and was given the option of drafting a second section this past Thursday by another attorney. I'm incredibly flattered that I am entrusted with the work, but it's giving me wrinkles from the stress - I can't possibly let the team down, and I am terrified that I will have overlooked that one crucial piece of evidence. I may make an appearance in the office on Sunday afternoon, but will avoid it if at all possible.

I've had one more draining day at work in relation to my writing assignment. I reviewed the video footage taken by UNPROFOR after the second Markale shelling, and was physically sickened by some of the gore. I can tell I have been hardened to some of the evidence I review, but I don't think it would be possible to glaze over completely. Even though it's hard to view that type of evidence, I am trying to remind myself to step back and just appreciate the incredible environment that I have been working in. I leave in twelve days, have another semester of law school to look forward to, and then a horrible job market to conquer. I will definitely look back on my work here and appreciate it even more from a distance.

Dutch traffic light... for bikes

Sadly, my bike is yet again out of commission, with a derailed chain that is completely snagged and tangled. A few new interns have started at the Tribunal, and I think they are just the fresh meat I need to foist my bike onto!

More doors...

William of Orange

5:30 am street scenes

Thanksgiving, belated

Riley and Aneliya

The lovely host couple, Riley and Blake

With work keeping all of us at the office until the evening hours, a few of my friends at the Tribunal decided to postpone our Thanksgiving celebration until tonight. My contribution was cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes - I'm happy to report I can handle this level of cooking. Aneliya works in the appeals section of the Office of the Prosecutor, originally hails from Bulgaria, and now lives in San Francisco - she brought a great mix of traditional food. My wonderful friend Riley hosted the dinner, and she managed to make a great turkey in a wok. We have to improvise without ovens! We spent a good chunk of the night talking about the first things we will each do when we step onto American soil again, which is right around the corner for all of us.

Popocatepetl

Party party

Hello all,

I just got home from my second holiday bazaar of the season, so I am right on track :) It was held at a church in the middle of the Zorgvliet park - lovely tree-lined streets, brick mansions, and wrought iron gates abounding. Den Haag is having an incredibly nice break in the weather right now, so it feels more like fall than impending winter. I had a nice bike ride in the sun, and am now back home getting ready to go out. Paula's birthday is tonight, so a group of us will meet up for dinner and drinks. Should be fun, and I will be sure to get some photos loaded soon!

Miss you!

One month!

Exactly one month from now, I will be home!

While I have immensely enjoyed my time over here, and this internship was the chance of a lifetime, I am really looking forward to going home. I'm listening to a certain Vince Guaraldi album right now in anticipation of Christmas cheer and my own beagle.

Short clip of the parade

Holidays approach

I had a really lovely day today with fellow ICTY interns Riley and Analiya. After watching the Sinterklaas parade wind its way down Valeriusstraat, we headed to a holiday bazaar nearby. The American Women's Club of Den Haag sponsored the event which was held at the very elegant Carlton hotel. I managed to pick up a delicate glass ornament (painted from the inside with a curved brush, featuring a Dutch canal scene) and a print of an etching. I also stumbled across mulling spices, so I dragged the girls back to my apartment for cider. With 30mph winds outside and flowers and candles on the table inside, it was a cozy way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sinterklaas parade

The man himself, riding his faithful steed Amerigo

The Spanish representatives

Little kids catching pepernoten

This little guy got into the spirit of the Zwarte Pieten, most likely hoping to ingratiate himself and avoid a trip to Spain. The Wiki entry on the lore states: "the lyrics of traditional Sinterklaas songs and some parents warn that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet will leave well-behaved children presents, but punish those who have been naughty. They will kidnap bad children and carry these children off in a sack to their homeland of Spain where, according to legend, Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet dwell out of season."

Zwarte Pieten...

"It's pretty much the Dutch versus the world on this one..."

Apparently even within some circles in the Netherlands this is now a controversial event. I saw how much the kids were enjoying this; to what extent does their innocent enjoyment of the day need to be tarnished by a proper historical contextualization?

Yes, those really are camels. Somehow Sinterklaas - coming from Myra, Turkey, by way of Spain and then the Scheveningen harbor - managed to bring some fuzzy friends along for the ride.