Müller organ - Dad's visit by proxy

Saturday night

I just got home from a lovely dinner with interns in my office followed by an outing to see the newest Harry Potter movie. I spent a very blustery day in Haarlem with Amarys, and will get photos loaded as soon as possible. My computer is still without a new power cord, which is on the way from my wonderful father. Priority mail is really a dazzling thing when Europeans are charged just about double what we Americans pay for Apple items.

More to follow!

Storm

I've referenced the Wizard of Oz once before on here, but now I turn to the venerable flick for an apt description of the storm that is blowing through town right now. My ride home with a friend after work was made more interesting when the wind nearly slammed her into me sideways, while my raincoat ballooned out like a sail. First gear was definitely a workout with steady headwinds of 20 mph and gusts at 40. I'm timing the bolts and rolling thunder, and it's just about time that I yank the plugs out of my computer to be on the safe side of things.

I think this might be what autumn is like here, and in that case, I feel right at home - I miss Oregon.

Uffda

I may have walked under a ladder recently... tonight my MacBook charger died an unceremonious death, which is just the latest thing to break around this place in the last few weeks.

I maintain a good sense of perspective, though, and am happy to report that nothing in my apartment is leaking creaking or squeaking.

Even better, a Finnish intern very sweetly brought me strawberries in my office, which was a fantastic pick-me-up!

31.8.09

Today was a really incredible day, and while I would like to describe it as being exciting, it would be an inappropriate word. Today was the day when two years of law school were drawn upon, when reserves of emotional calm were tapped. I was in my first witness proofing, going through the testimony of a survivor of the Srebrenica massacres. The investigator in the room described it as the most intense testimony from one person he had heard in 15 years at the Tribunal. I don't have adequate words to describe what it was like to look at the face of a man who witnessed some of the most vicious and depraved acts this side of WWII, listening to him first-hand describe what he lived through. This was the most humbling day I have had at the court, and the reasons for me being here and learning as much as I can from these attorneys could not have been clearer. I have two more witness proofings this month, and as trite as the phrase is I really feel as though I am getting the experience of a lifetime.

This article was written before the extent of the massacre was even known.

I just have to think that the goal of an international criminal law attorney is to not have any work at all.

Amsterdam and a new acquisition

After an incredibly frustrating week searching for a bike that would be 1) of an acceptable quality AND 2) not cost an outrageous amount of money (new bikes starting at 199 Euros), I decided to move to the larger market of Amsterdam. I was dead-set on going to Recycled Bikes, a shop that takes discarded and donated bicycles, fixes them up and paints them all sorts of lovely colors, then sells them for a reasonable price. I really liked the concept of the shop... However, by the time I got there a mere one hour after opening time, all of the inventory for the day was already sold out, much to my disappointment and that of the line of people out the door. 

My trip was relatively brief, since I was so annoyed that I could spit. Where are all the used bikes in this country!? No wonder stealing is a much-turned-to option. I trotted back towards the train station, eyeing lamp posts for unchained cycles, while apparently skirting the Red Light District on my way. I remember Amsterdam very well from my time there with my parents years ago, but don't remember getting a contact high from passing the coffee shops.

Once back in Den Haag I started perusing the Dutch version of Craig's List with a vengeance. To make a very long day short, I am now in possession of a gorgeous Lowlands bike, shiny and nearly new, with an equally lovely price tag. I do need to tighten the bolts on the back wheel, since it's riding a little squirrely at the moment - the wrench my dad mailed to me is coming in handy after all. Other than a quick tune-up at the shop, I think this cycle and I will get along famously. Keep your fingers crossed that my days of bike dramatics are over.

Had to share

This photo cracked me up, and the blog is filled with so many quintessentially 'Hague' photos that I am adding it to my list of links.

Happy Tuesday

El Niño Beach Bar, fantastic spot

Lovely Paula

Kurhaus

What's left of the bike...

Apparently the spokes acted like a perforation... SO glad this didn't happen when I was cruising down the road.

Sadly...

The back tire of my bike is no more. I knew there was rust on the rim, but didn't appreciate how much. I shamefully was also aware that the back wheel was wobbling during my rides, and still this didn't stop me from scooting all over town. I pumped up the tire after work today, smoothly pushed off of the curb, and heard two bangs in quick succession. The first was my metal rim cracking in two, and the second was the sound of my tire getting punctured and deflating instantly. The noise resembled a gunshot and certainly got the attention of all the motorists lined up at the light - however, I regret to report (much to my father's disappointment) that I did not catch the look on the U.N. guard's face. I'm sure he instinctively reached for his holster. 

And while we're on the subject of the guards, I also VERY stupidly showed up to work today with a butter knife stashed in my bag. I have no plans to take a fellow intern hostage, it was simply left over from my watermelon carving at the beach. Security was none too pleased with me sliding that through the x-ray machine. It's hardly a Bayonet of Death, but it was definitely enough to warrant a reprimand. 

First video post!

Afternoon sunshine

Amarys is a fellow intern that was, fortunately for me, placed in my office though she works on another case. We had a fantastic Sunday evening at Kijkduin beach, sipping white wine and snacking on watermelon, watching happy families lounging on towels. I missed my mother when I saw a cruise ship on the horizon, remembering our trip to Montreal this past May. 

Holland has definitely been a unique experience. There aren't many beaches I can think of where one can see children flinging sand into the air only yards away from a man lighting up a joint. 

Sunday at Kijkduin

Thursday evening

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the lapse in writing. I haven't been feeling 100% this week, and spent yesterday at home with a fever. I'm getting back on my feet, though, and am drinking lots of water (you'd be so proud, Sara). It's a good night to be under the weather, as the sky opened up and dumped rain around 7:00. The Hague was under a high-wind advisory today, which I callously mocked... until I saw a seagull flapping frantically but remaining in place, and it took me twice as long to get home against the headwinds. The higher the wind speeds kick up, the more I feel like Dorothy on my bike. 

This weekend I think it's finally time to hit the Mauritshuis, where the 'Girl with a pearl earring' is housed, along with (of course) plenty of other masterpieces. I may also have dinner at my fave Indonesian place with a new friend that works at the ICTY, so it should be a fun couple of days!

More to come, and thank you for the sweet emails! I miss you all!