Hey Again…it’s been a while (again…yes I’m seeing a pattern here!) but things are still going really well for me here. I’m still working as an intern at Global Human Rights Defence, and that’s really a nice job. We have had two major events for which we did a lot of preparation and it’s been nice to see how they’ve turned out. Last week, my boss and other colleagues traveled to India to put on a seminar about human rights reporting in the field. Pretty cool stuff! A few things to update you on (in no particular order):

1. New Job 1: As of 1 May, I am a new employee for a two-month contract job with the University of Utrecht researching and writing about the role of non-governmental organizations in history with governments (how they interacted over the last 50 years or so). I am still not 100% clear on my duties, but it’s going to be a really great gig. The professor with whom I am working, Dr. Isabelle Duyvesteyn, is collaborating with other colleagues in order to obtain a prestigious research grant from the Dutch government for this project (NWO), so I hope I do well! It is an honor to work with her on this project. I am taking a 2-month break from my internship in order to do this research.

2. New Job 2: 18 June, I will travel to Durham, North Carolina for a week then back to The Hague with Duke University Talent Identification Program. The Field Study is entitled ” War, Children, and International Justice: The War Crimes Tribunals of The Hague,” and I will work as a Teaching Assistant to Professor Maj. David Frakt teaching these talented high school students about international law. Professor Frakt was a guest at our Rule of Law Symposium in the fall at Washburn and he has also represented detainees at Guantanamo (see a very moving closing argument he made here). I am honored also to be involved with this program. I am very much looking forward to this opportunity as well as the opportunity to see my mom (and perhaps my brother) who will visit me while I’m in N.C.

3. New Boyfriend: I have been seeing a new guy since mid-March named Stijn. He is a journalist for a newspaper here in NL. We are having lots of fun hanging out in the beautiful spring weather here in Utrecht as well as exploring the night life in the cozy cafes and restaurants of the city.

4. Gala and Soccer News: Our soccer team is still going strong. Last weekend we played a thrilling match against a club called DOVO and we ended up coming from behind and tying 2-2. It was really exciting how the team has really started playing strongly together as the season is drawing to a close. We have 3 more regular games and then it’s tournament time. I’ll keep you posted on all of that. Last Saturday night we had a Gala with the whole club (sort of like prom but with beer and hosted at FC Utrecht’s stadium, Galgenwaard).

5. Thesis Idea I have to also write a thesis and I’m hoping to explore the topic of Universal Jurisdiction as it applies to the concept of prosecuting officials in the Bush Administration for their complicity and directing of torture and other illegal interrogation techniques. My plan is to get that done before the end of August as September marks the beginning of classes again. It’s been interesting seeing what Spain and others have started to do, but it would also be nice if our own Department of Justice would go ahead and do its job…

6. Spring/Summer in NL The weather has started just being beautiful 90% of the time instead of the cold, rainy darkness. Spring everywhere is often beautiful, but there’s just something about this place with the flowers, the canals, and the park right by my house (Wilhelmina Park) where my dog and I go often to take a break from the studies and stress. A couple of weekends ago we had a game outside of Alkmaar and on the way to the game, I passed for the first time the typical fields filled with colorful tulips–rows and rows. It was remarkable to see in person instead of just in pictures. Grandma, it made me think of you

7. Koninginnedag This past week on 30 April was Koninginnedag–or Queen’s Day. It’s a day off work where people celebrate the Netherlands and its royal family. Lucy came up to Utrecht from Maastricht and we joined in the Orange revelry celebrated with many a Heineken and complete with an orange boa and lei. See the pictures below. One sad thing, which many of you heard of, was the attempt by some guy trying to run his car into the Royal Family’s bus. That has cast a dark shadow over the otherwise jubilant festivities. I am hopeful it doesn’t ruin the holiday for coming years. This is an interesting piece about the collective Dutch reaction, if you’re interested.

Ready to get my Oranje on…

Stijn and me at Lokaal 9

Lucy ready to paint the town Oranje

The Dutch Flag

Homage to two great nations-Heineken beer and “America Wine” from Albert Heijn

That’s pretty much the update from here in happy NL. How is everyone doing? Send me an update when you get a chance!

Doei! xx