Finally...a new post

Hi everyone,
I've been swamped. My students were here for 2 weeks for their study-abroad program and they were a handful (to say the least). Sex and drugs - gets people all the time.

Anyway, the program went well in spite of a few problem students. And, only one person was sent home early. We had a great reception and presentation at Holland's Ministry of Justice and at EuroJust. We also went to Europol, Interpol,the Anne Frank Museum, and tons of other places. And, We went to Kamp Amersfoort, which is a former transitional camp from the Holocaust. It was a very sobering experience. And, reminds me that this stuff still goes on today. Horrible!!

I'm back at work at the ICC after 2 weeks off. We had a holiday yesterday because July 1 is the anniversary of the ratification of the Rome Statute, which created the court.

I've finally made it to the beach (with my students). Several of them were brave enough to jump into the North Sea. I've only managed to put a foot in. That water is COLD!!

The weather has been great for the past week and a half. Sunny & warm. Hopefully it won't get much warmer because I don't have A/C.

I just got back from a pub after watching Holland beat Brazil. Woohoo!! It was loads of fun to be in a group for that. After the game, they sang some song (no idea what it was, but it went to the tune of Let old acquaintance be forgot). They had Dutch lyrics to if of course. Then they played, We Will Rock You, so I was able to sing along.

There is a festival going on in the plaza near my apartment. They had some kind of folk dancing going on when I walked passed it. We'll see if they have anything good this weekend.

Let me tell you about my saga of getting a box shipped from the U.S. It went on for about 2 weeks. Jason shipped me a gift and a few things I needed. After a week went by, I started to worry about it, so he tracked it. It was in Customs. This is about the time my students showed up, so I was not staying at my apartment, so I had to go back to my apartment each day to see if it had arrived. Finally, I got a notice that they had tried to deliver it and had charged me over 50 Euros. I have to pay customs on my own stuff?!! Anyway, it didn't say where to pick it up. I had to wait 2 more days for that notice. I finally was able to get it - and got a nice Tiffany's necklace :-). But, I had to pay the fee. Yuck!! I've still got to call them to find out if I can be reimbursed since I don't live here. FUN!

Now it is time for a bike story. They have this little bracelet-like things that you clip around the bottom of your pants so that your pants don't get caught in your chain. I've seen a couple of people wearing them now. Not sure whether I should get some. I would like something to hold my skirt down, though.

I miss A/C!!

Surprisingly, I am a little lonely now that my students are gone and most people at work are on vacation. Jason is coming to visit next week! Yeah! Hopefully I'll have lots of adventures! We are going to Belgium and maybe Germany on the weekends that he is here.

Well, that's all I have for now.

Michelle