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
About Me
- Michelle Emerson-Lewis
- Denver, Colorado, United States
- "Nobody is Perfect," but we can make better decisions every day. Are you ready to clean up your diet and improve your health? www.NobodysPerfectHealth.com
Friday, July 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Engineer, I'm Not!
Another bike story :-)...I bought a crate and bungee cords (I think that is what they are called) to put on the back rack of my bike. Sunday was the big day to try it out grocery shopping. It seemed pretty stable. Once I put my groceries in, however, it was a bit wobbly. So, I had to ride my bike with one hand on the crate. I have to say I am getting more stable on my bike. When I got to my street, the crate started sliding around more, so I decided to get off the bike and walk it the rest of the way home. When I got off the bike, everything fell apart. The crate and my groceries went plunging to the ground, and the bungee cords were still somewhat attached to the bike. After picking everything up and putting the crate back on the bike, I started walking again. All of a sudden my bike would not move forward any more. What now?! So, the bungee cord had hooked onto one of the spokes of my wheel and was now tightly wrapped around the wheel. While figuring that out, the groceries in the front of my bike (in the basket) fell out. I then decided to just take all of my groceries home and then come back to deal with the bike. While walking back to my bike, it started to rain. The day was getting better and better. I was able to save my bike and release the bungee cord (it is in pretty rough shape). I think I'll be walking with my groceries from now on.
I did have a successful journey on my bike to drop off and pick up my laundry. I was able to balance my laundry without dropping anything to and from the laundry mat. I pictured a big crash with my underwear sprawled out all over the street.
You'd be surprised at the bike riders around here. I once saw a man riding and balancing a TV on the handlebars. I guess with no car, that is the only way to get it home. Yesterday, I saw a man carrying a bag of 3 pies with one hand and driving the bike with the other. And, I've seen plenty of women in heels and short skirts successfully riding their bikes - pretty amazing!
On another note, I didn't end up going to the beach on Sunday since it rained. So, Steve, I will post beach pictures another time. Maybe it will be nice this weekend.
I did have a successful journey on my bike to drop off and pick up my laundry. I was able to balance my laundry without dropping anything to and from the laundry mat. I pictured a big crash with my underwear sprawled out all over the street.
You'd be surprised at the bike riders around here. I once saw a man riding and balancing a TV on the handlebars. I guess with no car, that is the only way to get it home. Yesterday, I saw a man carrying a bag of 3 pies with one hand and driving the bike with the other. And, I've seen plenty of women in heels and short skirts successfully riding their bikes - pretty amazing!
On another note, I didn't end up going to the beach on Sunday since it rained. So, Steve, I will post beach pictures another time. Maybe it will be nice this weekend.
Notes on a Lecture I attended last week
Notes on 2-June-2010
SCL lecture by Mia Swart on Apartheid
The Internationalisation of the Reparations Debate in South Africa: Is ATCA an Appropriate Mechanism for Obtaining Apartheid Reparations?
Dr. Mia Swart is an Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She presented on Victims of Apartheid in South Africa, explaining the results of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Tort Law Suit occurring in the United States.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified 22,000 victims and awarded US$85 million total payments for victims. The money was given out as a 1-time payment of 30,000 Rand (≈ Euro 3.000) into bank accounts of victims. This money was paid out in April, 2003 (7 years after it had been promised). Unfortunately, many victims are without bank accounts and thus did not receive the payment. Thus, not all of the identified victims have received reparations.
Dr. Swart stated that some victims felt this payment was unethical, as it was seen as blood money. In some cases, victims felt that no money would have been better than this low amount. Most victims, however, did not resist the reparations because of the desperate situations and poverty they are suffering.
Another route to obtain reparations has been taken by a group called Khulumani. This group is made up of about 38,000 people (and is still increasing) who were victims of Apartheid and have come together as a social action and support group. They decided to do something rather than remain passive. This group has allowed victims to be empowered and involved in bringing the case into the public domain. Since the TRC did not address corporations’ involvement in Apartheid, a lawsuit was initiated in the United States in a tort claim against several companies (Khulumani et al v. Barclays et al). This tort claim was made possible by the Alien Tort Claims Act. This act allows district courts in the U.S. to have original jurisdiction for torts only in violation of treaties and/or violations of the law of nations. Because of the embargoes and treaties in place during Apartheid, these companies that provided products and services to the South African Government were in violation of these agreements. Thus, it is possible that the case can be heard in the U.S. District Court.
The Tort Case was brought before the New York District Court in 2002 against 34 companies originally. The remaining companies in the lawsuit include Ford, GM, IBM, Barclay National Bank, Daimlerchrysler, and Rheinmetall. Basically these companies funded and assisted the South African Government in the Apartheid. Thus, they were in violation of international law by “aiding and abetting” the government. The plaintiff (victims) in this suit seek to show that mere knowledge that they are assisting in these violations of international law is enough to show responsibility in the tort claim. However, this case has been a little rocky. In 2004, Judge Spritzer dismissed the case, stating that there was no legal basis for the case. His decision was later overturned by the 2nd Circuit appeals court. In the ruling, the Court reversed the decision of the District Court on the Alien Tort Statute claims, and held that aiding and abetting liability exists and can be pled under the Alien Tort Statue.
One of the major questions discussed by Dr. Swart and the audience at the presentation was the issue of causation. It is likely that showing that the companies’ involvement caused the harm to the victims will be difficult. Additionally, since victims suffered a wide range of harm, there may be an issue with grouping them all together for the class action suit. Harm ranges from discrimination to torture and death; thus, it may be a problem for the victims to be grouped.
The case is currently being appealed by the defendants. It will be a long time before the case is resolved. Victims will have a long time to wait for any kind of reparations (if they receive any at all).
More information:
Khulumani Support Group: http://www.khulumani.net/khulumani/about-us.html
Also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Khulumani-Support-Group/482321890293
SCL lecture by Mia Swart on Apartheid
The Internationalisation of the Reparations Debate in South Africa: Is ATCA an Appropriate Mechanism for Obtaining Apartheid Reparations?
Dr. Mia Swart is an Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She presented on Victims of Apartheid in South Africa, explaining the results of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Tort Law Suit occurring in the United States.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified 22,000 victims and awarded US$85 million total payments for victims. The money was given out as a 1-time payment of 30,000 Rand (≈ Euro 3.000) into bank accounts of victims. This money was paid out in April, 2003 (7 years after it had been promised). Unfortunately, many victims are without bank accounts and thus did not receive the payment. Thus, not all of the identified victims have received reparations.
Dr. Swart stated that some victims felt this payment was unethical, as it was seen as blood money. In some cases, victims felt that no money would have been better than this low amount. Most victims, however, did not resist the reparations because of the desperate situations and poverty they are suffering.
Another route to obtain reparations has been taken by a group called Khulumani. This group is made up of about 38,000 people (and is still increasing) who were victims of Apartheid and have come together as a social action and support group. They decided to do something rather than remain passive. This group has allowed victims to be empowered and involved in bringing the case into the public domain. Since the TRC did not address corporations’ involvement in Apartheid, a lawsuit was initiated in the United States in a tort claim against several companies (Khulumani et al v. Barclays et al). This tort claim was made possible by the Alien Tort Claims Act. This act allows district courts in the U.S. to have original jurisdiction for torts only in violation of treaties and/or violations of the law of nations. Because of the embargoes and treaties in place during Apartheid, these companies that provided products and services to the South African Government were in violation of these agreements. Thus, it is possible that the case can be heard in the U.S. District Court.
The Tort Case was brought before the New York District Court in 2002 against 34 companies originally. The remaining companies in the lawsuit include Ford, GM, IBM, Barclay National Bank, Daimlerchrysler, and Rheinmetall. Basically these companies funded and assisted the South African Government in the Apartheid. Thus, they were in violation of international law by “aiding and abetting” the government. The plaintiff (victims) in this suit seek to show that mere knowledge that they are assisting in these violations of international law is enough to show responsibility in the tort claim. However, this case has been a little rocky. In 2004, Judge Spritzer dismissed the case, stating that there was no legal basis for the case. His decision was later overturned by the 2nd Circuit appeals court. In the ruling, the Court reversed the decision of the District Court on the Alien Tort Statute claims, and held that aiding and abetting liability exists and can be pled under the Alien Tort Statue.
One of the major questions discussed by Dr. Swart and the audience at the presentation was the issue of causation. It is likely that showing that the companies’ involvement caused the harm to the victims will be difficult. Additionally, since victims suffered a wide range of harm, there may be an issue with grouping them all together for the class action suit. Harm ranges from discrimination to torture and death; thus, it may be a problem for the victims to be grouped.
The case is currently being appealed by the defendants. It will be a long time before the case is resolved. Victims will have a long time to wait for any kind of reparations (if they receive any at all).
More information:
Khulumani Support Group: http://www.khulumani.net/khulumani/about-us.html
Also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Khulumani-Support-Group/482321890293
Friday, June 4, 2010
End of my 2nd Week
Bonjour,
I am currently at a cafe near my apartment. It is not a coffee shop as I said to my landlord. She quickly corrected me to call it a cafe. Otherwise, people would think I am frequenting the marijuana "coffee shop." Of course, there is one of those around the corner, as well.
With my handy Dutch dictionary, I was able to figure out what was in the quiche. However, it just arrived and I didn't see anything about mushrooms on the board. Guess I'll have to pick those out. It has a nice salad with it. And, I'm drinking Coca-Cola Light from a bottle.
More bike stories: When my officemate came in on Monday, she took one look at me and asked "Did you ride your bike today?" Well, the telltale signs are that my hair looks like it has been through a tornado. There is really no point in brushing my hair before I leave for work. I purchased an extra brush yesterday so that I can deal with that. Can't going around looking like a homeless person. The good news, though, is that I've made it to and from work without getting lost. I was even able to find my way a lecture on Wednesday. It was quite an interesting lecture - I'll try to remember to post my notes that I took for our office when I get back to work on Monday. And, yesterday, I had my handlebars raised so I'm not having to slump over my bike anymore (my arms were getting sore).
I've been very busy at work and have gotten to know a number of interns. We've had lunch together several times this week. And, the weather has been so nice, we even ate outside at a park yesterday. Of course, we didn't want to go back to work after. The nice weather certainly makes for a nicer bike ride. Today, I had lunch with some of the people in my division. After lunch, we sat outside to enjoy the weather. It is supposed to last through the weekend. YEAH!! I think I am going to go to the beach on Sunday. The social group at the ICC (mostly for interns and visiting professionals) is having a picnic/BBQ at the beach on Sunday.
Having laundry done here is quite expensive - 8.50 Euros for one load to be washed and dried. So, I am hand-washing as much as possible. At least I found a place that is open at 8, so I can take my clothes before work. And, it is open until 7, so I can get my clothes back the same day. Lord knows how much dry cleaning is going to cost. Fortunately, I only have a few things that require it.
On a random note (I always come up with them), being quiet at the library is apparently not universal. I was at the library at work today doing some research and the other people there were talking in their normal, if not loud, voice. I have to say it is very distracting. I didn't shush them, but I may have to next time :-)
My internet connection at home isn't the best. To make a very long story short, the person in my building has decided not to have internet and we are waiting for someone else to get it connected. So, I am connecting to some random network that doesn't have the best signal. Certainly better than nothing, but still. The one at this cafe I am at is really good. I may have to start coming here more.
To all - feel free to ask questions as a comment.
Until late,
Michelle
I am currently at a cafe near my apartment. It is not a coffee shop as I said to my landlord. She quickly corrected me to call it a cafe. Otherwise, people would think I am frequenting the marijuana "coffee shop." Of course, there is one of those around the corner, as well.
With my handy Dutch dictionary, I was able to figure out what was in the quiche. However, it just arrived and I didn't see anything about mushrooms on the board. Guess I'll have to pick those out. It has a nice salad with it. And, I'm drinking Coca-Cola Light from a bottle.
More bike stories: When my officemate came in on Monday, she took one look at me and asked "Did you ride your bike today?" Well, the telltale signs are that my hair looks like it has been through a tornado. There is really no point in brushing my hair before I leave for work. I purchased an extra brush yesterday so that I can deal with that. Can't going around looking like a homeless person. The good news, though, is that I've made it to and from work without getting lost. I was even able to find my way a lecture on Wednesday. It was quite an interesting lecture - I'll try to remember to post my notes that I took for our office when I get back to work on Monday. And, yesterday, I had my handlebars raised so I'm not having to slump over my bike anymore (my arms were getting sore).
I've been very busy at work and have gotten to know a number of interns. We've had lunch together several times this week. And, the weather has been so nice, we even ate outside at a park yesterday. Of course, we didn't want to go back to work after. The nice weather certainly makes for a nicer bike ride. Today, I had lunch with some of the people in my division. After lunch, we sat outside to enjoy the weather. It is supposed to last through the weekend. YEAH!! I think I am going to go to the beach on Sunday. The social group at the ICC (mostly for interns and visiting professionals) is having a picnic/BBQ at the beach on Sunday.
Having laundry done here is quite expensive - 8.50 Euros for one load to be washed and dried. So, I am hand-washing as much as possible. At least I found a place that is open at 8, so I can take my clothes before work. And, it is open until 7, so I can get my clothes back the same day. Lord knows how much dry cleaning is going to cost. Fortunately, I only have a few things that require it.
On a random note (I always come up with them), being quiet at the library is apparently not universal. I was at the library at work today doing some research and the other people there were talking in their normal, if not loud, voice. I have to say it is very distracting. I didn't shush them, but I may have to next time :-)
My internet connection at home isn't the best. To make a very long story short, the person in my building has decided not to have internet and we are waiting for someone else to get it connected. So, I am connecting to some random network that doesn't have the best signal. Certainly better than nothing, but still. The one at this cafe I am at is really good. I may have to start coming here more.
To all - feel free to ask questions as a comment.
Until late,
Michelle
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Bed Update
I have solved my bed situation. I pulled the bed down from the scary loft onto the floor. I bought new sheets and a pillow (it is marvelous!), so all is good! Add some earplugs and I'm sleeping like a baby. Of course, the first day I wore the earplugs, I didn't hear my alarm go off. Fortunately I woke up about 20 minutes after that, so I still made it to work on time. Volume is up now, so I can hear "I Like Big Butts" through my earplugs. It still makes me laugh to hear it in the morning. Jason finds it disturbing, so I can't use it at home. It's "Back in Black" when he's around. Gotta love ringtones.
Bonne Nuit,
Michelle
Bonne Nuit,
Michelle
Weekend!
I've made it through my first week! I am getting settled.
My bicycle: I haven't fallen off again. So that's good. However, I have gotten lost many times. Fortunately, I ran into someone from the office that lives down the street from me and was able to follow her in on Wednesday. I still managed to get lost on the way home from work that day. I'm sure I'll catch on eventually. I do live near the Peace Palace and everyone knows where it is, so it is easy to ask for directions. Although I did have one man tell me directions part of the way and suggested that I stopped again for the rest of the directions. Maybe it is written on my forehead that I can only handle a bit of directions at a time.
I met someone at work yesterday who is from Chicago. There are not a lot of Americans at the ICC, so it is pretty rare to run into one. While we were talking, I realized that we had been at the same conference in Chicago a couple of years ago. Small world, huh? Well, not too small: it was a conference on the ICC. She is leaving next week, though.
The IT department had a after-work party on Friday. It was pretty geeky, but I did get to meet people from other sections (like Ms. Chicago). They are putting in a bar next to the cafeteria to use on Fridays. With the World Cup about to start, they've put in 2 big screen TVs so we can watch.
I have worked out some projects to do while at the ICC. One of the big things they are working on right now is reparations. The ICC is the first court to focus so much on victims of crimes. It allows both participation in the process (with counsel) and reparations (payback for the crime committed). So, how does one get paid back for their village being destroyed, children being forced into serving in the militia, and the pillaging and rapes? Good question. We have applications for reparations from victims kind of sitting there waiting for the trial to finish. The Chambers (Judges) and the Registry (my division is under this) arms of the ICC, though, have started thinking about what they will do when the first trial ends. I will be working with someone in my division (Victim Participation and Reparations Section-VPRS) to help figure all of this out. It seems so far that the largest problem is funding. The defendants do not always have money, so how will the ICC find funds for these victims. And, what if the defendant is found "not guilty," will victims get any reparations? For VPRS, they are still seen as a victim, even if someone has not been found guilty. There is a Victims' Trust Fund, but it may not have enough money for the number of victims. Also, sometimes reparations would consist of rebuilding towns, offering education, counseling, etc. Money is not always the only issue. In some of these villages, there are not a lot of programs. So, the question is how do we rehabilitate (or make the victim whole again)? If there are not counselors in the area, ones will need to be brought in - so it is more than a money question. Someone will have to work on the logistics of these things. Another question is about presenting the evidence of harm caused. It looks like for now that a hearing would be scheduled after the verdict in the case. Attorneys for the victims would then have to present evidence to the court and the court would need to decide whether to award reparations or not. Basically, what I will be working on are procedures and standards for this process.
Another thing I am supposed to work on is to ensure victims' counsel are doing what they are supposed to do. Since we have contact with the victim from the application to participate process, they sometimes let us know that their counsel are not adequate. There is a process by which the victim can put in a request to the court to have their counsel changed; however, many of these victims are more concerned about eating, lodging, etc. And, many do not have computer or even phone access. So, they are not really concerned with correcting their counsel. From VPRS's perspective, though, it is thought that if the ICC is going to provide and pay for counsel for victims, counsel should be meeting the needs of these victims. Anyway, this should be quite the challenge because the VPRS does not have any authority over victims' counsel. So, my first thought is to offer some sort of training to the attorneys and build a cooperative relationship. Training for Victims' counsel by VPRS is something that has been established and defined in the court, so that is a good window to use (I think).
My next simple project is looking at the effects of staff's contact and exposure to victims of very serious and often shocking crimes. For example, one of the data entry person (usually a pretty straight-forward, low stress job) has to enter the descriptions of the crime from the victim applications into the computer. So, day in and day out they are exposed to horrible situations. How does this affect them? For this, I am looking at Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue. These are two concepts used in the helping profession to describe the effects of working with clients over time. I'm putting together some information on these (may send them out here, too) and looking at possible training for staff members. VPRS also has field staff, who are obviously having more exposure to victims' experiences. They do not come in the office too often, but I am looking at other possibilities of support for them.
On a positive note, I got a new computer at work. I was getting this blue screen (of death) and my computer kept freezing up. So, I called IT and they started to help me, then asked what kind of computer I had. Apparently mine is from 2003 and they are in the process of changing those out. So, he told me to put in a Ticket in the IT system for a new computer. I said okay, but was a bit skeptical since I am not really an employee. But, I asked a colleague and she said it was fine. Woohoo!! I don't have to wait 10 minutes for a page to load anymore.
So, now the weekend. It looks like it just started raining. Yuck! And, it is about 60 degrees. It was sunny this morning, so I went out and picked up a few things. I've been cleaning today - loads of fun. I found the laundry today. For some reason, they do not let you do laundry yourself here. All of the laundry places have to do it for you. It costs about 8 Euro ($10) for a load of laundry (so I hear). The one near my house is conveniently not open on weekends. It is open from 8 to 5, like most everything around here. So, I will take some on Monday and hope it doesn't cost a fortune. Of course, it doesn't matter; I still need clean clothes.
Funny thing: I saw a person riding their bike with a baby kart attached to the back. In the kart was a dog. It was so cute!!
And, by the way, I am working with people who are either British or learned British-English, so I'll be picking up some of the terms, I'm sure. (Just a warning).
Well, that about sums up my life in The Hague for now. Hope everything is well for you!
Until later,
Michelle
My bicycle: I haven't fallen off again. So that's good. However, I have gotten lost many times. Fortunately, I ran into someone from the office that lives down the street from me and was able to follow her in on Wednesday. I still managed to get lost on the way home from work that day. I'm sure I'll catch on eventually. I do live near the Peace Palace and everyone knows where it is, so it is easy to ask for directions. Although I did have one man tell me directions part of the way and suggested that I stopped again for the rest of the directions. Maybe it is written on my forehead that I can only handle a bit of directions at a time.
I met someone at work yesterday who is from Chicago. There are not a lot of Americans at the ICC, so it is pretty rare to run into one. While we were talking, I realized that we had been at the same conference in Chicago a couple of years ago. Small world, huh? Well, not too small: it was a conference on the ICC. She is leaving next week, though.
The IT department had a after-work party on Friday. It was pretty geeky, but I did get to meet people from other sections (like Ms. Chicago). They are putting in a bar next to the cafeteria to use on Fridays. With the World Cup about to start, they've put in 2 big screen TVs so we can watch.
I have worked out some projects to do while at the ICC. One of the big things they are working on right now is reparations. The ICC is the first court to focus so much on victims of crimes. It allows both participation in the process (with counsel) and reparations (payback for the crime committed). So, how does one get paid back for their village being destroyed, children being forced into serving in the militia, and the pillaging and rapes? Good question. We have applications for reparations from victims kind of sitting there waiting for the trial to finish. The Chambers (Judges) and the Registry (my division is under this) arms of the ICC, though, have started thinking about what they will do when the first trial ends. I will be working with someone in my division (Victim Participation and Reparations Section-VPRS) to help figure all of this out. It seems so far that the largest problem is funding. The defendants do not always have money, so how will the ICC find funds for these victims. And, what if the defendant is found "not guilty," will victims get any reparations? For VPRS, they are still seen as a victim, even if someone has not been found guilty. There is a Victims' Trust Fund, but it may not have enough money for the number of victims. Also, sometimes reparations would consist of rebuilding towns, offering education, counseling, etc. Money is not always the only issue. In some of these villages, there are not a lot of programs. So, the question is how do we rehabilitate (or make the victim whole again)? If there are not counselors in the area, ones will need to be brought in - so it is more than a money question. Someone will have to work on the logistics of these things. Another question is about presenting the evidence of harm caused. It looks like for now that a hearing would be scheduled after the verdict in the case. Attorneys for the victims would then have to present evidence to the court and the court would need to decide whether to award reparations or not. Basically, what I will be working on are procedures and standards for this process.
Another thing I am supposed to work on is to ensure victims' counsel are doing what they are supposed to do. Since we have contact with the victim from the application to participate process, they sometimes let us know that their counsel are not adequate. There is a process by which the victim can put in a request to the court to have their counsel changed; however, many of these victims are more concerned about eating, lodging, etc. And, many do not have computer or even phone access. So, they are not really concerned with correcting their counsel. From VPRS's perspective, though, it is thought that if the ICC is going to provide and pay for counsel for victims, counsel should be meeting the needs of these victims. Anyway, this should be quite the challenge because the VPRS does not have any authority over victims' counsel. So, my first thought is to offer some sort of training to the attorneys and build a cooperative relationship. Training for Victims' counsel by VPRS is something that has been established and defined in the court, so that is a good window to use (I think).
My next simple project is looking at the effects of staff's contact and exposure to victims of very serious and often shocking crimes. For example, one of the data entry person (usually a pretty straight-forward, low stress job) has to enter the descriptions of the crime from the victim applications into the computer. So, day in and day out they are exposed to horrible situations. How does this affect them? For this, I am looking at Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue. These are two concepts used in the helping profession to describe the effects of working with clients over time. I'm putting together some information on these (may send them out here, too) and looking at possible training for staff members. VPRS also has field staff, who are obviously having more exposure to victims' experiences. They do not come in the office too often, but I am looking at other possibilities of support for them.
On a positive note, I got a new computer at work. I was getting this blue screen (of death) and my computer kept freezing up. So, I called IT and they started to help me, then asked what kind of computer I had. Apparently mine is from 2003 and they are in the process of changing those out. So, he told me to put in a Ticket in the IT system for a new computer. I said okay, but was a bit skeptical since I am not really an employee. But, I asked a colleague and she said it was fine. Woohoo!! I don't have to wait 10 minutes for a page to load anymore.
So, now the weekend. It looks like it just started raining. Yuck! And, it is about 60 degrees. It was sunny this morning, so I went out and picked up a few things. I've been cleaning today - loads of fun. I found the laundry today. For some reason, they do not let you do laundry yourself here. All of the laundry places have to do it for you. It costs about 8 Euro ($10) for a load of laundry (so I hear). The one near my house is conveniently not open on weekends. It is open from 8 to 5, like most everything around here. So, I will take some on Monday and hope it doesn't cost a fortune. Of course, it doesn't matter; I still need clean clothes.
Funny thing: I saw a person riding their bike with a baby kart attached to the back. In the kart was a dog. It was so cute!!
And, by the way, I am working with people who are either British or learned British-English, so I'll be picking up some of the terms, I'm sure. (Just a warning).
Well, that about sums up my life in The Hague for now. Hope everything is well for you!
Until later,
Michelle
Monday, May 24, 2010
I just thought I was tired yesterday!
Wow! I've made it through my first day at the ICC. Yeah! So, apparently it is a holiday in Holland today (2nd Easter is something I heard - whatever that means). I just looked it up and it is 40 days after Easter (Ascension Day). What it means to me is that I went to take the #10 Tram today and found out it was not running because of the holiday. So, I took a different tram to one of the main stations to take a bus. Of course, it was on holiday, too. Fortunately I ran into 2 women who work at the ICC, so we took a cab. Luckily I left in plenty of time, so I still arrived early.
First thing was to get my ID made. I have a double chin in the picture (not too happy about that - time to lose weight!). After that I went through paperwork with HR and found out that I am working in a separate building than where the court is. It is a very nice building and has a cafeteria with airport pricing. The building is quite a maze, however, so I'm sure to get lost. There is a refrigerator that I can put my food in, but I'm not sure I will be able to find it again. My tour of the building did not stick. I may need a second one.
I have a desk, not sure if it will stay the same. The supervisor and admin assistant was out today, so the staff wasn't sure where I would end up. It also meant that I didn't have a lot to do today. I had to fill out some paperwork for my background check and something with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I also did some reading and exploring of their intranet. Oh, and I got my email set up. Not sure when they started my account, but I had something like 250 unread messages. I promptly deleted all of the ones prior to today, but I am a little scared of the volume of email that we get.
There are about 12 people in the division (Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS)). You can find more info at: http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court/Victims/
Everyone was very nice. They are from ALL over the world, so that is pretty cool. Everyone speaks English and many of them speak French (both of the official languages of the court). After today, I think I need to work on French. They kind of switch back and forth a lot. Apparently a lot of the meetings are in both.
I left a little early (yes, on the first day) so I could run some errands and get to bed early. The stores close very early here during the week and because it was a holiday, many stores were not even open.
Let me tell you about my bed. It is above the kitchen & has a ladder up to it. It is surrounded by walls on 3 sides and doesn't have a lot of clearance to even sit up. So, it really freaked me out. I felt very closed-in. And, the scary pillow was also a down pillow, which I am apparently allergic to. After my nose was completely stuffed up and I decided there was no way I could sleep up there, I moved to the couch. Tips for desperate times: a half-slip can double as a pillow case. And, in a pinch, a towel is a good cover.
I think I slept about 4 hours last night. That's 7 hours in 2 days. I require 8-9 hours per night. I'm hoping for a better night sleep tonight.
After I left the ICC via train (only option left), I went to look for a bike. I found one at the second store I visited. It is pink and purple (NICE!) and quite used. They fixed it up for me, made adjustments, and it seems to work fine. The chain lock is another story. It worked a couple of time, then when I got home, I couldn't get it to lock, so I just brought it inside. I'll figure out the lock another day or take it back).
I rode my new (old) bike home without a map and in a skirt. Loads of fun. I stopped off at a department store (one of the few stores open) and picked up sheets and a new pillow. Quite a challenge to ride the bike carrying a pillow. I managed to get my tire stuck on a train track at one point and fell off the bike in very slow motion (so I escaped without injury). Not sure what everyone was saying about me, but I just stated "I'm okay" and went on my way.
I have now pulled the mattress off of the scary loft and put it on the floor. And, I bought a fan. Hopefully I will have a really good night's sleep.
Well, I think those were the main events of my day. It's about my bedtime (8:20). Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a better idea about what I will be doing.
Au revior,
Michelle (that's my name in French, too)
First thing was to get my ID made. I have a double chin in the picture (not too happy about that - time to lose weight!). After that I went through paperwork with HR and found out that I am working in a separate building than where the court is. It is a very nice building and has a cafeteria with airport pricing. The building is quite a maze, however, so I'm sure to get lost. There is a refrigerator that I can put my food in, but I'm not sure I will be able to find it again. My tour of the building did not stick. I may need a second one.
I have a desk, not sure if it will stay the same. The supervisor and admin assistant was out today, so the staff wasn't sure where I would end up. It also meant that I didn't have a lot to do today. I had to fill out some paperwork for my background check and something with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I also did some reading and exploring of their intranet. Oh, and I got my email set up. Not sure when they started my account, but I had something like 250 unread messages. I promptly deleted all of the ones prior to today, but I am a little scared of the volume of email that we get.
There are about 12 people in the division (Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS)). You can find more info at: http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court/Victims/
Everyone was very nice. They are from ALL over the world, so that is pretty cool. Everyone speaks English and many of them speak French (both of the official languages of the court). After today, I think I need to work on French. They kind of switch back and forth a lot. Apparently a lot of the meetings are in both.
I left a little early (yes, on the first day) so I could run some errands and get to bed early. The stores close very early here during the week and because it was a holiday, many stores were not even open.
Let me tell you about my bed. It is above the kitchen & has a ladder up to it. It is surrounded by walls on 3 sides and doesn't have a lot of clearance to even sit up. So, it really freaked me out. I felt very closed-in. And, the scary pillow was also a down pillow, which I am apparently allergic to. After my nose was completely stuffed up and I decided there was no way I could sleep up there, I moved to the couch. Tips for desperate times: a half-slip can double as a pillow case. And, in a pinch, a towel is a good cover.
I think I slept about 4 hours last night. That's 7 hours in 2 days. I require 8-9 hours per night. I'm hoping for a better night sleep tonight.
After I left the ICC via train (only option left), I went to look for a bike. I found one at the second store I visited. It is pink and purple (NICE!) and quite used. They fixed it up for me, made adjustments, and it seems to work fine. The chain lock is another story. It worked a couple of time, then when I got home, I couldn't get it to lock, so I just brought it inside. I'll figure out the lock another day or take it back).
I rode my new (old) bike home without a map and in a skirt. Loads of fun. I stopped off at a department store (one of the few stores open) and picked up sheets and a new pillow. Quite a challenge to ride the bike carrying a pillow. I managed to get my tire stuck on a train track at one point and fell off the bike in very slow motion (so I escaped without injury). Not sure what everyone was saying about me, but I just stated "I'm okay" and went on my way.
I have now pulled the mattress off of the scary loft and put it on the floor. And, I bought a fan. Hopefully I will have a really good night's sleep.
Well, I think those were the main events of my day. It's about my bedtime (8:20). Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a better idea about what I will be doing.
Au revior,
Michelle (that's my name in French, too)
Sunday, May 23, 2010
I've made it here.
I have arrived in The Hague and am getting settled into my studio apartment, which is quite basic. I've already been to the grocery store to pick up a few things. And, I realized that I REALLY need to get a Dutch/English dictionary, especially if I want to cook (I have no idea what the directions on the box says). I stuck with pasta so that I didn't need any directions.
My flights went fairly smoothly. Although, they completely messed up my schedule on the Denver to London flight. Normally they serve drinks, then food, then lights out. However, we had bad turbulence for the first 2 hours, so that delayed everything. I ended up with about 3 hours of sleep. Now, I am trying to stay awake until 8 or 9 pm so that I don't end up waking up at 3 am.
Customs was a lot smoother than Jason & I experienced in Mexico last week. It took forever there. I was in and out in no time in London and Amsterdam. On a side note, we returned from our week in Cabo on Friday night about 11:30 pm and I left the next day at 8:15 pm to London. Not a lot of down time.
Packing was quite interesting. I think I would mail stuff in the future. It is a lot of work to try to condense everything and only bring the bare minimum. After seeing the sheets on the bed here, I am wishing I had found room for a set of sheets and a pillow. I think that will be my first purchase tomorrow after work. Arriving on a Sunday really limits what is open for business.
It seems I brought the warm weather with me. It is pretty warm today, which is unusual. It is usually in the 70s. It makes for a really hot apartment since there is no air conditioning. I have the window open right now, so it isn't too bad. Second purchase may be a fan.
The bathroom is a typical European style. You have to step over the toilet (basically) to get to the shower. And, there is no sink in the bathroom (unless you count the extra faucet in the shower - I haven't figured out what that is for). So, I will be using the sink in the kitchen (using that term loosely - there is no oven or microwave) for brushing my teeth, etc.
Oh, and I thought there was a real closet, but it is just a cabinet with shelves. So I have to figure out a system for my hanging clothes. Right now they are mostly on the ladder to my bed (it is above the kitchen).
I report to the International Criminal Court (ICC) tomorrow at 9:30 am. I am in a pretty good location, so it shouldn't take too long to get there. Well, I'm fading fast...I think I'll be in bed very soon. It is almost 8:00, so I'm doing good.
Until tomorrow (unless, of course, I am too tired).
Your world traveler,
Michelle
My flights went fairly smoothly. Although, they completely messed up my schedule on the Denver to London flight. Normally they serve drinks, then food, then lights out. However, we had bad turbulence for the first 2 hours, so that delayed everything. I ended up with about 3 hours of sleep. Now, I am trying to stay awake until 8 or 9 pm so that I don't end up waking up at 3 am.
Customs was a lot smoother than Jason & I experienced in Mexico last week. It took forever there. I was in and out in no time in London and Amsterdam. On a side note, we returned from our week in Cabo on Friday night about 11:30 pm and I left the next day at 8:15 pm to London. Not a lot of down time.
Packing was quite interesting. I think I would mail stuff in the future. It is a lot of work to try to condense everything and only bring the bare minimum. After seeing the sheets on the bed here, I am wishing I had found room for a set of sheets and a pillow. I think that will be my first purchase tomorrow after work. Arriving on a Sunday really limits what is open for business.
It seems I brought the warm weather with me. It is pretty warm today, which is unusual. It is usually in the 70s. It makes for a really hot apartment since there is no air conditioning. I have the window open right now, so it isn't too bad. Second purchase may be a fan.
The bathroom is a typical European style. You have to step over the toilet (basically) to get to the shower. And, there is no sink in the bathroom (unless you count the extra faucet in the shower - I haven't figured out what that is for). So, I will be using the sink in the kitchen (using that term loosely - there is no oven or microwave) for brushing my teeth, etc.
Oh, and I thought there was a real closet, but it is just a cabinet with shelves. So I have to figure out a system for my hanging clothes. Right now they are mostly on the ladder to my bed (it is above the kitchen).
I report to the International Criminal Court (ICC) tomorrow at 9:30 am. I am in a pretty good location, so it shouldn't take too long to get there. Well, I'm fading fast...I think I'll be in bed very soon. It is almost 8:00, so I'm doing good.
Until tomorrow (unless, of course, I am too tired).
Your world traveler,
Michelle
Monday, May 10, 2010
Getting closer
Wow! I don't have much time left before I leave. I am actually leaving this Friday, the 15th of May to go to Cabo with my husband for a week. We'll get back on the 21st and I leave for The Hague on the 22nd. I'm looking forward to relaxing next week.
I am working on the challenge of packing right now. How do you pack light for 3 months? Well, for one thing, Space Bags are wonderful. I got the kind that you use a vacuum cleaner hose to suck out the air since I will also have a vacuum in my apartment. The roll-up kind are pretty good, too. I highly recommend them. Maybe I should have them sponsor my blog...hmm?
I think my apartment is secure now. The first wire transfer that I had the bank do went to God only knows where. The clerk and manager didn't know what they were doing apparently. Luckily Jason has more patience than I do, so he went back to get it wired correctly and is working on getting our money back. It is in space somewhere. I told my landlord that I had sent the money, then I had to tell her that I would have to resend it. She actually believed me fortunately, so she is still holding the studio apartment for me.
I've been told by one of my students that I can post pictures, so I'll post some of my place when I get to The Hague. It should be interesting. Oh, and I'm looking for recipes - I will only have a stovetop, no oven or microwave. So, if you have any easy recipes, let me know.
I am thinking of getting a bicycle while I'm there. It is THE thing to do in Holland. Hopefully my helmet will making the cut to my luggage. It is a very awkward thing to pack, I tell you.
My next post will be from The Hague (Den Haag if you decide to visit - poor Jason road around on the train for an extra half-hour because I forgot to tell him the correct name of the stop).
I am working on the challenge of packing right now. How do you pack light for 3 months? Well, for one thing, Space Bags are wonderful. I got the kind that you use a vacuum cleaner hose to suck out the air since I will also have a vacuum in my apartment. The roll-up kind are pretty good, too. I highly recommend them. Maybe I should have them sponsor my blog...hmm?
I think my apartment is secure now. The first wire transfer that I had the bank do went to God only knows where. The clerk and manager didn't know what they were doing apparently. Luckily Jason has more patience than I do, so he went back to get it wired correctly and is working on getting our money back. It is in space somewhere. I told my landlord that I had sent the money, then I had to tell her that I would have to resend it. She actually believed me fortunately, so she is still holding the studio apartment for me.
I've been told by one of my students that I can post pictures, so I'll post some of my place when I get to The Hague. It should be interesting. Oh, and I'm looking for recipes - I will only have a stovetop, no oven or microwave. So, if you have any easy recipes, let me know.
I am thinking of getting a bicycle while I'm there. It is THE thing to do in Holland. Hopefully my helmet will making the cut to my luggage. It is a very awkward thing to pack, I tell you.
My next post will be from The Hague (Den Haag if you decide to visit - poor Jason road around on the train for an extra half-hour because I forgot to tell him the correct name of the stop).
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Pre-Trip Blog 1
So, I am going to The Hague (Netherlands) this summer to work with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in their victims division. I will be helping them in an "intern-type" position as well as conducting my own research project on war rape and child soldiers. I will be in The Hague from May 23 until August 22nd.
It is an unpaid position, but I hope to learn a lot, add to my resume, and get some publications out of my work.
I had a few people request that I do a blog so they can keep up with me. Since I think this will be an amazing experience, I thought it would be good, as well. I will be reporting on my work at the ICC and my life in The Hague.
I have found a studio apartment (finally!) that seems to be in a great location. It has the basics, but there is a big sofa if anyone wants to visit me - you are welcome to it. Jason will be visiting me in early July.
This is my first attempt at a blog (except for Facebook). We'll see how it goes :-)
It is an unpaid position, but I hope to learn a lot, add to my resume, and get some publications out of my work.
I had a few people request that I do a blog so they can keep up with me. Since I think this will be an amazing experience, I thought it would be good, as well. I will be reporting on my work at the ICC and my life in The Hague.
I have found a studio apartment (finally!) that seems to be in a great location. It has the basics, but there is a big sofa if anyone wants to visit me - you are welcome to it. Jason will be visiting me in early July.
This is my first attempt at a blog (except for Facebook). We'll see how it goes :-)
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