I was busy planning my trip to India and Thailand. Figuring out embassies and visas, and lots of homework. Things are still about the same, but amplified.
However, I'll start from the beginning.
Since arriving here in Leiden, I've enjoyed the small town atmosphere again. After London, the change was welcome. I have had the chance to visit a few neighboring towns, like the Hague (the capital) and Rotterdam (one of the biggest ports in Europe). Easy day trips by train. Roberto has been to visit a few times so we have been riding around Holland and finding things to do.
the Hague, Parliament square
Dutch view of the American Dream, haha
Rotterdam, NL
Blomme means blooming in Dutch and Flemish... People finally know what my last name is!!
Pronounced: Blumma
Luckily, his trips were before the big Volcano erupted in Iceland that grounded Europe from flying for several days, stranding people all over the continent. This also caused my parents trip to get canceled as many of you know. I couldn't believe it. After all this time and my mom and I finally got my father agreed to take a vacation and come all this way, and a natural disaster strikes.
To add to my twilight zone feeling, my next home has been in political unrest for the past few weeks. The Bangkok government has been dealing with protesters called the Red Shirts parked outside their offices, in the city center and blocking roads all over the city. The protesters, often poor villagers looking for equal rights, are asking that the current government be ousted and a new election take place.
The situation got more serious about a week ago when twenty some people died in a riot. This spurred my school to close down and begin looking for safer classrooms. The question was posed to all of us traveling there if we felt safe enough to continue on with our next term or to choose another location. The decision was tough for me. But after a few days debate I decided to stick with Bangkok, hoping for a learning experience and some safety.
Currently, I am still looking forward to the experience. I have several friends that are there now and say its pretty crazy, but I haven't heard anything too threatening.
To keep me distracted from my twilight zone, last weekend I had the chance to go to Brussels, Belgium for my class. Brussels is a bit like DC in terms of International Organizations and the home of the European Union. We were there to visit NATO, European Parliament and the EU Council.
Outside of Parliament
We arrived on Thursday morning and went straight to NATO to meet with our George Clooney look-a-like representative. (I think this was planned out by them to try and win students over.) But the visit was altogether very interesting. By far the highest security we have gone through on any of our visits. The rep answered our questions very candidly. He was an ex-congress press sec. and had some great stories. I can't say that defense and military actions are my favorite topic, it was engaging none the less. I had never thought I would have visited NATO headquarters.
Tight security at NATO, no pictures...
After this we visited the European Parliament. The closest thing I would compare it to would be the US House of Reps. There are currently 736 MPs from all of the 27 European Union countries. With 23 official languages, the most interesting part was the way in which they communicate within the meetings. Our speaker was also a translator and spoke seven languages. That morning she had just given a presentation in Russian.
European Parliament Hemi-Cycle
That evening we went out to dinner as a group with our professor. We ate 'mussels in Brussels' and had a few of the famous Belgian beers. I heard the most amazing story of how her and her husband fell in love and came to be married. (Her husband is also our professor.) I was blown away. Sorry for the suspense, but it could be a blog in and of itself.
Afterward we walked around the city a bit and to the square (check out my video at the bottom from the next day). We ate waffles and found a bar that is home to the biggest selection of beers on the planet. I had a Chimay Blue. :) Very dark Belgian beer.
It was an amazing day in Brussels, the city has architecture mixed from the 1600s to the 1980s . I absolutely love it!
Part of the Berlin wall...
Square at night. Obviously closer to 1600s than 1980s :)
The next day we had one last visit with the EU Council, which is where the heads of state all meet every 3 months. We listened to the director of the terrorism department, who was extremely passionate about his work and full-body scanners. :) I regret to inform you that I believe they will become the norm in the future...
That afternoon I walked around the city with a friend of mine. We stopped in a Magritte Museum, ate street fries and enjoyed the sunshine!
Brussels is picturesque!
That evening I had planned to meet an old friend from High School for dinner. Vanessa was a foreign exchange student from Germany when I was a sophomore. We had seen each other about 4 years ago in Amsterdam. It was so fun to catch up again and have a local show me around the city.
Vanessa and I, 10 years since her time in Memphis!
Back in Leiden, I've been busy working on papers, presentations and game simulations. However, on Thursday we went to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Special Court to Sierra Leone to watch the trial of Charles Taylor, ex-President of Liberia. It has been in the news recently because of new events that Naomi Campbell was given a diamond by Taylor, which would prove that he was in S. Africa buying guns for his the war on Sierra Leone. It was on ABC news recently. Check it out.
Anyway, the trial was super interesting. I did some research on Taylor before visiting. He's a really bad dude. The defense was giving their side of the case when we were there. They had called a soldier from the Liberian army to testify. The prosecution previously had called child soldiers, amputee victims and much more. It's been going on for 3 years now.
ICC Building, Den Haag
Side note: The ICC is a treaty where the majority of nations have signed, agreeing to let their nationals be tried in an international court. Currently the US is not a party to the treaty. Both Bush's could easily be brought to trial if they were. Clinton signed it and Bush Jr. 'unsigned' it.
Quick visit to the Organization for the Proliferation of Chemical Weapons, Den Haag
Photo op with all of the flags :)
That's the extent of my crazy life right now. Coming up next weekend is Queen's Day (the queen's birthday) so I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories for everyone!
xoxo,
Amy
However, I'll start from the beginning.
Since arriving here in Leiden, I've enjoyed the small town atmosphere again. After London, the change was welcome. I have had the chance to visit a few neighboring towns, like the Hague (the capital) and Rotterdam (one of the biggest ports in Europe). Easy day trips by train. Roberto has been to visit a few times so we have been riding around Holland and finding things to do.
the Hague, Parliament square
Dutch view of the American Dream, haha
Rotterdam, NL
Blomme means blooming in Dutch and Flemish... People finally know what my last name is!!Pronounced: Blumma
Luckily, his trips were before the big Volcano erupted in Iceland that grounded Europe from flying for several days, stranding people all over the continent. This also caused my parents trip to get canceled as many of you know. I couldn't believe it. After all this time and my mom and I finally got my father agreed to take a vacation and come all this way, and a natural disaster strikes.
To add to my twilight zone feeling, my next home has been in political unrest for the past few weeks. The Bangkok government has been dealing with protesters called the Red Shirts parked outside their offices, in the city center and blocking roads all over the city. The protesters, often poor villagers looking for equal rights, are asking that the current government be ousted and a new election take place.
The situation got more serious about a week ago when twenty some people died in a riot. This spurred my school to close down and begin looking for safer classrooms. The question was posed to all of us traveling there if we felt safe enough to continue on with our next term or to choose another location. The decision was tough for me. But after a few days debate I decided to stick with Bangkok, hoping for a learning experience and some safety.
Currently, I am still looking forward to the experience. I have several friends that are there now and say its pretty crazy, but I haven't heard anything too threatening.
To keep me distracted from my twilight zone, last weekend I had the chance to go to Brussels, Belgium for my class. Brussels is a bit like DC in terms of International Organizations and the home of the European Union. We were there to visit NATO, European Parliament and the EU Council.
Outside of ParliamentWe arrived on Thursday morning and went straight to NATO to meet with our George Clooney look-a-like representative. (I think this was planned out by them to try and win students over.) But the visit was altogether very interesting. By far the highest security we have gone through on any of our visits. The rep answered our questions very candidly. He was an ex-congress press sec. and had some great stories. I can't say that defense and military actions are my favorite topic, it was engaging none the less. I had never thought I would have visited NATO headquarters.
Tight security at NATO, no pictures...After this we visited the European Parliament. The closest thing I would compare it to would be the US House of Reps. There are currently 736 MPs from all of the 27 European Union countries. With 23 official languages, the most interesting part was the way in which they communicate within the meetings. Our speaker was also a translator and spoke seven languages. That morning she had just given a presentation in Russian.
European Parliament Hemi-CycleThat evening we went out to dinner as a group with our professor. We ate 'mussels in Brussels' and had a few of the famous Belgian beers. I heard the most amazing story of how her and her husband fell in love and came to be married. (Her husband is also our professor.) I was blown away. Sorry for the suspense, but it could be a blog in and of itself.
Afterward we walked around the city a bit and to the square (check out my video at the bottom from the next day). We ate waffles and found a bar that is home to the biggest selection of beers on the planet. I had a Chimay Blue. :) Very dark Belgian beer.
It was an amazing day in Brussels, the city has architecture mixed from the 1600s to the 1980s . I absolutely love it!
Part of the Berlin wall...
Square at night. Obviously closer to 1600s than 1980s :)The next day we had one last visit with the EU Council, which is where the heads of state all meet every 3 months. We listened to the director of the terrorism department, who was extremely passionate about his work and full-body scanners. :) I regret to inform you that I believe they will become the norm in the future...
That afternoon I walked around the city with a friend of mine. We stopped in a Magritte Museum, ate street fries and enjoyed the sunshine!
Brussels is picturesque!That evening I had planned to meet an old friend from High School for dinner. Vanessa was a foreign exchange student from Germany when I was a sophomore. We had seen each other about 4 years ago in Amsterdam. It was so fun to catch up again and have a local show me around the city.
Vanessa and I, 10 years since her time in Memphis!Back in Leiden, I've been busy working on papers, presentations and game simulations. However, on Thursday we went to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Special Court to Sierra Leone to watch the trial of Charles Taylor, ex-President of Liberia. It has been in the news recently because of new events that Naomi Campbell was given a diamond by Taylor, which would prove that he was in S. Africa buying guns for his the war on Sierra Leone. It was on ABC news recently. Check it out.
Anyway, the trial was super interesting. I did some research on Taylor before visiting. He's a really bad dude. The defense was giving their side of the case when we were there. They had called a soldier from the Liberian army to testify. The prosecution previously had called child soldiers, amputee victims and much more. It's been going on for 3 years now.
ICC Building, Den Haag
Side note: The ICC is a treaty where the majority of nations have signed, agreeing to let their nationals be tried in an international court. Currently the US is not a party to the treaty. Both Bush's could easily be brought to trial if they were. Clinton signed it and Bush Jr. 'unsigned' it.
Quick visit to the Organization for the Proliferation of Chemical Weapons, Den HaagPhoto op with all of the flags :)
That's the extent of my crazy life right now. Coming up next weekend is Queen's Day (the queen's birthday) so I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories for everyone!
xoxo,
Amy
Brussels Square Video :) Click play twice...
