Nancy Germeshausen Klavans Cultural Bridge Fellowship: Quito Summer 2006

Simultaneously while i am interning at the UN i am also eagerly planning my trip to Quito to work for www.e-ducate.org.

I have been emailing with the director and her team to coordinate my living arrangements and travel there. Along with all the excitment comes a bit of angst over what is to come. I have been hearing more and more about the safety issues in Ecuador. Although known for its beauty and warm people there are also stories of robbery and criminal behavior. [read on]

Being an intern at the UN has its many perks but one big down is the limitation that dreaded brown pass creates. The number of times we had tried to get by the security guards to get into a meeting is one too many. However, when the chance came to watch a private viewing of a new movie called Encounter Point, i jumped on the chance.

The documentary tracks the lives of a few palestinian and israeli peacebuilders who are working together to try and generate a strong movement towards non-violent means to resolve the conflict. The two main people they follwed in the movie were Ali – after having been shot by an israeli settler Ali went to Saudi for treatment only to find out his brother was killed by an israeli solider and later spent many years in prison. The second main character was Robi – a breaved mother who’s son was a soldier protecting a settlement and was killed by a sniper in 2002. [read on]

Sorry this one might be long but the last week and a half have been chock a block filled with great experiences. It didn't take me long to figure out that in order for me to have an interesting experience ... [Continue reading this entry]

Week two has come and gone like a whirlwind. During my time here at the UN i have been working on a conflict prevention report. It was interesting to be able to apply a few of my previous papers to ... [Continue reading this entry]

So here i am at the UN working in the Department of Political Affairs (DPA). It has been very sureal coming in daily to the very institution that i have for so long dreamed of. Ever since i can remeber ... [Continue reading this entry]