The weight of this being my last week in Geneva is blunted by the arrival of my family. With them, I am able to relive my favorite memories of Geneva by taking them on a 3-day-long tour of the city. I, for the first time, get fondue at Geneva's most famous spot. I take them to the spot I frequented the most–Jonction–where my brother, Kyle, and I convince my dad to join us in a swim down the Rhone. At work, I am polishing up my final chapter in the Indian Defense Manual, specifically the subsection on Special Populations. I complete my research on women, LGBT, mentally-ill, and tortured clients. A note: Thanks to those who have followed along with my blogs since the beginning. Being able to retell this experience to others in written form has impressed upon me how truly fortunate I am to have been given this opportunity.
Abigail Grand Internship Blog
This week, I enjoy the day off I have to celebrate Swiss National Day on August 1st. At the office, I continue my work not the India Defense Manual, this week focusing on juveniles in the criminal justice system. I am shocked to learn of changes in India's law regarding juvenile offenders, but I have a better sense of clarity upon learning about the catalyst behind this change. It is my last week physically in the office, so we have a goodbye party for Kyle, myself, and Monique on Friday afternoon.
I fly into Geneva from Naples on Monday morning, ready to start my week. This week is filled with office activities and going away parties, as IBJ says goodbye to four more interns. On Tuesday, the office takes a field trip to the United Nations offices in Geneva, and spend the first half of the day touring the facilities. I continue my work on the India Defense Manual, beginning my chapter surrounding attorney interaction with vulnerable clients. Thank you for reading!
This week, I celebrate my 25th birthday. I continue my work on the India Defender's Manual, finishing up my chapter on the rights of the accused to move on to a section dedicated to attorney-client relationships. Unfortunately, this week marks the start of what will be weekly departures of interns, who are leaving IBJ to return home before school begins again. Rest assured, however, that this particular group will not waste a second of our time left in Geneva.
This week, I am condensing the 2021 report given to us by our Myanmar country office, explaining the work accomplished by our five provincial justice centers. Will this shortened report, we are hoping to create a country page for Myanmar that will serve as a model for our other country programs. Outside of work, I enjoy a week's worth of activities with IBJ interns. As a few people are leaving the following week, we are finishing off our summer bucket lists, and spending as much time together as possible.
This week was more mundane than usual, if you can even say that about a week in Geneva. I continue working on the India Defender's Manual, grab dinner with myself on some nights and with friends on others, and spend my Sunday strolling along Lake Geneva.
I did absolutely nothing this week, as I was bedridden with COVID-19 for about 5 days. Things turn around for me on Thursday when I FINALLY get a negative self-test. I am able to attend a work party on Friday and join other IBJ interns at a chalet in the mountains.
Preparations for an important upcoming donor visit at work, welcoming my boyfriend to Geneva, and a weekend trip to the Canton of Bern. Switzerland continues to captivate me with its beauty and diversity. This week was my favorite yet.
A reunion with an old friend, a sunburn, and a movie-going experience I will never forget. My second week at IBJ is just as busy and fulfilling as the first, and I am beginning to settle into my routine and life in Geneva.
Travel plans gone awry, because why disrupt my status quo? I arrive at Cité Universitaire de Gèneve, where I will be living in the student dorms that have been largely abandoned for the summer, and begin to situate myself in my new city for the first couple of days. My first week of work at the International Bridges to Justice office in Geneva starts with a well-deserved day off, thanks to a national holiday. Thus, I have an extra day of leisure before I dive into my work at this international NGO. Once I start work, I am immediately given tasks that could lead to real substantive change in the project's setting, this week–Afghanistan. I am in awe of the human rights superstars that I am surrounded by. If this is a dream, don't wake me up.