A typical day in Arusha
April 14th, 2009 • ICTR Internship, Personal
6:30AM – Wake up itching from mosquito bites last night, get ready and hope to catch the UN shuttle at our front door. At least I get a lovely view of Mount Meru while I’m waiting.
Sometime between 7:30AM and 8:00AM – Either get on the UN shuttle or start a 15 minute walk to the ICTR (let’s hope it’s not raining).
8:20AM – Arrive at the ICTR and quickly move through the ‘security checkpoint’. I’m not sure if sometimes they turn the big scanner off for me, but I’ve had keys, a phone and a massive metal belt buckle all pass through on some occasions with no issues. Also, one Sunday there was no-one manning the checkpoint so we waltzed through without issue.
8:25AM – Pass through the many swipe pads and lock doors and get to my desk on the second floor. The lights can’t be turned off as the office with the light switch is locked and the air-conditioner, though at one point we had it fixed, has failed again.
Before 9:00AM is when the internet is fastest as everyone is still getting to work, so I hurriedly check my e-mails, Facebook and Twitter and maybe even try to upload some photos if I’m feel particularly patient.
9:00AM – Now I’ve actually got start work. In my first two weeks there wasn’t a whole heap to do, but now things are slowly ramping up. So far I’ve had research tasks – e.g. how the Chamber has previously dealt with a certain motion; going through transcripts tasks – e.g. to take notes on witness testimony; and general administrative tasks like compiling a series of reports done by the interns on a recent Chambers’ retreat.
A substantial portion of this work time is also spent struggling with my computer and extremely slow internet connection.
12:00 – Time for lunch. This can vary from a trip out to ‘Immigration Café’ (TSH1,500) or Masai Café (TSH6,500) or maybe even Picasso’s Café (only if I’m feeling particularly generous to myself, TSH10,000). Or it’s avocado and peanut butter & banana sandwiches, samosas (TSH500) and some cake (TSH1,500).
And then it’s back to work for another few hours. I’m now on to actually drafting decisions on motions, which is quite exciting and at times overwhelming when you think about what it is you are writing.
5:30PM – Head down to the UN shuttle departure area and try to work out if any shuttle is going near Fire Rd. This usually takes upwards of half an hour and is very frustrating. I also once took a shuttle that went in an entirely different direction and it ended up taking about an hour to get home. These days I’m usually too frustrated to navigate the shuttle maze and end up taking a brisk walk home. Brisk walks are better than slow walks as they signal to the street hawkers that you won’t be buying any of their artwork today, although now many of them remark to me how I’m always too busy.
6:00PM – Home again, but not before I pick up our five liters of drinking water (TSH1800) to last us through the next two days.
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Hi Devan
Interesting love reading you and Claire’s bloggs. Its still pretty hot here in SA, we are embracing the Autumn and hoping for a mild winter. Blessed to still wearing shorts and T’s. Your pictures are so heartwarming and interesting. You and Claire look pretty settled in now.
Love you…MWAH