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Yesterday, I formally began my internship at the UNHCR in London. Overall it was a decent experience - albeit a very busy and immediate introduction to their work. Essentially, I am required to come in around 9.30 each morning to read every major British newspaper and newsmagazine… Yes, that’s right… I’ll be sitting down with a cup of coffee each morning, flipping my way through the Guardian, the Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, the New Statesmen, the Economist, Prospect, etc. etc. Of course, there is a reason for this - I am meant to find any articles relevant to UNHCR’s work, i.e. about refugees, displaced peoples, and any UN officials or immediate references to UNHCR.

Once I am finished with the news every morning, we send out a condensed “update” to everyone on the mailing list and then get to any other business. I must say that I am pleased with this internship, especially considering all of the negative things I have heard about interning with the UN (apparently most interns master the art of making coffee and folding origami swans). All of the people in the office have very interesting (and international) backgrounds - a common feature of IO/NGO workers - and I am quite excited to get to know some of them better.

Of course, at the same time, I am supposed to be working both on my book chapter and on my Master’s thesis. The British Library seems to be my best bet for unhindered library access, so I will be going there on Monday to register as a researcher.

As some of you may already know, I was invited for an interview with the United Nations High Commission For Human Rights (UNHCR) last Monday at their London office - and I was recently pleased to accept their offer for an internship with their media relations division. This means that I will be scanning the British press for any updates on refugee situations or the UNHCR’s work in general for the next six months. Unfortunately, I will not be receiving any financial reimbursement whatsoever (not even travel expenses) and I was a bit disappointed with such a one-sided deal… but if I am still willing to work as a slave, I suppose I’m not too upset.

Anyway, we just moved into our new flat in Canary Wharf in London and are now located right on Southern shore of the Thames (about 3 miles east of Tower Bridge). It seems to be a very nice area - London suburbs renovated from an old industrial area… Maybe we’ll post some pictures in the coming days. Unfortunately, we are living in a small room while the landlords renovate our large room (as well as the rest of the house). The banging of Polish workmen goes on all day - so much for working at home!

Anyone who needs my new address, please let me know…

I must excuse myself, yet again, for the recent lack of content on this site - but I am in Athens with Ilektra. As we know, Greece has only recently ben introduced to the internet and they haven’t yet graduated to broadband, so I am stuck with a crappy dial-up connection for now. Believe me, it’s driving me insane… but I have more time to enjoy the sun anyway. This means, however, that you cannot count on me posting very often for the next few weeks.

But while I have the chance, I should update you all to recent events… It seems I will be returning to Gaza in the New Year. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has hired me from mid-January 2009 and I will spend at least six months there. Since I left Gaza last January, it has not left my thoughts… so the prospect of returning excites me very much!

Also, I have been selected to write a chapter for an upcoming book on peace philosophy. My contribution is tentatively entitled, “Israel’s Philosophy of Separation: The Flawed Vision of Unilaterally Enforced Peace”, and will discuss the notion of separation from the occupied territories as a “solution” for peace. Naturally, I am quite skeptical. The book will be out some time in 2009 (when they find a publisher) and I will keep you all updated.

…and from September until I leave for Gaza, Ilektra and I will be living in London. This will give me time to finish my thesis, get a short internship, and to continue studying to retake the GRE.