still here...

so, some people have been complaining that i've been a blogging slacker. i hope this picture will explain my delinquency. this scene pretty much sums up my life as of late. between readings, research papers, and fellowship responsibilities there hasn't been much room left for a life. these law classes remind me of my first semester of intensive italian (only less fun and with fewer delicious dinners) - it really is like learning a whole new language. it all makes me question why i came halfway around the world only to spend all my time in my apartment. don't get me wrong, it's a lovely apartment, but it's not exactly what i was picturing when i decided to move to cairo.

that being said, i am steeped in interesting new information. a rundown of my classes...

*Introduction to Forced Migration and Refugee Studies: doing a research paper on development-induced displacement for this one. basically, how people get shoved out of the way for large scale infrastructure programs like dams - the people who lose out in the name of development.
*Public International Law: up to my neck in the sources of international law, the law of treaties, state sovereignty, jurisdiction and immunity, international dispute settlement and such.
*International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law: the former is applied in times of war, the latter the rest of the time. we've been talking most recently about the universal (meaning, basically, UN) and regional human rights systems. this class is the reason for the mess of papers in my room. doing a research paper on how the US treats the asylum claims of former child soldiers - basically assessing how the US balances its right to exclude perpetrators of human rights violations against its obligation to protect both children and refugees.

i do take breaks to eat, and here's where the cooking magic happens. but once that's done, it's on to the fellowship... i'm helping the chair of the migration and refugee studies department research somali mixed migration, largely through the middle east. mixed migration refers to the mixture of refugees and other types of migrants traveling the same routes from one country to the next. we're looking at where they go and why and how, why they choose the destinations and routes they do, what challenges they meet along the way, and what sorts of treatment and conditions they encounter in the various states en route.

i'm making a feeble attempt at studying arabic. every time i come out with a new word my bowwab (doorman) grins from ear to ear. i feel horribly like the ugly american with my complete lack of language ability. it's not for lack of enthusiasm, just time... other than that, it's all about avoiding football-related madness (egypt and algeria have landed themselves in a diplomatic scuffle over misbehaving fans. the algerian embassy in zamalek was overrun with rioting protesters over the weekend.) and planning for a winter break trip to syria, jordan and perhaps lebanon. good times all around!