I saw the funniest sight today on the Charles River - a line of ducks traveling all in a row, with their heads down. It was a mourning procession, but they were simply cold. One duck at the lead had found the path through the ice and they all went one by one after him. It was precious! 

It was another horrible day in Boston, with howling bitter winds and inches upon inches of snow. The tall ugly building in the picture is the LAW TOWER! 

Hi again. This is me in my red coat. It's horrible - already pilling (spelling?). The picture is courtesy of Wajeeha, we are just about to go out for Chinese food (where we would find out our order was lost, only to be sent out in the cold again), and Wajeeha was challenging herself to take a good photo. She went through 8 shots to get to this mediocre view. 

Hi. Long time no see. Aren't these beautiful flowers. I got them at a dinner honoring students who are REALLY active - i.e., those who are presidents of Student organizations. I also accidentally sat down next to the President of the Uni and talked about the Law School and all the complaints we have there. What a grand opportunity.  

Yes, well....Life is definitely beautiful out in the Heartland. I know this is "not out of the US" - but Nebraska can be stunningly beautiful. I was there for 5 days to visit my lovely grandma. Thanks for the wonderful time Grandma! We spent most of it, organizing her house - and reading - and listening to AM Talk Radio. We went to the local bar/restaurant for homemade Chili and buffets (a good american tradition). Of course I gained a few. 

Bergen was just really picturesque --- and those FISH Cakes were a delight!! But of course, this city couldn't be for everyone...especially thinking of my friend Seth who doesn't like any place with a grey sky even one day in ten!! I was lucky to get one day of blue Bergen sky.  

Hi everyone. I haven't been posting lately, but maybe that's stupid. Here I am in Norway - and I'm of course wearing lots of layers just to go for a short walk, even though it's the middle of august. How do the Norwegians tolerate such weather!!!? I am really happy though that I got the chance to see a little of Scandinavia. I definitely could spend some more time in Bergen and Oslo was really pretty - but 35$ for a medium pizza...COME ON!!! 

Finally a Hot day!

Greetings One and All
-- It's finally no longer winter by the North Sea, and we are enjoying a little bit of decent weather. Furthermore - It's a weekend and since we finished our Appeals Brief on Friday, there's no need to do anything but enjoy the beautiful weather on a nice Sunday. Actually, what I did today was to first go to church - the American Church of The Hague - then to look at a new apartment so I can get away from the current situation - and now to -- but I realized - that I HAVE NOT FINISHED MY WORK FROM IRAN - I still have several papers to finish for the semester and to take 5 exams by email at the end of June. I am never finished with one assignment before I take on the next. I am probably the only person in the history of U.S. law schools to be working on two different master's theses in the first and second years of the law school. But I'm not complaining - I'm obviously just crazy. Anyway, The Iranian elections - Is there any hope? Clearly, all Iranians have to get out and make it absolutely impossible that Mr. Mayor won't become Mr. President. Until later.

Out of Tehran

Hello Everyone!

I left Iran almost two weeks ago. My apologies that I haven't posted in such a long long time! I had a very busy last two weeks in Iran and then the last two weeks in Europe has been the busiest time of my life - at least with work. I have come to live in the Netherlands - to get a "great" experience at the Hague - That's the Netherlands for you American guys who don't know this CAPITAL of the Netherlands. (Speaking of which, a colleague of mine told me this week that she was on a train from the Airport to Amsterdam last month and she met two girls who claimed to be New Yorkers - no way - who were asking many questions. They asked her where she was from - and when she said the Hague - they didn't know it. But even worse, they then asked her what the currency was in Amsterdam - and when they learned it was the Euro they asked if that was the currency only for the country of Amsterdam?) In any case, I have been working this whole week at 15 hours a day. The last three days I have been typing a brief for each day, all day --- going crazy out of exhaustion. Nonetheless, it's interesting to see what it means to work for the Defense Counsel at an international court. Criminal Law is always fascinating but how can anyone want to be so busy all the time with just legal issues - or any one profession for that matter.

Today Iran has held its Presidential elections...I regret that I was typing a brief here in the Hague instead of walking (? - can you walk in Tehran) the streets of Tehran and seeing the polls. Ah, well...eight months went so fast, ... just sped by ... and all I can say, is that I want to go back to Tehran as soon as possible...and if I could live in Iran after I graduate, I would...Perhaps even Tehran.

I PROMISE To write MORE Soon! - but after 12 hours of typing today, I simply CANNOT!

We went on a trip to the North last week - here, we are near the city of Jolfa on the border with Nakhichevan. I am standing in front of a part of the church of Saint Stephen - directly behind me is a student complex but the church itself is about 900 years old, and some say it was built on the site of a church that once existed from the year 62AD. The guide of the church absolutely disagreed with that interpretation. 

As we drove through the hills near Shiraz, we were constantly threatened by oncoming sheep - every 2 miles there were about 200 sheep waiting to ram the car. 

I decided to go NY style in a traditional Tea House for a few minutes - OK, my clothes aren't really...NY, but, hey! 

This is the group that went on a trip to Shiraz and Persepolis. It was really amazing! 

I am definitely not posting my favorite photos - but here is Persepolis!!! 

The Anglican Church of Shiraz seemed to be abandoned on a Sunday morning! 

The Esfahan Bazar

The Bazaar at night - and where I would find some lovely antique Polish tea glass holders made at the Norblin factory in Warsaw.

Wall Painting on Ali Qapu Palace

This is a portrait of a European Lady on the side of the wall of the Ali Qapu Palace in the Beautiful Imam Square of Esfahan. She's noticeably European for the hat she is holding in her hands.

The Imam Square of Esfahan - Also Known as Naqshe Jahan, Image of the World

Sitting in the Courtyard of Imam Square in Esfahan. It was a VERY bright and sunny day...actually got a sunburn somehow.

Bridge on the River Zayandeh

Now, I have just started the third semester of classes here in Tehran - but for the last three weeks I have been on vacation. This was a break for Noruz, or the Iranian New Year, which falls on the first day of Spring. To take advantage of the few days off from classes, I went to visit Isfahan, where there were many beautiful monuments, palaces, gardens, and bridges. Here I am standing in the underside of a bridge -- just above the water.

For Easter I went to visit the local Catholic Church, right next to the "Embassy" of the Vatican. The service was in Italian, and it was actually a full house - everyone singing and praying in Italian. I could not have imagined so many people in Tehran were Italian....

Although Tehran is an overwhelmingly large metropolis - there really are many beautiful buildings. Unfortunately, many of them are being sacrificed for the greater good of 20 story commercial complexes. Here you can see an old iron grating, behind which is possibly a run down summer house. You can find such remains all over Tehran. I hope to put some of their photos on this blog from time to time. 

Azadi Monument is trying to hide behind a tree - but he's Definitely Too Big! Ha Ha! 

Much of the mountains visible from Tehran are still covered in snow. If they were normally visible, it would definitely make me feel cold. 

The mountains of Tehran were perfectly visible. This is the same square that below you can see covered in snow.  

Because there was little pollution today - few cars - I could travel to the other side of the city and see the Azadi monument. I didn't know that I could go to the top though - too Bad! 

t is now Noruz -- for those of you with Iranian friends, wish them a happy New Year! For Noruz, everyone likes to buy (or trap) goldfish in a bowl until they die...Ok, sorry, they like to keep goldfish. These are two of my fish. Out of 5 original fish, only one is remaining. It will soon die -- it seems that all of the fish brought into Tehran this year were sick. Anyway, for those people traveling to Tehran - Noruz is only exceptional or interesting because the traffic reduces significantly and the city becomes like any other large city - rather than one large parking lot. But don't expect any fireworks (haha) or even any public celebrations - just a few banners and small television programs. The best sign of the New Year is that on all the street corners there are men selling these lovely fish. I Love Fish!
 

We went on a class trip to visit the Parliament. It was an exciting field trip because this building's architecture is just bizarre. Behind the rectangular building in the front is a triangular/pyramid building --- and I never had imagined such strange staircases in a triangle building. I learned later that I could have taken pictures inside the parliament. We heard a small segment of a debate inside about whether they should change the system for holiday housing. I didn't understand a word!