I have officially past my first week mark. Everything is going fine thou the banking remains a sore subject. I received my bankcard on Friday afternoon and could not activate it until I went into the bank to get my passport barcode swiped. Monday morning came and I headed into the bank to get this done and then asked for the "edentifier" device that is needed to interface with my computer to do secure internet banking (the type of account I have). The lady at the information counter cheerfully helped me and also gave me the edentifier. I headed off to work thinking I was finally all set. Once at my computer and on line to start banking, I soon found out that this couldn’t be done until my card is activated and I can't do this until I receive the PIN code in the mail. It will have to wait for another day. I have learned that there is no use getting angry or frustrated because it won't do any good. Thank goodness I still can get money out of my USA account with my trusty debit card!

Friday night was a huge ICTY UN staff party put on by the staff union, my first official party. I don’t know how many people ended up attending though I heard the number of tickets handed out hit 1,200. The party was a theme party called “casino royal” after the James Bond film and there was bond films being projected on a big screen along with fake gambling. A little like one of the KGW Christmas parties.

I went with one of my new co-workers, Marta. She is the only other woman director in the department. We meet up and road the tram together to the event hall in a small suburb south east of The Hague. Once there we meet up with other co-workers and occupied a table next to the dance floor close to the stage, easy access for dancing. There were four bands scheduled to play with a disco at the end and the party was to go until 2 am, the UN is full of party animals. Of course there was Bosnian food and rakija (plum brandy), which can be dangerous in large (or even small) quantities. Oh, and of course a regular full bar.

The first band played mostly American top alternative rock. The second band was made up of ICTY members who formed the band to play at the party. Two of the band members were from the AV unit where I work. They played mostly American rock and were really good. The third band was a samba band and played for two hours. Then there were some samba drummers and dancers that performed, then the disco. We made it until close to two, then Frank and Kristina were kind enough to give me Marta and I a ride home.

The next morning I was a little slow in getting my day going. No more rakija…..