About Rose: I grew up in Singapore, lived in Melbourne but currently call London home. I love gastronomic adventures, especially while travelling. I stated writing at 17 to remember how it all began.
Archives:
12 March 2009
thursday; 9.48pm
For a while now I've been really indifferent about the Hague. I compare it incessantly to everything- how it lacks the cafe culture like Melbourne, the excitement in Amsterdam, diversity of London or the food in Singapore. But I've been coming to a realisation. Perhaps it was in the midst of one of those conversations with Ari, recognising that I was lucky. I knew I had found a great firm to go back to because no other partner in any other law firm would have given a young lawyer the time of day meeting up in London and taking her a tour around the city to show where all the big insurers are. As he asked me how the internship at the Hague was going and I found myself telling him excitedly about the stuff I was working on, I realised what an opportunity it all was. He asked me about the travels ahead and I told him of Ireland in Easter and plans for Stockholm and Berlin.
I had lunch with Chloe today. She told me about growing up in Paris, working in Hong Kong and her plans for the future. The best thing about the Hague is meeting like-minded people. I don't ever have to explain private international law, international commercial arbitration or the like (not that I necessarily mind). People I meet here are generally interested in the same areas as well or at the very least are familiar with it. I never have to censor myself when talking about future plans because working for organisations like the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce), the UN or a magic circle firm is very much a route open to us all.
And every now and then I will find myself in a moment whether I'm lying on my coat laid across the grass in Hyde Park looking up to the sky with the tree branches hanging overhead. I squint my eyes in the glare of the sun, while I share a conversation with a dear friend. They are precious momets and are as simple to me as sharing a laugh over a dinner with great company. Just like standing before Van Gogh's Starry Night by the Rhone or validation of your abilities at work is.
I'm going to make more of an effort with the Hague- take a walk down the Fred this weekend (the first that I'll be staying local!), go to the market, look forward to the famous baked apple pie next week and enjoying tennis lessons, getting back in the swing of things. And sure things will get rough sometimes, like falling off the back of a bike against a stationary car (that somehow, fortunately, broke my fall) while riding side-saddle. But you get up, dust yourself and make sure you didn't ruin your shoes. Then have a bit of a laugh because you know you were lucky.
"Rows and flows of angel hair And ice cream castles in the air And feather canyons evrywhere Ive looked at clouds that way" -both sides now, joni mitchell