Ambassadorial Scholar Sends Regards and Pictures from The Hague

by Brennan Robison

A letter from Ambassadorial Scholar Sarah Brittingham, now studying in the Netherlands:

Dear Rotarians,

I hope all is well! I have been here in the Hague for just over a month and thought I'd drop a line. Everything has been wonderful so far! I love my school and could never have imagined learning so much about the ways of the world in one short month. It is challenging and stimulating and the perfect program for me. There is another Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar at the school who initiated the Master's last year - she is from Oregon and has invited me to one of her presentations!

I met my host counselor two weeks ago. He is the director of the Carnegie Foundation that owns the Peace Palace here in the Hague, which is the seat of the International Court of Justice and a beautiful building with fantastic gardens, not too far from my campus. I also attended a Rotary Welcome Seminar in Amselfoort, and the Rotarians were wonderful. All of the other Ambassadorial Scholars who are studying in the Netherlands were there, and we had a very nice conversation about the scholarship and the local clubs and the foundation. Two of the Rotarians took us for a tour of the old city (see photos on home page).

I have also been to a club meeting of the Hague North club, where I was able to give a presentation and present the Buckhead Club banner. All of the Rotarians were thrilled to receive a banner from your club - they cheered and clapped!

So far, this has been a wonderful experience. The students at my school are from all over the world - Japan, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Peru, and Ethiopia.

I am exploring some volunteer projects with the Muslim community here in the Hague. They are not very integrated into the society and seem to be misunderstood by many Dutch. I hope to find the right organization to volunteer and maybe get some Rotarians involved, too!

There are a few Dutch students at my school, and we have a little exchange going - I teach them Spanish; they teach me Dutch! It is nice to be able to say a few words and be able to communicate for basic transactions in Dutch. A lot of the Dutch have asked why on earth I would spend my time learning their language when so few people speak it, but I think it is beautiful.

The only challenge I have not yet surmounted is related to the Dutch bureaucracy of getting a bank account, but I have an appointment tomorrow, so we shall see. My scholarship funds are here in the Netherlands, but I have not been able to access them yet.

One thing I have loved about being here, though, is the sort of distance from consumerism. The Hague is an old, old city and very expensive! You don't see all the billboards and advertisements here like you do on every corner in the US.

Here, though, the Queen rides through the city in a golden carriage led by regal horses. I can't imagine our President Obama in a golden carriage, I must say!

Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity, and I will be in touch! I wish you all the best.

Regards,

Sarah Brittingham

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar

District 6900

Institute of Social Studies

MA Development Studies

Population, Poverty, and Social Development

+31 6 4226 3558