The Unfolding of Spring

These past few weeks have been a bit of a whirl, but the dust is finally begining to settle just enough for me to see a bit further lately. I have decided to stay here for the summer- I will be continuing my research for the International Anti-Trafficking Task Force Group for the Salvation Army's International Headquarters. Basically I am finding and compiling information relevant to sex trafficking within Eastern and Western Europe - it is a document that will include data on initiatives (mostly national laws, organizations, policies etc) addressing trafficking in persons with sexual purposes througout Eastern and Western Europe.
Just yesterday, I started my "field work" with street prostitutes and window prostitutes in the center of Amsterdam. I met Alice ("Allisa"), a Dutch woman a few years older than myself who works at a homeless shelter with the Salvation Army near Central Station. She has been doing with work with the women for about a year now. I really am encouraged by her- I think we have a lot in common and I look forward to getting to know her better and learning from her experiences here too. It is a very simple job, basically we just bring around coffee and tea to the prostitutes we meet on our route through the center, in and out of the Red Light District. If they want some, they invite us inside their window, we say hello, be friendly, serve them, answer any questions they have if they have any- and that's about all. We have no script, no other main motive then to just greet them one person to another, to just break down that invisible barrier between those who prostitute and those who do not. One thing I really appreciate about The Salvation Army here in The Netherlands is their very intentional separation of social services and evangelism, which I believe at this level is very important to really being able to connect to people without intimidating them, guilting them, or further isolating them. This is an opportunity to learn more about the actual women, their ordinary lives, work, motives, individual situations. I think this provides a step in understanding the reality of the prostitution problematic at a very personal, interactive level. It serves also to connect the prostitutes to accessible individuals and tangilbe facilities and resources should they desire any kind of support. Most of the women are from Latin America and speak Spanish, so I am looking into trying to learn a bit this summer too.
I'm also working with BLINN (Bonded Labour in The Netherlands) the organization focused on victims of sex trafficking. I have been working already some with their legal support division- editing translated documents and am also on call to escort the women to their embassies when needed and any other things a non-Dutch speaking volunteer can do for them.
My friends Frank and Mary+ their three lively children have generously offered me their spare room and the chance to be immersed in and help out some with their family, which is really incredible of them. It really makes me staying here for the summer viable, and a temporary home and consistent community. I'm really grateful.
So that is the low down on what I am/will be up to in the midst of papers and class and such. Spring is seeping into the seams of Amsterdam- creeping into trees, parks, along canals- and the LIGHT is incredible now, it doesn't get dark until around 8pm! I think that after having the most consistently wintery grey, sloshy, cold winter, my body is rejoicing at the amount of sunlight we've been having lately, mm mmm mmm :*)

That's all for now-- I am off to Italy next week and am so excited-- UvA is lacking in a true "spring break" so I am quite ready to get on out for a spell.

betsy
:*)