The last weeks at the NDC

For the past couple of weeks the Course Members have been out of the College on a Field Study to some major European capitals. Although this means that we haven't had lectures, this has given me the opportunity to sit in on some very interesting events that have taken place in the College.
I got to listen in on a working group on Cyber Security and the role NATO may play within this area. It was a very interesting and quite scary discussion about how these technological developments have also left us vulnerable to new types of attacks. It also talked about the role of the military in cyber security and the difficulties this may bring as you need very specialized individuals to work on this particular field.

The NDC also hosted a Conference on NATO and EU cooperation in the South (the MENA region). Top experts and high level officials from NATO and the EU came together to discuss many issues around the increased threats to NATO and Europe from the Southern flank and the challenges and advantages of NATO-EU cooperation. More than anything sitting in the room with these people was really inspiring and it made me want to be in their shoes in the future.

That´s me in the right hand corner :)

The discussion during the conference was quite interesting among the most important points raised was the fact that within the EU and NATO, there continues to be a bias towards security in the North (Russia) when it comes to security and defense priorities. This was evident as the debate kept on shifting towards Russia when the purpose of the talks were to discuss the Middle East. It was also quite interesting that Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty came up. This refers to the responsibility of each NATO member to build up their own capabilities individuals in order for Article 5, common defense, to work. This is important because a lot of the current debates around NATO and and its importance are based on the principle that countries must contribute to their defense capacity building. Finally, it was really interesting to see how much speculation there is around what the US´s policy towards NATO, Russia, the Middle East and pretty much everything else is. Although there were really high level officials there, it seems that nobody really knows what will happen which is quite nerve racking.

At the end of the conference, I got the opportunity to meet two of the participants. I was really nervous to talk to them, however, I decided to go up to them before I regretted not having said anything. My conversation with them was really inspiring. Getting to listen to people who truly care about the world we  are living in and are trying to make an impact truly makes me want to keep on working harder to someday be in their shoes. I learned a lot from them and I´m excited to see what my path will be.

This couple of weeks at the NDC have been different: a bit more quiet than usual and a lot less familiar faces. Even so, my experiences this week have been some of the best I´ve had and I look forward to the month ahead.

Florence

Last weekend I decided it was time to take a break from the craziness of Rome. This is why me and the other intern at my office Daniel (yes we have the same name) went to Florence for the weekend. The city dates back to 59 BC, when it was founded by retired Roman soldiers. What is perhaps most distinctive about Florence is the amount of wealth that was accumulated within the city which allowed for a lot of art to be developed. From 1434 until 1737, the Medici family ruled Florence. During this period the family commissioned a lot of artwork, architecture and many different projects. A highlight is the Uffizi Gallery which houses the personal art collection of the Medici family including Sandro Botticelli´s famous pieces. Furthermore, due to the wealth in the city, the Renaissance really began in this small city in the 15th century. Florence is full of amazing art, architecture, literature, etc. and you can feel the culture as you walk through its streets.

During our time in Florence, we visited the Uffizi Galleri. What is wonderful about this place is that the last Medici to rule donated the entire collection to the people of Florence. Thanks to this, all of these pieces are still together and not in Austria or scattered around the world.
We also visited the Duomo built by Fillipo Brunelleschi. We climb all the way to the top. It was a wonderful experience as you can really get a feel for the architecture by climbing up it.

On IGOs, NGOs and the current international environment...

For the past month and a half, most of my conversations with somebody I am meeting for the first time have gone something like:

-person: So where are you from?
-me: I'm half Mexican, half Canadian but I grew up in Mexico.
-person: Oh! So you skipped the middle!
-me: Yes, but I study in the US in Boston.
-person: (Insert joke about a wall, NAFTA or current politics here)

After we laugh it off, I then proceed to talk about the current situation in Mexico that has been impacted by the political developments with its northern neighbor. I tell them about the devaluation of the peso and the current inspection of cellphones and electronic devices from passengers, that has gotten people's visa's taken away because of content like jokes or social media posts. Although this sort of conversation can get a bit old, I think it is a great way to share with people from different countries the real situation in Mexico and engage in a conversation that may help shift the preconceived ideas many have. I think this is what is great about working within an international environment. Having the opportunity to exchange ideas with people that have seen many places and know a lot more has been very enriching and I think that having these kinds of exchanges is what is needed in the world today. On the other side, I have learned so much from the individuals I have been working for and with and it has really broadened my way of viewing the world and where I see my place in it.

This week the Senior Course at the NATO Defense College talked about the international world order, IGOs, NGOs, and civil society. Although I can be quite skeptical of how many of these organizations work, the lectures we attended this week gave me a different insight into the way these organizations work and the reasons it can often seem like they do nothing at all. This is not to say that I have changed my mind, but I have been able to analyze my critiques of certain institutions within a wider framework that does not just look at the outcomes or claims these institutions make, but takes into account the complexities of the world order. Consensus building, differing interests, built in redundancies are difficult challenges that these bodies deal with every day and they do so through different strategies like being as general as possible, engaging in as much dialogue as they can or resorting to other mechanisms by which these bodies will be more likely to achieve what they want.

What has really struck me about this weeks´ lectures is the feeling of uncertainty around the world. It seems we are all waiting to see what the US´ position is going to be in regards to pretty much everything and how the world order will transition based on it. I think that for our generation, we have grown in a generally stable environment. Although one could argue and I would agree that 9/11 is an event that had a huge impact in the way we see security and world threats, I was five years old! I don´t know if it is because I never lived it or because older people have, but I cannot conceive of a world where our understanding of how the system works is that different. We studied the Cold War as well as the two World Wars and although we understand how much the world has changed since then it is the first time I feel as though our generation will witness a significant change in the system. This may seem like an obvious statement but I guess I never thought that such a significant change would take place now. This might be the product of my studies and my current Co-op but I am curious to see how the world will develop and how we will talk about the current period to our future generations.

***Wow, I did´t know where I was going with this post when I started writing, but I guess this is what is on my mind. I am currently on my way to Florence for the weekend, so I can promise a more cheerful post full of pictures and fun things next time :)

The Walls Walk

Last weekend we had the first Arts and History Program for the College. Basically, as part of the programming of the College, we organize cultural events mostly during the weekends, to places in Rome and in Italy. The first event was the Walls Walk, a 22 km walk around the ancient walls of Rome. Although it may sound like a lot of walking, it was a great way to see the city, get a feeling for where everything is, and meet the course members.

Unfortunately, we all woke up last Sunday to find that it was pouring outside. Even so, we ventured out at 8am to begin our walk. The first couple of hours were ridiculous. We were all soaked and the rain just kept on getting worse. Eventually, though, the sun came out and we all started to dry off. Once it stopped raining, we really got the opportunity to talk to one another. It was great as we were all in a casual setting and in a way the boundaries between the course members, who are military Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels and their civilian equivalent, and me a student were gone. I got to talk to a lot of people from different countries about their experiences and I shared some of mine as well. By the end of the walk we were all friends and the best part was going in to work on Monday and actually knowing most of the people in the College.

One of my favorite conversations of the day was with a LtCl of the Spanish Airforce. He was telling me that in his job, he had often flown the Spanish royal family to different places. Because of this, he got to see the royal family in a very different way then what we are used to seeing: as just human beings. He told me that the prince would come knock on the cabin door in his socks and ask for help setting up the DVD player. What struck me from his story is the same thing I felt during the Walls Walk. I find that as we grow and we gain experiences, we begin to define ourselves not by our personal traits, but by what we do or the titles we have. Although I do believe that the experiences we have are crucial to shaping who we are, sometimes grasping on to titles or roles too much creates barriers to actually getting to know other people and for others to get to know you. It has been scary approaching many of these military leaders, but I have found that for the most part, they are not only willing, but happy to share their experiences, learn about you and make you part of the conversation.

The Walls Walk was an amazing way to start bonding with the course members, which is one of the most enriching parts of being in the College, and I am happy to have had the opportunity to do so. I hope that in the coming weeks, these relationships continue to grow and that in the end of the program, I go home having learned a lot (which I know is the case) and with contacts and friends from around the world.

Now here are a few pictures we took along the way when it finally stopped raining :)

First Month!

One month ago, I arrived in Rome, I moved in to my new apartment and I celebrated my 21st birthday by touring this new city. It was definitely not a bad way to start my second Co-op and I can´t believe how quickly time has gone by. A month ago, I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this experience and although it has been great, it has been very different than what I thought it would be like.

Birthday wish at the Trevi Fountain!

For my Co-op, I am working for the NATO Defense College. The College is a part of the Alliance´s effort to ensure cohesion and mutual understanding between the members of NATO as well as other countries that work as partners. They do this through education, outreach and research. One of the most important activities done by the College is to provide education to senior-level military and civilian officials allowing participants to interact and discuss NATO issues in an environment that seeks to promote consensus. Since the first moment I heard about this opportunity, I wanted to come as I felt it was a great way for me to experience the inner workings of an International Governmental Organization. As a Political Science major, I want to make a difference and throughout my time at Northeastern I have been trying to figure out where I fit in and what sort of place will allow me to have the type of impact I want to have.

I came to work as part of the Middle East Faculty of the College that developed its own course called the NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC). The purpose of this course is to engage Middle East countries with their NATO partners in order to look at specific issues of importance to the region. You can understand why I was so nervous on my first day. To start of, the College is located within an Italian military base, so walking in was very intimidating. Furthermore, I suddenly found myself in a predominantly military and male setting. Finally, the idea that I was working for an international organization made everything seem very daunting. Even so, the biggest surprise I received on my first day on the job, is that due to higher up political reasons, the NRCC I was to help out with as part of the Middle East Faculty was cancelled. I expected many things, but not this one and although it was very disappointing, we have been allowed to follow the flagship course of the college, the Senior Course which is a different but equally interesting opportunity. Although I am determined to make the best out of this experience, this situation has also given me insight into the constraints of working for an International Governmental Organization that is based on consensus. But more on this later.

The NATO Defense College

Adjusting to life in Rome was difficult so I knew I needed to find something familiar, and for me that is dance. I have been dancing since I was four and I have continued to do so in many different ways throughout my life. After doing some research I found a studio that looked promising and after an awkward phone conversation in a mix between Italian and Spanish I decided to give it a try. The first time I went to the studio it suddenly dawned on me that nobody spoke anything other than Italian, and although Spanish is similar and I can understand a lot of what is being said, it is by no means enough. Even so, one of the best things about dance is that it is a universal language. Through movement and common passions you erase boundaries. After two weeks at the studio I was invited to perform with them, which I did last Friday. Finding dance in Rome has been something that has helped me settle in and be at ease with this new city and experience. Although I´m taking dance classes in Italian (best way to learn the language!) it has been a great way to feel at home.

Finally, I will tell you guys a little bit about the city. Rome is like a lasagna, (which is probably fitting if you think about it). Below the current city there are layers and layers of the different periods of history. A lot has been uncovered which gives us tons of places to explore, but what is great is to think about all the things that we are yet to find. Furthermore, you have some of the greatest masterpieces by people like Bernini and Caravaggio on the streets or in churches so there is always something new to discover. It has been truly amazing and I look forward to the weeks to come, where hopefully I´ll be able to give you guys a better insight into what living and working in Rome has been like!