Working at the Terrorism Prevention Branch at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna has thus far been a greatly rewarding experience.

The day usually starts off around 9:00am after going through the U.N. security gates. Once through the gates, I walk past the Memorial Plaza, which includes a large fountain surrounded by all the flags of the Member States. This is one of my favorite parts of the day, not only because I like flags (who doesn’t?), but because it has a particular U.N.-ish feel that is always pretty cool.

Once in the office, if I don’t have any tasks that I need to finish up from the previous day, I usually head upstairs to see what’s crackin’. I work in section III of the Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) which covers the regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa. One of the main goals of the TPB is to provide technical assistance to aid Member States in their efforts in the fight against terrorism. My section organizes trainings, conferences and workshops in those specific regions on various aspects regarding the fight against terrorism. There is always some meeting going on somewhere that requires a presentation to be put together, or proposals to be drafted. My day consists of preparing various presentations on a wide array of topics such as preventing the financing of terrorism in Colombia to drafting a proposal to hold a workshop in Libya on mutual legal assistance, all of which keeps me busy.

Once the day is over, I will once again walk past the memorial fountain and all the cool flags of the world, and head out to fill my stomach with some delicious schnitzel or some other Austrian delicacy.

Ryota with fellow MIIS student Debo Weinheimer

I’m Ryota Akiba from Japan and currently studying Nonproliferation and Terrorism. My day starts with an earl gray tea at a café in downtown. It is just a tea, but it makes me feel a little better to prepare for the day. Around 10am, my classes start: Science, Nonproliferation policy in Asia region, Homeland Security, and English. It depends on the day, because these subjects are really heavy, but studying in the morning can be really hard.

When the homework is over, now it’s time for real work! I belong to two different departments during the semester and I’ve learned quite a lot from them beyond my school work. My duties require internet based searching, so I have to look at screen for more than 2-4 hours in a day… I suppose I am okay with this because I really love to play video games and I used to play more than 6 hours a day in the past.

The last thing I do at the end of the day is grab a drink at the same café where I have the tea in the morning. My work finishes at 6pm, just in time for happy hour. How could I ever miss such a great opportunity?! That is how my day goes.

Since launching the Idea Box in December 2012, we have received some great responses from students, faculty and staff with creative ideas to help improve our campus and community.

Some of the initiatives that were started thanks to you include zumba, wellness workshops, stress reducing events—massages and the puppy room—and more. We want to hear what else you want to see on campus to improve your MIIS experience. Your ideas, suggestions, questions can be sent in any time!

If you have a great idea about how to improve student life at the Monterey Institute, submit your ideas to the Idea Box at go.miis.edu/ideas.

We are interested in any fun, useful ideas you may have for creating more opportunities to connect across campus and the local community.

I am here at MIIS getting a dual degree in International Education Management (IEM) and Public Administration (MPA). This is my second semester here, so I’ll have one more year on campus and then a semester abroad for my IEM practicum. With this degree I will pursue my dream career in study abroad and service learning, connecting people all over the world for social change.

My family lives here in Monterey and I’m originally from here. After graduating from college last May, my boyfriend and I moved in with my family and our dogs—it’s been a lot of fun! A typical day in my life is filled with studying and going to class, working with Institute study abroad in the Center for Advising & Career Services, hanging with friends, and riding my bike around beautiful Monterey. This summer I’ll be back in Chicago, near where I went to college (yay Lake Forest!), interning with the marketing department at IES Abroad. If anyone will be in the area, I’d love to get together and share our MIIS tales!

Photo credit: Dan Previte, Flickr Creative Commons

When: ’til May 31

Where: Casa Fuente 443 (Enrollment Office)

To commemorate National Foster Care Month this May, the Institute’s Enrollment Office, in collaboration with Peacock Acres, is hosting a backpack and personal hygiene drive.  Bring a new or slightly used backpack or any of the basic necessity items listed below to CF 443 between May 1 and May 31 and help provide these youth a sense of dignity and security while in foster care.  Each backpack will also contain a personal note of encouragement and support from Monterey Institute staff members.

Ideas of items to contribute:
· A new or slightly used backpack or duffle bag

· Deodorant

· Hairbrushes

· Personal hygiene items

· A small stuffed animal

· Toiletry bags

· Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

· What you might have wanted when you were a teen!

Bring your items to sell or come with your cash to purchase. Any and all MIIS community members are welcome to participate.

How it works:

If you want to sell, sign up here.

• Do not bring large items!
• Take pictures of your furniture and coordinate pick ups on your own.
• You must take home anything you do not sell.
• Sell at your own risk! Keep an eye on your valuables.

Logo designs can be ANYTHING, but please utilize the Student Council motto and/or mission in your logo.

For help, you can also look to the MIIS Branding Guide or MIIS Color Codes.

Submit your design here!

Rules:

• Deadline is Monday, May 13th
• One submission per person
• Logo formats can be: gif, jpg, png, bmp, tif, psd

The winner will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card!!!

Student Council Motto:

“Define your solution”

Student Council Mission:

“Fostering a multicultural environment conducive to meeting the needs of the MIIS community.”

The winning design will be selected by the current Student Council and announced Wednesday, May 15th.

I discovered the Monterey Institute almost a decade ago when I was stationed up the street at the Defense Language Institute. I got out of the Army in 2009, and coming full circle I made my way back to Monterey to attend MIIS. Thanks to the Yellow Ribbon Program I’ve been able to fulfill my dream of studying international policy at the graduate level.

A bit of a non-traditional student, I am married (this weekend is actually our 7-year anniversary), I have two dogs and two cats, and I don’t live actually live in Monterey near campus. Each morning my two corgis, Watson and Bentley, wake up me up around 6 am ready to start the day. After feeding them and packing a lunch for my wife, I see her off to work around 7:30 am. Every other day I’ll then work out for an hour or so, usually doing circuits of bodyweight-type exercises such as pushups and pull-ups in my apartment, along with some cardio. Around 9 am I’ll tire the dogs out playing fetch at a park up road,   then while they sleep I’ll shower and really start my day! By 10 am, I’ll put my nose to the grindstone and work on homework throughout the afternoon/evening and drive to campus as needed to attend class. Evenings I’ll catch up on Game of Thrones or maybe watch some classic episodes of the Twilight Zone before heading to bed and starting it all over the next day!

Interested in what the StuCo’s up to? Want to be a part of the conversation? Follow us on Facebook!

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