Oliveira, Thiago

I would like to thank the International Institute for the Sociology of Law (IISL) for the delightful experience I have had in Oñati in 2015. Absolutely everything about my five week stay in the Basque Country was great.

When I first applied for the Residence Grant, I was expecting to find a good library that could help me finish my dissertation. Not only has the library helped me on such task, but it has constantly surprised me as well. The library is incredible! The quantity of books and journals you can find there is amazing, from old classic books to contemporary  just-published papers. Any research on socio-legal issues can use the help of that library. In my case, I can state for sure that my dissertation -- entitled Juvenile Justice: determinants and mechanisms of the decision-making process -- depends completely on the literature review on theoretical and methodological approaches to study criminal sentencing I did during my stay in Oñati.

But the thing that most amazed me when I came to International Institute for the Sociology of Law was not the library, despite how good it was. I was amazed by the environment surrounding both the IISL and the Residence. There are students from every part of the world, bringing with them different cultures and different habits, but having in common the same passion for the sociological inquiry concerning law related issues. Visiting Oñati would have been worth it only by the excellent talks I had with the great friends I made.

Thus, Oñati and the Basque Country are magnificent. If during the week one can enjoy the pleasures of a small town in the middle of the mountains, on the weekends it is possible to travel around the Basque Country and visit its main cities, such as Bilbao, Donostia and Gasteiz. Not only are the cities worth visiting, but the trips by bus have breathtaking sights.

I hereby thank again the IISL for the Residence Grant and for the great opportunity I had. As I mentioned, everything about my five week stay in Oñati was great!