As I was saying ... before I rudely interrupted myself by posting my last blog entry entitled "Breakfast" ... after breakfast I run along to class (of which I have 2 - back-to-back - starting at 9 am, each lasting 2 hours).
Luckily ... the building in which we have our classes is only a few minutes (about 5, or less - depending on how lazy I am on that particular morning) walk from the dorms. I'm also lucky that both my classes ('International Art Law' & 'International & Comparative Media Law') are in the same room ... which means I only make minimum effort in body movement between 9 am & 1 pm.
We do get breaks during class ... so we can go get coffee, tea, crumpets, celery & peanut butter, anchovies & heavy cream, cheese & wine, or spring water from the Alps - which I personally bottle every night (those mountains aren't close, but it's worth it) - Just Kidding, I bottle it every other night.
Just a cautionary note to all future 'Summer Abroad' attendees .... This Is School! Do not be fooled by the foreign surroundings or the term 'Summer' in Summer Abroad - it does not imply that you are on a Holiday. There is reading for class (so just remember that before you plan out your days).
This isn't to say you can't enjoy yourselves ... just be careful not to forget that you have academic responsibilities.
I don't want to leave off on such a serious note ... so I'll end with a joke.
- How can you spot a Vampire in a chicken coop?
- He's the one wearing a cape.
That's all for now,
Garen Aliksanian
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Breakfast
I wake up every morning to the beautiful sunshine of the English Sky (or I would if people weren't constantly passing my window, which faces the street on the ground level). Either way ... I do wake up (with some difficulty), get ready, and head downstairs for breakfast (included in the program cost).
The breakfast is actually quite good ... consisting of eggs, hash-browns, sausage, cereal, and an array of other things that I am too cowardly to try. The staff are very polite and accommodating ... always thanking me for asking for something.
Example.
- Me: "May I have a piece of toast"
- Kitchen Staff Member: - places toast on plate, says "thank you" and awaits my next request.
I have to say ... the English have class ... and so do I (which is where I rush off to after breakfast)
The breakfast is actually quite good ... consisting of eggs, hash-browns, sausage, cereal, and an array of other things that I am too cowardly to try. The staff are very polite and accommodating ... always thanking me for asking for something.
Example.
- Me: "May I have a piece of toast"
- Kitchen Staff Member: - places toast on plate, says "thank you" and awaits my next request.
I have to say ... the English have class ... and so do I (which is where I rush off to after breakfast)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Just Touched Down in London-Town
Hi all ... Well, as the other summer abroad programs come to an end, the summer in London program has just begun.
So let's jump straight in. I flew in with a friend from LAX (non-stop) with Virgin Atlantic ... For future travelers, beware the seductive allure of the Virgin Atlantic planes. You might get your own TV. screen, but you'll pay for it with a lack of leg room. The airplane food was ... well ... airplane food (doesn't really change much - chicken/rice/and mysterious green veggie goop).
On the plus side, I did get to catch up with some movies. I saw 'Definitely Maybe' (which I would definitely recommend ... maybe), 'Hitman' (which I liked even though it had no plot and was likely written by a 7 year old using crayons or an etcha sketch), and 'Horton Hears a Who' (which I enjoyed because I realized Carol Burnett is still alive and doing voice-over work).
Once you leave the plane, get past customs, and pick up your bags ... you have essentially two options to get to the dorms (Taxi or Tube). A Taxi is likely easier, but it's definitely on the pricier side (I heard anywhere from 40 - 50 pounds for a ride to the dorms - which might not be so bad if you share it with others and split the cost). The other option is the Tube (a.k.a. The Underground), which is what I took. You can purchase a one way ticket for 4 pounds, or you can buy an oyster card and it will cut the price in half (2 pounds). Of course, the underground is no picnic. You have to carry your luggage quite a while getting to the underground, and then from the underground station to the dorms (which isn't long ... unless you're carrying some heavy luggage - guilty as charged), not to mention the rather long tube ride (it took us somewhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour).
Once I got to the dorm, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The rooms are adequate, though the bathrooms are small (but this is to be expected when everyone has their own restroom). There is plenty of storage space, the staff is helpful, and we have internet - yay - though you have to use a cord, which is provided for you.
I haven't had much time yet to do anything of importance ... I did manage to eat some Asian cuisine for dinner (it was good ... though the menu included rabbit meat, which I just can't wrap my head around for some reason).
Anyway ... I'll keep you posted.
P.S. - future travelers ... bring extra towels : - )
So let's jump straight in. I flew in with a friend from LAX (non-stop) with Virgin Atlantic ... For future travelers, beware the seductive allure of the Virgin Atlantic planes. You might get your own TV. screen, but you'll pay for it with a lack of leg room. The airplane food was ... well ... airplane food (doesn't really change much - chicken/rice/and mysterious green veggie goop).
On the plus side, I did get to catch up with some movies. I saw 'Definitely Maybe' (which I would definitely recommend ... maybe), 'Hitman' (which I liked even though it had no plot and was likely written by a 7 year old using crayons or an etcha sketch), and 'Horton Hears a Who' (which I enjoyed because I realized Carol Burnett is still alive and doing voice-over work).
Once you leave the plane, get past customs, and pick up your bags ... you have essentially two options to get to the dorms (Taxi or Tube). A Taxi is likely easier, but it's definitely on the pricier side (I heard anywhere from 40 - 50 pounds for a ride to the dorms - which might not be so bad if you share it with others and split the cost). The other option is the Tube (a.k.a. The Underground), which is what I took. You can purchase a one way ticket for 4 pounds, or you can buy an oyster card and it will cut the price in half (2 pounds). Of course, the underground is no picnic. You have to carry your luggage quite a while getting to the underground, and then from the underground station to the dorms (which isn't long ... unless you're carrying some heavy luggage - guilty as charged), not to mention the rather long tube ride (it took us somewhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour).
Once I got to the dorm, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The rooms are adequate, though the bathrooms are small (but this is to be expected when everyone has their own restroom). There is plenty of storage space, the staff is helpful, and we have internet - yay - though you have to use a cord, which is provided for you.
I haven't had much time yet to do anything of importance ... I did manage to eat some Asian cuisine for dinner (it was good ... though the menu included rabbit meat, which I just can't wrap my head around for some reason).
Anyway ... I'll keep you posted.
P.S. - future travelers ... bring extra towels : - )
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Guanajuato, Mexico Wrap Up
Well, they say all good things must come to an end. And so it is with Southwestern´s joint Summer Abroad program in Guanajuato, Mexico.
The program began with and incredible overview of NAFTA and Free Trade Agreements by Southwestern's Professor Lutz. Then Professor Jorge Ramirez of Texas Tech took over. In addition to being a NAFTA expert he was on Law Review with Barak Obama at Harvard and had fascinating and positive stories to share about the Democratic presidential candidate. The course will end with a week of lectures by Professor Lopez, also from Texas Tech and an expert on Free Trade. Special thanks to Joan Hicks Romero. Joan is an American who has lived in Mexico for 53 years and whose son is the current Governor of the State of Guanajuato. Joan is a friend to the program and coordinated many students events. Thanks for looking out for us Joan!
Since a picture is said to say a thousand words, I will share some of the other highlights and experiences of attending this outstanding program.
Vancouver Part 3
Well, the Program is coming to the end. This Friday is the last day of classes, and final exams are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday. For me, it has been a wonderful few weeks, with a great group of students this year. I thought I would highlight a few of the program's most recent activities...
Today, the program was pleased to have Ms. Kuniko Ozaki as our 2008 Distinguished Guest Speaker. Ms. Ozaki arrived in Vancouver from Japan, literally minutes before speaking with the group. She is the Director for the Division of Treaty Affairs at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Before assuming the Director position, she was heavily involved in UN work, and was previously at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her distinguished career includes serving as the Director of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her talk was quite interesting, and described the UNODC's work to combat terrorism and other crimes.
Yesterday, Prof. Markel had a guest lecturer come to his class, Prof. Curt Griffiths. Prof. Griffiths is a professor in the School of Criminology and Coordinator of the Policy Studies Program at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. He has been a Visiting Expert at the United Nations Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment for Offenders in Toko, and a Visiting Fellow at the American University in Cairo and Tokiwa University in Japan. He spoke with the students about restorative justice.
But the program is not all about guest speakers. Students have been getting out and exploring. Rumour has it that last weekend's trip to Whistler was spectacular. Students have said that if you hunt on Facebook long enough you can find some great pictures of Vancouver students white river rafting, zip-treking, hiking, and even bungee jumping! Other students went back to the Grouse grind, while still others kicked-back on campus.
I suspect this weekend may not be quite as enjoyable, as exams are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. But then on Tuesday night, we're off to a farewell dinner at a Brazilian restaurant. It should be a good way to celebrate the end of finals! And then for many, it is back to Los Angeles.
Until the next post....
Today, the program was pleased to have Ms. Kuniko Ozaki as our 2008 Distinguished Guest Speaker. Ms. Ozaki arrived in Vancouver from Japan, literally minutes before speaking with the group. She is the Director for the Division of Treaty Affairs at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Before assuming the Director position, she was heavily involved in UN work, and was previously at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her distinguished career includes serving as the Director of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her talk was quite interesting, and described the UNODC's work to combat terrorism and other crimes.
Yesterday, Prof. Markel had a guest lecturer come to his class, Prof. Curt Griffiths. Prof. Griffiths is a professor in the School of Criminology and Coordinator of the Policy Studies Program at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. He has been a Visiting Expert at the United Nations Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment for Offenders in Toko, and a Visiting Fellow at the American University in Cairo and Tokiwa University in Japan. He spoke with the students about restorative justice.
But the program is not all about guest speakers. Students have been getting out and exploring. Rumour has it that last weekend's trip to Whistler was spectacular. Students have said that if you hunt on Facebook long enough you can find some great pictures of Vancouver students white river rafting, zip-treking, hiking, and even bungee jumping! Other students went back to the Grouse grind, while still others kicked-back on campus.
I suspect this weekend may not be quite as enjoyable, as exams are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. But then on Tuesday night, we're off to a farewell dinner at a Brazilian restaurant. It should be a good way to celebrate the end of finals! And then for many, it is back to Los Angeles.
Until the next post....
Iguazu Falls Adventure
The Argentina Study Abroad program offers an optional 3-day trip to Iguazu Falls during the 4th week. The cost of the trip is about $550, and worth every penny. The Iguazu Falls are a series of enormous waterfalls that drop over 250-ft. The falls are found within Iguazu National Park, which is located at the meeting point of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. We stayed on the Argentine side, but Brazil and Paraguay were just a short bus ride away. The environment in Iguazu is a sharp contrast to that of Buenos Aires. Iguazu is in the middle of a tropic rainforest. There are no buildings over 5 stories and the every few roads are paved. The soil in Iguazu is red. A word of warning: do not bring white clothes on this trip because if you do, you will return with redish brown clothes.
The first day in Iguazu was nothing short of an adventure. It began with a 20-minute drive out to the jungle. The drive itself was exciting since we were loaded onto an open truck (resembling something out of the Indiana Jones ride at Disney World) and taken full speed down an unpaved road. The destination was a canopy tour. Canopying, also known as zip lining, is where you are strapped to a wire that is tied between posts above the ground and you soar through the jungle from one post to another. For those that are afraid of heights, this might not be for you. But for everyone else, it is an experience you cannot miss. Next, we took a short walk through the jungle to a small waterfall. There we propelled down a cliff wall to the river. After that we end back to the hotel for showers and dinner.
The second day was the Iguazu Falls. This day was spent entirely in Iguazu National Park viewing the waterfalls. The Park has a system of catwalks above the rivers that allow you to walk right to the waterfall´s edge. This view of the falls is breathtaking. The mist may get you a little wet, but ponchos are only 10 pesos ($3) at the gift shop. On the walk throughout the Park, we were able to see several birds, however no tucans, and a rainbow. In the afternoon, there was a chance to take a boat ride up to the waterfalls. Because of the close encounter with the Falls, you get soaking wet, but a poncho can keep you dry a little.
The last day was a relaxing day at the Sheraton, which has a great view of the falls. After lunch we were off to the airport and back to Buenos Aires. Overall, the Iguazu Falls trip is one you should not miss. It is a great opportunity to see a different area of Argentina.
The first day in Iguazu was nothing short of an adventure. It began with a 20-minute drive out to the jungle. The drive itself was exciting since we were loaded onto an open truck (resembling something out of the Indiana Jones ride at Disney World) and taken full speed down an unpaved road. The destination was a canopy tour. Canopying, also known as zip lining, is where you are strapped to a wire that is tied between posts above the ground and you soar through the jungle from one post to another. For those that are afraid of heights, this might not be for you. But for everyone else, it is an experience you cannot miss. Next, we took a short walk through the jungle to a small waterfall. There we propelled down a cliff wall to the river. After that we end back to the hotel for showers and dinner.
The second day was the Iguazu Falls. This day was spent entirely in Iguazu National Park viewing the waterfalls. The Park has a system of catwalks above the rivers that allow you to walk right to the waterfall´s edge. This view of the falls is breathtaking. The mist may get you a little wet, but ponchos are only 10 pesos ($3) at the gift shop. On the walk throughout the Park, we were able to see several birds, however no tucans, and a rainbow. In the afternoon, there was a chance to take a boat ride up to the waterfalls. Because of the close encounter with the Falls, you get soaking wet, but a poncho can keep you dry a little.
The last day was a relaxing day at the Sheraton, which has a great view of the falls. After lunch we were off to the airport and back to Buenos Aires. Overall, the Iguazu Falls trip is one you should not miss. It is a great opportunity to see a different area of Argentina.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Into Every Life, A Little Rain Must Fall -- Vancouver, Part Deux!
"It rained today, it rained alot, it rained in drippy drops..."
- a nursery rhyme taught to young children in Vancouver.
Yes, the weather has been terrible. And cold! This morning I heard on the news that it's been the coldest/wettest June on record. Usually, May and June in Vancouver are spectacular, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s and 80s. But not this year. Of course, there is nothing more Canadian than talking about the weather. And while easterners natter on about the white stuff, it’s the wet stuff that gets tongues flapping on British Columbia’s wet - I mean west - coast. Well we've had lots to talk about this past week, as it has been wet, wet, wet. But no worries. While perhaps a little soggy, everyone is doing well. The Los Angelenos have fully adjusted. I think I even saw one student scoff at a tourist who had bothered opening an umbrella after a few measly drops of water fell.
And despite the weather, the Program is going quite well. The Program has hit its midpoint. Yesterday, a new flight of professors joined us and started teaching the second half of the program. Leaving were Professors Williams (SW) and Paterson (UBC). Joining us were Professor Kristen Boon from Seton Hall Law School, Professor Karin Mickelson from the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law, and Professor Trevor Morrison from Columbia Law School. All three are nationally-recognized scholars in their fields. In the classes, students are discussing cutting edge issues in criminal, constitutional, and environmental law.
Since my last post, the Program has had a few more activities. On Friday, Professor Wil Burns from Santa Clara Law School came to speak to the program participants. Prof. Burns is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Law & Policy at the Santa Clara University School of Law in Santa Clara. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy and Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law Interest Group of the American Society of International Law. His expertise is on climate change. On Friday, he talked to the students about possible international litigation through the UN Fish Stocks Agreement to spur action on climate change initiatives. The talk was well-attended, and started off nicely our mid-day lecture series.
This week, small groups of students will be visiting local Vancouver law firms. Yesterday, we went to the Farris firm, a well-known Vancouver law firm, and spoke with Ludmila Herbst, a partner there. Ms. Herbst spoke to the students about her experiences at law school, her professional background, and what it's like to practice law in Vancouver. Today, we will visit the law firm Lawson & Lundell, and speak with one of their partners, Gordon Weatherill. It promises to be an interesting visit. This weekend many of the students are planning to head to Whistler to do some white-river rafting, zip-treking, and mountain biking. Hopefully some pics will be posted.
Well that's all for me now. I'm looking forward to Lesley's post, which will get you real scoop on the ground. Until next week...
- a nursery rhyme taught to young children in Vancouver.
Yes, the weather has been terrible. And cold! This morning I heard on the news that it's been the coldest/wettest June on record. Usually, May and June in Vancouver are spectacular, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s and 80s. But not this year. Of course, there is nothing more Canadian than talking about the weather. And while easterners natter on about the white stuff, it’s the wet stuff that gets tongues flapping on British Columbia’s wet - I mean west - coast. Well we've had lots to talk about this past week, as it has been wet, wet, wet. But no worries. While perhaps a little soggy, everyone is doing well. The Los Angelenos have fully adjusted. I think I even saw one student scoff at a tourist who had bothered opening an umbrella after a few measly drops of water fell.
And despite the weather, the Program is going quite well. The Program has hit its midpoint. Yesterday, a new flight of professors joined us and started teaching the second half of the program. Leaving were Professors Williams (SW) and Paterson (UBC). Joining us were Professor Kristen Boon from Seton Hall Law School, Professor Karin Mickelson from the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law, and Professor Trevor Morrison from Columbia Law School. All three are nationally-recognized scholars in their fields. In the classes, students are discussing cutting edge issues in criminal, constitutional, and environmental law.
Since my last post, the Program has had a few more activities. On Friday, Professor Wil Burns from Santa Clara Law School came to speak to the program participants. Prof. Burns is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Law & Policy at the Santa Clara University School of Law in Santa Clara. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy and Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law Interest Group of the American Society of International Law. His expertise is on climate change. On Friday, he talked to the students about possible international litigation through the UN Fish Stocks Agreement to spur action on climate change initiatives. The talk was well-attended, and started off nicely our mid-day lecture series.
This week, small groups of students will be visiting local Vancouver law firms. Yesterday, we went to the Farris firm, a well-known Vancouver law firm, and spoke with Ludmila Herbst, a partner there. Ms. Herbst spoke to the students about her experiences at law school, her professional background, and what it's like to practice law in Vancouver. Today, we will visit the law firm Lawson & Lundell, and speak with one of their partners, Gordon Weatherill. It promises to be an interesting visit. This weekend many of the students are planning to head to Whistler to do some white-river rafting, zip-treking, and mountain biking. Hopefully some pics will be posted.
Well that's all for me now. I'm looking forward to Lesley's post, which will get you real scoop on the ground. Until next week...
Monday, June 9, 2008
Hola de Guanajuato, Mexico
Students attending Southwestern's joint Mexico program (with Texas Tech, and University of New Mexico, and hosted by Universidad De Guanajuato) began arriving May 28th and 29th. The program hosted an orientation and dinner on June 1st. Several professors, including professor Lutz of Southwestern, were in attendance.
Classes began Monday, June 2. Several courses are offered, including NAFTA and Comparative Constitutional Law. After Canada and China, Mexico is the USA's largest trading partner. Several Mexican and American guest lecturers have related their experiences on a variety of subjects from tariffs on imported goods to dispute resolution between countries.
Guanajuato is colonial city located in the heart of Mexico. It has some incredible examples of European colonial architecture as well great museums, hotels, restaurants, and night clubs. The City values and appreciates its tourist and student visitors and is very safe. At a 6,000 feet elevation, the City boasts terrific weather - warm, dry days and cool nights in the 60 degree range.
We have Law students from all over the USA - from Berkley to Rutgers and everywhere in between.
As always with abroad programs, one must balance enjoying the night life with study. So, I am off to the library now. More later.
Classes began Monday, June 2. Several courses are offered, including NAFTA and Comparative Constitutional Law. After Canada and China, Mexico is the USA's largest trading partner. Several Mexican and American guest lecturers have related their experiences on a variety of subjects from tariffs on imported goods to dispute resolution between countries.
Guanajuato is colonial city located in the heart of Mexico. It has some incredible examples of European colonial architecture as well great museums, hotels, restaurants, and night clubs. The City values and appreciates its tourist and student visitors and is very safe. At a 6,000 feet elevation, the City boasts terrific weather - warm, dry days and cool nights in the 60 degree range.
We have Law students from all over the USA - from Berkley to Rutgers and everywhere in between.
As always with abroad programs, one must balance enjoying the night life with study. So, I am off to the library now. More later.
Hello From Argentina!
Thanks to the Commentator for setting up this blog and inviting me to participate!
I'll give the readers a quick introduction and some information on the exciting activities we're carrying out....
This year, 44 students are attending SW's Summer Law Program in Argentina. Students are from law schools throughout Canada and the U.S., including SW, Chapman, Florida State, Georgetown, Lewis and Clark, Loyola (Los Angeles), McGill, Southern Methodist, UC Hastings, Denver, Miami, Missouri, New Mexico, San Diego, Victoria, Valparaiso, Washington and Lee, Willamette. Six courses are offered, including: (1) Comparative Constitutional Law; (2) Corruption and White Collar Crime; (3) Globalization and the Transformation of Roles of Lawyers and Law in Latin America; (4) International Business Transactions, (5) International Protection of Human Rights; and (6) Latin American Laws and Institutions. Ten of the students enrolled in the externship program and started to work at their placements on Monday, last week; three of them with the Argentina Supreme Court, three with Criminal Courts of Appeals, two with the Office of the Public Defender before the Argentina Supreme Court, one with the Court of Appeals for Economic Crimes, one with the Court of Appeals for Commercial Matters. The externs are taking a course on Argentine Legal Institutions that started with 20 intensive hours during the first week of the program and continues on Tuesday evening through the last day of the externship. In all, ten professors are teaching in the program, eight of them from Argentina and two from the U.S.
The Program began on Sunday, May 25, with a four hour city tour, followed by a welcome lunch where the US and Canadian students met the Argentine students that are participating in the program, and the Argentine and US faculty. The program activities so far have included:
An orientation pizza lunch to provide students with helpful hints for a great experience in Buenos Aires (Mon. 05/26)
A visit to the Supreme Court building and meeting with Vice-Chief Justice Elena Highton de Nolasco (Mon. 05/26)
A visit to the law firm of Negri & Teijeiro for a talk with young Argentine partners and associates, and a US lawyer who has been working here for the last 12 years (Fri. 05/30)
A trip to a ranch in the province of Buenos Aires (Sun. 06/01)
An orientation dinner for the externs (Mon. 06/02)
A tango lesson followed by a tango show (Thur. 06/05)
A visit to a federal prison (Fri. 06/06)
More extracurricular and fun activities will follow and I'll keep posting them on the blog.
As you can imagine, students are not relying on the program only to organize activities for them, and I would expect you'll learn more on what they've been doing on their own by reading their blog posts.
Have a great week!
I'll give the readers a quick introduction and some information on the exciting activities we're carrying out....
This year, 44 students are attending SW's Summer Law Program in Argentina. Students are from law schools throughout Canada and the U.S., including SW, Chapman, Florida State, Georgetown, Lewis and Clark, Loyola (Los Angeles), McGill, Southern Methodist, UC Hastings, Denver, Miami, Missouri, New Mexico, San Diego, Victoria, Valparaiso, Washington and Lee, Willamette. Six courses are offered, including: (1) Comparative Constitutional Law; (2) Corruption and White Collar Crime; (3) Globalization and the Transformation of Roles of Lawyers and Law in Latin America; (4) International Business Transactions, (5) International Protection of Human Rights; and (6) Latin American Laws and Institutions. Ten of the students enrolled in the externship program and started to work at their placements on Monday, last week; three of them with the Argentina Supreme Court, three with Criminal Courts of Appeals, two with the Office of the Public Defender before the Argentina Supreme Court, one with the Court of Appeals for Economic Crimes, one with the Court of Appeals for Commercial Matters. The externs are taking a course on Argentine Legal Institutions that started with 20 intensive hours during the first week of the program and continues on Tuesday evening through the last day of the externship. In all, ten professors are teaching in the program, eight of them from Argentina and two from the U.S.
The Program began on Sunday, May 25, with a four hour city tour, followed by a welcome lunch where the US and Canadian students met the Argentine students that are participating in the program, and the Argentine and US faculty. The program activities so far have included:
An orientation pizza lunch to provide students with helpful hints for a great experience in Buenos Aires (Mon. 05/26)
A visit to the Supreme Court building and meeting with Vice-Chief Justice Elena Highton de Nolasco (Mon. 05/26)
A visit to the law firm of Negri & Teijeiro for a talk with young Argentine partners and associates, and a US lawyer who has been working here for the last 12 years (Fri. 05/30)
A trip to a ranch in the province of Buenos Aires (Sun. 06/01)
An orientation dinner for the externs (Mon. 06/02)
A tango lesson followed by a tango show (Thur. 06/05)
A visit to a federal prison (Fri. 06/06)
More extracurricular and fun activities will follow and I'll keep posting them on the blog.
As you can imagine, students are not relying on the program only to organize activities for them, and I would expect you'll learn more on what they've been doing on their own by reading their blog posts.
Have a great week!
Life in Argentina
At first glance Buenos Aires looks like any big city: congested traffic, towering skyscrapers, and swarms of people on the sidewalks. However, spend an hour in Buenos Aires and you begin to see it stands in a class of its own. Buenos Aires may be located in South America, but walking around you could easily believe you are in Europe. When you learn a little about the history of Argentina, you will understand why. Argentina was the hub for european immigrants. There is influence from Frances, Italy, and Spain. This is most prevalent in the food. Restaurants have a variety of dishes, ranging from pasta and pizza to croissants and other pastries. But vegetarians beware! The Argentine touch to these dishes is meat. Almost every meal has a form of meat product in it. For instance, I ordered a plain salad at a restaurant and my salad came with bits of ham. For meat lovers, you will be in heaven. Meat is Argentina´s specialty. My favorite dish is the milanesa. Milanesa is a thin slice of steak that is breaded and then fried. Delicious!
The program gives you two options for living arrangements. You can rent an apartment on your own or with friends, or you can live with an Argentine family. I chose to live with an Argentine family and I don´t regret it! Living with a native Argentine allows you to fully immerse yourself in the culture. The program does an excellence job of placing you with a good family, since everyone I know that is living with a family has no complaints. My host mom, Cristina, cooks me a different Argentine dish every night. Over dinner, we chat about the city and life in Argentina. The first day I was in Buenos Aires, Cristina took me all around Recolletta, the area of Buenos Aires where I am staying. She showed me the best shops and restaurants. It is like having a personal tour guide. For those considering the Study Abroad Program, I highly recommend living with a family. Of course, those who chose to live in apartments have no complaints either. The program did a good job of setting them up with furniture, phones, and full amenities.
The program gives you two options for living arrangements. You can rent an apartment on your own or with friends, or you can live with an Argentine family. I chose to live with an Argentine family and I don´t regret it! Living with a native Argentine allows you to fully immerse yourself in the culture. The program does an excellence job of placing you with a good family, since everyone I know that is living with a family has no complaints. My host mom, Cristina, cooks me a different Argentine dish every night. Over dinner, we chat about the city and life in Argentina. The first day I was in Buenos Aires, Cristina took me all around Recolletta, the area of Buenos Aires where I am staying. She showed me the best shops and restaurants. It is like having a personal tour guide. For those considering the Study Abroad Program, I highly recommend living with a family. Of course, those who chose to live in apartments have no complaints either. The program did a good job of setting them up with furniture, phones, and full amenities.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Unexpected Exercise Opportunities in Vancouver
Tales from a Vancouver Summer Law Program participant....
Living on the UBC campus has already provided a number of unexpected exercise opportunities, from walking and stair climbing to dancing. Coming from a campus as small as Southwestern's, it's nice to walk more than a few feet to class. Our classes are about a five-minute walk from where we are staying on campus. It's nice to see trees on the way to class that aren't hanging on for dear life to their wooden-stake life support systems. It really feels like we are living in the mountains.
Looking at the map before I got here, I knew that the beach should be just a short distance away. I ventured to Wreck Beach my second day in Vancouver. It's a very nice walk down to the beach through a lot of beautiful forest. When I say "walk down" I mean walk DOWN 400 wooden steps. The beach itself is very clean and you can see mountains that still have bright white snow on them. However, that may not be the only bright white thing you see on the beach. Clothing is optional at Wreck Beach and plenty of people were taking advantage of that opportunity when I visited. Frisbees and footballs, inter alia, were flying everywhere. People were playing guitars and babies were playing in the sand. The weather was unexpectedly nice. I think everyone should visit at least once. However, for those uncomfortable with the nudity, be warned. The escape is not so easy because you have to walk back UP those 400 steps, and that is when you really feel the burn.
I also stumbled upon inexpensive Latin dance classes at the International House on campus. Every night my first week I have taken salsa and bachata lessons. This has been a very international experience, as my dance partners have all come from a country other than Canada, including Israel, Romania, and India. You are probably already familiar with salsa and what it looks like. It's fun and it's a pretty good workout. After the salsa lesson, I have a much-needed hour to rest before the bachata lesson. Bachata, which comes from the Dominican Republic, requires some kind of hip movement that I am not sure I was born to perform. If you go to one of these classes every day, you will never need to do sit-ups or crunches again. Every morning I wake up sore, but for some reason I still keep going back to the class. Bachata, according to my instructor, is becoming very popular in Vancouver, so continuing my bachata education may require me to venture further into the Vancouver community. As is the case with Wreck Beach, be warned. Bachata is not for the faint of heart. It involves movements that some might think should be preceded by some official ceremony, or at least a diamond ring. If you are looking for exercise, though, it is the way to go.
More to come...
Living on the UBC campus has already provided a number of unexpected exercise opportunities, from walking and stair climbing to dancing. Coming from a campus as small as Southwestern's, it's nice to walk more than a few feet to class. Our classes are about a five-minute walk from where we are staying on campus. It's nice to see trees on the way to class that aren't hanging on for dear life to their wooden-stake life support systems. It really feels like we are living in the mountains.
Looking at the map before I got here, I knew that the beach should be just a short distance away. I ventured to Wreck Beach my second day in Vancouver. It's a very nice walk down to the beach through a lot of beautiful forest. When I say "walk down" I mean walk DOWN 400 wooden steps. The beach itself is very clean and you can see mountains that still have bright white snow on them. However, that may not be the only bright white thing you see on the beach. Clothing is optional at Wreck Beach and plenty of people were taking advantage of that opportunity when I visited. Frisbees and footballs, inter alia, were flying everywhere. People were playing guitars and babies were playing in the sand. The weather was unexpectedly nice. I think everyone should visit at least once. However, for those uncomfortable with the nudity, be warned. The escape is not so easy because you have to walk back UP those 400 steps, and that is when you really feel the burn.
I also stumbled upon inexpensive Latin dance classes at the International House on campus. Every night my first week I have taken salsa and bachata lessons. This has been a very international experience, as my dance partners have all come from a country other than Canada, including Israel, Romania, and India. You are probably already familiar with salsa and what it looks like. It's fun and it's a pretty good workout. After the salsa lesson, I have a much-needed hour to rest before the bachata lesson. Bachata, which comes from the Dominican Republic, requires some kind of hip movement that I am not sure I was born to perform. If you go to one of these classes every day, you will never need to do sit-ups or crunches again. Every morning I wake up sore, but for some reason I still keep going back to the class. Bachata, according to my instructor, is becoming very popular in Vancouver, so continuing my bachata education may require me to venture further into the Vancouver community. As is the case with Wreck Beach, be warned. Bachata is not for the faint of heart. It involves movements that some might think should be preceded by some official ceremony, or at least a diamond ring. If you are looking for exercise, though, it is the way to go.
More to come...
Summer Law in Vancouver!
Thanks to the Commentator for setting up this blog. This first post, is to provide a quick introduction for readers....
This year, 31 students are attending SW's Summer Law Program in Vancouver. Students are from law schools throughout Canada and the U.S., including SW, Univ. of British Columbia, Queens, Indiana, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Brigham Young, McGill, Osgoode, Univ. of Alberta, Loyola (Chicago), and Colorado. Five courses are offered, including: (1) International Criminal Law; (2) International Environmental Law; (3) Comparative Constitutional Law; (4) Comparative Cultural Property Law; and (5) Comparative Sentencing Law and Policy. Seven professors are teaching in the program. Two professors are from Southwestern (Profs. Parrish and Williams), two are from the Univ. of British Columbia Faculty of Law (Profs. Mickelson and Paterson), while three are guest professors from Cornell, Florida State Univ, and Seton Hall (Profs. Morrison, Markel, and Boon).
The program got off to a nice start. The Program began on Sunday, May 25th, with an orientation and dinner at a local Irish pub (Mahony & Sons). Since then, in addition to course-work, the students have done a variety of things. The program activities so far have included:
This year, 31 students are attending SW's Summer Law Program in Vancouver. Students are from law schools throughout Canada and the U.S., including SW, Univ. of British Columbia, Queens, Indiana, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Brigham Young, McGill, Osgoode, Univ. of Alberta, Loyola (Chicago), and Colorado. Five courses are offered, including: (1) International Criminal Law; (2) International Environmental Law; (3) Comparative Constitutional Law; (4) Comparative Cultural Property Law; and (5) Comparative Sentencing Law and Policy. Seven professors are teaching in the program. Two professors are from Southwestern (Profs. Parrish and Williams), two are from the Univ. of British Columbia Faculty of Law (Profs. Mickelson and Paterson), while three are guest professors from Cornell, Florida State Univ, and Seton Hall (Profs. Morrison, Markel, and Boon).
The program got off to a nice start. The Program began on Sunday, May 25th, with an orientation and dinner at a local Irish pub (Mahony & Sons). Since then, in addition to course-work, the students have done a variety of things. The program activities so far have included:
- A guided tour of Vancouver and dinner at Granville Island (Mon. 05/26)
- Drinks with faculty at Koerner's Graduate Pub (Thurs. 05/28)
- A tour of the Vancouver Law Courts and discussion with Judge Williamson of the B.C. Supreme Court (Wed. 06/04)
- A lunch with Chief Justice D. Brenner of the B.C. Supreme Court (Wed. 06/04)
- A lunch hosted by St. Andrews Hall (Thurs. 06/05)
Tomorrow, we'll have our first guest speaker -- Prof. Wil Burns, who is a senior fellow at Santa Clara Law School. And Saturday morning is the program's first set of exams.
Outside of class, students have been exploring Vancouver -- from trips to Whistler, to hikes up Grouse Mountain, to death-defying Vespa-riding in Stanley Park, to walks down to Vancouver's famous clothing-optional Wreck beach, to visits to the famous Museum of Anthropology, and more.... For the real scoop, you'll have to check out student blog posts!
I'll write more later....
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