Just Keep Swimming

This has been quite a week. My first and second weeks of school blurred into one behemoth of a week due to the first weekend of my Negotiations seminar, which met from 9 to 4:30 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am really enjoying the seminar, but, gosh, ten days without a day off is kind of harsh for a student accustomed to a four-day week. Plus, I had to go in to campus yesterday to table for the Catholic Student Association at an admitted students reception, and to take care of some business for the Poverty Law Journal. At least I didn't have to leave my apartment today, especially in light of the weather:


Seriously, when I went to bed last night, there was no snow, and now we have half a foot. Though, it was gorgeous to watch all day while sitting on my couch, studying constitutional law and sipping hot apple cider.

I mentioned a couple of my classes last week, so I'll take a moment to fill you in on the rest of my schedule. My Constitutional Law II class is fantastic. I am delighted to be taking it with the same professor as I had for Contracts last year. Apparently, his premise for the course is to attempt to convince us that judicial review was a bad idea, though he admits that he will probably fail. I just love his lecture style--methodical, passionate and witty.

I am also enjoying my Refugee Law and Policy seminar. The past year has really opened my eyes to my personal interest in the intersection of international law and poverty law, and I feel that refugee law is a fascinating example. I would really like to do the CALS clinic at Georgetown next year, so this seminar serves as a good introduction.

My Negotiations seminar is awesome. It meets a total of two weekends over the course of the semester, with some assignments outside of class, and counts for three credits! Incredible. The class sessions are a lot of fun, because we mainly break out into role playing exercises with classmates. So far, I've represented a diverse array of clients: an opera company trying to hire a soprano, a radio station trying to hire a host , a single mother accused of neglect, an investor seeking an easement on a neighbor's property, a high tech start-up disputing a contract with an investment bank, and a British jockey trying to break into the Kentucky Derby. I am excited about this class because negotiating is not just a lawyering skill, but a life skill.

I also started my internship with the Legal Clinic. Everyone there is very nice, and excited to have my help. So far, I've been doing some document review. Next week will be interesting because I get to meet with each attorney to discuss their fields of work.

The Poverty Law Journal has been keeping me very busy this past week. I turned in a team assignment, submitted a paper I wrote last semester on the 2007 Hague Child Support Convention for potential publication as a note, and applied for Editor-in-Chief! Elections aren't until next week, but we had a Q&A session Thursday night where anyone on staff could ask questions of the three of us who are running. I focused on my leadership experience (CSA, ADX), editing skills (English major, high school newspaper Ed-in-Chief, general nerdiness), and desire to foster a greater sense of community. We'll see what happens!

I've also managed to do a few fun things, in spite of my busyness. Jess and I went to a D.C. Cal Alumni happy hour, I went to a party with a bunch of friends from 1L year, I rocked out to Deaf Dog and the Indictments (a band comprised mainly of judges), and I attended a Poverty Law Journal party. Oh, and watched the State of the Union, of course.

Sigh, I also watched the final episode of the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. I really appreciated his farewell message. In particular: "Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen."

I was so impressed by how Conan handled the whole ordeal. I hope that we see him doing something amazing on September 1 (my birthday!) when he is allowed back on the air. Also, I was excited to read that his production company, Conaco, is working on a new drama that "focuses on a Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to start his own practice." I would watch that!

Dear Internet

Dear Internet,

Peace,

Amanda

Aaron Burr was a Scoundrel

I flew back to D.C. on Saturday. The best part of the trip was getting a free upgrade to first class for my ATL-DCA flight! Wow, first class is pretty nice. Delta offered me free wine, gave me real candy bars instead of those weird cookies, and the flight attendant was hilarious. Plus, I sat next to a similarly upgraded passenger, Javier, who is also a D.C. grad student. We toasted our good fortune and had a great flight.

Jess was kind enough to pick me up at the airport. When we got home, the first thing I unpacked was the Christmas present for her from my mom--a Zhu Zhu pet hamster! Jess got one that is yellow with stars on the back. We didn't exactly feel like 23-year-olds as we sat on the floor of my room and played with our hamsters, but it seemed a fitting way to celebrate being back in town.

On Sunday, I jumped right back into things. I went to Mass at 11 am (which felt, of course, like 8 am), followed by a Catholic Student Association co-chair lunch meeting. Then, I went to the bookstore to pick up $770 of books. Ouch. They gave me a cardboard box to carry them all to my locker, which is fortunately only a couple hundred yards from the bookstore. I grabbed a couple of the books, and headed to the library. Impressive... I made it a whole 21 hours without setting foot in the library.

That night, Jess and I took advantage of Restaurant Week by having dinner at Morton's, a steakhouse in downtown D.C. It was delicious! I had a Caesar salad, filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and double chocolate mousse. When the maître d' took us to our table, he informed us that we were sitting in Larry King's booth! Indeed, there was a painting of Larry on the wall above us, with the inscription "Larry's Corner." According to the maître d', when Larry eats at Morton's, he just walks in and sits himself down at that booth. "If Larry comes tonight, I guess he'll be eating dinner with you!" he told us, in a slightly rehearsed manner that was nonetheless delightful.

I spent MLK Jr. Day mainly at home studying and doing work for the Poverty Law Journal. Jess and I did venture outside for a trip to Trader Joe's, where I purchased many delicious items, including edamame, chocolate mochi ice cream, clementines, and sourdough bread. I have been amazed by the weather in D.C. the past couple of days--arguably nicer than the Bay Area was over break, at least during the day.

Today was the first day of school. On Tuesdays, I have two classes back-to-back in the same classroom, which is nice (because I don't have to set up my laptop and books twice) but a bit monotonous, atmospherically. At least it's one of the nicer classrooms (200).

My first class, International Environmental Law, looks like it will be awesome! The professor seems enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and I even answered one of her questions correctly. I was a little nervous about my lack of experience with environmental law, but my international law background more than makes up for it. I found the reading assignment very interesting because it discussed the impact of environmental issues upon indigent populations in developing countries. I'm very interested in the intersection of poverty law and international law.

Next, I had International Law II. At Georgetown, IL I (which I took last spring) focuses on public international law, whereas IL II is about corporate international law (i.e., trade, investment, and finance). Personally, I've discovered that I'm more interested in public IL than private IL, but it will still be interesting to learn more about setting up international business deals, arbitration, and the WTO. I mean, I did major in International Political Economy with a concentration in Law and Economics, after all.

This week is going to be pretty crazy. Typically, I will only have class/internship four days per week; however, this weekend is the first of two Friday - Sunday sessions for my Negotiations seminar. We will be meeting from 9 am to 4:30 pm each day! So, I have to go ten days straight without a day off. Don't pity me, please--I did this to myself. Actually, I'm really excited about the seminar, because negotiating is such an important part of life, not just the legal field. I'm reading Getting to Yes right now, which provides a very interesting strategy.

Well, back to homework; 63 pages of reading for Constitutional Law II tomorrow! Plus, tomorrow is the first day of my internship with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless [hereinafter Legal Clinic]. At least the authors of my Con Law book seem to have a sense of humor. They keep throwing in quirky facts at odd moments. For example:

Marshall outlived all of his contemporary adversaries, including his enemy Jefferson, and was determined to outlive populist President Andrew Jackson as well. Only in this last aspiration did the Chief Justice fail. He stubbornly refused to resign, notwithstanding failing health, and in 1835 became the first Chief Justice to die in office. While it was being tolled on the occasion of his death, the Liberty Bell cracked. (Can you beat that for symbolism?)

Seriously, that is the authors' parenthetical at the end, not mine. So far, I've also discovered a fantastic footnote about the "scoundrel" Aaron Burr, many exclamation points at unexpected moments, and an unlikely comment on Justice Harlan's predilection for chewing tobacco on the bench, but I'll spare you.

One more thing: I am an ardent Conan O'Brien fan. I watch his show every night (indeed, I have watched every single episode of his Tonight Show). I am devastated by NBC's actions, and am so fearful for what the end of the week may bring. Poor Coco! Though, I will admit that it has been interesting to follow this from a legal standpoint--all of the legal blogs I follow have been abuzz with speculation about his contract. Specifically, I'm curious to see whether Conan's lawyers will be able to successfully argue for a definition of "The Tonight Show" that includes the specific 11:35 time slot. In the meantime:

I'M WITH COCO!

Tenacious Twenty-Ten

My resolutions for 2010 remain unchanged from last year. That is not to say that I have not progressed in the past year; rather, these goals are, for the most part, long-term:

• Keep in touch with friends
• Get to know D.C. like a local
• Read for pleasure
• Use my time wisely
• Pray without ceasing
• Make healthy choices

Continuing my attempt to "get to know D.C. like a local," I have added some new locations to my "To-Do List," which can be found in the right-hand column of my blog. Here are my additions:

• See Jefferson's home at Monticello.
• Go inside the Smithsonian Castle.
• Visit the National Museum of Natural History.
• Eat a half-smoke and cheese fries at Ben's Chili Bowl.
• Watch the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery.

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have not yet done some of these things after a year-and-a-half in D.C.! Rounding out my list, I still need to visit the Corcoran Gallery, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Newseum, and the White House. Oh, and see more than five minutes of a Supreme Court oral argument. We'll see how many of these I can accomplish, considering that I'm taking 16 units this semester and will be interning 10 hours each week with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Speaking of which, here are my classes for spring semester:

• Constitutional Law II
• International Environmental Law
• International Law II
• Negotiations
• Refugee Law and Policy

I'll post my thoughts on the classes after the first week of school. I still have over a week in California--what a gloriously long break! California kids, give me a call if you're in the Bay Area and would like to hang out.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Dec. 25: I opened presents with my family, ate tons of delicious food (shrimp dip, piglets in a blanket, crab), and went to Mass at the Church of the Resurrection, the parish of my youth.

Dec. 26: I spent a lovely day with my mom at the mall.

Dec. 27: I had lunch with my extended family, and went on an evening adventure with a bunch of my friends from high school.

Dec. 28: I finally got a Zhu Zhu pet, and wandered the streets of San Jose with Morgan, eventually ending up in the lounge of the Fairmont for a drink.

Dec. 29: I enjoyed a proper afternoon tea hosted by Alissa.

Dec. 30: I had dinner with more high school friends, bringing the total number of high school friends seen in a four-day period to 14.

Dec. 31: I visited my grandmother, and celebrated the East Coast new year with California sparkling wine with my family (since Mom wouldn't have made it to midnight).

Jan. 1: I took the train to Sacramento for Emily's bridal shower, and was delighted to catch up with so many ADX girls.

Jan. 2: My family and I worked together to un-decorate the house, which was refreshing.

Jan. 3: After Mass, Mom and I ate donuts at the Wheel, our favorite donut shop.

Jan. 4: I slept in, made coffee, completed a crossword puzzle and not much else.

Jan. 5: I pretended I was a house elf and did a bunch of chores around the house.

Taking a Break

I've been home for a week. I flew out last Tuesday, in spite of the fact that I overslept and missed my flight! I am still in disbelief that I did such a thing. However, Delta was extremely helpful. I woke up at 6 a.m., 40 minutes before my flight was scheduled to depart, and, after freaking out for about five minutes, called Delta to see if I could reschedule. When I called, an automated system asked me for my frequent flyer number, and then connected me to an operator who said, "Hello, Ms. Stempson, I see that you are going to miss your flight..." and proceeded to tell me that there was another flight I could catch at 8:25. I was amazed that she did all of this instantaneously without even asking me why I was calling. Plus, they only charged me a $50 fee, which I thought was very reasonable. I've been very impressed with Delta during my transcontinental flights over the past couple of years, and this is yet another example of their excellent service.

The first few days home were not quite vacation time, as I had a paper due on Friday. I decided that I preferred to finish editing my paper at home, rather than sticking around in D.C. In light of the crazy snowstorm that dumped 20.5 inches on Arlington and shut down the airports, I am very thankful that I decided to fly out early. I am pleased with how my paper turned out. I wrote it for my Transnational Law seminar, but got it to overlap with my Poverty Law Journal note. The topic was "Child Support and Indigence: How the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance Will Help Poor Creditor Parents."

Once I submitted my paper online, vacation officially began--not only for me, but also for my family! We've been hanging around the house, baking Christmas cookies, doing some shopping, and getting ready for our Christmas Eve gathering with my uncle and grandmother. Our family tradition is to eat crab on Christmas Eve, yum!

Also, I wanted to share some internship news. First, I am excited to say that I was offered--and accepted--a spring internship with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless! So, next semester, I will be interning with the Legal Clinic 10 hours per week, which will involve direct client casework, researching legal questions, coalition work, and community education work.

I am still searching for a summer legal internship in the Bay Area. Yesterday, I had an in-person interview with the Santa Clara County office of Bay Area Legal Aid, for a summer internship position. (I had a screening interview with them in D.C. back in October.) The office is right in downtown San Jose, which would be a very easy commute from Sunnyvale. (I plan to live with my family again this summer to save money.) I enjoyed meeting the attorneys who interviewed me... They were both friendly and enthusiastic about their work. BayLegal provides legal services to low-income people living in the Bay Area. Law clerks get to work in one of three fields: domestic violence, housing, or public benefits.

Not sure if I'll post again before Christmas, so:

Merry Christmas!

(Doesn't that photo make my three-foot tree look enormous?)

Nativity

There has been a pumpkin sitting on the counter since the beginning of October. We didn't carve it on Halloween, so we kept it around for November. Well, folks, it's December, and the pumpkin is still on our counter! So, tonight, I was sitting in the living room, relaxing after having taken my Corporations final this afternoon, just staring at the pumpkin, wondering what to do with it. Jess and I had already talked about roasting the pumpkin seeds, but I also kind of wanted to carve it. I mean, you might as well if you're going to go to the trouble of scraping out the innards, right?

But, it would not be appropriate to carve a traditional jack-o'-lantern. We have Christmas lights and a tree up, after all! What, then, to do? My first thought was to carve Santa Claus' face, and then put a Santa hat on the pumpkin, but I decided that my carving skills were not quite at that level. I decided that a snowflake would be doable, and grabbed some paper and a pencil to sketch out what I wanted it to look like. I poked some strategic holes in the pumpkin as a guide, and, within two cuts, had already messed up the symmetry of the snowflake. Now, I could not live with an unsymmetrical snowflake, so I quickly abandoned that plan.

As I looked at my cuts, I realized that it kind of looked like a crucifix, so I added another cut to complete it. Then, I carved out part of the bottom as the ground. I liked it a lot, especially its avant-garde angle. But, then it hit me that this made it more of an Easter pumpkin than a Christmas pumpkin. What to do?! I thought about it for a little bit, and decided on this:

You see? The first crucifix was on the left, and then I added another one on the right to create a manger. The three triangles in the center are Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It's an abstract nativity pumpkin! I think what I really like about it is that the family looks kind of like eyes and a nose, with the ground as a mouth, retaining an echo of a Jack-o'-lantern face.