Reference Points / Tabula Rasa

Seneca the Younger, in all of his Stoic glory, once stated that "Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind". In the context of studying abroad, my experience thus far suggests that the benefits go much deeper than a heightened appreciation for foreign culture, alternative perspective, or contextualization; rather, my studies have proposed following to me:

Consider your reference points afresh and in new light.

We know more than we think we do, and we do not leave it behind when we travel. In the new classes that I am attending I constantly refer to what I have learned. At first I think this use of reference points is not much more than a crutch as one will look to something familiar to hold onto when experiencing something out of their ordinary. Then acclimatization gradually occurs and something changes. As LL.Ms we are in a unique position, in my opinion, because we are learning additional material which supplements our current foundational understanding of all things legal. In some ways, then, we are a blank slate awaiting instruction and guidance, but in just as many ways we are not.

The challenge is to incorporate this new information in a meaningful way. To consider our reference points from a new vantage point. How can I expand my understanding climate change in the U.S. domestic sense and international context in a way that better prepares me to engage some of the challenges waiting for me at home in Alberta? How can I incorporate U.S. policy and legislation regarding shark or whale conservation in a way that assists my own growth and breadth of understanding of this area? In other words, what is my metamorphosis?

At this point, I really don't know! But, I hope to have at least a partial answer by the end of this year... and of course, I will keep you posted!

The Price is Right (and putting your money where your mouth is)...

Today was dominated by a most unlikely character. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you Mr. Bob Barker--game show host extraordinaire, hilarious bit actor from Happy Gilmore, and animal rights activist.

I guess at some level I have always known that animal rights/welfare was important to Bob, I mean anyone who has seen an episode from one of the first forty seasons of The Price is Right knows that he always reminded his studio and TV audiences to be responsible pet owners at the end of each episode. I guess what I didn't know is how far his influence as an animal rights activist welfarist has spread. Let me demonstrate:

(1) It seems that every time I visit the Edmonton Journal website yearning for some local news there is mention of the lawsuit pending against the Edmonton Zoo re: the future of Lucy, our elephant who is without companionship. This lawsuit was dismissed on August 20th, but more to the point Bob Barker was frequently mentioned in these stories and even came to Edmonton to visit Lucy...

(2) Whilst reading about recent whaling matters I came across the story about the Sea Shepherd vessel that was suck earlier this year after having collided with a Japanese factory whaling ship. To my surprise, the article I was reading mentioned that at the time it sank the vessel in question was being towed by another Sea Shepherd boat named... ya you guessed it... the Bob Barker! Apparently he donated somewhere in the vicinity of $5,000,000.00 bucks towards the purchase of this boat...

(3) Last but not least, today was the first class for Animal Law and apparently the whole Animal Law program at UVa is generously sponsored by Bob! 

Who knew.

In other news, this weekend will be spent catching up on some readings and also floating down some river in rural Virginia on a raft with the other LLMs! Should be delightful!

In the meantime, here's to Bob and I will leave you with one final thought (in the words of the man himself as quoted from a 1972 episode of The Price is Right):

"help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Goodbye, everybody!"

     

Socrates, you would be proud (Babe Ruth, you would not)

The Socratic method is alive and thriving at UVa. To my friends who are currently in/nearly completing law at the U of A, do you remember orientation week when we heard how students would be called out from amongst their classmates and put on the spot to answer questions, at random? I suppose you also now know that most professors don't do that, and even if they do the common answers of "I dunno" or "Ummm, sorry but I forgot to read today" are met with some sense of understanding by the professor; well, here at UVa it appears that you are expected to answer and if you don't know the answer to think fast and say something that logically fits. Feck.

Other than that, classes (and please keep in mind I am basing my broad generalizations on one whole 80 minute lecture) seem to be engaging and interesting!

In other news, myself and my Russian counterpart will be captaining the LLM softball team this year. Apparently it is tradition for the LLMs to field a softball team and get mercilessly bushwacked by every other team, throughout the whole fall season. I have a feeling that this year will not break with tradition. I think the the Russian and I are the only two students who have watched enough baseball to understand the general mechanics and rules of the game. Apparently a few years past one of the LLMs came up to bat holding the thick part of the bat and swung away hoping to make contact where the bat is gripped with tape. I think we can do a wee bit better than that!

Well, I best be getting back to some readings so that I can at least feign an understanding of the material when I am called upon in tomorrow's lectures!

Swing away!

Discovering History (and hitting the beach)

This weekend some of us LLMs packed into two cars and set out for Virginia Beach, which is about a 3 hour drive from sunny Cville. The beach was as expected--hot, sandy, sunny, busy, bustling, and hustling. What wasn't expected was the history that we encountered along the way.

(aside to all of my Canadian readers, which is probably all of you: we all know it is a common joke that Americans don't really know that much about us... ie. we all sleep in igloos, we all can play hockey, we all speak French, and we all wish we were American.)

This weekend opened my eyes to that fact that I really really know quite little about where I am! I mean, before Miss Autumn and I came down here in June, I couldn't have told you that Virginia was the spot when it came to the American Civil War. I now know better, but just slightly having only read 85% of an introductory Civil War book and watching two episodes of a made-for-TV Civil War documentary. What I learned this weekend is that Virginia is also where the decisive battle between America and Britain played out (in Yorktown) during the War of Independence, but also that Virginia Beach is where the British first landed and established the first settlement in America (Jamestown). Also, apparently this is where all that Pocahontas jazz went down.

Tres cool.

Also, I saw some Bottlenose Dolphins chilling in the ocean which is always a welcome sight!!!

 

Time to kill...

Its 38 degrees. Classes have not started yet. And, the dudes I am chilling with no clue about North American culture. So far this has made for some entertaining golf at the driving range, slightly scary driving, some bike rides, cooking struggles, multiple explanations on how cardio equipment works at the gym, and a whole lot of laughs. I guess this was a much needed break from school/work given that my bar call happened on a Friday and the drive down started on the following Monday! Ugh...

Classes for upper years start next Wednesday, and I am pretty excited for what I have enrolled in (I know, I know, nerdy). Still thinking about switching the program around a little bit, but as of yet uncertain. We got an email today about Journal Tryouts, which are apparently a big deal at UVA. I guess 1Ls compete for spots on the different law journals that UVA law school has in a kind of exam setting. I think I might enroll and see how I do (for those of you who went to law school, Americans use a really complicated Blue Book which is their equivalent of the McGill Guide so who knows)!

I think this weekend some of us might take a trip to Virginia Beach which is about 2 hours due east. It might be nice to check out what is up out there before classes start and while the temperature is still hovering around 38 degrees (the only 38 I am used to is 38 below)!

Well, until next time!

Course Selection and the Preppy South!

So at the end of last week we had to pick our courses for this upcoming fall semester, and in true hippie form I will be taking such courses as Animal Law, Foundations to Climate Change, and Environmental Law and Federalism with a bit of International Law for kicks. Should be good!

Our place is pretty much all set up, and to give you a sense of it here are a few pictures:

1. This is the living area...

2. This is my bed room (prior to decoration):

3. Our kitchen and dining area:

4. Our pink Victoria Secret umbrella:

Finally, it is a wee bit humerous how all of the dudes dress down here. I have never seen so many people wearing the same shoes, short khaki shorts, and polo in my life! Hey, when in Rome...

It's a wide world, after all...

I guess I wasn't quite prepared for what might be the most exciting part of this entire school year---culture shock. Not only is the American way of life a bit of an adjustment, it has been awesome to be surrounded by law students from so many different jurisdictions. I mean, who knew.

Today there was a bit of a soccer match (and unfortunately owing to my previous soccer injury my participation was limited to a bit of time in goal) but it was a bit of a mini world cup. Germany, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Canada, and Ireland were all there in fine form.

Afterwards discussion quickly turned to real world matters and it is so interesting to hear the opinions on religion, sports, and current events from people that are all here working towards the same goal. Just excellent.

Miss you Canada!

Chopin Nocturne #1 in B Flat Minor

Musak can be moving; I find the particular piece referenced in the title of today's blog post more moving than most and reminiscent of night time driving. Speaking of moving...

Today my new roommate and I moved into our new pad. So far so good! The U-haul reservation/stored goods/moving madness all went according to plan. A lot of this good fortune is prolly because I have had so much assistance getting set up and organized in the last week from a certain relative of mine that all of the pieces just fell into place! Pow!

Tomorrow the first week of work (and by work I mean coffee drinking, beer drinking, getting oriented, etc) begins. I have heard that orientation is quite a bit of fun and I am looking forward to meeting the other 20 students who are coming from allllllll of the corners of this fine planet!

Righteous.

Howdy Y'all

Hello!

So. Hello 21st Century technology. After driving approximately 4000 km through 40 degree heat, here I am in Virginia! I figured that bloggin was a great way to keep people updated on what is going on down here! Can't guarantee that it will be great reading or thought provoking or anything like that, but who knows!

 Orientation starts on Monday, and so far things have been pretty great--food, Southern hospitality, beer, wine, and no road kill (that I am responsible for). Hopefully come Monday I won't regret going back at school (prolly not given I am a huge nerd-ball).