Reflections after my first year of law

So, I have survived my first year of law school. It is hard to describe how I feel. Elated and excited, but at the same time disappointed and stressed. It's that realisation that no matter how much harder or more dedicated I am, I will not transform from an academically good student into an academically brilliant student.

But despite that, I am slowly make new friends, I have developed contacts with many people and have been given a chance to learn so much more about the world I look in. I know what thing I will not be saying at the end of this journey, is that I wished I tried more things. It may be that I would say, I wish I hadn't take on so much on board. It's been a hard balancing act, and I having taken further responsibilities on board for next year, I know it's going to be even tougher and an even greater emotional roller-coaster.

But that's in the future. For now, I am travelling, and trying to not think about the amount of debt I am collecting in order to do so. I do feel this is the right thing. Next year will be the year for placements and clerkships, and the year after that, hopefully finding work. This is the summer break in which to travel.

Not solely travelling. I am doing a few small volunteering things. I have signed up with a group called Un techo para mi pais, or in english, a roof for my country. Tomorrow night I will go away with them to build emergency shelter somewhere in Lima, in a district called Villa Maria Del Trifuno. I have absolutely no idea what to expect, save for some youtube videos showing how the houses are built and some clips of previous projects. They've recruited 300 volunteers, so it's huge. Things to bring includes sleeping bag and hat.... both which I didn't pack. Buying a cap is fine, so I just need to find a sleeping bag within the next 20 odd hours.

This trip is important in two ways which are contradictory. There's the selfish CV padding, something that I can talk about and distinguish myself. The second may be more important. It's to remind myself of why I decided to go and study law. It is so easy to get caught up in the commercial aspects of law, the more superficial competition for the attention of the big law firms. I am no longer dismissive of them, as I was when I started. But at the same time, I fear becoming the type of lawyer that I said I will not be. I do not want my ambition and desire to succeed obscure the fact that I am studying law because I want my life to be defined by positive changes I make in the lives of others. 

Slowing down for winter

So after an incredibly exciting, stressful, long and hard semester I am finally slowing today. I've been spending quality time with my best friend and her baby, started a new, non-legal book and a knitting project. I'm evening venturing into preparing real food again. Tonight I am using a recipe from the above mentioned best friend to make my own pizza base.

A delightfully simple mixture of flour, yeast, bread improver salt, sugar and water, it's current resting in the kitchen. Can't wait to to get to the next step of rolling out and (the best part) putting my toppings on!

I accidentally splashed out on Buffalo Mozarella, when I asked for two from a South Melbourne market deli from a display with no price tags and without asking for a price. They better be tasty!

A moment to pause

Life has been pretty crazy since Uni started. With a timetable that's all over the place and a full day's work on Monday, I've found that the only way to get anything done during the week is to schedule it during the 3 hour breaks I have between classes. So it's dashes off to the city for gym or back home for dentist appointments. I have had to really work at getting my readings done before class. In fact, I didn't do such a great job for the first few days, only on for Friday's class did I manage to get all the prescribed readings done.

In between all this, I was also trying to do extra Body Attack work for the AIM module today. So my whole weekend has been smashing my body, learning the steps and then today, having someone drill me on technique and posture and so forth.

Right now I feel like a wreck, all I can think about is getting a massage. I don't feel my current level of activities is sustainable. I am going to have to work on doing more uni work and less of these random commitments. I do anticipate it settling down a little, but it's going to have to happen soon, or I will burn out. I was initially annoyed that next Monday is a public holiday, as it meant I lose a day of work. But upon reflection, that extra day off would be good for me to catch my breath.  

Reflections on being back at Uni

It's been a while since I've blogged. In that time I finished up at work, went on a holiday that ended with a revolution in the country and completed my summer intensive subject. It was both stimulating and boring, exciting and dull. And it was most definitely an intensive period, with more reading than I've ever had to do for any course.

I was so nervous during the self-introduction on the first day and unexpectedly excited about getting my first assignment back. I had realised that it was the first piece of anything that had been marked for years.

So that was my first 2 weeks, I am now on my week off. First chance I've really had to chance to catch my breath, not that I am. All the errands and various uni-related stuff are getting marked off. I am still motivated, although I am getting a tad concerned about the material I am supposed to have read before the first class next week. But I will not think about that now.

First, another day of tasks completion, and then, a lovely staycation in the city at a lovely 5-star hotel. Can't wait!

An Impulsive Getaway

Living in the moment is something I aspire to do, but in my general day-to-day life, I mark items into my diary in advanced and often don't have the calendar space to do something impulsively. Or should it be, that I try to be organised in life because I want to make sure I don't miss a single moment? And I have an over-active mind that immediately starts planning when given a task? With a bit of a control freak streak?

But I do not think I am afraid to grab an opportunity to do something that would make a great story later.

This was foremost in my mind when the boyfriend said on New Year's Day that he wanted to have an adventure. This was the comment that saw us packing up his dad's station wagon with some blankets, sleeping bags, a change of clothes (and laptops and cameras) and heading down to Lakes Entrance. It was a long drive, it was late when we arrived, tired and after a fruitless search on wotif.com using the free wi-fi at MacDonald's, resigned to sleeping in the car. I really enjoyed setting up the back and snuggling down in our sleeping bags. Everything we did was a joy, more so, I believe, because we hadn't planned it. Everything we did, we decided on the day and it felt great!

The only thing is that I am halfway through a sewing project to make a travel wallet and I had planned to do my pre-reading for Uni, both which I need to do before flying out next Friday. Ah, back to reality, where time does indeed matter. But do not regret for all the precious memories I gained in return.

My First ever Law Textbook!

Late last week I noticed that on the page titled "Information for 2011 Commencing Students", they'd put up the prescribed text and pre-reading, along with suggested readings. I also activated my student email account, alas I have a number, I am not the first with my name in the University system.

Yesterday, I went out and brought the textbook. My boyfriend thinks I am being a major nerd and I should find a hobby. I disagree with aspects of that statement. Yes, I am being a major nerd, but I do have hobbies. I'm also so very excited for next year to start! I am determined to be so uber-prepared and give myself as much chance as possible of excelling. I think this is what they mean by mature-aged students often being much more committed to study.

Tuesday's Breakfast - Porridge with Banana

I realise that I didn't pick a good week to do this. Along with Thursday and Friday being annual leave that I'd planned a month ago, I also called in sick yesterday. So this week is a grand total of... 2 work days. But nevertheless, I shall share what I create anyway.

Ever since I had the Porridge with Caramelised Banana at Auction Rooms in North Melbourne, I'd been hankering for porridge in the morning. So this morning, I decided to start experimenting with caramelising banana at work. Alas I forgot to find something sort of cream or bring walnuts. But I did have porridge and banana.

Now, I know quick oats are not as healthy as the regular oats. Whatever they do to process it, I think it increases the GI of the oats and possibly also lessen the fibre contents. But we're working with an office kitchen with no stove, so one has to make do with what one has.

First thing I did was cut the banana in half, and then sliced length wise. I placed it onto a plate, sprinkled with a sachet of sugar (but just one!) and decided to try the microwave over the sandwich press first. My rationale was that if it works in the microwave, it'd mean a lot less clean up. The microwave in the kitchen area is a bit dodgy and doesn't spin properly sometimes (next time I think I'll use the microwave in the office instead). So after about 30 seconds, I ended up with one mushy cooked banana and one... not so much. I flipped the one that wasn't over cooked, re-position the plate to make sure it spins this time and heated for another 10 seconds.

The result was... well, the banana tasted like cooked banana, but looked like play-doh. I'd also didn't put enough water into the porridge (no milk for me, trying to cut lactose in an effort to work out what is causing my allergies) and had pause the cooking to add more in. Improvements can definitely be made. Tomorrow is another day.