jenn_rainey

Hi guys! So I've been completely swamped here in London with all my work, but I've had a couple of very cool trips in the last few weeks, and Easter Break is just around the corner and I've got some neat stuff planned, so I figured it was time to resurrect the blog. First on my list is the trip I took to Paris a couple of weeks ago for the International Chamber of Commerce Commercial Mediation Moot (try saying that three times fast). Since I am taking a law class here at LSE, I was able to join LSE's commercial mediation team and compete against other teams from around the world in mock mediation sessions, but more on that later. I took the Eurostar from London's newly refurbished St. Pancras station, which might be the ... read more

So I know I've been rather remiss in updating, but I hadn't been doing too much of interest until Brian arrived on Friday. So pre-Brian, I had my first week of class, which was quite good. The lecturers are just outstanding! I'm absolutely loving my law class (Public International Law). PIL lawyers are so optimistic about international society, and the good that law can do, and the responsibilities of international law for creating a better, more just way for states to interact. It's so idealist, and I just love it. It's too bad most PIL involves working for NGOs/the UN/governments, all entities that don't pay very well. At any rate, I'm hoping to do some moot court while I'm here, and I'm applying to the PIL and international commercial mediation teams. I also really like my ... read more

Well, here I am, arrived at my dorm all safe and sound (although a little worse for the wear). I spent Friday night at my dance teacher's house, which was aboslutely wonderful, and it made me feel much better that Brian wouldn't be able to see me off. Saturday, my teacher and I spent quite a bit of time chatting, doing a little dance, and generally just trying to relax before my long flight. Her husband dropped me off at the train station, where I caught the New Jersey transit train to Newark. It is a miracle that, with the amount of stuff I had, I managed to get through the airport and to my plane just fine. I have: 1. a 50+ lb. rolling bag 2. a 25 lb. touring backpack 3. a 20 lb. ... read more

Well, Brian and I are finally back, and I've got a few weeks before I have to head back over to Europe to start school at London School of Economics. But before all that happens, I've got a few more pictures of Portugal, this time of Belem. Belem is another "suburb" of Lisbon, and it is from Belem that Vasco da Gama set out for India, returning sometime later with a huge cargo of spices that brought wealth and fame to Portugal. Anyway, here they are, and I'll start posting again when I head off to London. :)... read more

So we boarded our bus for the looooong (it ended up being almost five hours-and that was the express bus) ride to Lagos, on the Algarve Coast of Portugal. We were worried about the weather, since it poured for the first half of the ride, but the closer we got to the Portuguese border, the sunnier it became. We crossed over a spectacular suspension bridge and into Portugal. When we finally arrived at the Lagos bus station, an old man approached us asking if we needed a room. I am pleased to report that I havve discovered that I can understand Portuguese perfectly well, though I have a hard time making myself understood! At any rate, we were a little wary of this man, but we saw the room, which was good enough and in a ... read more