#Didn’tFailFundamentalRights

My grades from last semester have sslllooowwwwwwlllllyyyyyyy started trickling in. Most importantly, despite all the stress the class caused me, I can officially say: I did not fail Fundamental Rights.

Actually, I got an A. Which particularly matters because out of all my classes, Fundamental Rights worried me the most.

First, it was a freshman level class. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be as a law student to fail a freshman level class? My classmates were 17 year olds who spent most of the class wrapped in fuzzy blankets, eating snacks, and catching up on gossip. In fact, on more than one occasion, the professor quit talking because you couldn’t hear him over the sound of the students talking. 

Second, I kept missing classes because the school administrators would schedule it for the same time I had other classes. Like Law of Information Technology, a way more confusing class I felt obliged to attend. Missing the first time or two left me vaguely stressed. Five weeks in a row and I was convinced I would fail Fundamental Rights. 

Third, probably because it was a freshman level class, the professors’ teaching styles…ranged considerably. The first professor said “rice” instead of “rights.” (“Human rice is the basis of our society!”) The second professor ignored my request for notes when I missed the class since she didn’t teach during the scheduled teaching times. The third professor usually ended our 3 hour class after an hour. (Appreciated, but not conducive to learning.) 

I had no idea studying abroad would leave me so expectant for pass/fail grades!

Exchange Student

My Fundamental Rights professor does not know what to do with me. About three weeks into class, he finally walked over and asked if I was one of the students. As I sit in the front row every week, I found this question somewhat surprising. I said I was. He said, “Ahhh” and slowly backed away. 

Two weeks after that, he again walked over and asked if I was taking the midterm. I said I was. He said, “Ahhh,” and backed away. 

Finally, last week, he asked if I knew how the take-home process worked. I said I had no idea. He walked me through it, apologizing repeatedly for his poor English. 

I am still not sure if he knows I am a student like everyone else. 

It is funny the way different professors act to having an international student. Some immediately come up and talk to me; others pretend I am no different than anyone else and ignore me. Some go out of their way to explain concepts to me; others occasionally lapse into Thai when trying to explain a concept. Some call me Amy; others refer to me “your international colleague.” Or they avoid calling on me at all. 

It is an interesting dynamic and one that has made me vastly more sympathetic for all the international students in the classes I previously attended. I am glad I will have one more year of law school when I get back so I can make more an effort to reach out to them! 

Classes!

I wrote yesterday’s post while half asleep. You can tell because I forgot to tag it with anything. Today, I am much more alert! But instead of continuing my ramble about the trip over (I promise I will get back to it!), I will tell you about today!

Because after being in Thailand for almost two weeks and attending classes for one of those weeks…I officially registered for classes today. 

Yes, it took this long. For comparison, I would have registered for classes if I stayed in Wisconsin back in…November? 

I feel a bit more official now that professors know to look for my face. Unfortunately, the class I was really looking forward to (Law of the Sea) got canceled because of lack of interest. I know, right? Who would not want to take Law of the Sea?! We were told that if we got 4 students, then maybe the school would let us continue. Alas, only 3 showed up. So close, so far. 

I am almost afraid to officially list the classes I am enrolled in because I feel like I am missing something. But, barring anything unexpected, I am taking: 

• Fundamental Rights
• Natural Resource and Environmental Law for Business 
• Law on Information Technology 
• Law on International Business Transactions 
• International Investment Law

(For those who have been privy to my back and forth debate about taking Constitutional Law, I decided that even the comparative opportunity of learning about the Thai Constitution could not make up for the fact that the sophomore level class fairly bored me to tears. After studying Locke, Rousseau, and Hobbes at Oxford, it is hard to take an entry level class about their works.)  

I’m looking forward to exploring these classes!