Lucila van Dam is a 2006 Fulbright New Zealand Graduate
Student from Wellington, who is completing a Master of Laws degree, specialising
in criminal procedure and constitutional law, at the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor.
Lucila van Dam (left) and friend at
a Michigan Wolverines game
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I… just returned from Kalamazoo. Glenn Miller may
have found the love of his life and the inspiration for his song in this
small Michigan town, but sadly all I can attribute to Kalamazoo is getting
very, very lost in its maze of one-way streets while en route to explore
the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan on my Fall Break. Despite this
tumultuous beginning, I had a fantastic time getting back to my Dutch
roots in the town of Holland, finding a café in Traverse City that
boasted lattes that tasted just like the coffee back in Wellington (which
is no small feat!), and running rampant down the 150 feet high sand dunes
in Sleeping Bear National Park.
Aside from providing some reprieve from the rigours of academic life,
Fall Break gave me pause for reflection on how I have spent my first two
months living and studying in the United States.
I feel very fortunate to be studying at the University of Michigan Law
School. Its small size and relative isolation give it a very collegial
and intimate feeling; the students are friendly, the professors approachable,
and the administrators proactively helpful. Although the Law School’s
strength lies in the field of international law, its professors are also
prominent in a number of other, very diverse fields including feminist
legal theory, constitutional law, remedies, and negotiation. So far I
have found my courses, and the Socratic method in which they are taught,
very challenging, but also immensely engaging and stimulating.
In addition, Michigan Law School offers many opportunities to learn outside
of the classroom. In the last two weeks we have had a number of fascinating
evening seminars, including pioneer of feminist legal theory Catharine
MacKinnon discussing her views on women’s status in international
law, Judge of the International Court of Justice Bruno Simma sharing his
behind-the-scenes experiences at the Court, and Alex Joel, the first Civil
Liberties Protection Officer for the US Office of the Director of National
Security, providing insight into his responsibilities in that role and
working under John Negroponte. One can’t help but feel absorbed in
this vibrant academic environment.
Another interesting, and I would say unique, facet to the Law School is
its strong public service ethos. This ethos is manifested in a number
of ways: through its mandatory volunteer day where we spent a day cleaning
and gardening at a nearby drug rehabilitation centre; through its clinical
programs that provide legal assistance to indigent or disempowered peoples;
and through its strong encouragement for students to get involved in the
community. As a result I have been inspired to volunteer once a month
at a soup kitchen in Detroit, as well as to undertake (when time permits!)
legal research to assist local refugees as part of the Michigan Student
Asylum and Refugee Law Project.
But I have come to realise, and value immensely, that the Fulbright experience
is not just about working hard at graduate school, but also about seizing
every opportunity that presents itself to get completely immersed in the
American culture. To that end, I have become a dedicated supporter of
the Wolverines, the University of Michigan Football team, which has been
undefeated this season and which is currently ranked third in the nation.
To acquire the esteemed title of Dedicated Supporter one must religiously
attend the “tailgates” before the game (even if that means getting
up at 8am on a Saturday morning!), learn to love American beer (which
is harder than it sounds), purchase (and display on one’s person)
inordinate amounts of Michigan paraphernalia, and learn all the chants
and rituals associated with the game. While I still do not understand
the rules of the game, I am confident that even if I never do, just experiencing
the electric atmosphere in the 112,000 person “Big House” stadium
is the real thrill of the event.
Then there is the actual city of Ann Arbor, with its delightful college
town feel, in the heart of Michigan. Although there are only around 110,000
residents, the town is brimming with activity and energy at all hours.
As such it has become a cultural hotspot, attracting a number of popular
rock bands, classical acts, and even the Royal Shakespeare Company. The
arboretum and botanical gardens which flank the main campus provide a
sanctuary for those of us who love to take time out to escape to the wilderness.
I am always delighted to see all the American wildlife while I am out
running the trails in the arboretum, even if the locals consider the squirrels
and chipmunks to be akin to rats!
Lucila enjoying the first snowfall of
the season
I haven’t really experienced any culture shock, but there are a
few things that have particularly caught my attention: the phenomenon
of drive-thru banking (and the accompanying fact that Americans do not
consider this to be curious at all), and the strange weather patterns.
We have spectacular thunderstorms once or twice every week, the rain drops
are three times the size of those in New Zealand, and in the space of
a week the weather can change from being hot and sunny to snowfall. We
had our first snowfall exactly one week ago. I was very excited to be
able to catch snow flakes on my tongue and to wear legitimately my down
jacket for the first time, but I do appreciate that once snow becomes
a daily reality to be contended with (rather than frolicked in) my enthusiasm
will wane. This may explain why I was the only student playing in the
snow in the law quadrangle!
It is hard to believe that I have only been here two months - I feel so
attached to this new life. I am very grateful to Fulbright New Zealand
for giving me this opportunity to experience all that I have and all that
awaits me in the next seven months!
