News and findings from the second year

As I am successfully done with 5 exams, I can now reflect on what I have gained and what I have lost during the first semester. I have gained a great amount of knowledge and skills, for example in property law or private international law, also more confidence and motivation to continue in the next semester in a similar pace. On the other hand I have lost a significant part of the rest of my free time, sleep and illusions about studying law. Nevertheless, in spite of all these sacrifices I am glad I can now determine with certainty all the ways in which the detectives from CSI Miami violate the law while interrogating under criminal procedure. And if one of my friends, god forbid, ever wants to divorce their spouse, I will be at their disposal to state which law is applicable in that situation under private international law.

2.European Union law is a cherry on top of the second year.

European Union law Substantive was the first subject to start after the first semester and it was a shock. Although I have to admit it was not unexpected as most of the third year students, who had to go through this subject last year, had warned us. However, we never take these warnings seriously until you are in those people’s shoes and you suddenly understand. This way I can add a little finding of mine – if I thought that the first semester was demanding, the second on is currently proving me wrong. Every week I am spending my Wednesday night writing 3 000 words long assignment, so that I could then wake up on Thursday morning at 8:30, find the rest of my energy and go to a tutorial to discuss, for instance, freedom of movement in the EU. After the tutorial, however, it all starts again. Read 100 pages, search for 15 cases from the CJEU and then again write those beautiful 3 000 words. Nonetheless, I have to admit that i tis an incredibly interesting branch of law. Thanks to this course I am realizing only now how privileged we should feel as European Union citizens and how much for our welfare and peace is this institution doing. It is interesting because it represents a completely new field of law, in which i tis impossible to foresee all possible situations that can happen in connection to free movement of persons or goods. That is why we have to read at least 15 cases and their judgements per tutorial, which then determine new and new rules. The more challenging it is then to remember all this case law of 7 weeks.

3. I spend all my free time with Elsa.

During the year and half here in Maastricht I have found a lot of friends with whom I spend my time. Elsa, however, differs from them in many ways. Firstly, Elsa is not a person. Elsa is a student association on whose board I work as a Vice President for Seminars and Conferences. Secondly, if I ever feel like I could perhaps have a moment of free time for myself, I can rely on Elsa that and the feeling goes away immediately. My task within this association is to plan institutional and academic study visits, which sounds like an easy job – call there, solve this, book that and it’s done! Yet in reality this planning usually concerns writing to three institutions of the European Union at a time, law firm, international office of Elsa, five different restaurants and also buying tickets for the travel there and back. In the meantime, several meetings with the board and the committee take place and in addition the applications open and I have to start collecting information from the participants. In the end I will be leading a group of students through a city I don’t know (Brussels) to a place I have never been to (European Parliament). When I look back at all the school trips, either in primary or high school, I now fully sympathize with the teachers who were responsible for the organization. Nevertheless, this way I managed to organize a four-day trip to Prague, a visit of the District Court of Limburg (region where Maastricht is located) and a two-day trip to Brussels, where we have visited the European Parliament, European Commission or the Palais de Justice. And even though I dedicate so much time to Elsa and I practically don’t talk to my family and friends about anything else, it’s a great experience for which I am really grateful.

4. Turin will probably become my home for the next winter semester.

After I have watched all my friends from years above me applying to exchange programs and leaving to Singapore, Hong Kong or Great Britain, the time has finally come for me to do the same. Until the end of January, I had to choose 6 destinations where I would have wanted to spend the first semester of my third year. Although I was hesitating for a long time, it was Turin that in the end became number one. Italy is a beautiful country, in an acceptable distance from Prague and Maastricht and local university is one of the oldest universities in Europe with a great reputation. Therefore, if everything goes according to the plan this year, next September I will be flying in the direction of Turin!

5. A final finding: Do not stay in Maastricht during Carnival, run away.

I am just finishing my fifth article for The Kellner Family Foundation and at the same time I am experiencing my second Carnival in Maastricht. Last year I was lucky enough to leave after the first weekend, however this year I had to stay due to working obligations. Thus while I am writing the last lines, I hear Dutch folklore music playing behind my window that loud that my windows are vibrating and my floor is rumbling. It was like this yesterday, the day before yesterday and it will be like this tomorrow as well! It is simply not very convenient to live in the city centre and on a ground floor during the time of Carnival, so next year (I will be back from Turin by this time) I will rather take to my heels.