Lazy Summer

Since my return to Palau from Australia, I've eased back into the normal rhythm of island life. Work was largely unchanged and everything as I had left it. In the transitory nature of Palau people come and go all the time, sometimes without any forewarning, so when I returned some people were glad to see me having thought I might have been gone for good. With LB off island touring Southeast Asia, other friends off busying themselves elsewhere, and a scattering rain on the weekends I have lately spent my free time at home or lounging at PPR. The latest Harry Potter finally arrived and I've been delving into final book.

Last week, I helped our clerk of courts administer the Palau Bar Exam. The exam included the U.S. multistate multiple choice exam and a two part essay exam. We had only two individuals sit for the entire exam. We had five people sit for the Palau essay exam which the judges wrote and LB and I helped edit. I was particularly proud that the large property question tested their knowledge of a case I had written earlier this year. I knew some of the people who took it and it was fun to see them fretting about studying and then comparing how they answered the questions afterwards.

For the past four weeks we have had a summer intern. Ebil is a Palauan who is entering her third year of law school in Oregon but is spending part of her summer working with the court counsel. I was in the similar position as her not too long ago and I've enjoyed sharing my law school experiences. I had many of the same questions she has asked, but now I'm the one giving the answers. After law school she plans on spending a few years in the U.S. before returning to practice here and she was very interested in our impression of practicing law here in comparison to the states.

The Bar association has begun a small three on three basketball league. I'm playing on the court's team and I've been trying to get the feel for playing because it has been a long time since I played organized basketball. Most of the guys are older so I have the advantage of youth, but that doesn't always mean I can sink shots. This week I'm a bit hobbled because I twisted my ankle, but it is healing and I should be back to full strength soon. I should stick to frisbee, the only injury I've gotten there is a few cuts and scratches.