School, the Election, and El Salvador
Hey everybody,
Another update. School has been pretty tough. I am just trying to stay above the rising tide of things to do, papers to write and forms to fill out. I have managed to get my act together enough to fill out the 27-page moral character form for the California Bar. I have sent in my registration to be a certified law student (which allows me to represent someone in court). I have filled out my forms for the Public Interest/Social Justice Certificate here at school and have sent it to my former supervisor in Vermont for his signature. I finally got my loan money...boy was that a relief! On top of all this, last Thursday I filed my first brief ever with the Immigration Court in San Francisco for my client from Guatemala. This was pretty huge because I spent about 100 hours in the past month putting together everything in the brief (along with help from my atty supervisor.) We go to the hearing on October 26th and my client gets to tell his story and hopefully he will be granted asylum status. I have been volunteering with FLY - my normal volunteer job - in the middle schools teaching kids about juvenile laws. That has been fun but time consuming. We only have one week left though so that is good. Then I just signed up to help out with Catholic Charities and their immigration project. I am hoping that this will lead to an internship next semester and possibly a job in the future. Wow, I think that I have caught you up on all that I am doing school and volunteer-wise.

I watched the debates on Thursday night and I was specifically watching what they would say about immigration. Bush talked about his temporary worker program - which has stalled in Congress, by the way - and the pundits thought that he was so strong on this issue. Kerry, however, recognizes that the temporary worker program is not enough and mentioned 3 other programs that needed to be implemented. I find Kerry's view much more comprehensive and much more than a stop-gap. Bush doesn't have his eye on the larger issue - isn't that always the case? Anyway, just interesting to watch the two candidates and it was nice to reassure myself that I will vote for the correct candidate. Let's see what happens on Nov. 2.

I have been writing, phoning and keeping in touch with my friends and family in El Salvador. Ana and Rina called me one day and then I was able to call Rina back and talk to her for a while. She is excited to be finishing up school on Nov. 12. I talked with Carmen and Gudelia. Gudelia tells me that she has a cell phone! Wonder! I think this is so funny because they were so adament about the fact that they were the only family in Monsenor to not have a cell phone. So proud! I haven't called her on it yet but hope to next Monday. They supposedly wrote me two letters but I haven't received them yet. I am wondering if they have the corred address for me. I am going up to San Francisco this Sunday to hang out with Hector. I think that he likes it when I go up and I have started taking them cookies or bread when I go. I hope to bring up blankets this time because the room that they live in is so cold - in the basement and has no heat. Hazel, the lady I live with, says she has extra blankets I could take. I am going to take him to see "The Motorcycle Diaries." I urge, strongly urge everyone to see this movie. It is so good. I saw it last Saturday with my friend Christine and while we are totally in love with the actor that plays Che - it was also a really powerful movie for me, especially at the end where he says, I am no longer me, I have changed. Wow. Go see it!

So, over all things are going well. Tomorrow nightI am going to visit with the Lutheran churches that are going to El Salvador in January. Me and my sister are heading down to El Salvador in December also so that will be fun. More later.