One weel till deadline

In exactly 8 days, I will be doing my final graduation test. I will have to prove a tribunal of respected and experienced lawyers, that I deserve to be considered one of them too.

Now, the dynamic is going to be as follows. The test is oral, that is, no written questions, no presentations or powerpoints, no nothing but yourself and your words. They are going to give me 2 topics to talk about during 30 minutes, and after that, they will open “fire at will” and ask about anything they deem appropriate. But, what can they ask about? Anything of what I’ve studied during the last 4 years: obligations, commercial law, property law, General Theory of the Contract, Family Law, Labor law and Criminal Law, among others. So yeah, I’ll have to dodge some bullets, just as Neo.

The problem with an oral test is that you do not have time to think: once they ask you a question, you either answer it or not. You cannot erase your answers, or think it over for 5 minutes as you would do on a written test. Furthermore, you must speak and appear to have complete dominance of the exercise, that is, the vocal tone and body language play an important role here.

Anyway, whatever happens, I am well prepared for it: I have been intensively studying for more than 2 months now, successfully approved the preparation-test (which is an oral exam too), and thoroughly reviewed the laws, theories and jurisprudence of our courts. Whatever comes, I’m ready to charge against it, or die trying :-)

In one week, I expect to gladly communicate to all of you that I have become a lawyer.

See ya,
Luis.

Goodbye COMSER

Well, this is it. After 2 years of belonging to one of latin america’s best emergency services community, it is finally time to say goodbye. The reason for my departure is quite simple: intolerance.

Though our work at the Red Cross is volunteer, ad-honorem, the people in charge of the volunteers at COMSER tend to forget often that we, in the end, do not receive a salary for the ardous work we perfom; that we study or work (or both as myself), that we have families and friends to take care of, that is, that our volunteer work as paramedics, whether we like it or not, does not enjoy of the highest priority on our lifes.

Therefore, the bosses at COMSER decided that it would be better if I do not belong anymore to the committee, considering that I’ve not been able to attend regularly as demanded, since this december I’ll be taking my last exams to graduate from Law School. Well, too bad, but whether they like it or not, I AM receiving my lawyer’s diploma.

Anyway, the experience of belonging to a group of such marvelous people was amazing. During my first month of work I learned what I hadn’t learned in 2 years as a paramedic for another committee. Just to give you an idea, during my very first day at COMSER, during our 12-hour watch, we had to attend 3 different people that in the end, died. That’s right, 3 dead in just 12 hours! The trauma and medical emergency cases we deal with at COMSER are not to be seen everywhere. Sometimes they are, actually, spectacular!

During my time I learned a lot about life, about being able to appreciate little things that we tend to forget. In the end, it is these little things that give meaning to one’s life, but because of our busy lifestyle, we give them for granted. Truly, I must tell you people, there is no better school for learning about life than the street itself, and I took a term on this school, working as a paramedic, trying to bring relief to people, sometimes succeeding, but sometimes also failing.

My gratitude must also go to the great paramedics, medics and rescuers that taught me everything I know. People like Hugo Madrigal, Tony Chacón, Manuel Miranda, Johnny Ramírez, Jim Batres, Paulo Monge, and many many more, dedicated their time to teach me how to do my work better and more efficiently. Their effort was remarkable, and I will always be thankful to them.

And now, what’s going to happen with me? Actually, I don’t know. My bosses gave me the choice of transfering to another unit, or officially discharging me. I’ll let you know what happens. To be honest, right now, there is only one thing on my mind: approving my last test and graduate from Law School!!! Wish me luck!

If you wish to see some pics, check them out here (the guy with the huge white helmet and white coat is me :)):


http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/comser/colisiones/dsc00014.html

http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/comser/colisiones/hpim0699.html

http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/comser/varios/imagen001.html

http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/demostraciones-y-en/curso-holmatro-2007/dsc0116.html

http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/demostraciones-y-en/curso-holmatro-2007/dsc0136.html