The Docket

Issue date: 11/9/04 Section: Features

Jodie Herrmann (2D), Diane Spicer (Rutgers University School of Law) and Jessica Hartsel (South Texas College of Law) prepare for the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

Like many of her Mason Law peers, Jodie Hermann (2D) elected to take classes during her post-1L summer. Jodie, however, opted for a change of scenery from the halls of GMUSL and journeyed to Spain as part of the William and Mary School of Law Study Abroad in Madrid Program. For Jodie, the summer of 2004 that she spent in Spain was "the best seven weeks of my entire life."

Jodie is no stranger to international travel; in fact she visited Spain several years ago while an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. As a Romance Languages major with a Spanish Concentration, Jodie, who also received a double major in Political Science, complemented her Spanish language courses by spending a semester at the University of Seville, Spain. Although initially homesick, by the end of the semester Jodie says she "came to respect the Spanish culture so much that I wanted to go back [to Spain]." While in Seville, Jodie came to appreciate the values and priorities of Spaniards. Her respect for the Spanish culture stems from "what life is all about to them," Jodie said, noting "all their activities are centered around family and friends."

Jodie leaped at the chance to return to Spain, and, after completing a summer internship with Magistrate Judge Liam O'Grady of the United States Federal Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, she spent the final two months of summer vacation studying in Madrid. With 102 other law students hailing from 43 different law schools, Jodie met and became friends with students from across the United States. Jodie enjoyed the different perspectives that the students brought to the program and felt it was valuable to compare the experiences each had at various law schools. "It was nice to see a different side of things," she remarked.

In addition to completing three classes in Madrid, including International Human Rights, European Union Law, and Professional Responsibility, Jodie traveled extensively. One of the most exciting events of the summer was the annual Pamplona Bull Run. Jodie traveled to Pamplona with several friends for the spectacular festival and dressed in the traditional all white with red belt garb for the event. Jodie also made several weekend trips to visit Spanish friends she had made years ago while studying in Seville. One of these trips took her back to Seville, she spent another weekend on the beautiful beaches on the island of Majorca. The time spent with old friends was wonderful, Jodie said, noting "even though I hadn't seen them for four years, it was like I was never gone."

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