Sometimes one needs to put things in writing in order for them to feel real. This is exactly one of those occasions. The truth is, life has been too bloody fantastic to be true.

The moot court competition? Not only we went as far as the semi-finals for the first time. Not only we won the best Memorial in Portuguese. Not only I was the best oralist in Portuguese. We wrote the best Memorial in the whole competition, and I was the best oralist among all the 176 people that participated.

After the first results came out, I was so happy I thought I wasn't going to make it back to Brazil. I thought, hell, something bad has to happen (yes, I'm that positive a person). But I did make it back to Brazil. And the next day the final results were published online. I coulnd't be more pleased or proud of our work. The same night we went out to celebrate; not only the team, but also our professors.

We were (and are) still celebrating one week later, when we had lunch with the Dean. He's more than happy with the results, and is even considering giving us grants. Given that he's one of the people I most admire at PUC, this sort of acknowledgment was the cheery at the top of a perfect semester. To work for seven months straight on something, to spend sleepless nights and days dedicating yourself to a certain subject, and then to have really positive results is a high I had never experienced before. Not on this scale. I may get addicted.

On another note, I started working at the Center for Justice and International Law once more. I'm staying for two months, and working exclusively on a case I love.

This is the first time in a long time I'm not in love with anyone. The first time in a long time I'm actually happy to be alone. The first time in a long time I'm not anxious to find a girlfriend. Pride is next week, and, instead of wondering if I'll meet the girl of my dreams there, all I can think of is celebrating.

Those are all alien feelings to me. But I'm enjoying it. Immensely.

ETA: Holy crap! I forgot to mention I finally went to New York City, and I'm completely in love. New York is everything I thought it would be, except better. I had really high expectations, but it's just so much more fascinating than I could fathom. With my moving to Washington DC in August, there will be plenty of opportunities to go to NY and plenty of posts about it.

Can I just say thank God this semester is over?

After five exams and two papers I'm done for the year when it comes to mandatory college-related things. Now I can relax and focus on the things I love studying, which is great change of pace. I still have one more week here at work, and then I'll probably spend December preparing for the Moot Court Competition that will take place next year at American University.

My professional life is looking up. I'm about to finish an eight-month internship at one of the largest NGOs that litigate in the Inter-American Human Rights System. I've learned a lot, and acquired very precious experience in the practical aspects of an International process. It was my first job, and I have to say I'm very pleased with it. If I ever had a doubt I'll be a workaholic for the rest of my life, those doubts no longer exist.

The one disadvantage of having a job while still in college is the obvious: I haven't been paying much attention to anything else (with the exception of Human Rights-related things), which means my grades have dropped considerably. Next semester I'll be a full-time student again, so I hope I can do better. I'm also behind in my studies, which means that, if I really get to go to Washington as an exchange student next year, I'll only get my degree three years from now. Oh, well.

On another and a more cheerful note, the girlfriend is coming up to Rio on Sunday and staying for the week. It'll be good to have some guilt-free fun now that my classes are over.

ETA: I can't seem to stop listening to Britney Spears' new album. Never thought I would actually write that sentence.

It was after dismissing a night of perfectly acceptable drunkenness with some of my best friends because I had to be at CEJIL at 9 AM that I realised what this work business really means.

Even though it's just an internship, the sense of responsibility kicked in, and I've begun to perceive just how different work is from college. When you're working, people actually expect you to show up. People actually pay you to show up.

I've been working longer hours now that I'm on vacations in order to compensate for the trip to Montevidéu I'm taking on August. This means two things: for one, I'm gaining some extra knowledge within my area of expertise that will come in handy in the future. On the other hand, it's like I'm not on vacations, and I barely have time to think about my problems. Which can be a good thing.

After my meeting at PUC was canceled, I found myself with the afternoon free. Thinking on what I needed to do, I came to the conclusion that the former sentence was a significant overstatement. I've come to discover for the past three months that when you work all day you don't actually have time for those little things you have no trouble finding time for in other circumstances, like taking your cat to the vet, having your nails done, waxing, and going to the bank.

Growing up is tiresome, but I have to say it's been an amazing experience —even if that means saying 'no' to friendly company and alcohol every once in a while because you need to be apt to do your job the next morning.

Last class of the semester in an hour.

*pause for happy dance*

And now for the Big News:

You all know (do you?) that I'm currently working at the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), an NGO responsible for bringing forth cases to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Depending on a bunch of factors that I won't explain right now, the Commission, in its turn, may bring forth the cases to be analyzed by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

So.

The Court is located at San José, Costa Rica. They are, however, having an extraordinary session on August at Montevidéu, Uruguay. And I'm fucking going to be there! I seriously cannot believe it. I am actually going to the see the Real Thing.

*pause for another happy dance*

On a sadder note, Fluminense lost last night. They did play brilliantly, though, and it was a total shame they didn't win the Cup. The comments that have been dripping off the mouths of a bunch of retarded people who root for my team make me rather ashamed of loving Flamengo. While I can't help this love, sometimes I did wish Flamengo's supporters would just shut the fuck up. "Liga dos Urubus" is one of the most retarded things I've ever seen.