the first week of school, well half a week

School started Wednesday. So far I'm enjoying it. I think it's going to be a very busy and likely very stressful first semester. I already have lot's of reading to do (I'm taking a break from Foucault to write this- Foucault- Yikes!) 

I especially like the class I'm a TA for, I taught my first sections on Friday and I think it went really well and I really like my students. I do worry a little that one of them could stumble across this blog so I probably won't be saying much about the class here. But I will say I'm really excited about getting some teaching experience and even if it's going to be stressful. I am also getting excited about this semester, my classes seem like they are going to be very interesting (this reveals how big a nerd I am- but I think they are going to be fun too). I just need to get back into school mode and get used to reading an obscene amount again. 

Orientation

Monday was the day of orientations- first we had the new graduate student orientation and then we had the TA/TF orientation. Unfortunately, my program also had it's orientation at the same time as the TA so the three of us who are incoming TAs had to miss the department orientation. (wow I'm really sick of typing the word orientation).

Anyway, the first half of the day was filled with fairly useful but also very boring information. By noon I really just wanted to go back to sleep (noon is being generous- truth be told I didn't actually want to get up at all). The TA portion of the day was more useful and more engaging because it was kind of hands on- unfortunately by the time we got to that part I was half asleep from the morning and had completely lost interest. I probably wouldn't bother posting about this at all but I feel like I've been neglecting my blog as of late. I did learn two very useful bits of information so the day wasn't a complete waste- first, the Mongolian Buffet has the best Chinese food in town and second, tattoos with green or yellow ink are the hardest to remove.

My first week as a Virginian

I've been here a week, it's kinda odd it doesn't feel like a week.

So far I've managed to unpack and set up the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room. And the office is very nearly done. The kitchen is still pretty much a disaster but it's unpacked- it's just been the dumping ground- where things go until they find a home. I'm sick of unpacking- but at least the end is in sight.

Rusty has gotten more vaccinations and is now licensed in Virginia- he is now officially a Williamsburg dog. I'm not a Virginian yet but Rusty is. Here are a couple pictures (you can probably see what I mean about him looking like a lamb).

 

I've also met with my advisor and the graduate advisor and will meet with my mentor soon. I can't believe school starts in a couple days, I'm ready but I'm not (more not). I guess it's good that school is starting before I've had the chance to get bored but at the same time- I'm enjoying settling into my place slowly and being able to hang out with Rusty without having to worry too much about being anyplace at any certain time. My life is about to get really hectic. It'll be my first semester as a TA and my first semester at a new school. Apparently it's going to be an intense semester with the classes I've got lined up (according to my advisor).     

Meeting

I met with my new advisor today and she seems cool, it was a good meeting even if I felt a little awkward. While I was on campus I decided to buy a parking pass- those of you I left behind at the U have no reason to complain about the expense of parking passes- sure they may seem expensive, that is until you buy one here- it was $305! 

I left Rusty home (obviously it would be less than professional to show up to a meeting with a dog). I had planned on leaving him in his crate for a while- until he got used to it here- but I thought I'd leave him in my office instead. It is the least organized room right now- I haven't had the energy to unpack my books yet- too overwhelming- so there are boxes everywhere. When I got home he was sitting on my desk. It was so funny- he looked like he got caught doing something bad. I'm sure he choose the desk because it's under the window- that way he could keep an eye out for me. Plus I threw so blankets and pillows on the desk because I was going to make the bed in there and ran out of time. With his new haircut he kinda looks like a little lamb- so I came home to a chagrined sheep on my desk.