Orientation and First Week

9/6/13

Last week, we had orientation, a combination of ice breakers and introduction lectures and what not. I think the most helpful thing was the group activity we did with our groups from the 501 class (the groups are assigned and we work together all semester). I think I'm part of a pretty great group. I don't think it's going to be like group work I've done in past scholarly years--it was a big thing I was worried about, seeing as I was always the one who made sure it got done. Now we're all the ones making sure it gets done. Yay!

On Saturday I turned twenty-six. The highlight of my birthday came at 10:40 PM, when a whole roomful of friends playing Rockband paused and sang Happy Birthday to me via Robby's cell phone. Yep, folks, that was the highlight. I still don't know anyone super well yet, I wasn't going to tail-gate (for several reasons, 1, it was Sabbath, 2, I don't drink, 3, I'm not a big big fan of football).

This week I started classes. Tuesdays are going to be doozies, but I at least will have time on other days for doing homework and working. Wednesdays I have to get up incredibly early in order to get the right bus. If I don't get the right bus, I'm walking the twenty minutes to North Quad. (I also discovered that the closest bus route to my apartment has two different routes, the most direct route to NQ ending around 8:40 AM and not picking back up until about 3 PM. So that's fun. I found out by getting on the bus and having a moment of "Hey why aren't we there?" and being told "I don't go there" by the driver. At least he pointed me in the right direction.)

Yesterday I had a job interview at one of the libraries here on campus. She offered me the job, and I accepted. After I sent my acceptance e-mail, I received two e-mails asking if I'd interview for jobs with them, so I had to send "Sorry I already accepted another job but maybe we'll think of each other at a different semester" e-mails to both of them. So that was fun.

Today we had a convocation where we sat and listened to a bunch of people speak about how awesome the school is and how awesome the projects they're doing are. (Truthfully, of course.) Then they made us new students stand up after introducing new faculty and new doctoral students. Then they fed us a free meal. I won a stadium blanket in blue and gold, but it has the name of the sponsoring credit union (with whom I don't and won't have an account) on it. New gear, though.

More later.