21 Elul/31 August, 2010

I went up to school this morning to prepare for my teaching on Friday. I always like to come in earlier in the week in case the photocopy machine decides to misbehave. And good thing I did, because the department printer was out of toner and I needed to use the administrator’s one. I made copies of my syllabi and the writing samples and the homework for the Goodall reading assignment I will give my students. I also filled out my office hours form. They moved offices this year from the large communal room to smaller upstairs offices. I actually preferred the large room because you could always interact with other instructors there. Ah, well. I’ll adjust.

Since I was on campus, I also wanted to check out my classroom before my actual first day (I always like to do this). That way I can actually find them and not get lost for my own classes on the first day and I can get a feel for the room. Good thing I did too, since the campus is doing stupid dining hall construction right in the middle and they blocked the most direct way from one of my classrooms to the other. So I tried to find the way around for a while in several ways before I picked up a new and improved campus map that showed a parking lot that I could cross. I have 20 minutes between classes and instead of the usual 5 it would have taken to switch between them, it will now be a 10 minute walk. I timed it. I’m not looking forward to snow. On the bright side, they were giving out free university T-shirts. Go, free stuff.

( Highlander S5 E1,2 )

It is officially the end of combat in Iraq, not that our troops will ever leave. After all, we are still in Germany.