How things change... and stay the same!!

Hi everyone!! So I'm writing from my office at school... yes, very good use of my office time. But it's not like there's really a difference for me. I write lesson plans here and at home, so my "on the clock" time is a bit more vague. I survived my first day of school, not like that was a big thing. I only taught one class yesterday... Principles of Biology for non-majors. I have 11 students (although apparently I just had a student add... so now I have 12). They all seem like a good group of students, so it should be fun. Today is my team-teaching day with Kent so I'll spend the day just observing and listening while he does the work. After next week, that will change though as I start teaching more. But he wants me to get a feel of how much they cover in a day and how much detail they go into. And that's fine with me. I need to know that info.

So the updates... (this will all be about school). One of my most favorite profs at Augie, Dr. Troll, told us that he loved teaching because it kept him young. I always thought that it was so true... and I realize that even more now that I'm on the other side of the desk. Last Wednesday was freshman move-in day. Holy moly did that bring back memories!!! The parents taking time off from work to move their students in. I will say that I was a little surprised by how few dads were there. I realize that it was a Wednesday so people had to take time off work, but it still seems to me that move-in day is one of those days that you just have to take the day off and be there with your child. You only do freshman move-in during the week once. Every other year you move in during the weekend. So I don't think it asks too much. Oh well... what do I know? Anyway, it was just fun/interesting to watch the new students carrying stuff in... also funny to compare what girls bring to what boys bring. It just made me think that some things never change.

I will say that the one thing I DON'T like about times changing is cell phones... holy moly. It is REALLY bad here. Since my office looks out right onto one of the main halls, I see (and hear) students on their phone all day long. I think what amazes me most is that as soon as the students are out of the classroom it's a race to see who can get on their phone first and call their friends. Just crazy. It makes me wonder how we possibly survived without cell phones before?? I never had one in college. I probably got one my senior year... but I'm pretty sure I didn't even bring it to class. It just sat on my desk at home. But yeah... I will say that that is the one thing I don't like about times changing. So far I haven't had a problem with it... although one of my student's phone went off during class last night. He had it on vibrate and he picked it up and I just stared him down. I was like... oh buddy... don't even THINK of answering that here!! He didn't... so he was spared my wrath. :) But it was interesting.

The one thing I do like about teaching on this campus is that so far I haven't had a tardiness issue. That is the one thing I couldn't stand at Waubonsee... students came late ALL the time... and no matter how many punishments you give them and points you take off, they still come late. I realize that with everyone commuting to school, things happen. But it just got so annoying. All of my students were there before me last night. So let's hope that that keeps up. They really have no excuse since campus is so small and almost all of the dorms share the parking lot with the Science Center... so it takes about 2 minutes at most to get from the dorms to the building. So we'll see.

Is it weird that it doesn't seem like I'm working?? I mean, I know I am. But I was driving to school today and I really didn't feel like I was going to my job. I think part of it is because I commute at totally off times so I'm not sitting in traffic at any point, so it doesn't really feel like I'm "commuting." But the other part I think is just that I like coming here. I am realizing how nice it is that no one is sitting here checking on me to see when I come in or when I leave to make sure that I was here for a set number of hours. And because of this, I actually spend more time here than I did in the lab!! LOL Everyone stops by and says hi or waves to me, which I enjoy. Everyone knows everyone's name. It's good times. I guess that this is a good sign that maybe I think of this more as my "career" and not just a job. Who knows?? Or maybe it's just because it's the first week and things will change as time goes on. I like to think positively though. :)

Anyway, I don't think there's really too much more to report right now. I need to work on a little activity for my students for class tomorrow. Good times. :) It "required" me going to Michael's... and you know how much of a struggle that is for me!! LOL

This weekend Mark and I are going downtown for dinner on Saturday night... Lawry's... mmmm.. :) It's our anniversary, so we are actually going to celebrate. Okay, officially the anniversary is next weekend on the 9th, but this weekend just works better, so we adjusted. :) We were thinking about maybe going to the zoo sometime this weekend, but we'll see if it happens (or, more importantly, if it will stop raining to make the trip worthwhile!) We also might head down to Last Fling in Naperville to see Collective Soul with Tim and Patty and whoever else shows up. So yeah... we shall see.

Anyway, I am off for now... I hope that you are all having wonderful days... more excitement to come, I'm sure! LOL