As I was driving to Thanksgiving Mass this morning - one of my favorite services of all the year - I was recalling just what I have to be thankful for today. Since this time last year, I have had two surgeries, unrelated except that they were both debilitating, and am now fit, active, and healthy again. I have written, completed, defended and put away a Masters thesis, and graduated with my second Masters degree - this one, the Master of Theology - at the age of 51. Not bad, I'm thinking. Also I put together applications to PhD programs at four universitites, and in January was offered a place at the second one on my list. Not bad at all. And here I am, nearly at the end of my first semester at UNC. I have nearly all my family in the same country! And wonderful friends. I have an apartment I love, great neighbors (except the one who stole the seat off my bike), food, wine. I dance. I walk. I read. I'm happy, peaceful, reasonably busy, and if I had to find one word to describe my present state, I would say I am content.
Thanksgiving is a great day to say Thank you thank you thank you God. (Well, actually, any day is, but this one especially so.) I am glad to be alive.
...from a poem by my husband
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Here I am again!
Oh dear! It says my last blog was September 12 - nearly two months, and here I was blithely promising that I would post once a month. Well, time got away from me. But delightfully so...I'm having such a good time here, but am on campus almost every day, all day, and then come home and read (or occasionally go out) in the evenings. And I'm loving it. Actually the teaching even more than the studying.
I have 60 students split into three classes which I teach back to back on Friday mornings. It's more of a guided discussion actually, reflecting and debating and clarifying things they've learned in the two lectures that week. And honestly, I could quite happily skip the studying and cut straight to the teaching at this point although, unfortunately, I need the further education to be able to do the further teaching. I am not required to but did hand out mid term evaluation forms to my students a couple of weeks ago, so that I could get some feedback on where I could tweak the classes into better shape - and was overwhelmed by the positive response! The overall message was "We love coming to your classes - we never liked these things before - everything from the lectures falls into place - you are so enthusiastic and passionate about your subject - when will you be lecturing because we want to come." Wow. It blew me away. I also love the one on one interaction with the students - they come and see me with questions relating to the course, and some with general academic fears (especially the freshmen) (don't I know that one), and they're often stopping me to just chat and tell me about things going on in their lives. I wonder if dyeing my hair magenta pink in September made any difference? No, probably not, but they sure did get a kick out of it! (It's nearly grown out now!)
While I was here in the summer before classes started, and was winding down from the last six months of thesis work, and easing myself into the new surroundings, I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could hang on to that feeling of well-being once classes started. And recognizing that being in a constant state of stress is not the best way to be muddling through from one semester to the next. I think just having that in mind helped me to approach this semester differently and behold (hineh as the Hebrews say) it is so. I have had about 10 weeks of classes and yes, I'm not sitting around twiddling my thumbs, but no, I don't feel like I'm on a treadmill doing a hamster imitation. And I'm even getting enough sleep!
Writing three term papers over the next 4 weeks may change my outlook, but only slightly I think. I am prepared and looking forward to writing.
So that's the major part of what I do. I always have a novel on the go - and that's my winding down time when I snuggle down into bed at night. I read a fantastic one by Louise Erdrich "Four Spirits" I think. Lovely gentle wry humor and good story. Also a slightly wistful one by Anne Tyler (one of my favorite authors) called "Ladder of Years." Right now I've just started one by Simon Winchester (author of "The Professor and the Madman" about the making of the OED) called "The Map that Changed the World" about William Smith who made the first geological map in the 17-somethings. Not exactly a novel, but gripping reading nonetheless.
Now that I've got over all my surgeries and things of the last year or so, I've started back at the gym again three mornings a week, lifting weights. Do I love it? Not really, but it's a great way to start the day - I always feel bursting with energy when I'm done - sort of like banging your head against a brick wall - great when it stops - and my body needs strength training - so it's getting it! I do love walking to and from school and around campus, and probably clock up an hour or more every day - that, or cycling. No roller blading - it's kind of boring to do on your own, and I haven't found a roller blading buddy yet. But I'm looking! And of course, contra dancing nearly every week, with some great bands, fun dancers, and new people to meet.
I think that's about all for today - and thank you all for keeping in touch with me even when I don't post blogs as often as I promised!
I have 60 students split into three classes which I teach back to back on Friday mornings. It's more of a guided discussion actually, reflecting and debating and clarifying things they've learned in the two lectures that week. And honestly, I could quite happily skip the studying and cut straight to the teaching at this point although, unfortunately, I need the further education to be able to do the further teaching. I am not required to but did hand out mid term evaluation forms to my students a couple of weeks ago, so that I could get some feedback on where I could tweak the classes into better shape - and was overwhelmed by the positive response! The overall message was "We love coming to your classes - we never liked these things before - everything from the lectures falls into place - you are so enthusiastic and passionate about your subject - when will you be lecturing because we want to come." Wow. It blew me away. I also love the one on one interaction with the students - they come and see me with questions relating to the course, and some with general academic fears (especially the freshmen) (don't I know that one), and they're often stopping me to just chat and tell me about things going on in their lives. I wonder if dyeing my hair magenta pink in September made any difference? No, probably not, but they sure did get a kick out of it! (It's nearly grown out now!)
While I was here in the summer before classes started, and was winding down from the last six months of thesis work, and easing myself into the new surroundings, I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could hang on to that feeling of well-being once classes started. And recognizing that being in a constant state of stress is not the best way to be muddling through from one semester to the next. I think just having that in mind helped me to approach this semester differently and behold (hineh as the Hebrews say) it is so. I have had about 10 weeks of classes and yes, I'm not sitting around twiddling my thumbs, but no, I don't feel like I'm on a treadmill doing a hamster imitation. And I'm even getting enough sleep!
Writing three term papers over the next 4 weeks may change my outlook, but only slightly I think. I am prepared and looking forward to writing.
So that's the major part of what I do. I always have a novel on the go - and that's my winding down time when I snuggle down into bed at night. I read a fantastic one by Louise Erdrich "Four Spirits" I think. Lovely gentle wry humor and good story. Also a slightly wistful one by Anne Tyler (one of my favorite authors) called "Ladder of Years." Right now I've just started one by Simon Winchester (author of "The Professor and the Madman" about the making of the OED) called "The Map that Changed the World" about William Smith who made the first geological map in the 17-somethings. Not exactly a novel, but gripping reading nonetheless.
Now that I've got over all my surgeries and things of the last year or so, I've started back at the gym again three mornings a week, lifting weights. Do I love it? Not really, but it's a great way to start the day - I always feel bursting with energy when I'm done - sort of like banging your head against a brick wall - great when it stops - and my body needs strength training - so it's getting it! I do love walking to and from school and around campus, and probably clock up an hour or more every day - that, or cycling. No roller blading - it's kind of boring to do on your own, and I haven't found a roller blading buddy yet. But I'm looking! And of course, contra dancing nearly every week, with some great bands, fun dancers, and new people to meet.
I think that's about all for today - and thank you all for keeping in touch with me even when I don't post blogs as often as I promised!
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