After I got to Wisconsin last August, I only had eleven days between my arrival here and when I had to teach my first class. I’ve taught classes on short notice before, but I’ve almost always done so at places where I’ve already been teaching, so I have some idea about curriculum requirements and the like before I start planning things out. Trying to put together classes in less than two weeks when I’ve not only never taught at an institution before, but I’ve gone…
Later this month, I will mark the first anniversary of my arrival here in Wisconsin. This summer has been challenging for me because of all the work I’ve taken on here, which can sometimes make me feel like I’ve been here all my life taking care of it, but when I’m able to take a step back and think about my adventures here in Wisconsin within the broader scope of my life so far, it kind of feels like I just got here last week.…
There are events in your life that happen at a time when you can kind of recognize that they aren’t all that bad, but seeing things from that perspective is nearly impossible due to how you’re being affected by the events as they happen. I had one of those days last week, and by “last week” I mean right now as I’m typing this up, but I’m going to save posting this until my usual Monday publishing schedule. I’m just trying to get words down…
Summer hasn’t quite come to Wisconsin yet, but it should finally get here tomorrow. Temperatures around these parts have been slightly below average these past couple of weeks, reminding me of mid-spring weather back home in Toledo, and that’s definitely a good thing for my mood. Mid-spring weather was always my favourite in Toledo, that longest span of the year when everyone can keep their windows open twenty-four hours a day and no one runs their air conditioners, so the smells of new flora follow…
If you’re looking for a line of work where it’s relatively easy to become well-liked, teaching probably isn’t for you. That’s not to say that it’s impossible to have students and/or colleagues like you — I’ve certainly had my fair share of both — but the heart of your work is convincing a lot of people, more and more of whom have grown up with the instant gratification of modern technology burnt into their synapses at an early age, to set aside those enjoyments and…