BBQ & TA
So I just got back from the History student BBQ, which was a blast. I love that our department so enjoys hanging out together. It was such a weird demonstration of how far I've come in grad school and in the department, from how unsure and a bit shy I was at last year's BBQ and how comfortable and confident I felt this year. I had to really take a moment to think about how quickly that first year of grad school really went by, and how it's so strange to be at the next year's BBQ again so soon! It hit me weird the other day when I saw the sign up for "Greek Festival!" and I was like "oh they must do that a couple times a year then!" until I realized that no, it's annual, because it's been a whole year already! Strange. It was a big year.
I am so excited about our new MA students, despite their lack of name diversity (Our department now has three Phils, Three Christie/Kristis, and three Joes. - but luckily just two Amys so far) they all seem quite nice and sociable. I'm excited my cubicle is next to Philip's so that I can get to know him better, and that Christie is so psyched to go to the Atomic Cowboy with me on Thursday! I just think they're a good addition to the group. There's a lot of them though! More new people than our class I think. In a way I'm a little sad I picked taking Old English over Madden's studies class, because a lot of them are taking it (plus Koen too) and it would have been a good way to get to know them. I'm determined to make it to all the happy hours this year, to get lots of good mingling time in with my SLU people.
The BBQ was a blast - SUCH a huge smorgasbord of food (I contributed 7 up and a huge bag of peanut m&ms) and grilled meats - David was a wonderful host. I was also glad to see Koen again and meet his girlfriend Julie. She seems great and suggested we go on some double dates, which I am all about. It was good to see everyone and I'm so glad Patrick was there even though he's off teaching elsewhere in St. Louis now, because he really is one of my favorite people in St. Louis. SO nice. He had some good wedding advice for me and Casey.
I was happy to bring Casey to the BBQ tonight because I love being able to bring him into my world for a little while. It feels great to know that he knows enough people here now that I can leave him alone while I go mingle elsewhere and talk about history, and he'll be perfectly content having his own conversations. He seems well received by the historians too - probably because he shares a lot of nerdy interests and its always easy to get people talking about movies. It makes me happy that he can come be a part of my life so easily and have as good a time as I do accompanying him to cast parties. It's nice to visit in each others' worlds.
I am excited to start the TA thing on Monday. I think it will be good! Dr. Hitchcock seems like a very nice man, and he's so laidback about everything. We don't have the same amount of responsibilities with him as some of the other TAs do for their professors, so this should be a good easing into the TA experience. I just hope the whole book situation gets sorted out. He may have ordered the wrong book, and I don't think his syllabus is meant to go with the book that the students are going to be bringing to class on Monday. Eek! Hope that works out okay. I really like the book he ordered by mistake though - it has a lot of great online tools for teachers like primary documents and discussion questions and stuff that I plan on going over. I think it will help me learn to formulate good discussion questions and see what makes a good primary source reading for when I have to find them and come up with them myself later on!
I hope my students like me. I think I'm going to go over my Miller notes to remember how much FUN I had in his history classes, sort of think about how he made discussions so enjoyable, and try to bring some of that into my class. I will also chat with my mom a lot about teaching this year I imagine - she's such a good teacher and I know as I start out that she'll be a great source of help and advice. I'm kind of excited to share that 'teacher' experience and have that in common with my mom!
It's midnight. Casey and I didn't watch any Alias today. Weird. I don't know when was the last day I can say that about...
I am so excited about our new MA students, despite their lack of name diversity (Our department now has three Phils, Three Christie/Kristis, and three Joes. - but luckily just two Amys so far) they all seem quite nice and sociable. I'm excited my cubicle is next to Philip's so that I can get to know him better, and that Christie is so psyched to go to the Atomic Cowboy with me on Thursday! I just think they're a good addition to the group. There's a lot of them though! More new people than our class I think. In a way I'm a little sad I picked taking Old English over Madden's studies class, because a lot of them are taking it (plus Koen too) and it would have been a good way to get to know them. I'm determined to make it to all the happy hours this year, to get lots of good mingling time in with my SLU people.
The BBQ was a blast - SUCH a huge smorgasbord of food (I contributed 7 up and a huge bag of peanut m&ms) and grilled meats - David was a wonderful host. I was also glad to see Koen again and meet his girlfriend Julie. She seems great and suggested we go on some double dates, which I am all about. It was good to see everyone and I'm so glad Patrick was there even though he's off teaching elsewhere in St. Louis now, because he really is one of my favorite people in St. Louis. SO nice. He had some good wedding advice for me and Casey.
I was happy to bring Casey to the BBQ tonight because I love being able to bring him into my world for a little while. It feels great to know that he knows enough people here now that I can leave him alone while I go mingle elsewhere and talk about history, and he'll be perfectly content having his own conversations. He seems well received by the historians too - probably because he shares a lot of nerdy interests and its always easy to get people talking about movies. It makes me happy that he can come be a part of my life so easily and have as good a time as I do accompanying him to cast parties. It's nice to visit in each others' worlds.
I am excited to start the TA thing on Monday. I think it will be good! Dr. Hitchcock seems like a very nice man, and he's so laidback about everything. We don't have the same amount of responsibilities with him as some of the other TAs do for their professors, so this should be a good easing into the TA experience. I just hope the whole book situation gets sorted out. He may have ordered the wrong book, and I don't think his syllabus is meant to go with the book that the students are going to be bringing to class on Monday. Eek! Hope that works out okay. I really like the book he ordered by mistake though - it has a lot of great online tools for teachers like primary documents and discussion questions and stuff that I plan on going over. I think it will help me learn to formulate good discussion questions and see what makes a good primary source reading for when I have to find them and come up with them myself later on!
I hope my students like me. I think I'm going to go over my Miller notes to remember how much FUN I had in his history classes, sort of think about how he made discussions so enjoyable, and try to bring some of that into my class. I will also chat with my mom a lot about teaching this year I imagine - she's such a good teacher and I know as I start out that she'll be a great source of help and advice. I'm kind of excited to share that 'teacher' experience and have that in common with my mom!
It's midnight. Casey and I didn't watch any Alias today. Weird. I don't know when was the last day I can say that about...