School, Day One!
Monday, September 17th
Well, today was my first day of class. It was a bit anticlimactic though, as I only had one class, Greek, and we spent the hour going through the Greek alphabet (which I already know). Don’t get me wrong though, I am by no means unhappy or disappointed. I’m glad to be starting Greek form the very beginning again. I hope this time I can make it stick, so I’ve got a semester of hard work ahead of me. As for the other classes. . . Well, one of them (my research training course) only meets every other Tuesday, so I won’t have that till next week. I have one more class and I’m not entirely sure what it is yet. I am trying to choose from two, both of which will be meeting tomorrow. The plan is to go to them both tomorrow, get a feel for them, and then make a choice. I think I know which I’ll choose, but I’m trying to keep an open mind. And those are my classes for the semester. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? Well don’t worry, it will be. Greek itself should keep me pretty busy with all the memorization and drilling I need to do. I will also, of course, have to get started on my dissertation. I have a vague idea of the kind of topic I want to do (something about performance in festival processions, possibly in Athens), but I’ll need to do some work to narrow that down a bit. It is also looking like I will be the postgrad representative on the Classics liaison committee. Now don’t ask me what that is because, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure myself. I know it will give me some experience in administrative stuff in higher education, which is why I’m doing it, but beyond that I am not sure. It’s not set in stone yet, but I think I am the only one who actually wants to do it, so I may just get to do it by default, but we’ll see.
After my one class today I went over to the QMU (Queen Margaret Union, did I ever mention that is what it was called?) for a lunch thing sponsored by the LGBT group on campus. It was a bit dull, but I’m getting myself into the habit of going to things, so that’s good. I stayed for about an hour and then made my way over to the gym and worked out for a bit (another thing I am determined to get into the habit of doing). It felt really great to be doing something physical, and the gym has a sauna which I LOVE. Really, It’s the main reason I go there. On the cold, blustery days here in Glasgow it is a real delight. Not that Glasgow weather compares in any way to Minnesota, but getting an extra dose of warm is always welcome.
After the gym I was able to meet with my course convener (advisor) and came up with my plan of testing classes tomorrow. She gave me some other good info, and we had a very nice chat. She seems very nice and supportive. This may not come out right, but she seems to be very on board with what I want to do, and at times even impressed by my experience and what I hope to do. The narcissist in me might just be imagining that, but I very much like her. I’m getting a really great feeling from. . .Well, everything! My department, the school, this city. It all just feels good! Now I know ‘m an eternal optimist and I’d try to give myself that feeling wherever I go, but it doesn’t feel like I’m pushing it here. There hasn’t been a single moment where I have regretted my decision. I’ve never felt like I was forcing a smile, trying to fake it until things got better. I feel good. I also feel like I’m finally going somewhere again. I had some pretty great times over the past year and a half, met some fantastic people, did some great things, but I felt like I was in a rut and I don’t feel that anymore. I guess the short version of this little rant is that I’m happy, so there you go.
Once my meeting was finished I came home, had a nice, leisurely supper, watched the new episode of Downton Abbey again (watched it last night too, so good!), and now I’m writing this. In a bit I will be heading back to campus to check out the photography club with Vicky and then maybe grabbing a drink. We’ll see.
PEACE!
Well, today was my first day of class. It was a bit anticlimactic though, as I only had one class, Greek, and we spent the hour going through the Greek alphabet (which I already know). Don’t get me wrong though, I am by no means unhappy or disappointed. I’m glad to be starting Greek form the very beginning again. I hope this time I can make it stick, so I’ve got a semester of hard work ahead of me. As for the other classes. . . Well, one of them (my research training course) only meets every other Tuesday, so I won’t have that till next week. I have one more class and I’m not entirely sure what it is yet. I am trying to choose from two, both of which will be meeting tomorrow. The plan is to go to them both tomorrow, get a feel for them, and then make a choice. I think I know which I’ll choose, but I’m trying to keep an open mind. And those are my classes for the semester. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? Well don’t worry, it will be. Greek itself should keep me pretty busy with all the memorization and drilling I need to do. I will also, of course, have to get started on my dissertation. I have a vague idea of the kind of topic I want to do (something about performance in festival processions, possibly in Athens), but I’ll need to do some work to narrow that down a bit. It is also looking like I will be the postgrad representative on the Classics liaison committee. Now don’t ask me what that is because, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure myself. I know it will give me some experience in administrative stuff in higher education, which is why I’m doing it, but beyond that I am not sure. It’s not set in stone yet, but I think I am the only one who actually wants to do it, so I may just get to do it by default, but we’ll see.
After my one class today I went over to the QMU (Queen Margaret Union, did I ever mention that is what it was called?) for a lunch thing sponsored by the LGBT group on campus. It was a bit dull, but I’m getting myself into the habit of going to things, so that’s good. I stayed for about an hour and then made my way over to the gym and worked out for a bit (another thing I am determined to get into the habit of doing). It felt really great to be doing something physical, and the gym has a sauna which I LOVE. Really, It’s the main reason I go there. On the cold, blustery days here in Glasgow it is a real delight. Not that Glasgow weather compares in any way to Minnesota, but getting an extra dose of warm is always welcome.
After the gym I was able to meet with my course convener (advisor) and came up with my plan of testing classes tomorrow. She gave me some other good info, and we had a very nice chat. She seems very nice and supportive. This may not come out right, but she seems to be very on board with what I want to do, and at times even impressed by my experience and what I hope to do. The narcissist in me might just be imagining that, but I very much like her. I’m getting a really great feeling from. . .Well, everything! My department, the school, this city. It all just feels good! Now I know ‘m an eternal optimist and I’d try to give myself that feeling wherever I go, but it doesn’t feel like I’m pushing it here. There hasn’t been a single moment where I have regretted my decision. I’ve never felt like I was forcing a smile, trying to fake it until things got better. I feel good. I also feel like I’m finally going somewhere again. I had some pretty great times over the past year and a half, met some fantastic people, did some great things, but I felt like I was in a rut and I don’t feel that anymore. I guess the short version of this little rant is that I’m happy, so there you go.
Once my meeting was finished I came home, had a nice, leisurely supper, watched the new episode of Downton Abbey again (watched it last night too, so good!), and now I’m writing this. In a bit I will be heading back to campus to check out the photography club with Vicky and then maybe grabbing a drink. We’ll see.
PEACE!