First one’s the hardest?

Well, all the grades are in. Class websites are updated. I’ve locked my office door (at least for the next week or so). What a great feeling.

I’ve experienced A LOT over these last 4 months.

1. Moving is stressful – for anyone who has ever moved, you know, getting to a new place, settling in, making a home, is HARD. Add to that, a new country, culture and language, and it is an extremely challenging and draining situation. I’m very lucky to have had Jack to help diffuse some of the stress of the move.
2. A new job is stressful – learning the ropes at a new job can drive even the most competent person to distraction! Each new place you work has “the way it is DONE” – and it is ALWAYS different than the last place. Even the smallest, most seemingly inane things become huge chores as you figure out the paperwork, heirarchy and anarchy that is the norm at the new place.
3. Every academic semester (or quarter) is stressful – each new set of students provides a new set of challenges and rewards. No matter how frequently I teach a course, the trajectory of the semester is changed depending on the personalities of the students. There are some ubiquitous challenges, like staying on time, keeping integrity AND standards AND student confidence, maintaining a workable rapport, having a life outside of school. That is then overlain with the quirks of the particular semester/class/set of circumstances.

I’m feeling pretty good about the fact that I’ve managed ALL THREE of these, and come out on the other side only slightly worse for wear. I’ve learned A TON. I’ve already begun revising my plans for next semester. More importantly, I’ve begun to relax, so that I can enjoy the winter break.