The end of the madness

Jan 7, 2009

Well, I gotta say that 2008 was one of the most difficult years I have had the pleasure of encountering so far.  With that incredibly difficult semester behind me I can honestly say that it was almost too much to handle.  I was coming close to my breaking point and I didn't even realize it until Will gave me that glorious pampering week of doing absolutely nothing.

I do not like teaching a 24 hour teaching load under the best of circumstances (24 hours in the classroom, not including meetings, responsibilities, and preperation) and this was not the best of circumstances.  I was yanked out of my well planned well prepared computer courses to teach English classes at the last minute.  Worse, it was a level of English I have never taught before and it wasn't just one level, it was two different levels.
Yes I did get a lot of compliments, including from my big boss who told me it was nice that I was so flexible and capable and is rewarding me with a very different class for next semester.  The up coming year is looking brighter already.  Sort of.
My load of classes is now over.  and I have two weeks to get use to the new schedule before I get my two week vacation.
So what I am up to next?  Believe it or not, they have me down for teaching Business Technology.  I was told a lot of different things about this lovely plan, but the primary reason I was put into this position was that "you are just so flexible. You may be the most capable person we have for teaching this course".  In addition, I am so very good with computers (it is like some weird gift... or maybe some kind of curse) that I have been asked to take on an additional duty (with additional pay thank you very much) as the Coordinator of Laptops for the students.  That means when they have a tech problem they see me first and the IT people second.  Sounds like fun to me.
And today they had me write up a proposal for how I would use Second Life as a tool for business instruction and English instruction.  Yeah baby.  A full proposal with the educational basis and the budget necessary. And chances are really good that I will be spearheading the Faculty training to use Second Life here.  We will get our own island and everything... rockin cool!
So the madness has ended, and it begins again in about four weeks.  Perhaps not quite as hectic (I finished my Harvard class and am getting the lovely certificate that comes with it) or as time consuming (the Panto is over... no more lines to learn), but still an experience I know will be unlike any other I have had thus yet.
Here is hoping that your new year looks as bright as mine!