Today isn’t actually the first day of classes for UTD, but it is MY first day of classes. We officially started back last Thursday, but since I only have classes on Monday & Tuesday (and TA on Wednesday), well, things are only really getting started for me today.
My TA assignment has changed this fall. Before, I was exclusively assigned to one professor, a man with whom I completely loved working and whose research interests have really helped to inform and shape my own. But due to many top-secret circumstances within the department, I’ve been reassigned to work on one of the journals housed within the UTD political science department as an editorial assistant, AND as a TA for a brand-new professor here. (He’s not a brand-new professor, but is just new here — he’s actually got a LOT of impressive experience elsewhere. He was department chair at his last school!)
Anyway, so I’m basically doubling my TA workload (for no more $$, of course), but as one of my journal colleagues said to me last week, we’re basically getting two CV entries at once by splitting our TA appointments this way, and so maybe a couple of semesters of busting my butt will be worth it. Plus, I just think it HAS to be a good thing to see how a journal really works firsthand, considering the important role journals play in the careers of academics.
Maybe the best part? I’m in a MUCH quieter office, where (if this morning is any indication) I will actually (shockingly!) be able to get work done! I’ve been here a couple of hours this morning and I’ve been a vision of productivity and organization. There are only three of us who office in this room (none of the others have really been here this morning), and I’m tucked away from view of passersby in the hallway, so there are FAR fewer interruptions. I think that’s great.
This is going to be a tougher semester than my last two. I’m now fully into my “major” coursework this fall, which means I’m taking three heavy reading classes (no stats, no math! eeks!). I have one required class left to complete the core, but it’s not offered again until the spring. The three professors I’m taking are relative unknowns; one is the guy I’m also TAing for, so he’s never taught here before and nobody really knows what to expect, and the other two have generally negative reputations among their former graduate students. Ugh.
I had hoped to go back home for the annual Beat Harrison football game. I haven’t been to one in two years and it feels like time for some Bomber football. However, unfortunately, the Harrison game is being played IN Harrison this year, the second year in a row — which SUCKS, since they generally alternate venues year to year. I can’t for the life of me figure out why they’d play away two years in a row. As much as I’d love to see Mountain Home beat Harrison on Harrison’s own field, I’m so in love with the atmosphere of Bomber Stadium that I’d much rather go to a home game. So I think Daniel and I are going to make a visit to my parents the weekend of the fair (the third weekend of September) to go to a football game and see Ma and Pa. I even think my cousin Tracy, who’s currently serving a stint in Iraq (she’s in the Army) may join us back home!
Not much else to tell you today… I’m just trying to get my head wrapped around the next couple of weeks of getting everything started with school and whatnot.
Oh, I do have one other thing: We went to see Talladega Nights last night, and I liked it! It wasn’t a spectacularly done movie, but it was definitely good for a few laughs. There was a woman a few seats down from us with an infant, which I thought was horribly inappropriate. Hey, it’s 7:45 on a Sunday night, let’s take the 6-month-old baby to the movies! Hello?!?!