It must be contagious...

No... Not El Gripe Puerco... Making an ass of yourself

I received my annual lecturer evaluation in my box and noticed that it said I didn't teach in Spring 2008.
So I asked the office who I should contact about this mistake. Then contacted the chair of the department, who investigated... and reported back to me...
Right, this is Spring 2009- when I am teaching. The letter is for Spring 2008- when I did not teach in the department...

I will survive

It's been my mantra this past week.
So far I've survived: teaching the WHOLE semester, grading 50 papers, and my first grad app. Still my in-laws to go!


If only I looked like that in red spandex pants and rollerskates!

First Day Dress Dilemma Solved

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/04/30/97-scarves/

A scarf... not typically worn by undergrads...
and as a bonus it's from Mexico... problem solved.

Students as Consumers

Suck on this Gonzo:
RYS

Preparing for the Semester

To Do BEFORE the semester starts:

1. Visit with potential future advisors?

2. Raise GRE score by at least 100 points.

3. Finish the readings for class.

4. Figure out if we're moving.

5. Figure out where I can GET IN!

6. Publish something, or at least submit it.

7. Cry a little.

8. Clean the house; purge it of unnecessary items (may include books, cat, and/or husband).

9. Lose weight.

10. Buy an iphone! (I bet this gets done first)

** Update:**

Did not complete anything on list, but did come up with a plan for Fall 2009:

Tick, Tick, Tick

book order to campus bookstore-Check!
letter of interest to chair- Check!

the sound of the HR job clock counting down!

Teachers are People Too

"Prof. F did you ever drink when you were in college?"
No. I was locked in a room on campus and only let out to attend classes and go to the library. I never drank or had any fun. All I did was read and write.*

"As the only White person in the class, I think..."
Dear students I too am White and a person.


*Despite the fact that this is currently all I do (plus teaching my little darlings), I did have moments of greatness as an undergrad. I looking forward to their return.

Jewels of Wisdom

As part of my TA training I was told that I shouldn't make the students feel as though I have more knowledge than them.
I guess that's a good stance... Let's have the intro students assume that I don't know anything about anthropology. Surely that will foster respect-filled classroom, where they don't text their friends, play on the Internet, etc. while I go over what ethnocentrism is for the 400th time.
And shouldn't I, as a graduate student, know more about not only anthropology, but also several other subjects than the first-time freshmen I will be teaching? Isn't that the point?!?
No. No. You're right, we're all equals.