Whew. Are we two weeks into the New Year already? Can someone tell me how that happened?
I’ve been busy – trying to follow my one little word (see post below) where it’s taking me, and still snatch some time to breathe. This past week has been something of a wild ride. I am officially an adjunct professor, teaching two sections of freshman English, at ACU.
This has been one of my longtime dreams – particularly since I taught at another university in Fall 2008 and wished I were teaching at ACU. I’m back in the cozy camaraderie of my English department, where I spent four happy years as an undergraduate, and most of my former professors are now my colleagues – as well as my friends.
I have a total of 31 students, including at least 10 internationals, to whom I’m supposed to teach something about writing and arguments and rhetoric this semester. The planning has already taken up a lot of time and a lot of mental space – but I hope to adjust to the new rhythm soon.
I’m also trying to be brave in other ways – to try new recipes and knitting patterns (I’m learning how to read charts, which have scared me for years), to call and email friends about getting together, to read Gretchen’s book (which, so far, is totally fabulous) and really think about making small changes in various areas of my life. (I’ve also been missing Oxford, even more than usual, and thinking about planning a trip there again.)
With all this bravery, I definitely need some incubating time this weekend. Fortunately, it’s a long one – so I don’t work again until Tuesday. I’m planning to enjoy it very much – and I hope you do, too.
cakes, tea and dreams 
Good for you, Katie! I’d love to pick your brain sometime about your courses. I’ll email you!
Oh sweet Martin Luther King Jr. Day, how I love you. I need some incubating myself! And yay for being brave. That is probably my favorite word in the English language.
OOh. Bravery is a good thing. I too am trying to be bolder.
Sometimes I can be a bit of a shrinking violet. Thanks for the reminder.
I bet you are the most adorable adjunct English professor ACU has seen in a very long time! You are just precious! Those students of yours are very, very blessed. If you plan another trip to Oxford, may I be a stowaway in your suitcase, please?
Katie, I wish you a lot of luck in this new job. I adjuncted for a semester at my alma matter for an American Lit class and it was an incredibly rewarding experience, intellectually speaking.
I approve of bravery. I also approve of the alliteration in this post’s title. 🙂
Very cool about the professorship! I’ve always wanted to teach a college class… Hopefully I will, someday! Let us know how it goes.
Just caught up on your blog posts from the past month. Wonderful! May 2010 be your bravest year yet!
Found you from Twitter! I’m doing One Little Word too (Light). I’m doing a series of posts on how people are keeping their one little word alive through the year. The latest is here: http://bit.ly/549CXW
Stop by sometime! 🙂
xoxo
Lain
I think that posting on a blog is being brave. You’re being brave every day following what speaks to you. And incubating is good. Recharging, digesting. it makes us hungry again.
Maryse