I apologize for the gap in the articles. A lot has happened since the end of August. Among those changes is losing internet until it is installed in my new home. Realistically, I could be writing these in my new office, but I am still getting my bearings with my new situation. I still haven’t found a good pseudonym for this place, but I am sure it will reveal itself in due time.
Aside from the technical issues that accompany a new move, things are looking up since my departure from Romulus University. I suppose that there is truth in the adage that a change of scenery often does a person good. You would think that I would remember that after I transferred from Remus to Romulus, but five years tends to erase certain memories.
This new haven feels like another culture shock. The differences between Romulus and here are almost as stark as my last move. Buildings do not look like they are teetering on collapse. Equipment looks relatively new, at least to me. Everything looks well maintained. There is ample space for faculty and students to get things done. Unlike at Romulus, where getting a “new” couch in the student union was newsworthy, this place has seating and a whole lot more creature comforts than my previous two institutions combined.
On top of that, the students seem to care. They sound like they have direction. They talk about future goals and aspirations. Crazier still, they contribute in classroom discussions. I wasn’t anticipating as much as I have received so far. It’s almost like they read the textbook or pay attention in class. I can’t remember the last time that I had anything close to this level of engagement in the last ten years.
Ever since I earned my doctorate from Shadoe State, I have rarely had students get involved in class discussions. At Remus, it was because nobody showed up to class, and the chairs don’t make the best conversationalists. At Romulus, students were there to play sports, and judging by how well they could catch a pass, I wondered if they even showed up to practice. Regardless of the school environment, nobody was talking in my classes.
What I have now is a welcome change of pace. I don’t know if it is because I am the new flavor on campus or because these kids genuinely want to learn, but I’m getting a warm feeling I haven’t felt in a long time. I just hope this feeling isn’t fleeting. I do kinda really like this place so far.
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