2 credits down...34 to go

(my cute little home sweet home)

two weeks ago today, i sat down in my very first graduate class.

the classroom looked different than most that we are used to -

the chairs were arranged in a circle.

some had pull-out desks, some did not.

it was a bit unnerving for this concrete-sequential to sit in a circle

facing my peers,

being invited to share my thoughts and feelings...

i'm getting anxious just thinking about it :)

i put those thoughts aside as the teachers rose from their seats in the circle

to post sheets of butcher paper on the chalkboard

and invited us to list our expectations for the class,

"Effective Multicultural Teams."

Then, we proceeded to make lists of how to maximize our classroom time together

and which behaviors would minimize our learning.

as i opened my brand-new, fuschia composition notebook, the binding crackled

and i smiled, smelling the fresh paper and being reassured of just how much i love school.

those two weeks of school were very long (class from 830-515, M-F)

and very different,

but so enriching.

they are big into experiential learning here,

and it is very new but has inspired a LOT of personal growth

as well as some challenges as i learned how to effectively work in multicultural teams.

but i made it.

i completed my first 2 graduate credits,

and now it is the first week of my real semester.

morning classes from 830-1215, afternoon classes from 130-515.

(don't worry - i only have both sessions 1 day a week!)

independent study of italian for at least 4 hours every week

and studying for the spanish oral proficiency exam.

hopefully i'll get some work hours in too....a little income goes a long ways :)

i'm working on getting the Christian fellowship started on campus...

oh, and let's not forget about homework.

speaking of....i should go :)

xoxo

(this is how dorky we are in grad school: taking pictures with the posters that indicate our group process....)