What are we talking about today?

I'll get back to theme days once I find a groove of posting regularly. In the meantime, most of my posts are about some variation of books, bikes, buses, or Broadway. Plus bits about writing, nonprofits, and grief from time to time.

This blog is mostly lighthearted and pretty silly. It's not about the terrible things happening in the world, but please know that I'm not ignoring those things. I just generally don't write about them here.

24 January 2011

New Semester. New Blog. New Classmates.

This semester, I have three rhetoric classes. Yipee! I'm loving it already. I also have two others: A linguistics/science class and a "signature" course for freshmen that is part of UT's core curriculum, and which I am required to take despite being 1) A transfer student, 2) A senior, and 3) 32 years old. More on that (the class, not my age) anon.

Two of my three rhetoric classes are with the same teacher, and her method of class participation and grading is for us to each create a blog for posting assignments and commenting. As you all have probably learned by now, I'm among the world's worst commenters. And yet, it is required, so who knows? Perhaps this new habit will carry over when I visit the rest of the blogosphere. In the meantime, if you are desperate to know what a rhetoric student writes about, you can come visit me at Rhetorically Speaking. There is a list of my classmates' blogs there, too, if you are really really interested.

Since the new blog is listed on my profile right next to Cheekyness, some of my delightful classmates may wander over here from time to time. Which is fine (hello, delightful classmates! Shouldn't you be studying?), but unfortunately that does preclude me from giving them all nicknames and telling you amusing stories about them. Which is a pity, because I was already plotting a couple of good ones, but I've decided I'd like to actually have some friends.

So, about the signature course. This is my last class with the freshies, and I'm not at all sorry about that, but I do intend to squeeze all the delightfulness out of these baby geniuses that I can while I have to be with them. The actual class is one of those massive 200+ people lectures, but there is a discussion section with 15 people, which is much more manageable. At our first meeting last Thursday, they kept me giggling without even knowing it.

In addition to all the freshie-babies in the discussion section is another energetic young man, hereafter known as New Guy, who is a non-trad like myself (although I'm still the old one in the class, dangit). He's brand-new to college this semester, and he said something about his first week being like "drinking from a fire hose", which the TA misunderstood to think he meant he had been hitting the bars. I guess that's not as common an expression as I thought? Or maybe it's just her. Anyway, after class I took a flying leap out of my normal comfort zone to introduce myself to New Guy, welcome him to UT, and assure him that the non-trad life is totally worth it and lots of fun. He seems really enthusiastic about this new adventure, and if my own experience is anything to go by, he'll need every drop of that enthusiasm.

What's your favourite clever expression/cliché?

12 comments:

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

I'm tired just reading your schedule. Cliche thinking is out. Take care!

Faith said...

Blog posting as an assignment?! How novel! What an interesting way of incorporating technology into the classroom.

Talli Roland said...

Glad you're enjoying your classes so far!

Su said...

@Mary: It's not too bad in terms of actual class time, but I did have a small panic attack when I wrote down all my due dates in my planner last Friday! Yikes!

@Faith: I think so, too. Plus, I think that has to be much easier to grade.

@Talli: Thanks! Me, too.

Anonymous said...

as a counselor its you can lead a horse to water but you can't make 'em drink.

Su said...

And a very good one that is, especially for university students. :) I don't remember when I learned that expression, but I do remember my mum had a hard time trying to explain it to me.

erica and christy said...

I'm sorry I have no cliche for you, but how nice that you stepped out of your comfort zone to offer New Guy some comfort. There are plenty of times I should do the same. I'm sure he appreciated it. Thanks, Christy

Su said...

Yeah, I walked away quite surprised at myself... normally I'm the student who doesn't talk to anyone!

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Dangerous to be asking if your classmates shouldn't be studying when they could ask the same of you, she says laughing.

Su said...

Hee hee, don't be giving them ideas! ;)

Michelle in a shell said...

Here's to new semesters!

Su said...

I'm enjoying the "new" as long as I can, before it becomes "Ugh!" :)