First Week of the University

Well the title of this post is a misnomer. Last week was 'registration week, where all staff is supposed to show up, but now that students are able to register via the Internet, they don't need to. However, I was there, after carting a suitcase on wheels with CDs for students, books for academic purposes and many for give-aways, self-esteem posters I printed in color and then laminated to cover some bare spots on the walls, and my school laptop. I found plenty to do to keep me busy and three of my thesis advisees came in for advice, filling the empty moments. As of Thursday, the computer room, which I had secured a grant to create, was still a room with tables and chairs, but not computers. I was dreading what I would find today, but there was a pleasant shock when I unlocked the door and found ten Dell computers with ten IBM monitors set up and ready to go. This was the typical 'we will keep you guessing whether or not the work will be done on time', last minute Hungarian planning. Six of the computers were supposed to be hooked up to the Internet and though they had the cables, the Internet was not working. Minor problem. The greater problem now is that the entire minor program that I developed for the BA students that was supposedly approved, was not coded properly. Ten of them managed to get in, but 35 MA students were at the door wanting to join the Intro to Journalism course. Keeping them out was like stopping a stampede of gerbils. This problem seems to be in the resolution stage, but may not be resolved before the students are dropped and then have to register yet again. There is always something to bring out the black cloud regardless how much preparing one does. However, I do learn from each semester. Today, I used the laptop and projector. Projecting the syllabus on the wall, we could review it together. Student copies are on their CD rom. Three of my classes will be responsible for blogging, but each class will blog for different reasons. With the computer and projector going, I was able to display the journalism blog, explain what they were to do, and show them the goodies I have added to the sidebar. Besides academic sources, I included an online game, and a fortune telling cookie add-on. The thinking is that these may entice them to return to the blog other than when they are required to be writing on it. An experient for this semester. Today was also the beginning of my new tutor and advising program. I have three tutors who will have two students each. The tutors are tops in their writing abilities and I created MLA booklets for each of them. They met their charges today and I will supervise them in the Writing Center. I am charged, hoping this is a success story. Live and learn, teach and learn.

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Has It Been That Long?

It is difficult to believe I have not been here since February 20th, but where have I been? When I was a child, people would tell me as well as others that as you age, time will start to speed by. On those lazy summer afternoons when no friends were around, it was difficult to comprehend. I could easily repeat these words of wisdom to those younger than I, but they would not believe it any more than I did. What has kept me busy is school. With the laptop, I am spending many more hours in my office than I have in the past; it allows me to be productive with less distractions. Though I do find that students seem to find me there more often now, just happening to be passing by and wondering if I am there, but these are pleasant breaks. During these times, it has not always been school work that has captured my attention. I was hired to write a travel article "72 Hours in Budapest", which I did at the office. I had to do it in Track Changes mode so the editor could see what was changed from the last edition to my work. Almost the entire article was carved to shreds and rewritten, making the document red, blue, and with a white background look very patriotic. Only minor spots of black remained, which were the original words. I e-mailed it to myself to polish it off over the weekend, save it to my desktop, and then mail it off. However, I did not realize my settings in Word were different and when I started typing the colors were not the same. Changing the settings in my Word at home, did not seem to make a difference. I would up redoing the whole thing yet again, then mailed it off. The next day, the editor responded, loving the article, and had no changes for me to make. She offered me another piece; this new one is "The Business Traveler to Budapest". Sometimes I feel like the oracle of knowledge. Other instructors have asked me how to convert their VHS tapes to DVD, where to find other movies they use for class in English other than ordering online, how to do this or that. Students have dozens of questions about things in general and asking for advice that is not school related. Potential guests write asking about Budapest advice, strangers who have no intention of staying with us ask similar questions. Ryan knows, Dr. James would know have become the mantra for an increasing number of people. It is wonderful to be recognized, but I need some time for me and have not had any for a long time. Today, our kitchen computer started with the BLUE screen, the horror of all computer owners. Each time I used the keyboard, the BLUE screen would come up and shut it down. It took all day to uninstall, reinstall, use system restore, and lots of Googling to figure out the problem, but it is still unresolved. I had to revert back to the corded laptop, but the optical mouse still works fine. The problem with the other keyboard is that it is a Hungarian one. Everything is mixed up from what I am used to using. That is all for today, I am off for my Primal Scream therapy.

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Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut...

and sometimes you don't. If you remember that slogan, you are most likely American who saw the ads for Almond Joys and Mounds. I am paraphrasing it to sometimes you feel like a slug and sometimes you don't. I am not sure I can say I have been a slug lately, but certainly not interested in sitting at the computer for productive reasons. Non-productive reasons have drawn me to the keyboard, admittedly. My other excuse is that I have blogs for each of my Ethnicity, Critical Thinking, and Gender Issues in Film classes, which also keep me busy. We went to brunch with Chris and Mark at Eklectika, the favorite restaurant of all of us. They make great omelets and the service is usually the best in the city. Three topics dominated the conversation: Crocs, London, and their leaving. I had bought my first pair on Crocs while on vacation in Cape Town. It was an impulsive purchase, but they felt comfortable and I have problems with my feet bones. When I came home, I realized that they were the most comfortable shoes I have worn that are not Birkenstocks. Then the dilemma of how to get more. It was then that I had noticed Chris and Mark both had a pair that they bought here in Budapest. It turns out that Crocs are from Boulder, Colorado. They have them at the Overland stores here, so this was a highlight of conversation while eating. www.crocs.com Chris and Mark are leaving for a long weekend in London this next week. They are going to see Eqqus with "Harry Potter" Daniel Radcliffe. http://www.equustheplay.com/cc/daniel_radcliffe.php The boy wizard will be doing a nude scene, so this kept us chattering for a time also. I am a little green with envy they they are doing theater at all in a language we all understand. I remember, but did not see the original Broadway production of Equus with Anthony Perkins, many moons ago. The third topic of conversation was not as upbeat for Ron and I. Chris and Mark know they are leaving Hungary, most likely at the end of summer or the beginning of fall. They are not sure if it will be back to the States or somewhere else. The two of them have been a boon to our social life, but Mark especially has been a godsend for Ron. For the first time in a long time, he has a 'buddy' to pal around with. They discuss museum things and meet for coffees, giving Ron a social outlet he has long needed. Their leaving is going to be traumatic. We really need to make more friends. Well actually there was a fourth topic, but primarily between Chris and I. Chris is trying to donate through his company, ten computers to the American Studies department at our university. Sadly, our current campus with thousands of students only has a computer lab with twenty computers, but ten of them are now working at any given time. The English department has their own computer lab through some special grant, but will not let any other department use them. No one in my faculty seems to be motivated to look for grants, so Chris's offer is a dream come true. Now it is a matter of getting his people to speak to my people to make it all happen and happen before he leaves. I hate being in the middle of things like this. I would not like losing face on either side, but it would be worse if I lost it with the university not following through. My contract is up for renewal in August; this may be a boost, though I do not think I need one.

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