My First Day
Well, as of 5:30 on Monday night, I truly became a college student. I left work at 4:00 for my 5:30 English class. I wasn't really sure how long it might take me to go from Russellville to Bowling Green via Franklin so I went straight there, stopping only at a convenience store for a drink and a snack to try to calm the nerves. (I think that is called emotional eating.)
I made it to campus in 55 minutes and was planning to park in faculty parking right near the building but that is only allowed after 5:00 so I decided to cruise around the block several times to keep from violating that rule too badly. Kris called me just as I was approaching campus and said she was on her way to park in the same lot and if I would wait, she would walk with me to my building. Given the amount of students milling about, I didn't mind the offer for company on my first trek through the teeming masses. I cruised the block once but it was only 4:57 so I decided once more around would get me close enough to 5:00. I was chatting with Kris on my phone and rounded a corner and, not realizing there was a crosswalk there, nearly creamed two Indian students. The poor fellas jumped backed frightened, as I jolted to a stop and waved my apologies, and they proceeded across the street. I cruised the second time and that brought me to 4:59 and I decided that was close enough to 5:00 that I'd better park rather than attempt a 3rd time around...who knows I might actually smoosh someone the next time.
Kris got there a few minutes later and we went to Cherry Hall, right across the street. After wandering down some stairs and through several sets of double doors, we finally found my classroom. Kris then headed off to her own building as I wandered back down the hall thinking that I had seen a bathroom on my way. I couldn't find it on my floor and, rather than confirm that I didn't know where I was going to the people sitting in the hall, I simply went back to my room and cautiously entered.
There were three ladies sitting in the room and I asked if this was for sure English 100. They said it was and one of the girls asked me where I am staying. Unsure of what she wanted, I replied that I live in Franklin. "You Amish?" was her next blunt question to which I replied that I am Mennonite. She stared at me blankly for a second and then went on to her next target. My entrance to the room evidently gave a few girls in the hall the courage to come in as well and they entered a few seconds after I did. She turned to them and asked them where they are staying. They told her the name of their dorms and she said "Oh, good!! That's my dorm. We can study together." Several more girls entered and each one got the same question, with anyone that was in her dorm getting the same pronouncement as a study partner. Previous targets were exchanging looks and smiling behind their hands as each new person was targeted.
She turned to me and wanted to know again where I was staying. I told her, again, that I'm from Franklin. "Is that on campus?" she asked. I smiled kindly as a few people in the room snickered a little and told her that Franklin is actually a town about 30 minutes south of Bowling Green. One girl told me that her family is from Franklin and another said that her mother works at a factory in Franklin. Somehow (in the fluster of the being the only person in the room being grilled, I kinda forget how) the subject of me working in Russellville came up so I got to give those present a short story of my life at present: work south of Russellville, work for O & S, working full-time, long drive to BG, etc. I definitely was not in my comfort zone of being a silent observer. Eventually, enough people arrived that other little conversations broke out and the heat was off of me.
It was beginning to storm outside and the last few people into the room were drenched. Mr. C, the teacher, finally entered the room a bit late. He had been waiting for the storm to abate and when it finally did, he made a run for it, just as the skies let loose another torrent of rain. Mr. C started handing out the syllabus and as he came around, he paused, looked at me, and said "You look familiar" and proceeded on around the room. I was very grateful that he didn't expound to the class on the fact that he had previously taught two of my sisters and that, yes, they were very smart and how he was expecting the same thing out of me.
Much to my dismay, it turns out that I'm the only non-traditional student in the class. Usually, night classes are made up of more non-traditional students but could I be that lucky? I think not!! When talking about e-mailing us information, he asked if there is anyone that comes straight from work and there I was, the Lone Ranger. He said that he'd talk to me after class and went on.
And, of course, the book of essays that both Kris & Sara used...extinct. They have revised it and now I have to pay around $45 for the new book. Mr. C didn't have the new one so he looked through it and found one that exists in both books and gave that as the assignment. He plans to look through it and if he plans to use any of the new essays I may have to get the new book. Grrr
He had us take a diagnostic test and then dismissed us early. I waited until he was through with other the students and then approached the desk. He then inquired about my sisters and said he was surprised that they hadn't scared me away. I told him that they both said that he could teach me to write essays and since that is what I'm after, I chose to take his class. I told him that the thing that could have intimidated me was the fact that Kris & Sara had both taken that class and that he might have Great Expectations for me. He laughed and promised that he would not bring up my sisters. He came after three siblings and two came after him so he knows what it's like. How comforting.
We left the room at the same time so he walked me to the front door and we chatted about various things on the way. He seems to be a very nice man and I think that I'll like him, although I'm not so sure about the class. Actually, I'm pretty sure I won't enjoy the essays part of the class.
Oh, and the essay? Gay Marriages: Make Them Legal, how's that for a hot topic?
I made it to campus in 55 minutes and was planning to park in faculty parking right near the building but that is only allowed after 5:00 so I decided to cruise around the block several times to keep from violating that rule too badly. Kris called me just as I was approaching campus and said she was on her way to park in the same lot and if I would wait, she would walk with me to my building. Given the amount of students milling about, I didn't mind the offer for company on my first trek through the teeming masses. I cruised the block once but it was only 4:57 so I decided once more around would get me close enough to 5:00. I was chatting with Kris on my phone and rounded a corner and, not realizing there was a crosswalk there, nearly creamed two Indian students. The poor fellas jumped backed frightened, as I jolted to a stop and waved my apologies, and they proceeded across the street. I cruised the second time and that brought me to 4:59 and I decided that was close enough to 5:00 that I'd better park rather than attempt a 3rd time around...who knows I might actually smoosh someone the next time.
Kris got there a few minutes later and we went to Cherry Hall, right across the street. After wandering down some stairs and through several sets of double doors, we finally found my classroom. Kris then headed off to her own building as I wandered back down the hall thinking that I had seen a bathroom on my way. I couldn't find it on my floor and, rather than confirm that I didn't know where I was going to the people sitting in the hall, I simply went back to my room and cautiously entered.
There were three ladies sitting in the room and I asked if this was for sure English 100. They said it was and one of the girls asked me where I am staying. Unsure of what she wanted, I replied that I live in Franklin. "You Amish?" was her next blunt question to which I replied that I am Mennonite. She stared at me blankly for a second and then went on to her next target. My entrance to the room evidently gave a few girls in the hall the courage to come in as well and they entered a few seconds after I did. She turned to them and asked them where they are staying. They told her the name of their dorms and she said "Oh, good!! That's my dorm. We can study together." Several more girls entered and each one got the same question, with anyone that was in her dorm getting the same pronouncement as a study partner. Previous targets were exchanging looks and smiling behind their hands as each new person was targeted.
She turned to me and wanted to know again where I was staying. I told her, again, that I'm from Franklin. "Is that on campus?" she asked. I smiled kindly as a few people in the room snickered a little and told her that Franklin is actually a town about 30 minutes south of Bowling Green. One girl told me that her family is from Franklin and another said that her mother works at a factory in Franklin. Somehow (in the fluster of the being the only person in the room being grilled, I kinda forget how) the subject of me working in Russellville came up so I got to give those present a short story of my life at present: work south of Russellville, work for O & S, working full-time, long drive to BG, etc. I definitely was not in my comfort zone of being a silent observer. Eventually, enough people arrived that other little conversations broke out and the heat was off of me.
It was beginning to storm outside and the last few people into the room were drenched. Mr. C, the teacher, finally entered the room a bit late. He had been waiting for the storm to abate and when it finally did, he made a run for it, just as the skies let loose another torrent of rain. Mr. C started handing out the syllabus and as he came around, he paused, looked at me, and said "You look familiar" and proceeded on around the room. I was very grateful that he didn't expound to the class on the fact that he had previously taught two of my sisters and that, yes, they were very smart and how he was expecting the same thing out of me.
Much to my dismay, it turns out that I'm the only non-traditional student in the class. Usually, night classes are made up of more non-traditional students but could I be that lucky? I think not!! When talking about e-mailing us information, he asked if there is anyone that comes straight from work and there I was, the Lone Ranger. He said that he'd talk to me after class and went on.
And, of course, the book of essays that both Kris & Sara used...extinct. They have revised it and now I have to pay around $45 for the new book. Mr. C didn't have the new one so he looked through it and found one that exists in both books and gave that as the assignment. He plans to look through it and if he plans to use any of the new essays I may have to get the new book. Grrr
He had us take a diagnostic test and then dismissed us early. I waited until he was through with other the students and then approached the desk. He then inquired about my sisters and said he was surprised that they hadn't scared me away. I told him that they both said that he could teach me to write essays and since that is what I'm after, I chose to take his class. I told him that the thing that could have intimidated me was the fact that Kris & Sara had both taken that class and that he might have Great Expectations for me. He laughed and promised that he would not bring up my sisters. He came after three siblings and two came after him so he knows what it's like. How comforting.
We left the room at the same time so he walked me to the front door and we chatted about various things on the way. He seems to be a very nice man and I think that I'll like him, although I'm not so sure about the class. Actually, I'm pretty sure I won't enjoy the essays part of the class.
Oh, and the essay? Gay Marriages: Make Them Legal, how's that for a hot topic?
posted by Sharon @ 11:20 PM
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