Being Busy and Hugs

Again with the longer than I ideally want absence from blogging.  The past two or three weeks have been insanely busy with reading, meetings, classes, and working.  Tuesdays are going to be the worst as I'm leaving home in the 8 a.m. hour and returning close to 10 p.m.  I am really, really not used to that.  What really sucks is that since this semester has begun, I have not been able to read anything for my quals.  That will obviously have to change but from this teeny tiny spot I'm at now, it seems impossible.

So what has been going on for the past two or so weeks?  I attended my first official staff meeting, which seemed like the most pointless thing I could have possibly done with that afternoon.  I can't remember anything important that was said, except we were introduced to a couple of new professors so if I ever see some strange person in the hall, at least I'll know who it is.  We were promised a little party afterwards, but that consisted of a cold cut platter thrown on a table.  A party to me equals wine.  And guacamole.  And chocolate.  And music...maybe a live band.  And a disco ball!  Am I expecting too much?

As first semester TA's, we are not teaching until the next semester.  Instead, they have us doing another service to the University.  I'm not sure how much I should tell since I don't know how many schools do this with their TA's and I have to have some sort of anonymity here.  Not like I think the handful of you will actively search to find me, but you know.  If anything interesting comes up, I'll share, but as of right now, let's just say it is eating its fair share of my days.

My fellow newbies (my cohort?  I guess that's what I'll be calling them) seem like a nice bunch.  I have really yet to develop any relationships with anyone from school, which I have the feeling is pretty unusual.  I guess we'll see what happens.

I did get slightly nervous about those potential relationships.  I was standing on one side of the street and noticed one of my cohorts on the other side.  Another grad student came up to this person and to my surprise, they hugged as their hello.  Neither of these people struck me as a hugger (and there is nothing going on between them).  A normal person would think nothing of this.  However, my mind automatically raced towards "If I become friends with those people, will I have to hug them?  Please, don't make me have to hug these people." 

As you have figured out, I am not a hugger.  I like hugging my husband, certain close friends (who live far away), and when the spirit moves me.  That's it.  I'm not a touchy person.  Even a handshake feels forced to me unless I'm in an interview.  I prefer a noncommittal wave with a "What's up?"  My husband's parents, who we see a lot, are huggers.  In fact, my husband gives his mom a hug every time we see her, which, again, is a lot.  Like biweekly.  I always feel like a cold fish when we leave, he hugs, and I'm just standing there.  Because of this, I always try to be carrying things when we leave. 

It's not even so much that I don't want to hug, it's that I don't want people to think I am cold and distant because I don't hug.  I'm sure this will never come up, but that is where my mind went.  So that has been my week: school, school, school, and stressing about hugs.