What I Learned From Orientation

Like I've mentioned, I've made the switch from adjunct to teaching assistant.  This means I had to spend a week at a Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation.  A week during the most beautiful week of summer.  Some things I learned:

1.  There is nothing more awkward than meeting new people.  Apparently, this may not be true.  I told my supporting (or so I thought) husband this and his response was, "It's not awkward."  Thanks for that.  So maybe I'm just awkward.

2.  I am way less awkward by the third day.  Seriously, anyone who meets me just needs to stick around until the third day and they will be pleasantly surprised.

3.  Even after an hour discussion about not dating your students and not dating your professors, someone will still ask if there is an actual official policy about dating your students.  Dude, we're all looking at you now.

4.  Not everyone wears deodorant, but everybody should, especially on hot summer days.

5.  No one loves free food as much as graduate students.  It doesn't matter what it is, we will eat it.  (I ate a wet, soggy sandwich.  It was disgusting and I ate the whole thing.)
6.  After seven hours of presentations and seminars, even the most diligent student will start to get antsy.  I am not the most diligent student, so I was ready to go hours ago. 

Last, but not least, let me tell you about this one T.A., Grouchy.  Grouchy is a grouch (surprising, no?).  No smiles, no nice words, and just loads of downer comments.  I saw Grouchy twice and each time Grouchy did something that stuck out.  First, Grouchy argued with a Department Chair about the responsibilities of a T.A.  I'm sure that in Grouchy's mind this was just a discussion, but to the rest of us it was aggressive, disrespectful, and went on for far too long.  The D.C. was very nice and polite, but Grouchy would continually interrupt to pretty much say the same things over and over.  It was uncomfortable.

During break time, I saw Grouchy talking to a group of people that included some professors.  One professor was talking about how his/her first name is mispronounced all the time, being a foreign name that we don't encounter here too often in the U.S.  Grouchy interrupts and enthusiastically says, "Oh, I know just what you mean!  It happens to me all the time!"

Okay.

Grouchy's name is the equivalent to John or Sue.  A very simple, everyday name that you would know how to pronounce and spell.  I had no idea where Grouchy was going with this. 

Grouchy continues: "My name is Anne and people always say Annie!"  or "My name is Eric and people always call me Erica!"  or "My name is Joe and I always hear Joey!"  Get the drift? 

The professor with the actual difficult name kind of paused, smiled, and moved on.

Other than all that, free food!  The cookies were delicious.