Back in the Deep North
My lack of blogging has been due to fighting a cold, running around school getting things straightened out, and rearranging my room.
Let me sum up:
– The trip from Fargo to Saskatoon was long but fairly uneventful. We ate lunch in Bismarck at a nifty cafe called Space Aliens Grill & Bar. It was oddly reminiscent of the Pizza Planet offa Toy Story.
– The border crossing was probably the easiest time I’ve entered Canada. I think it was probably due to the fact that I was the most prepared I’ve ever been, entering the country. I had a typed itemized list of the funds I had available for this year, along with the written letters and printouts to show proof. I handed all of that, along with our passports and Mike’s ticket outta here to the agent, and within 2 minutes we were across. We didn’t even have to get out of the car. I was very happy — especially considering my history with Customs agents in the past.
– Thursday and Friday were taken up with the Fall University Teaching and Learning Institute seminars. Yes, I volunteered to go to these, and I think I was one of maybe 5 grad students in attendance. Most everyone there was faculty. Being the geek that I am, I actually enjoyed myself! Since I’d like to be on University faculty myself one day, I figured I could use some extra pointers.
– Speaking of which, I’ve been asked to be a speaker for the tutorial leaders’ Orientation on Wednesday. My 20-25 minute talk is supposed to be about “Coordinating lectures and tutorials and encouraging class discussion.” My supervisor from last year recommended me to speak — I was very surprised, and yes, psyched about the opportunity! I’ve learned so much from my own experiences, my teaching class last term, and now these seminars that I know I’ll have a lot to say. Plus, being the rabid rhetorician that I am, I welcome the opportunity to persuade. I’ll let y’all know how it pans out.
– Hopefully I’ll be feeling better by then. I’ve been fighting this chest cold for the last week. So in addition to sounding like a misplaced Southern grrrl in the Arctic, now I’ve got a little Barry White in me as well. A very odd combination indeed.
– I’ve spoken with my thesis supervisor and we’re now gearing up to submit my still-very-much-a-proposal thesis proposal. I’m still focusing on film adaptations, but rather than focusing on novels (which already has quite a scholarly following), I’m going to look at dramatic plays that have been translated onto the screen. Some preliminary choices are: Rosencrantz & Guilderstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, ‘night, Mother by Marsha Norman, Sleuth by Anthony Shaffer, The Gin Game by DL Coburn amongst others…. Hey, if anyone has any other great ideas of plays that have been made into movies, lemme know! (Natalie I know you must know of some!)
– I’m registered for fall classes this term! I’m taking two courses: Rhetorical Criticism and Dramatic Theory and Criticism. So if in the next four months I’m more critical than normal, you’ll know the reasons why.
– I’ve now got a desk in my room! This is no small accomplishment, considering the size of my room probally equals that of a cell in Alcatrez. After much swearing, measuring, and rearranging — I’ve finally got a place where I can muse… away from roommates, noise, and whatever other distractions get in the way. This is good, especially considering that my laptop is now a pseudo-desktop.
– Other than that, not much else is going on. Mike’s flight leaves S’toon on Monday, at the ungodly hour of 6AM. Tomorrow we’re going to play outside as much as possible — it’s gorgeous out! Great for picnics by the river, a trek to the Saskatoon Zoo, or just walking outside enjoying the almost-fall air.
Yep, the Nyquil is kicking in. Have a great Labor day everyone! (I almost typed “Labour” just then — maybe Canada really IS getting to me!)
ttfn.
