Living in our palace, castle, house (all terms are used to describe our home for the semester) with 40 other folks with ages ranging from 18 – 60 is interesting, sometimes fascinating, and presently frustrating. I have some sort of flu bug that is rampant in the house. It is rumoured that this bug came attached to one of the many student travellers and we’re all reeling from coughing, sinusitis, fever (mild for some not so for others), and limited sleep. It has taken many of us by surprise without access to whatever remedies we normally keep in our arsenal. The interesting part of this experience is the shared medicine closet – literally there is this 6’ x 4’ closet housing loads of toiletries and meds that folks from previous sessions have left for use. We are all making due and getting better. Thankfully this is a short lived nuisance.
Part of our responsibility living here is “duty”. Not the Adam Sandler definition, but duty in the sense of taking care of our environment. All faculty and staff share breakfast and weekend duty and I am 10 minutes away from handing in my duty tools – namely a mobile phone and the keys to the kingdom. Not all has gone smoothly this week. You see I’m not very mechanical and I’ve managed to break a key off in a lock, run an industrial dishwasher without the plug, remove an overheated toaster from the kitchen before the Dalkeith Fire Department had to respond, and on Thursday I failed to forward the mobile phone number resulting in the previous duty holder getting all the calls. I’m sure he launched some choice sentiments my way. In essence I am living and learning a new organizational culture. It is an interesting reflection and filled with stories to share with students in my courses.
In the time it has taken to write this blog post I am now officially off duty! YPEE!
16 September, 2007
10 September, 2007
Courage
A hike with students to Arthur’s Seat on Saturday proved to be challenging and exhilarating. A warm day, a bit of a breeze, and 30 hearty souls attempting the climb. It’s one of those hikes I refer to as “unfair” partly because it starts with an immediate incline. Although the path is well travelled it is steep and for those of us working on increasing our fitness level – a bit slow going. There are a series of summits – the first of which comes on rather quickly. Thinking that we made it only to discover the true summit is “over there”. As one of the staff that participated, my hike started out with a curious request from a student; “Can I walk up there barefoot?”. “I wouldn’t advise it, why are you asking?” Apparently her $50 pair of Vans – oh so cool “kicks”- were creating blisters. Since we had the same shoe size, we switched shoes and she scampered off in my “oh so practical” kicks and I trudged up in the very cool Vans. I made it and I attribute it to the Van Factor. When I figure out how to load pictures I’ll post the famous photo as proof that Arthur’s Seat can be done in a pair of Vans.
However I digress a bit from the title of this posting. Joe is a student who, like many of us, has a phobia. Unlike many of us his was visible during our hike. His fear of heights was raging that day. Those of you who know this hike understand how challenging it can be for one who is free of this phobia. Apparently, Joe was inspired by Bob’s words "my senses are on fire" to be exact, a well told story of taking risks. Joe chose wisely and safely – he hiked with another staff member. It wasn’t pretty and there was some ridicule, but he did it. I am beginning to believe this is part of the magic here…people like Joe taking on the world and in a small way proving to himself that he is able to do “it” . We all have our “it” that we fear, avoid, or nibble around the edges, but Joe took it on. I will forever remember him clutching the top of the Summit...a true display of courage.
However I digress a bit from the title of this posting. Joe is a student who, like many of us, has a phobia. Unlike many of us his was visible during our hike. His fear of heights was raging that day. Those of you who know this hike understand how challenging it can be for one who is free of this phobia. Apparently, Joe was inspired by Bob’s words "my senses are on fire" to be exact, a well told story of taking risks. Joe chose wisely and safely – he hiked with another staff member. It wasn’t pretty and there was some ridicule, but he did it. I am beginning to believe this is part of the magic here…people like Joe taking on the world and in a small way proving to himself that he is able to do “it” . We all have our “it” that we fear, avoid, or nibble around the edges, but Joe took it on. I will forever remember him clutching the top of the Summit...a true display of courage.
03 September, 2007
Lessons' Learned
Week one in Scotland has been filled with experiences. I have successfully navigated the #3 Lothian bus that travels from Dalkeith to Edinburgh several times now. In fact the other day as I was listening to my I-Pod on a return trip I felt this was the ultimate in familiarity. As if to say to the world; “I know where I am going, I can listen to my favorite tunes and get off at the right stop”.
A few lessons learned this week: be careful about mobile phone charges…somehow I blew through $40 in 5 days. Although I pride myself on not being a slave to my mobile phone, my once or twice daily calls to the US to say good morning and good night to John added up way too quickly. Local Scotland calls are 30p/minute using Vodaphone…so this week will be spent downloading Skype and locating a plug in microphone so John and I can talk at our leisure. The number of wine and cheese parties hosted here at Dalkeith House should count as dinner – they are not to be confused as a mere appetizer. Haggis is actually ok in small amounts – with crackers and red wine it is fairly tasty. Grocery shopping at Tesco should last no more than 30 minutes when Bob Hendricks has graciously offered to drive faculty there and wait patiently while we stock up on our favorite foods. Five liters of water is heavy and can only be carried short distances without risk of shoulder or arm injury. Fireworks (celebrating the end of the Edinburgh Festival) are fun to view from a hill with a whole lot of Scots actually enjoying the American repertoire live on someone’s car radio. Scots tell the same ‘ole tired lawyer jokes as Americans do.
Work began in earnest with an all day Faculty meeting. We learned about classroom assignments, schedules, expectations, and became more familiar with staff histories and preferences. I am fortunate to work with these colleagues as they are student focused and ready to engage in learning both personal and professional. I value their insight and respect as we begin to grapple with personal preferences, issues, and concerns. We are a committed group.
The “House” changes with each new person or group of persons who arrive. Routines shift, conversations broaden, and there are more folks pushing and pulling doors figuring out their ways. We eagerly await the arrival of students on Thursday!
A few lessons learned this week: be careful about mobile phone charges…somehow I blew through $40 in 5 days. Although I pride myself on not being a slave to my mobile phone, my once or twice daily calls to the US to say good morning and good night to John added up way too quickly. Local Scotland calls are 30p/minute using Vodaphone…so this week will be spent downloading Skype and locating a plug in microphone so John and I can talk at our leisure. The number of wine and cheese parties hosted here at Dalkeith House should count as dinner – they are not to be confused as a mere appetizer. Haggis is actually ok in small amounts – with crackers and red wine it is fairly tasty. Grocery shopping at Tesco should last no more than 30 minutes when Bob Hendricks has graciously offered to drive faculty there and wait patiently while we stock up on our favorite foods. Five liters of water is heavy and can only be carried short distances without risk of shoulder or arm injury. Fireworks (celebrating the end of the Edinburgh Festival) are fun to view from a hill with a whole lot of Scots actually enjoying the American repertoire live on someone’s car radio. Scots tell the same ‘ole tired lawyer jokes as Americans do.
Work began in earnest with an all day Faculty meeting. We learned about classroom assignments, schedules, expectations, and became more familiar with staff histories and preferences. I am fortunate to work with these colleagues as they are student focused and ready to engage in learning both personal and professional. I value their insight and respect as we begin to grapple with personal preferences, issues, and concerns. We are a committed group.
The “House” changes with each new person or group of persons who arrive. Routines shift, conversations broaden, and there are more folks pushing and pulling doors figuring out their ways. We eagerly await the arrival of students on Thursday!
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