This semester my responsibilities have increased multi-fold. In November, I agreed to step in as a discussion group leader for BSF. So since around Thanksgiving I have been going to the Tuesday morning leaders meeting in addition to Wednesday mornings. I took on my full-time small group leader duties in January. Besides the extra meeting, I also now have the responsibility of contacting my group members each week, and doing extra homilectics homework. I enjoy the women in my group and having the chance to see what God is doing in their lives through our study of Genesis. But I've declined doing it again in the fall. The Bible study is valuable. I see the benefit. I said yes because I wanted to be open to serving God in this way. It's just not totally a fit for me. I compare it to exercising at the gym on the treadmill versus swing dancing. Now, what would be the equivalent of Bible study swing dancing?? It's been a challenge to keep up with the weekly responsibilities.
My other big, new responsibility is teaching. In December I got an email from UIC asking if I'd be interested in teaching a laboratory course in social psychology. It seemed to be heaven sent. Not only did it fit my schedule even with BSF (it meets Monday and Wednesday afternoon). But I was able to ask a BSF Oak Park friend to drop Noemi off at the sitter. Who is the other woman who babysits Jarrett on the days I don't. Speaking of provision, finding another preschool mom to pick up Noemi and take her home on Tuesdays was definition a confirmation from God on the BSF front. It took me a couple weeks to feel comfortable in the classroom again. I'm very thankful for the class God provided. Because it's a lab class, it only has twenty students. Most psych classes at UIC are big lecture courses. Because it's a lab class, I don't lecture very much so my prep isn't too bad. There have been a few late nights (or days - particularly when the class is stats-oriented). But there are some days when it's a work day and the students work in groups on their pojects and I just walk around seeing if anyone needs help. Two things of note about teaching at UIC - for an adjunct they pay the best that I've found in the area (though I don't know what Northwestern and U Chicago pay). Also, even with just twenty students I have two TAs - one that comes to class and one that is part-time. They told me that typically that part-time TA grades the first two papers and the in-class TA grades the final paper. So I haven't even had those painful weeks of grading. Amazing. Just before we broke for the break, I asked students for feedback - mostly good, some complaints about working in four-person groups, and me needing to be a bit more lively lecturer. It's true - particularly when I think the students are going to find the topic totally boring I tend to rush through things. I've let the department know I'd be interested in teaching again this fall, but so far I know nothing other than they don't need this lab class covered again (which is too bad). It seems like a good part-time job for this stage in my life. But if it doesn't work out it will be okay. Oh, and someone dropped out of their social psych brown bag schedule and they asked if I'd present. I really, really don't want to but felt like I had to say yes.
And I'm still babysitting Jarrett Thursdays and Fridays. It is fine, and I'm glad for the extra income. But I don't think I'll do it again this fall. So, so far I have no responsibilities for the fall!
But we do know that we're really going to Thailand this summer. Before Ezer left for his spring break to Thailand a few weeks ago, I was getting a bit anxious about whether it was really going to happen. The Fulbright people were slow in providing Ezer's contract and travel advance. I saw that ticket prices kept going up, my parents needed to make their plans (originally planning on going with us for part of the trip). I told Ezer that if we didn't know by the end of March I was going to start making other summer plans. But fortunately, while he was in India (work-related project), they started being more responsive. One thing that threw a bit of a wrench in things was that because of the Fly America Act and he's going with the Fulbright program, Ezer has to fly on an American carrier for as far as possible. This means Delta plus codeshare with Korean Air for him and a very expensive plane ticket. It was too much of a expense for the rest of the family to go. I didn't want to fly with the girls by myself (though we could possibly have met up for the last leg). Our compromise ended up being that the girls and I will fly out to LA by ourselves and then fly to Thailand with my mom a week earlier, first to Bangkok and then to meet Ezer in Chiang Mai. My dad is doing a big Asia trip and will meet us there, too. Then after three weeks, mom, the girls and I will fly to California. Ezer will stay for another three weeks, then stop in LA for a few days before we all head back (still on different carriers!). I spent an inordinate amount of time looking for plane tickets and looking for affordable/spacious accommodation (really wanted a suite with a separate bedroom) in a location not too far from Chiang Mai University (where Ezer will be).
I've done some swing dancing classes. A highlight was from these first few months was going down to Austin, Texas for the first QuiltCon (modern quilting convention) with my friend Wendy from New York. I got new glasses (after my anti-glare coating started coming off) and new contacts (after an old one slightly scratched my cornea) and found out how much you can really save ordering glasses online (in my case about $300!).
Yes, I know most readers will want to hear about and see photos of the girls. With all my spring break free time I promise they will follow!
Just a couple photos from last night from the latest Oak Park Wheaton faculty dinner at Sun Wah BBQ - yay Peking Duck!
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| Larycia (poli sci), EK, Leah (community art) |
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| Moi, Christine (anthro) |
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