Monday, November 24, 2014

Train of Thoughts: Day One Homeward Bound

A very interesting day.  Arrived at the Office at 11 am and was meeting with a student at 11:30!  Definitely up and running. Didn't feel too much out of my league.  Need to get the process down so that I'm more focussed on the experience.  All good.  Made me appreciate my familiarity with how I do things.  Probably a good thing to step out of your comfort zone every now and then to reassess what you actually know.

Train of Thought: Launch

The week before Halloween 2014, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs called me to ask if I would have an interest in helping our colleagues at UC Santa Barbara by spending some time there helping them adjudicate cases.  I first chatted with the Associate Dean of Students at UCSB by phone from Hartford, CT and then later in person.  After speaking with my supervisors and colleagues at UCLA and then my family and friends, I agreed to take the train to UCSB 2 days a week and meet with students there.  Today is my first day traveling to Santa Barbara. 

As my daughter Ally asked this morning, it does feel like its my first day of school.  I wonder if they will like me, will I make any new friends, how long will I be the new kid, and when is nap time.  I have a feeling that nap time will come on the train on my way home. 

I'll wait until after today to determine who I should have brought the apple to.