First day actuality

Short post this time! Robert and I just finished watching Black Swan, and because I am a bay-bay, we are getting ready to watch Dinner for Schmucks to take away the scary.

My first day of class went surprisingly well. It turns out that I have 13 students from previous World Lit. I classes returning for my World Lit. II class this semester. (Two of whom, I should point out, had me in a semester other than Fall 2010–one from Summer 2010 [otherwise known as the Semester From Hell] and one from Fall 2009–way to hold out, buddy!) I have no idea who the other 17 students are, but the 13 who have already had me managed to strike such an interesting “balance” in the classroom yesterday. When I was talking about the level of work to expect this semester, the 13 returning students just sort of smiled ruefully and nodded, knowing that I wasn’t exaggerating when I told the newbies that they would have to dedicate serious time to my class in particular. They also nodded along when I advised students to consider withdrawing from the course if they found themselves unable to keep up with the workload–reminding them all, of course, that a W is much less painful on a transcript than a D or an F.

Granted, I haven’t taught a single lesson yet in that class (that starts on Tuesday with Moliere’s The Would-Be Invalid), but I’m getting a general good vibe from this class, and I think it has a great deal to do with the students who are returning.

I’m currently being cautiously optimistic about this semester. Seriously…I’m being cautiously optimistic.

Oh, wanna know something hi-lar-ious? In my nightmare from Wednesday morning, I dreamed that my entire class walked out of the room at 8:55, twenty minutes before class was scheduled to let out. When I looked at my watch after dismissing the class on Thursday…it was 8:55. But, dammit, they were dismissed! Take that prophetic dream! 😉

(Hah! In my part of the world, it’s 11:00 p.m., so this still counts as a post for Friday. Boo-yah!)