These real and fake words sum up my first week of classes in Duke University.
Firstly, let me say that I can already tell with absolute confidence that I am in the right place. My teachers are fantastic. My classes and classmates are engaging, intelligent, and interesting. Durham, while confusing as hell to navigate, is already starting to feel like home. I've been here for something like 2 weeks now, have explored half a dozen cafés and been to a Durham Bulls baseball game. I joined the frighteningly athletic crowd that walks around East Campus's "wall." I even went to Biscuitville. But this, my friends, is only the beginning.
I met my mentor teacher on Monday at student orientation and she told me that one of her colleagues used to have this sign on her door:
This is already my reality. Yet, at the same time, forgoing my social life for awhile allows me to bask in the grand ideal of an intensely disciplined academic life: too much coffee, depleting eyesight from an excess of reading, rapidly declining social skills, and a overly-optimistic study schedule that is always in danger of being sabotaged by napping. This is all for a university that I don't owe my true allegiance to for I have yet to buy their token t-shirt (NOTE: I've of course been waiting to see if giving thousands of dollars to the graduate program would earn me a free one, but, alas, it appears I'm mistaken.). However, this cheap-assery is easily made up for by the fact that all MAT students get free unlimited Keurig coffee in the office. There is a God.
This week's cool and useful discoveries:
1. I can park for free in front of a retirement home near campus to rob Duke of a $100+ parking pass.
2. There is an excellent Zen garden café with delicious coffee ironically located next to Super Walmart (see photo).
3. Planning a class is not at all an intuitive process.
4. The homemade raspberry danishes from the farmer's market are quite possibly God's gift to humanity.
From now until mid-August it seems that my sole purpose in life is to read, write, and research, so if you don't hear from me apart from this blog for awhile, you know what I'll be doing. Until next week!
-S.
I wrote an awesome comment here that has been deleted by the unfair justice of my Internet.
ReplyDeleteAs you see, sometimes in life you just need to keep calm and carry on.
Besos, my educated southern miss!
Jon.
Don't fret over a DUKE t-shirt when you can have an originsl Harley Davidson T that belonged to one of life's greatest teacher of all trades! He was so very proud of
ReplyDeleteyou, Savanah and so am I!
As an older student, I'd make that a pentagon and have labels for "Family" and "Work." I always felt pulled between all of those labels and felt like I was digging an inch deep and a mile wide, which makes for a tough juggling act. Be kind to yourself.
ReplyDeleteJon -- You're right. I'm think of putting my "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster in a more visible place in our apartment... haha
ReplyDeleteCathy-- That sounds awesome! I would love a Harley shirt! haha. Uncle Jimmy was such a great man. I can't wait to spend time with you again!! I'll have to make a trip down to FL when Jon gets here!
Lori-- That's a super good point, and I'm already experiencing that. I've already seen that this program has a huge impact on my personal relationships, almost all of which with family and friends are not long distance. Thankfully, I got to start this program without adding "work" to the mix, but August will bring it soon enough. I'm starting to realize that exercise is KEY to not going crazy. I have this great Yoga tape that I do and there's a really nice walking/jogging trail that goes around Duke's East Campus. Did you find this necessary when you were doing your PhD? I love your advice! :)