Grad School Life: Numbers, Part II

Classes shopped during the first week of the quarter (this past week): 10

Total class sessions attended: 13 (number of those left early to shop another class: 1)

Classes shopped which I will actually take: 4/10 (40%)

Total number of classes I will take this quarter: 5 (3 'big', two 'small' one-credits)

Hours spent in class this week: 26

Hours I'll spend in class in future weeks this quarter: 13

I was wondering why I was so tired this weekend given that I started the week feeling refreshed after a few post-travel rest days. Once I calculated these numbers, I realized that shopping period might have added something in the way of fatigue. These are the type of numbers that give me hope for a rested, energetic remainder of the quarter. It'll be a wonderful one.

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As far as what I'll actually be taking, here's the list:

History of Higher Education in the United States
Statistical Analysis in Education: Regression
Research & Policy on Postsecondary Access
Cohort Seminar / Internship Workshop (my two 'small' classes)

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I also planned out my spring schedule this week because three of us intend to set up two directed-study classes. It's going to be awesome and will likely entail far less shopping. That is, my schedule is already largely set and any shopping will be from a desire to learn and explore rather than from a search for the 'best fit' classes. I love learning.

Grad School Life: Numbers

Here are a few of the numbers that have come into play in my life recently.

76: The temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, at which my roommate left the thermostat over the entire winter break. She's from a warmer climate. On the positive side, our winter break is shorter than most and we don't pay for our own heat. On the negative side, somebody else pays for it as does the planet. Ah, well, it'll be 60 outside later this week; perhaps that will allow us a few days with the thermostat down closer to reasonable.

5:42: The time at which I woke up yesterday morning because it was so hot in the apartment (see above). Though I didn't get back to sleep, I did remember that our thermostat is adjustable. I also got to watch the sun rise out my window nearly two hours later.

49: My current resting heart rate -- first time under 50! -- as taken this morning.

5 1/2: The number of hours of class for which I'm tentatively slated tomorrow, the first day of winter quarter classes.

9: The total number of classes I intend to shop this week. I'll likely end up taking four of the nine plus one one-credit class which meets only a few weeks, not including this one.

40 + 27: The number of bookmarked websites and pages of notes (mostly retyped articles for ease of being in one place) which I already have for my final paper due in 10 1/2 weeks for my one required class this quarter. In my defense, I find the topic super-engaging.

12: Minimum page count, double-spaced, of the aforementioned final paper.

13 1/2: Hours until the official start of my first winter quarter class. Let the fun begin!

Grad School Life: Writing Papers

When in grad school, it really helps to like writing papers. I say (write) this as I sit at my desk at close to 10 PM on a Friday night with seven different pieces of paper or articles and my laptop in front of me. Six of the papers are related to the paper I'm writing: two readings, my notes from the relevant lecture, my outline for this paper, my outline of general course theories, and, crucially, the assignment. The seventh is my to-do list; "Draft org. paper" is currently the top item.

Why is paper-writing such a useful enjoyed skill? Well, it's Friday night. It's close to 10 PM. I'm writing a paper. I've missed going out for happy hour / dinner / evening adventures with friends to write this paper. I've had four friends invite me to the aforementioned evening gathering. I still chose to write the paper ("chose" because it's due Monday and I have a friend flying in to visit for the entire weekend). On the plus side, I've had a good Friday night.

Though my initial enthusiasm for this particular assignment was quite low, it has grown as I've actually worked through the process. First, the readings were a rich source of content related to the given prompt. Second, I got to apply organizational frameworks - what could be more fun? (Okay, maybe a Friday night with friends would edge that out slightly.) Third, my attempt at writing has gone well thus far and I'm liking the output. Given that most of us will spend at least one Friday night / entire weekend writing papers during our time in grad school, it's much simpler to enjoy the process.

Grad School Life: New Skills

We attend grad school, among other reasons, to gain new skills. In one year or six-plus, we will have a better understanding of how to conduct research, a deeper awareness of the current status and history of our field, a sense of the breadth and depth of future careers and of the networks that sustain those careers. We also gain some skills that might politely be referred to as 'non-academic'. Today, I've decided to share with you a new non-academic skill that I've gained in my first six weeks living on campus (more to come, I'm guessing):

Multitask biking -- Most students bike on campus so bike safety is huge. I've managed to avoid being hit by any cyclists thus far, which I consider a huge win. As much transit time (e.g., getting to or between classes) takes place on a bike, I have begun to work my way towards valuable bike skills. Specifically, I am now able to eat easy-to-hold foods (e.g., peaches, sweet potatoes) while biking. This allows continued easy access to the brakes and some control with both hands. I still struggle with biking  entirely one-handed, a skill tested the other night as I biked home with a full 2 1/2-inch binder under my arm. Fortunately, both the binder and I made it in one piece.
Skill importance: 8 out of 10
Skill mastery: 6

1 1/2 Years Later - A Reflection

Friday, September 21, 2012

It has been one year, five months, and five days since I left Dodowa. It has taken me that long to move all my journal entries from paper into type. Those entries fill 42 typed pages, 1.1 spaced. They fill most of three journals handwritten, one each orange and green and blue.

I knew my time in Ghana would be life-changing, but I never could have predicted just how life-changing it would be. Eighteen months ago, I was settling into the routines and rhythms of sixty-six children and the other volunteers who cared for them. Those routines and rhythms remain a part of me today. For months after I left Ghana, I wanted to say, “Yen ko” (Twi for “Let’s go”) whenever going anywhere with others. Over a year after leaving, I wrote about George in my graduate school essay. My last office and current apartment have both prominently featured pictures of the children, including my favorite, one which Claire took of Beauty and I waiting at the bus stop. I think of them every day in some form or another, whether running clean tap water to wash dishes or seeing children play who are both healthy and well-loved.

I am glad that I did not leave unchanged. Among all that I am thankful for from this trip, that stands out the strongest. It’s not just about eating bananas or enjoying the feel of dust and sweat on a ninety-five-degree day. It’s about loving so hard it hurts and putting somebody else’s life and growth above your own for some period of time.

As I began this journal with one quote, I will end with two:

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” - Mother Teresa

“Travel is like love, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” - Pico Iyer

Day 36 - About Those Chickens...

Saturday, April 16 - Day 36

“The flight will leave earlier than scheduled, so please be at your gate early.” This is what the ticketing woman told me as she handed me my baggage claim receipts. Apparently Egypt time is the opposite of Ghana time.

I have no idea whether the flight actually departed early (and, if so, by how much) because I was asleep at the time. I fell asleep within ten minutes of boarding and woke up to us cruising above the clouds. I think that’s the chicken’s fault.

Niki accompanied me to the orphanage this morning for a final 6 AM visit. She had offered to be my last-day photographer and got some great shots. Shortly after our arrival, she said, “You should pick up a chicken.” Now I knew that this was a stupid idea - I should definitely not pick up a chicken - but a confluence of factors urged me against my better judgement: Niki rarely suggests actions so perhaps I should listen; she was thinking she should instate it as a new pre-departure requirement for volunteers (who can resist tradition?); and the kids handle these birds all the time. Only two days ago, big Prince had carefully placed a chicken on Jackie’s head. It wasn’t like I hadn’t wondered whether the chickens were actually as easy to catch as they looked to be when the children chased them. So I picked up a chicken. Indeed, it was fairly easy to catch.

Half an hour later, my fingertips started to itch, turn red, and exhibit slight signs of swelling. By the time we arrive home, another hour having passed, I had a full systemic allergic reaction with a rash on my elbows, my stomach, the backs of my knees, and multiple other body parts. Everything itched. Fortunately, I remembered that Niki had an antihistamine in her travel medical kit from when she was packing medicine for the Mole trip. I took one of her pills when we got home and felt better within an hour or so. [Note from the future: Niki, thank you! It was entirely worth the whole experience.] The pill can cause drowsiness; I slept through the second half of the cab ride to the airport and the first three-ish hours of my flight. It turns out it was a stupid idea to pick up the chicken. That said, I’ve now caught and held a chicken in Ghana. You win some; you lose some.

Other than the allergic reaction, my final morning was lovely. Niki and I arrived shortly after 6 to a very quiet orphanage. About ten of the middle ones were awake beginning to wash and do chores (which include cleaning (e.g., sweeping), cooking, and such). Most of them were still sleeping off the big party. Around 6:30, Ma roused the little ones for their morning bath and the daily bustle commenced. Happily, all of the little ones were in good moods today; we had a pleasantly tantrum-free morning. I got to get Beauty and Godwyn dressed a final time and wander around with Beauty contentedly being held. When the time came, I said my goodbyes, working my way around from the littlest ones outside Ma’s room to the oldest boys repairing their football boots on the table by the front door. We returned home for a final (for me) breakfast of white bread with ground nut butter and jam. As a going-away present, Jackie had gone to the market to refill the empty ground nut butter container while we were at the orphanage. I love the volunteer family.

My taxi to the airport ran on Ghana time. I planned to leave the house between 8:45 and 9 AM so asked Beatriz to have the taxi driver, a friend of hers, come at 8:45 when she called him for me last night. She called, talked, hung up, and announced that she’d told him 8 AM. What? Emily reassured me that he’d probably arrive at 8:30 on Ghana time. At 8:42 this morning, he was still noticeably absent and I was actually ready to go. Beatriz called again and he said he’d be at the house in two minutes. We loaded my bags into the car at 8:55.

The drive was just under two hours and got me to the airport the perfect three hours ahead. My flight has also been smooth thus far. Most rows, mine included, have empty middle seats so I get to enjoy the feeling of an extra-spacious aisle seat. The only blip has been my companion at the window, who reminds me of the rastas at Kokrobite. (I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a rasta from Kokrobite.) After writing down and handing me his email address and phone number in China entirely unsolicited, he soon suggested I move to the middle seat next to him. No, thank you.

According to the flight monitor, we left Accra at 1:50 PM (scheduled time: 1:40) and will arrive in Cairo in under half an hour. There you have it.

Grad School Life: End of Week 3 Update

It turns out that Master's degree programs in Education and extroverted, social people can do very well together. The 35 students in my program include many people who have taught for 3 to 6 years and are now returning to school to study educational reform with hopes of changing our world for the better someday. They and we are full of energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for "good", whatever that may be. To explain my love for my graduate experience thus far, let me provide an example of some of my cohort's social events. Most of our gatherings have had attendance in the 8 to 20 people range, pretty good given our busy schedules and high levels of assigned academic reading.

Week 1
We spent most of week 1 shopping classes and adjusting to academic life, but we did take time out to gather on Thursday to watch a bit of Stanford's away football game and participate in Grad Trivia Night, on Friday for Happy Hour after our first full week of class, and on Saturday for Mexican dinner at someone's apartment.

Week 2
Calmer than week 1 because shopping was mostly over and schedules settled, it was also busier because workloads too had settled and required reading kicked in full force. (When classes only last 10 weeks, things move fast from the start.) We took a midweek study break to grill and watch the presidential debate at an apartment then watched some baseball over drinks on Friday and went to the football game against Arizona on Saturday (my first football game with overtime -- spoiler: Stanford won).

Week 3
We began the week with a Sunday night potluck then many of us saw each other at a Tuesday film screening around educational reform. We gathered to watch the vice presidential debate on Thursday then had evening drinks on Friday. Today (Saturday), many of us will get together for a quiche-and-pumpkin-pancakes fall brunch as we head into a weekend of studying.

Next week promises another presidential debate party and a cohort brown-bag lunch with one of our favorite professors. (Yes, we even have collective favorite professors.) It will be fantastic.

The academic side of life is also going quite well. I love my classes and enjoy immensely learning so many new things each week about education. I'm having fun with my first "flipped classroom" and appreciate the opportunity to view all the challenges and bumps along the road of that experience in person and in real time. (In a flipped classroom, students view lectures and do readings at home then focus class time on hands-on practice or in-depth discussion.)

On the professional side, I'll share a highlight of week 3 from yesterday. I met for lunch yesterday with a University VP actively involved in reframing the way his school and others help students think about major and career planning. He had spoken at my week-long summer class so I knew he was fantastic already. We ended up having a 1 1/2 hour lunch before I needed to head back to campus for Organizational Analysis, my flipped class. As we were standing to go, I mentioned that I was heading off for that class, that it was flipped, and watching our lectures at home was an interesting experience. His reply: "I'd love to meet with you again" to talk about online learning. His office and school, it turns out, are thinking of putting some career resources online. As I'm in an online class now, I have an inside view on this "grand experiment" (as one professor calls it) in massive open online learning. Thanks to this, I get a follow-up meeting with a higher education thought leader (per my consideration). Pretty awesome.