Radio Silence

You may have noticed the lack of posting again recently. I have been a wee bit busy with the new job. Figuring out how to teach at a university level ESL program with little to no-prep time takes some getting used to, to say the least. However, now that things are winding down (and there is a cool breeze on the air again) I find some time to write for myself. It’s been quite a rollercoaster-y few weeks. (You could even say months, but let’s stick to the immediate for a moment.) Phrases like “hitting the ground running” and “trial by fire” spring to mind when I think of how to describe my time so far at the LCI. After 5 weeks of teaching, learning, grading and not a little bit of stress over my classes I am looking at the last four teaching days and a week-long break from all things academic-y. After about 2 days of utter comatose sleeping and recouping, I hope to head to Richmond for a catch up with Melanie and her mom and to gather the rest of my things to return once again to Blacksburg.

As for the town itself, it can only be described as ironic that this small town America holds more interest for me than the second largest city in Northern Ireland. Of course, I’m thinking a large part of that interest is due to the nearby Target and a variety of restaurants and cafes. I’ve made up amply for my lack of Japanese cuisine in Ulster by having sushi no less than 5 times in as many weeks! It is also highly ironic that I feel I’ve seen more greenery here than during my time in the Emerald Isle. That is helped by what I like to call the “fuzzy mountains” of the Blue Ridge range. They at least have satisfied my need to be nearer mountains again, though they still look funny to me in all their tree-covered-peak-less way. I simply can’t get over how many trees are in Virginia!!! It’s astounding to me. Pete’s backyard along makes me feel like I’m in a forest. And just driving from Blacksburg to Roanoke (which I had to do to get a new social security card) made me wonder at the strength of will the native Americans and first settlers must have had in order to carve a livelihood out this place. I guess growing up in a pretty arid and tree-less place makes one wary of being surrounded by these silent giants. And yet silence is the last way I would describe Virginia (at least the two places I’ve lived so far). I can’t remember hearing so many different kinds of insects – or seeing them! – and the birds are just show-offs plain and simple. There’s a musicality to this place that I’ve not experienced before and it makes all the stresses of the day vanish quite quickly, if only I had the time or presence of mind to let them.

On the other hand, I’m told that Blacksburg is quite a different place in the summertime and I’m experiencing it at its best (according to some). It will definitely be interesting to see the shift when all the students return for the year, but I’m hoping my time in Boulder will have prepared me somewhat for what is to come. Though I still need to learn to say Hokie without cracking a mocking smile. ;)