It’s been an exciting time since the last update, what with trying to get everything in place for the start of the new semester. I did a huge amount of work for the Provost Office over the last few weeks but there was a great sense of satisfaction when we managed to finish and push out a slew of documents that faculty/staff/students needed last month but had to wait until last week to receive. There are just so many moving parts involved, and everything is complicated. I worry about morale and general wellness for all involved here at UBC as the days get darker and colder in the coming months. I do, however, consider how much better off and better prepared we are than many (possibly most) educational institutions across the world. We certainly do live in interesting times.
I have also been working on things in my capacity as a Teaching Assistant. We met our new class of 21 Technology Education teacher candidates on Thursday. Like the last group, they are a somewhat motley bunch, made up of a mix of fresh-faced youngsters and grizzled older types who spend many years in the trades before returning to study. I miss the last group; we grew quite close over our year together and they are starting their teaching careers in K-12 this week too.
Many other things have happened too but I’m hoping to keep off the computer today, so I’ll just add some pics here as a collage of what’s going on with us. Nicholle is doing well and got her groove back after a period of feeling painfully undervalued at work. We are working toward finding her a pathway towards something more fulfilling and rewarding.
Love to ye all from Vancouver.
