And for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
As many of you know, one of my jobs has me teaching Biotechnology at one of Adelaide’s three universities. It involves one three hour lecture and two five hour practicals every week. We’re about two-thirds of the way into term, so I’m starting to run out of gas a bit. After a long day of teaching on Monday, I had lost all patience with my charges and had nearly finished a post employing clichés like “Back in my day….” or “Kids these days…” and throwing around accusations of intellectual laziness and an utter lack of gorm.
Today I had a meeting with my head of department to talk about future prospects at the university. With steam leaking out of my ears, the only future prospect that I had in mind was walking away from my office at the end of term and wishing a fond farewell to the university and my whinging, molly coddled students. I must have been some kind of a saint in a previous life, because what I came out of that office with is still unbelievable to me. It is so outside of what I had considered probable that I can only attribute it to some kind of accumulated karma.
It shook down like this: the boss man offered to extend my contract by 12 months, something I expected and wasn’t that thrilled about. In times like these, it’s nice to have a permanent position even if you don’t intend on staying on as a lifer. These short term contracts and the uncertainty that comes with them are reasons that I wanted out of academia. But then he added, “We won’t have much teaching for you in the first term, but would ask you to teach the same course in the second term.” I am employed as a lecturer so with nothing to lecture, was confused about what my job would be and asked for clarification, “What would you want me to do,then?” To which he replied, “What do you want to do?”
In essence, the university is willing to pay me a retainer - and a fairly hefty one - to teach one twelve week class next August. They’re willing to pay me a year’s salary for 12 weeks of work. During the other 40 weeks, I can do research, I can take some courses for career development, or I can do nothing at all. For the glass half empty crowd, after the twelve months I may be out on the street. But I’ll have a bit more change in my pocket and, if I play my cards right, all the more employable.
Starting to think this move Down Under was a pretty good idea.
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Please note: taking Z to the beach is not “fieldwork”, and pressing the “publish” button on your blog is not actual “publication”. OK?
The best way to keep that karma coming is to pay it forward. That is, do something productive and beneficial with the time. I’m sure that you and Dr. O could even put your academic heads together on something. Really looking forward to hearing your plans.
Z will be sprung from baby jail a bit more often, maybe?
HB8
P.S. You were at least as lazy and apathetic as your current students, AFM. You just remember it differently.
headbang8s last blog post..It’s Wies’n Season! (That rhymes, you know)
14 Oct 2008 at 9:05 pm
Depends what sort of field work I’m doing. Studying reproduction of star fish at Semaphore?
I was worse, HB8. Far worse. Stroppy, lazy and disruptive.
14 Oct 2008 at 9:12 pm
Congrats! That´s great. That, to me, sounds like a dream come true. You have so many options!!!!!!!! One that looks good is hanging out with that cute kid of yours.
Bluestreaks last blog post..Hyperbolic Sentiment
14 Oct 2008 at 9:20 pm
“Stroppy”! You’ve picked up the local lingo.
headbang8s last blog post..One man’s belief.
14 Oct 2008 at 9:44 pm
Wow! That’s fantastic! How lucky are you to get an offer like that?! I wish someone would pay me to do exactly what I wanted all the time… Oh, wait… they kinda already do.
Jessica Ks last blog post..Hey Mr. DJ
14 Oct 2008 at 9:53 pm
Oh, wow! That’s just super.
14 Oct 2008 at 9:59 pm
man that rocks
yeah and help people out with your free time- a journal club for interested students in journals you like, or do tutes like at oxford, or do experiments u like, or write a book, or visit other unis. man, you lucked out.
SSGs last blog post..Fond food memories
14 Oct 2008 at 10:23 pm
Congratulations! That sounds like a dream job. I hope academic turns out the same way for me.
15 Oct 2008 at 12:25 am
Well fuck a duck. That’s the best news I’ve heard out of anybodys mouth in ages. Congrats to you. Anytime any of us catch a break like that is a damn good day. How sad is it that I would totally take a history class just because I could. What ARE you going to do?
15 Oct 2008 at 2:15 am
Congrats! That is exciting news. Especially with the economic crises affecting us (in the US anyways. don’t know how it is down under). Maybe in your “fieldwork,” they will allow Z to be your teaching assitant.
Andrews last blog post..Take on Me - Literally
15 Oct 2008 at 2:26 am
Now that sounds like a sweet deal to me.
15 Oct 2008 at 3:02 am
Sweeeeeet. I want your job!!!!! You just described what I would give my big toe for!
And Im with you on the old back in my day thing, I walked in to TA a class and the wankers were on cell phones and flat out talking. When I told them they could leave if they had more pressing concerns they complained and I was told not to be so rough on them. I admit to being a lazy wanker, but I wasnt rude in class at least.
Sherries last blog post..Hell Yeah!!!
15 Oct 2008 at 3:49 am
Very cool. Kind of like a paid Sabbatical with a little teaching thrown in. Sign me up!
I’d like to do something like this once I no longer have kids in the house.
I hope you brain storm up a wonderful year!
saralas last blog post..Slugs in Love?
15 Oct 2008 at 5:15 am
Very suh-weet deal - congratulations!
(I was a total F up as a college student - good times!)
we_be_toyss last blog post..Fly On A Very Strange Wall
15 Oct 2008 at 6:34 am
Dude! That’s awesome! Karma has indeed smiled upon you.
Coal Miner’s Granddaughters last blog post..Open Letter 7
15 Oct 2008 at 9:46 am
Congrats. More time for blogging!
Megs last blog post..Lessons Teen Learned From Drivers’ Ed
15 Oct 2008 at 10:56 am
[…] man coming to you from the bottom of the globe today. I’ve been racking my brain since my undeserved windfall yesterday to come up with the best use of a year of sponsored free time. I’m leaning towards […]
15 Oct 2008 at 2:35 pm
Bluestreak - Thanks for that. Your suggestion is definitely at the top of the list.
HB8 - Don’t forget, I live with a local.
JK - There you go, you’re a lucky one as well.
SSG - I reckon it’s pay back for having to sit next to you every day for two years.
Courtney - I wouldn’t hold out too much hope, I think I just got lucky!
NATUI - I haven’t heard “fuck a duck” in far too long.
Andrew - I know, the economy. The Australians reckon they’re going to be OK, but I’m not convinced.
Gypsy - ‘Tis.
Sherrie - I was occasionally rude. Probably karma that I have these students.
Sarala - Yep, except generally you have to have succeeded in academia to get a sabbatical.
15 Oct 2008 at 2:49 pm
Good for you. Congrats. Does this mean we can expect about 3 to 5 times as many posts here at AFM?
Joes last blog post..It’s midnight already?
15 Oct 2008 at 7:21 pm
Bloody hell! What a sweet deal - nice one! Am starting to think that perhaps I’m in the wrong area of education. No more study for me though I’m afraid!
I too loved your use of the word ’stroppy’. A very underused word I reckon!
Agness last blog post..October 10 In A Row
15 Oct 2008 at 7:52 pm
It’s nice to know you are valued, which is what this sort of deal clearly demonstrates. I expect it may be a double-edged sword in that you now must choose a way to spend your time that will justify (if only to yourself) this valuation.
Don’t decide what to do too quickly — unless you already have a well-formed secret yearning that you’ve thought about for a long time. I would say, let it emerge.
And congratulations!
16 Oct 2008 at 4:00 am
They’ve said it all but well done mate. You deserve it! And for the record I remember my father complaining about lazy, apathetic students when he was teaching at Adelaide in the 60s and 70s. In fact I think his words were, “Universities would be a lot better off without the students!!!”
arizaphales last blog post..Sorry To Disappoint
16 Oct 2008 at 6:46 am
The Buddha DID smile on you =)
Starrlights last blog post..You’re Packing A Suitcase For A Place None Of Us Has Been
16 Oct 2008 at 9:27 am
The Right Blue is right on.
That is a fantastic opportunity to have time to do so many things. The time will fly by and you’ll be left wondering how it could have passed so quickly… so enjoy it.
Florida Girl In Sydneys last blog post..I Make Lots of Mistakes, So You Won’t Have To
16 Oct 2008 at 8:24 pm
Are you serious? That deal rocks! I need to come teach in Australia….
20 Oct 2008 at 9:52 am
You asked me ages and ages ago what I thought you ought to do with this little stroke of luck, in terms of how best to improve your resume. I have finally come up with an answer for you.
I think you should figure out what your Dream Job would be, then call someone who has that Dream Job (or employs people to do that Dream Job) and ask their advice on how you might improve your chances, through further study, of getting that Dream Job.
I’m afraid that’s the best I can do, from a purely ‘how to improve your resume’ point of view.
The other option, of course, is to pick something that you’ve always wanted to take a class in - photography, forensic science, parent effectiveness, pottery - and sign yourself up. Happy, balanced, fulfilled individuals always do well at interviews regardless of their resume.
Lucky Bastard.
-Trish.
Trishs last blog post..FB IN L LOWER LEG
27 Oct 2008 at 2:22 pm
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04 Nov 2008 at 1:16 pm