Orientation

Quick notes from the GA Orientation:

• I brought my photographer/librarian boyfriend with me so we could take photos of the faculty, staff, and the new GAs.
• The GAs were fine with it, the teachers were not.
• The two teachers who suggested that we ambush the faculty for photos (since they tend to run away from planned photo events), forgot and were equally surprised by the photos.
• Apparently I got the wrong time to show up since I was there 45 minutes before any of the other GAs showed up.
• I moved Nancy’s Jeep and was terrified the whole time.
• I sat behind all the new GAs and randomly inserted blurbs and played the role of the Geek chorus asking pointed questions on behalf of the nervous newbies.
• The department forgot to get me all my keys so I could get in and out.

My amazing boyfriend processed all those photos and most of the teachers rejected them even when they looked way better than their current ones. Ack!

Quick notes from the new LIS Student Orientation:

• I was early yesterday, late today.
• It didn’t matter, I just stood there and exercised my jaw with the other “oldie” GAs.
• Dr. Chu surprised us and had the GAs give a short blurb about themselves. I promoted the department socials. Come on, people! Don’t let me be the only kid who dresses up!
• While in the process of moving the food stuff upstairs, I was grabbed and told that I had to go present to the students on campus parking and book buying RIGHT NOW!
• I knew about this (since I’m the student organization, LISSA, vice-president), but I didn’t realize I’d be presenting to ALL the new students at once.
• While the students went to meet their advisors, the president and I wandered downstairs for awhile.
• The Charlotte GA and LISSA person showed up. Awkward conversation ensued.
• Then the students poured down the stairs, sent by faculty, who had disappeared, for the GAs to take them to lunch.
• Cue my suspicion that the faculty were all having a good time at a fancier restaurant while we ate in the student union’s food court.
• I cleared tables, pushed tables together, and directed traffic so all our students sat together.
• I ate lunch upstairs with the president and three new students.
• I gave my honest opinions, insight, and experiences about the department to them.
• For the next three hours, I then assisted with the technology bootcamp.
• Quickly it became apparent that all the material needed for the class needed to go on the website.
• I scurried to get it online.
• Pro-tip: Don’t post file exentions that end with “x.” The computers think they’re zipped.