Getting Oriented

I drove to Hickory this morning, up the backroads and 321, into the mountains to my new campus for orientation. Beautiful drive through the North Carolina countryside—Dallas, High Shoals, Lincolnton, Maiden, and Newton are the towns I pass through, even go right past Lineberger’s (stopped on the way home for some tomatoes, scored some figs, too). I live in the foothills, in the shadow of Spencer Mountain, so I’m climbing enroute, coasting home. I even found a gas station (well, more of a truck stop) with gas around fifty cents lower per gallon than I’m currently paying near home and an old general store/gas station with the old pumps, the ones that don’t read cards.

Lenoir-Rhyne University has a traditional campus with dorms and a quad and a library, just like in the old days when I was a student. Parking will likely be a nightmare when the term starts, but walking across campus is good exercise, so there’s that.

My classes will meet for fifty minutes three times a week. Currently, I teach a class that meets twice a week for five hours each session and one that meets once a week for seven ling hours. I’m going to feel like class is over before it starts.

The other perks include an indoor pool to swim laps in, a fitness center to work out in, premium databases, and arts & culture events on campus. Next month, I’ll meet Andrew McCarthy: St.Elmo’s Fire and Pretty in Pink Andrew McCarthy, not some bozo politician.

On top of that, I think one of my new colleagues that I met today will become a friend. We seemed to connect, and we’ll be teaching on the same days, across the hall from each other.

Classes start in two weeks.