| | this story starts with a bit of a backstory, so let me rewind the clock for a moment and take you backwards timewise.
tock tick tock tick
(the sound of a clock spinning backwards)
three weeks ago, a local community college offered me an interview to be a college geology professor, which seemed the ultimate of ultimate opportunities for a goofy, just-back-from-africa bumbler like me. so, i spent many an hour preparing a bomb presentation about my graduate research and hashing out my thoughts on my teaching philosophy and style and so forth.
the morning of the interview, i donned my professional pants, rehearsed my presentation for the umpteenth time, folded up my googlemap directions, and caught the train out to the university. i knew i needed to jump off the train and walk 1.5 miles to the interview, so i left more than enough time to get there.
well, wouldn't ya know, i walked 1.5 miles in the wrong direction ...then kept going. i guess my nervous energy clouded my sense of time because, glancing down at my watch, i thought, "hells bells! it's twenty minutes to my interview! i should BE there already!"
panicking slightly, i called my ever-gracious mom and asked her to googlemap me (from her office in cleveland, god bless her.)
"cynthia, ah..., you're 3.5 miles from your interview."
holy mother of bleeper.
seeing no cabs or busses, hyperventilating slightly, my mom encouraged zen breathing.
"can you run to your interview? 3.5 miles in 20 minutes?," she asked.
well, hell, even if i COULD, i'd arrive smelling like wild oxen hiene on a swampy african day. not exactly the impression i intended to make.
"well, then, cimmy," my mom soothed, "there's only one thing to do if you want to get to this interview on time."
shittaki mushrooms. seriously? seriously? i mean, catching a lifti to my tanzanian village was one thing, but this? refusing to pass up the opportunity of a lifetime, i swallowed a deep breath, swallowed my pride, and ...
ten minutes later, i bade farwell to ricardo, my new portuguese friend, sighed the biggest sigh of exhale kingdom, and walked into the university's front entrance. thank god for the kindness of strangers. thank god, thank god, thank god.
i absolutely fell in love with the university--the people, the community, and the feel of it. i felt so good about the interview, until a week later when the department head called and informed me that, while the decision was tough, they decided to go with another, more experienced candidate.
well, shoot.
i spent the bulk of last week wrapping my head around the idea of being a nanny. i began working and started visiting apartments in the city, meeting roommates, and checking out various neighborhoods.
"i can do this," i thought. "so what if i'm a nanny with a masters degree? i'll take some time for myself, relax into life, and settle into san francisco. maybe this is just what i need after the peace corps."
i sustained that feeling until thursday morning, when i hopped over to my ring-ringing phone and got a call from the university's department chair. she said they'd been so impressed with my personality that they reallocated funds to create a brand new position with me in mind.
huzzah!
i repeat, with exuberance, HUZZAH!
officially, i am the "director of the extreme science program," working with high school students and teachers through the university to get students excited about science (so they'll eventually pursue science in college). this is *exactly* the kind of position i've wanted for a really long time, and i'm really really excited to begin. i feel a bit dazed and incredibly blessed. ...but mostly really excited.
here's to ricardo!
i start in a week, and i've spent the last couple of days finding a reliable car and a fantastic cozy cottage, both which i found with relative ease.
can anyone say camping trip?
i didn't exactly intend on ending up with an s.u.v. (particularly not after i'd been dreaming of smart cars), but the used car market is flooded with 'em (wonder why in this economy), and i got my new ride for a really good price.
plus, just to top of this happy cake with a cheery cherry (that was a horrible line) i finished another hat:
katherine calls this one the "frasta" since its part french and part rasta. i think its a good bad-hair day hat, made for the nugget of a good girlfriend. unfortunately, i imagine my hat production'll decrease with my upcoming employment, but... who knows?
anywoot, just wanted to share the goods! im a career gal!
hugs to all,
cynthia
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| | Posted 3/16/2009 6:57 PM - 26 Views - 8 eProps - 4 comments
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