I survived my first graduate level class session! LIS 407 Reference/Information Services with Howard Rodriguez-Mori. He's from Puerto Rico, originally, so he has quite the interesting accent. He's easy enough to understand, but I still think I'll sit closer to the front next week. He went over our syllabus and gave an introductory lecture on what reference librarianship is all about (essentially, answering questions). And it doesn't sound like as much busywork as my neighbors warned me it would be. For this week, at least, there isn't much to do, which will give me plenty of time to finish my technology requirement.
After class I checked out the dining center on the main campus for the first time. Things move faster there, which was a little awkward. Instead of the all-you-can-eat style of Bartol Hall (where we eat on the residence campus) the Fens prices everything individually. And since my meals there have to be $6 or less to qualify for a prepaid meal instead of taking my precious few fenway dollars, I have to keep close track of how much I'm spending. I'll have to see about putting more money on that card anyway, since I can also use it for printing (after I use up my 400 free sheets of printing per semester), doing laundry and sending mail. So many things to learn...
From lunch I walked across the street to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum. It was amazing, though after the first two floors, I think I had sensory overload and couldn't really take in the rest of it. That's okay though, because Simmons students get in for free and I can go back any time I want to. I figured I should go check it out, since I sent in an online application to work there. Still no solid leads on employment, but I'm working on it.
Random fact: a clock tower nearby (I think it's on the Emmanuel campus) plays the same tones as the First Baptist Church in Sioux Falls. Hearing that familiar sound on the hour makes up a little for the large number of sirens that make this city sound so different than South Dakota. Although, to be fair, most of the noise is because we're near three major hospitals. Even so, I sleep with my window shut to keep out the noise.
All things considered, life--and the graduate school experience--is looking better today.
-Kim
Librarian, You're a grand old
11 years ago
1 comment:
Kim,
Great to hear from you and to experience your world.
I'm almost ready for tomorrow, but not quite yet.
Just a bit of context for you regarding the First Baptist Church chimes. They were put into place in the mid-60s as a memorial to Thane's grandfather who was killed in an automobile accident. After Thane's grandmother died (wife to his grandfather), the grandkids used part of the inheritance money to update the system from audio tapes to a computer automated system with cds.
All of this to say that when you hear the chimes in Boston and remember the chimes in SF, you're making a connection to the Paulsens, too!
Enjoy your time in grad school--it's a great experience.
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