crier #1: one of the first people to arrive was a mom who was just scoping out the college before she woke up her daughter and brought her over to check in. the room we had assigned her daughter was unacceptable because (a) it is in the new building (with modern facilities) and her daughter wanted an old, "oxford" building, (b) it looks out on a view "she could get in new york city" (where they are from, of course), (c) all of her friends are way over in another part of the college (not exactly true), and (d) they couldn't possibly walk up three flights of stairs with her suitcases. in addition, (e) pembroke college is too far removed from all the other colleges and the cool part of town (not true) and (f) it is the ugliest college at oxford (have you seen the pictures i've been posting on this blog? you will know that this is not the case). larry (one of the other deans) and i spent a lot of time trying to convince her otherwise, but she cried about it and couldn't be convinced. at one point she said to me, "i know you're just the girl checking people in - can i speak to someone more senior?" (you KNOW i'm JUST the GIRL checking people in? EXCUSE ME?) what i thought: "actually, lady, i'm one of the program deans and there are very few people more senior than i am." what i said: "i'd be happy to find the assistant director for you." SHEESH. (and of course in the end she got her way. hopefully karma will catch up to her.)
crier #2: after everyone had checked in, we gathered on the quad and hung out for a bit - letting the kids meet the other participants - before dinner. i walked around saying hi to people, and sat down with a girl who was sitting by herself. she seemed like one of those kids who likes being alone, and it takes her a couple days to feel comfortable around new people...i offered to introduce her to some girls on her floor, but she was okay by herself. we started talking about where she's from, where she wants to go to college, etc., and she said "my dream school would be oxford." i said something like, oh it must be so cool to be here if this is your dream school, isn't oxford beautiful, etc. and she said "it feels like a dream and i'm afraid i might wake up" and then she starts to cry. it was the most precious thing ever, and you could tell that coming to this program meant a LOT to her. made my day.
today is day 2 of the program and things are falling into place and running pretty smoothly. i've been in the office probably 15 hours a day for the past two days, and finally have some time off tonight from about 8:30pm onward. this feels so luxurious even though it probably doesn't sound like much free time. tomorrow will be better because we begin to have set shifts of when you're on and when you're off. i am REALLY looking forward to this, because my personality type is such that i feel guilty not being there all the time unless i'm told "you are on shift from 8am-1pm and you are off shift after that." hooray for a little more structure in the day.
3 comments:
I cannot believe a grown woman cried! And how embarrassing for her to do so in front of JUST the GIRL checking people in. You showed more restraint than I would have, that I know for certain!
Well, I detest crier #1 but adore crier # 2! How precious, and really very mature for a student that age to realize how significant and special this opportunity is :) I'm glad you'll be getting some more free time in the coming days. And, I'm with Joey, I don't think I would have been able to show as much restraint-- I think rather than just thinking it, I would have said something like "and this is why the stereotype of New Yorkers is what it is." She could take a lesson from crier # 2!! Hopefully her daughter won't be as miserable. Hope your fourth was happy! xoxo, E
sounds like the first day anxiety is over and you can start settling down to a normal schedule. How mature of you not to challenge the obnoxious lady #1. I love reading about all you are doing!!
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