A Fresh Start

Well, here we are, in 2010. It's been a long time since I've posted, and there's so much to relate that there's almost nothing to be said. The first semester ended in a flurry of activity; there were only nine teaching days between the end of Thanksgiving break and the start of exams. Everyone was hard pressed to finish the material and do sufficient review, and everyone, students and faculty alike looked forward anxiously to the end of the semester.

I made it, though I was rather stressed about it. I didn't get as far as I wanted in either of my classes, but I think now that it was rather inevitable, given my lack of experience. Exam week, though much more stressful for the students, allowed me to truly relax for the first time all semester. I probably shouldn't have relaxed as much as I did, though, since I found about five mistakes on my exams. Oops. Jamie told me not to worry about it, but I couldn't help kicking myself for it.

The day after my exam, I headed home to Cincinnati for Christmas. It was really, really nice to be home, and it now seems as if Cincinnati will always be home to me. I visited Ariel in Columbus, hung out with my best friend Katie every day before Christmas, and ate a ton of wonderful food cooked by my wonderful mother. Christmas itself was small, but really nice. We went to a family friend's house for dinner on Christmas Eve, then spent all of Christmas Day in our pajamas watching movies. I spent the days after Christmas finishing up grading and comments, and on the 29th I came back to Boston.

I spent New Year's at Chris' apartment, where we, along with his housemates Scott and Bryne, threw a big party. (I say "we" because they all include me as one of their housemates, since I spend most of my weekends at their apartment.) Bryne and I spent all day on New Year's Eve cooking and baking and cleaning the house, which was really fun; we made roasted cashews, sour cream drop cookies, butter cookies, Funfetti cupcakes and English muffins, orange rolls and scones for a New Year's Day brunch. The spread was pretty amazing. The party turned out to be a big success, with lots of people dropping by and bringing various munchies or bottles of alcohol. I got to catch up with some kids from Oberlin's swim team who live in the area, and meet some friends of a friend, which was also fun. We hung out, ate, drank and counted down, then ran up to the fort to see the fireworks burst over the skyline.

So now it is 2010 and who knows what a new year will bring? I am excited for the second semester, and excited to find out what my fate will be once this school year ends. So here's to a new year and new opportunities!