"What we call results are beginnings"

The title is a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a fitting one to start off this new path in my life.

What a journey it’s been since my last post on the Job Search Blog. (For those that followed along, or wish to go and catch up on things, I was the "Suddenly I see" blogger) I finished up working and took a short vacation home to visit family friends, only to return and pack millions of boxes. At least, it felt like millions of boxes. Somehow I managed to get everything I own into boxes, suitcases, and bags, and then cram it all into a u-haul. Many long, sweat-filled hours later I rolled onto campus and began this new adventure. There are a few things I learned along the way:

- There is never such an experience as having “too many boxes.” Keep collecting more and perhaps you’ll end up with just enough.
- Never underestimate the amount of Kleenex you will need in order to say goodbye to the past two years of your life. (I recognize that this might only apply to me, but it’s good advice in any emotional event)
- Expect that you’ll get lost, even if you know where you’re going.
- Nothing is ever what it looks like in pictures. Also, nothing looks good when there are boxes everywhere and you can’t stop sweating.
- Moving in July is the worst idea. Ever.

My life has been moving non-stop ever since I arrived. I launched straight into training for my position, then training for my staff, and then right into move-in. Now it’s the beginning of the second week and I feel like I can finally catch my breath and prepare for the rest of the semester!
Professional life has its perks…the ever-coveted parking pass that lets you go anywhere, respect from other staff/faculty, development funds, a very cool apartment, and the ability to change lives. It’s odd for me to get used to being a supervisor. In comparison to some, I have a fairly small staff. This is a blessing since I don’t have to keep track of a whole baseball team-sized staff, but is also a bummer because I think it might actually be easier to do some things if I had more people. But I’m learning to work with what I have and to try and be successful with what I’m trying to do. I know that I still have a ways to go on this one.

I also forgot how frustrating it can be to try and find one’s way around in a new place. One horrible day I got ridiculously lost and had my mom on the phone trying to mapquest me out of the random town I was in. I made it back and then got a GPS navigator. As much as I hate giving in to this gadget and allowing someone else (no matter how robotic) tell me how to get around, I must admit that it’s pretty cool. I feel like the continental USA is mine to discover, and I can even find every Walmart along the way!

I can tell this is going to be one hell of an experience. I am pleased that my residents have been here for nearly two weeks and the building is still standing. My schedule is about to explode with meetings and lots more work, but I think it will make the time fly by even faster. After all, I signed up for this in part because I like to be busy. I am trying to take advantage of the opportunities that are offered to me while still be conscious of my time and energy level. I think it’s going to be a very interesting year :)