Finally

At long last, we've been released into the wild. Yesterday was my first day settling into the new office. The school seems strangely lonely compared to the constant activity at GHCC. There are only three new teachers, and the four of us have been spread out in our own corners of the building for the past two days. Today I ventured down into the kindergarten area to check out the newly renovated -- and very pretty! -- space, an adventure that yielded some conversation with one of the new teachers, which was nice. I am terrible at introductions, and often just slink around and smile at people as if that will convince them I am actually someone they should hold in high regard. Hmm.

Tomorrow all the teachers return, so hopefully the school won't be so quiet and lonely. Hopefully I'll make a good impression and not be totally overwhelmed. This job is forcing me to restructure the way I interact with people, something both positive and difficult.

As ready as we all were to leave and get into our respective schools, we still gravitate back to the main office. Both today and yesterday, we have ended up there together, discussing our days and enjoying familiar company. It's good to know that whatever storms we may encounter in the schools, we have a home at the GHCC office. I mean, really, our department's space is a basement efficiency apartment with yellow walls -- it even looks like it should be more of a home than an office. And despite the quirks as it makes the uneven transition from one to the other -- like not being able to use the (small) printer and the air conditioner at the same time -- it is a comfortable retreat, and I hope it remains so.