advising while abroad

One of my graduate students is with me in London this summer, working on research for her thesis.  She’s integrated into some of our daily activities but, most of the time, she’s doing her own thing as she collects and analyzes her data.

I’ve worked with this student for years now, since she went through our undergraduate program.  She also previously participated in the London program (which provided the inspiration for her thesis topic).  Luckily, I really enjoy working with her.  She’s one of those bright young things that makes it a joy to work one-on-one with students.

The role of advisor – much like the role of professor – is rather different in London, though.  This context allows me to interact with my undergraduates more informally while still maintaining the student-teacher relationship.  The student-advisor relationship is more informal, too, but also more equal here.

I’m still directing her work, so our conversations are often focused on aspects of research or analysis.  We also talk about her adventures in the city, her plans for the weekend – all the fun things I discuss with any student here.

But we also walk together as I’m moving students from Point A to Point B, discussing past experiences here or sharing information.  She quietly commiserates with me as I’m trying to herd 17 students through the streets of the city.  Tonight, she joined SG and me for a drink and dinner at my invitation (and since I introduced her to very spicy Indian food, she may never do so again!).

She still calls me Prof Me, after all these years, despite my encouragement to use my first name, but that doesn’t impede the relationship, which has developed into a sincere yet friendly interaction between a student who wants to learn and a professor who wants to support that learning.  We have that same relationship back in the US, I think, but it has a different tenor to it.

It’s easier to just be here.  Be open, be friendly, be funny, be myself.

Maybe it’s that I don’t have 29 different things pulling at me every moment of the day – or if I do, I’m ignoring them because, when I’m here, the program is all I do.  Maybe it’s because I love this city and it simply makes me a happy person to be here.  Maybe it’s because, for all the work and stress and exhaustion, I enjoy my program and working with the students here allows me to focus on something I enjoy.

Whatever the reason, I like advising while abroad.  I think it’s easier to work on a thesis when you’re meeting your advisor over a pint to discuss the next step.

 

time in the markets

I do love exploring the markets of London.  There’s something so quietly pleasant about browsing through all sorts of thing spread out before you under a bright blue sky.

It doesn’t hurt, of course, when one of the things I’m exploring is food – which is the focus of Borough Market.  It’s not all food, of course.

The small flower stalls are quite pretty, scattered on the edge of the market.  I love all the bright colors, the different light smells, the possibility of creating the garden of my imagination.

But the food was the draw today, the change to sample all sorts of tasty goodies and decide what makes it home in my tote.  SG and I shared a cheese and onion pasty, a steak and ale pie, a buttery toasted cheese sandwich, not to mention the tasty bits of cheese, jam, chutney, bread, honey, fudge and fruit set out on the stalls.

As you can see, I have a bit of a weakness for cheese.

sunny days in London

Much to everyone’s surprise, it is hot in London town.  My poor students packed for the stereotype – foggy, chilly, wet – and instead we’re basking under searingly blue skies.  There are pink shoulders, pink noses, pink necks from all our walking about the city; my freckles are out in full force.  We all look like we’ve taken a trip to the beaches of Spain.

Of course, London is showing well in such brilliant sunshine.  The students are excited to explore, already making all sorts of plans for the weeks we’re here.  The sun has given them the perfect excuse to explore the markets and pick up new clothes.  Most of my girls are already wearing cute little dresses and edgy thin Ts (they’re in luck; there’s a market right by their residence hall).

I do like showing off the city under such glorious sun, though.

arrival

I’m in London…and everything is good.

getting out the door is a test of my endurance

You would think, with all the traveling I do, that I would have streamlined the process by now.  Not so!  Even though this is my fourth time taking students to London, even though I have traveled internationally countless times, even though I am a pretty good packer (if I do say so myself), it’s always a frenzy to get out the door with my luggage and my sanity intact.

I’m getting picked up to catch the shuttle to the airport in an hour, thanks to a friend’s lovely husband who was willing to help out over his lunch break.  (Everybody is out of town, so I was afraid I’d have to ask a student!)  So far today, I’ve taken SG to catch his airport shuttle, met a friend for a quick breakfast and hug, gone to Red Dot Mecca and the grocery store for last minute necessities, run by my office to grab my computer adaptor, swung by the bank to deposit a check, gone to the post office to send Niece #3′s birthday present and put the sheets in the washer.  I still need to finish packing my carry-on, move everything to the dryer, do one last check of luggage and call my mother.

It’s almost a relief when I actually get on the plane…

I obviously have issues

I leave for London on Monday.  I had a full day to get myself together: answer emails, revise a paper, complete a recommendation, do my laundry, start packing.

I did none of that.

I caught up on some TV episodes.  I pulled a few things out of my closet and started piling them on the bed.  I messed around on my computer.

So, now, I have to do all of those things tomorrow, plus all the other little bits that come to mind as I run through the house.

Why do I do this to myself?

perception and reality

I had a chance to speak with my now-former graduate student today.  We had a good chat, actually: I asked an honest question and I got an honest answer – after the initial surprise wore off that I was calling the bluff on the advisor switch.

In summary: I’m intimidating.  I have a strong personality.  I’m often abrupt in our meetings, focused on answering questions.  I’m always so pulled together – hair, make-up, jewelry.  I’m overwhelmingly successful, gaining tenure and all.  And the straw that broke the student’s back: the recovery from my back issues and return from surgery so quickly.

My response, in summary: I’m no superwoman, whatever appearances may be.  I’m glad I’m perceived as so accomplished but, as the disorder in my office attests, my accomplishments come from a lot of messy hard work.  How I deal with issues in my life is a function of who I am, and I’m a relatively private person; just because you don’t see me struggling doesn’t mean I’m not.  And my response to the straw: My back issues aren’t the worst thing I’ve had to deal with in my life, so I chose to simply to deal with it and keep moving.

I wonder, would we have had this conversation if I was male?  Would a graduate student question a male professor’s “accomplishments” or personality?  Would a male professor be expected to discuss personal issues?

Maybe yes, maybe no.  I do think there are very different expectations for student-professor interactions based on gender – on both sides of that equation, actually.  There are always issues of personality and expectation and interaction and just plain fit.  I don’t mind that we didn’t fit; I do mind that there’s an assumption that I didn’t care about my student.

I am tough. I can be abrupt.  I don’t always have time to sit and chat.  I don’t share much of my personal life with my students.  Does that make me a bad advisor?

I don’t think so.  Because I care about my students, quite a lot, as a matter of fact.  I want them to be successful; I want them to feel supported; I want them to understand the realities of this job.  I may not be doing the best job, and I’m sure I make mistakes along the way, but I don’t think that makes me a poor advisor.

Because it’s not a bad thing to be tough.  I don’t set out to intimidate my students, and I’m sorry if they see me as unapproachable, but part of that perception falls on them.  I have never turned a student away from my office.  I have always answered a student’s questions.  I have inquired about home lives and medical issues and summer plans as I’ve suggested courses and explained concepts and read drafts.  I’ve done independent studies, signed forms, written reference letters while I’ve cracked jokes, given advice and shared experiences from my graduate years.

So, yes, I may be intimidating.  And I may have a strong personality.  But I do care about my students.  And I’m sorry that they don’t recognize care can take many different forms.

 

the “joys” of shopping

I’m not really a shopper, although I enjoy an occasional foray into the stores.  It’s always much more enjoyable when I’m browsing and happen upon something nice, especially if I can find a bargain.

I do look forward to the markets in London, though.  Strolling through the streets is so much fun there, glancing over the wares of the vendors.  I don’t even have to buy anything to enjoy a few hours.  Of course, I do, more often than not, particularly shiny things that fit on my fingers.  I have completely given into my love of rings and I can’t wait to add to my collection this summer.

Right now, though, it’s the not-fun shopping: the need to find specific items.  When I go to London, I need a pretty flexible wardrobe; I’m teaching, so I want to look pulled together, but I’m tramping through the city, so I want to be comfortable.  I’m on vacation on the weekends so I want to be informal – and then there’s the real vacation after the program – and I’m going to a conference so I need to be formal.  I have to dress for rainy weather, sunny weather, chilly weather and toasty weather; there’s not too much variance – no need to take a parka – but I do need a range of clothing.

And then there’s the shoes.  I can only fit so many in my bag and they all need to be good walking shoes.  My feet really haven’t recovered from the nerve damage caused by the ruptured disc, so shoes are a little difficult these days.  I have to have straps on my shoes now (no slip ons) and not too much of a heel but I can’t wear flats easily, either.  As if I didn’t have enough trouble finding shoes before all this!

So, this week, I’m trying to fill up my suitcase with a wardrobe that fits all possible scenarios. I have some things already, obviously, but I need a few more.  And that requires shopping.

I have some new tops, mostly peasant blouses and a few dressy tanks that will work under a cardigan.  I have an ankle-length skirt that works with those new tops, plus a few maxidresses.  Thanks to Red Dot Mecca, I have some casual trousers, since I don’t like to teach in jeans.  And I did find some fun shoes that should do quite well for those long days on my feet.

I had to get a new suitcase, too, since the rolling duffel I took last year has been beat to heck  (it’s hard to use a suitcase that doesn’t have zipper pulls).  At some point, I’ll start packing it – and then I can stop looking for things I might need and look forward to finding things I might want.

fellow book lovers

One of my favorite days of the London program is when I give the students a book.

I do it in the context of a specific assignment that requires specific reading material.  I’ve gathered a pretty good collection over the last few years and, thanks to Am@zon, I can replenish after every program.

I bring them in on the second or third day of class on campus, we do an activity and then I tell them that they get to keep the book they have or, after reading the first chapter, trade with a classmate or look through the few extras I have remaining.

Such smiles!  A few instances of incredulity: “You don’t want these back when we finish?”  ”We get to keep them?” “This is mine?”  And they leave excited, already thumbing through the pages, reading the first chapter.

Delightful, really, to support a few fellow bibliophiles.

the countdown begins

I leave for London in a week, and that means this week is beyond stressful.

There’s the academic stuff.  I teach four hours each day, with all the planning, prepping, grading, emailing that entails.  I’m trying to wrap up two projects – and failing miserably – before I leave.  I’m submitting paperwork and signing forms to get everything and everybody in order for the summer.

There’s the travel stuff.  I haven’t solidified my vacation plans after the program finishes, so I’m spending hours on the web trying to locate lodging, rent cars, figure out flights.  It’s slowly coming together but it’s a process.

There’s the personal stuff.  I’m shopping like a mad woman.  It’s sort of a ritual to pick out new clothes, new music, new shoes but it’s also necessary.  When you’re going to be wearing the same clothes for the next month and a half, while traveling, teaching, conferencing and vacationing, you have specific parameters for what you take: multi-purpose, easily washable, comfortable.

There’s the house stuff.  I have to make sure I’m paying all my bills, stopping my mail, figuring out a way to clean my disaster zone of a home before I leave (it’s just what I do).

No matter my good intentions, I’m never ready for this week.  I was still finishing my syllabus at 2am Sunday night.  I’m still trying to find another pair of comfortable shoes.  There’s always too much to do and too little time to sleep.

It’s all worth it, of course, but it’s going to be a long week.