Beth Salerno

Second semester, final third

March 2, 2008 Author: Beth Salerno

On Monday March 3, classes officially start at Pyeongtaek University for the 2008 academic year.  We will have Convocation and the once every four year installation of the University President.  I will start teaching on Thursday the 7^th and classes will run until the 13^th of June.

I am excited to start teaching again.  My colleagues in New Hampshire are already giving midterms and thinking about spring break!  But I am also very aware that when this semester ends, I am going home.  I arrived in August and one week later plunged into classes.  I knew so little; I just rode whatever waves came and hoped for the best.  Then I had a two and a half month break, with Tod’s visit, illness, research, travel, and class preparation.  Now the last piece starts, the second semester, but the final third of my appointment here. 

Already I can feel the pull of home.  My Saint Anselm department chair and I have chosen my classes and teaching times for the fall, and I’ve written course descriptions and talked to students about classes.  I’ve signed my contract to return to Saint Anselm in the fall.  I have plane tickets home for June 30th.

This feeling of being “caught between” two places is partly why I agreed to come for an entire year.  If I knew I was going home in December, I would already be thinking about it in October.  But thinking about home, does not mean I am unhappy here.  I have cherry and pear blossoms to see, mountains still to hike, an exotic island to visit.  My parents are coming for a week in May, I’m giving a paper on teaching in Korea, and I still have some Benedictine monks to visit here.  Who knows what will happen on campus.  Last semester we had Halloween parties and department plays, sports events and class dinners.  This photo is me playing Little Red Riding Hood’s mom.

Most importantly I will be teaching, and I am looking forward to the energy and excitement of a new group of students.  My two courses are outside my expertise - American Political Culture and Contemporary America (1945 to the present).  So I will be learning as much as the students!  I have been reading over break to understand the Korean political system.  I have also been trying to think “What would a person need to know about 1945 to the present to understand why America is the way it is today?”  With more than 50 students in one class and less than 10 in the other, the pedagogy or teaching techniques may be a challenge as well.  So bring on the semester!  Let the adventure continue!

Entry Filed under: Teaching, University