What a week!

Last week I was in meetings all day: 8 to 5. I’ve never had to do that, and let me tell you that it is not fun. I’m SO glad my job is not an 8 to 5 one with so few breaks. I was one cranky lady coming home to a super short evening of dinner prep, clean up and some reading or catching up with Matt. Glad that’s over.

This week, I’ve had several days of short 1-3 hour meetings… much more manageable. In between time, everything that I had planned to do for the dorm needed to be executed. That meant dorm decoration prep, lots of emails, writing and revising and adding to what I need to say for upcoming meetings I’ll lead: for student leaders, for new parents, for new students, and finally for all students. Sigh. I feel like my brain has been in constant “what am I forgetting?” mode. Luckily, I’ve been sleeping well (on the couch) and my back pain is mostly gone.

The last two days have been a true test to my dorm supe skills: first, student dorm leaders (prefects) moved in, then preseason athletes, then international students. Tomorrow, all new students and returning students move in (which is probably 85% of the school). Our door bell has already been ringing frequently and hopefully won’t break tomorrow. It’s exciting and terrifying to meet new parents and girls, knowing that I’m responsible for them and hoping I’ll get to know them well enough to reassure parents and run a smooth dorm. I know I can do the logistics just fine, but my weakness is often the personal side. I tend to go straight to the question I need answered, or the point I had to make and then turn around and leave, rather than have a conversation and be interested in the person as a person, rather than an answer to a problem. I’ve tried to be more aware of that this week already. I’d be an excellent secretary, but a terrible counselor. I shared this with my colleague, who is my opposite, and she said that that’s what prefects are for: the link between the students and the adults. She said if I treat my prefects well, doing special things for them, or having them once and a while, they’ll work hard for me and keep the lines of communication open.

Would you like to see the dorm? Here are some pictures! Our theme is Nickelodeon and every door is a different cartoon.

Each girl gets an orange cup, plate and bowl; plus a bunch of crayons and a coloring book (which I made). Later, we’ll make Gak!

The bulletin boards are ready for me to post all kinds of information.

And this is where all the magic happens: my office. Yes, it's a mess. No, it's not going to change. Yes, I could use some shelves for my craft supplies, etc, but the room is big enough that they don't bother me on the floor. (And yes, that's my bedding on the side--easy access to the couch.)

Don't you just love the gray walls? I love them. So peaceful and soothing.