The Adventure Begins

The initial entry of any great blog must include justification for its existence... So, I've moved away from family and friends (and friends that might as well be family) to start the next chapter of my life. But, I'm not always great at keeping people updated on what's going on with me, and some people, particularly my family, find this to be one of my more distressing qualities. Hopefully, if I manage to keep this updated, this blog will serve as a good supplement to individual communications. Also, I am continuing a USC legacy started by several of my undergrad professors. These professors, and others, are eager to relive their gradschool days vicariously through me. Some folks won't believe it, but I'm not really a fan of blogging. I enjoy doing it, but I'm not presumptuous enough to think that all that many people really care what I have to say! None-the-less, here it is...

I've been in Columbia for a little over a week now. I'm about 10 miles from downtown (where the campus is located) so I haven't really seen much of the city yet. I'm in a two-story duplex on a lake. The neighborhood might be considered "questionable", but I feel comfortable and safe, and the neighbors that I have met seem to be pretty cool. I'm liking the house more an more, and I'm loving the lake and my daily kayaking trips. The downstairs (kitchen, living/dining room, utility room) is unpacked and awaiting the arrival of a new tv and drumset. The upstairs (bedroom, master bed converted to an office, and bathroom)...well, it's not nearly settled, but perhaps today will be a productive one.

I invited all of the new students over last night. Of the 12 entering (including myself) 10 were here, plus one fiancé. Looks like it's going to be a good group. Everyone is pretty chill, and the social awkwardness that is the math student stereotype is minimual if it's there at all. 5 chicks, 7 guys. Everyone seemed to have fun and we all got on smashingly.

Training and orientation sessions begin tomorrow. Classes begin the 18th. I'll meet for advising Friday, but I expect I will be taking Analysis, Algebra, and Graph Theory. I also expect to be teaching a few sections of Calculus lab and recitation, but I reckon that assignment will be finalized after my class registration is official. I've no idea what to expect, but I'm planning to have fun with it!