That CD with the note on the content will not mean anything to you. But, to me, it is nothing but a wonderful story. A story on why it is so awesome to be a university teacher; did I ever tell you that I love what I do? ;)
The day began on an awful note though.
There was a book in my campus mailbox. Which puzzled me because the publishers' representatives know that I don't use formal texts in my courses and a long, long time ago they stopped sending me their sales pitches.
Let me put it this way--that book was a "gift" from a colleague but it was really not a gift. Well, ok, it was a gift if you think that this scene is also about nothing but a friendly gift ;)
But, by now I am used to bizarre things said and done. After all, that is academia. And that is how most faculty apparently want to behave.
I went about my business. I had an awesome lunch that I had brought with me--a panini that I made in the morning (grilled ciabatta with garlic-infused olive oil, swiss cheese, fresh black pepper, leftover chicken, and spinach leaves) and a honeycrisp apple to finish that off! I brushed my teeth (am afraid of my teacher!) and kept the door open for office hours with students.
A student walked in.
Correction--a young man who was a student in one of my classes four or so years ago walked in.
He was pleasantly surprised that I recognized him. "I wanted to stop by my superstar professors and say hi" he said.
He made my day.
We chatted for more than half an hour. I would have spent more time with him, but for an appointment that I had. During that conversation, I told him that I still have at home the CD that he had burnt for me to listen to a couple of "Radio Lab" segments--which itself was a result of a chat that we had had in class. "That is a tangible piece of evidence that I have not forgotten you" I told him.
Those are the kinds of gifts that I cherish. I retain them. I love those memories.
The "gift" that was in my office mailbox? Return to sender, of course ;)
5 comments:
To make a difference in someone's life - nothing better! Congratulations.
Thanks ...
;)
I completely lost it on the gift in the mailbox, but totally floored by the "superstar professor" - you are in a lucky profession ; you can have that sort of effect on people. Bravo.
Yes, it was a cryptic note on the gift in the mailbox ... will blog about that some day, I am sure.
Hint: it was a continuation of the theme discussed here:
http://sriramkhe.blogspot.com/2011/07/shut-up-and-sign-fucking-form.html
)
So, I returned that gift to the sender ... that resulted in email exchange ...
Here's the interesting closing comment in that email from the gifter:
"I do not share my social science colleagues' disdain for your input and perspectives and I think the record of our personal interactions should bear that out."
It made my day to get a confirmation that it is not in my head. It is not my imagination. Now there is even a word for how I am treated all because of the different non-union road that I travel: "disdain" ... "Disdain" ... what a powerful sentiment! How tragic!!! :(
So, there, you right-wing friends of mine, happy now? ;)
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