Phew
It's been a nerve-wracking week. I got back from my final campus visit late Friday night, with the promise that I would hear from the English department at the big mountain state university I visited last on Tuesday (i.e. this past Tuesday). One way or another, whether they made an offer to me or the one other candidate. Tuesday came, Tuesday went. Nothing. Well, I did get an essay accepted for publication, but I wasn't really able to celebrate properly with all of my organs in my throat. Every time the phone rang, I nearly wet myself. But nothing.
Wednesday came, and I got an e-mail in between my somewhat grumpily-taught classes saying that they'd offered it to the other candidate, but they would offer it to me if she declined. I couldn't really hope that she'd decline, since it's a beautiful campus, a collegial, supportive, and productive department with a flexible curriculum for both undergrads and grad students, and the coveted 2/2 teaching load that has become my personal holy grail. I spent Wednesday wanting to kick things, and making plans for spending the rest of my career here at N.C.
Thursday came (today), and I taught the first act of Twelfth Night with a sense of resignation. Things here ain't so bad. There's something to be said for a job with a bunch of people who really like me. There's something to be said also for a place where I could coast to tenure from here.
But around noon I got a call from the chair not only offering me the job, but hastening to assure me that I was not the department's begrudging plan B. So it's been something of a roller coaster, but I think I may have just achieved the Grail. And in a town that's fairly close to family, that has an in-town whitewater kayaking park, proximity to both ski runs and desert, and the kind of big state research university where I can easily see myself for the next 35 years or so.
A huge sigh of relief comes here.
I spent the evening having drinks with my department that were equal parts congratulations and commiseration, the news being both good and bad from their perspective. But mostly it's been a "woohoo" sort of day.
Wednesday came, and I got an e-mail in between my somewhat grumpily-taught classes saying that they'd offered it to the other candidate, but they would offer it to me if she declined. I couldn't really hope that she'd decline, since it's a beautiful campus, a collegial, supportive, and productive department with a flexible curriculum for both undergrads and grad students, and the coveted 2/2 teaching load that has become my personal holy grail. I spent Wednesday wanting to kick things, and making plans for spending the rest of my career here at N.C.
Thursday came (today), and I taught the first act of Twelfth Night with a sense of resignation. Things here ain't so bad. There's something to be said for a job with a bunch of people who really like me. There's something to be said also for a place where I could coast to tenure from here.
But around noon I got a call from the chair not only offering me the job, but hastening to assure me that I was not the department's begrudging plan B. So it's been something of a roller coaster, but I think I may have just achieved the Grail. And in a town that's fairly close to family, that has an in-town whitewater kayaking park, proximity to both ski runs and desert, and the kind of big state research university where I can easily see myself for the next 35 years or so.
A huge sigh of relief comes here.
I spent the evening having drinks with my department that were equal parts congratulations and commiseration, the news being both good and bad from their perspective. But mostly it's been a "woohoo" sort of day.
posted by James at 5:45 PM
2 Comments:
I'm v. happy for you, although my happiness is tempered by my extreme envy at a 2/2 teaching load. Try 4/4 on for size.
Let me know where in the country you're going to be - is this the only mountain place you visited?
For some reason, my "bloglines" wasn't picking up your posts, so I just checked here. I know I don't know you, but I've been reading your blog for awhile and am so glad to hear your news. Congratulations! It sounds like a wonderful job. It's great to hear that the job market can really work out for folks who deserve it.
Post a Comment
<< Home