So the first week of classes did not go as swimmingly as I had originally planned (hoped). I arrived at the Japanese Literature class early in order to continue reading a book on Japanese history (in order to familiarize myself with historical/literary periods). I, also, have been in close contact with the professor who is teaching the course. She even gave me a lot of resources for my women and manga paper last October. She's been very helpful and a delight to communicate with.

Since the literature class was on a Thursday, I decided that I wanted to consolidate my class schedule from four days on campus to three days, and possibly even two--and to keep the days I wasn't on campus for writing. Well, fiction workshop always seems to be on Mondays, and since I was assigned a teaching appointment on Tuesdays/Thursdays, then the two-day campus dream couldn't be achieved. Which isn't so bad because, still, I'm only teaching two days (easy!) and only on campus three days--and Monday barely counts since I'm only there for two-and-a-half hours and Tuesdays probably don't either since I'm done by 9:15 a.m.

I was also ecstatic that I wasn't going to have any night classes this semester, since both of my classes were from 2:00-4:30. I was so happy because if a class ends at 4:30, chances are it'll end on time, because every lit class I've ever had has been from 4:30-6:50 and every lit class I've ever had has never ended on time. The first day of class last term, the professor asked everyone to stay an extra ten minutes each class, so the class would really run from 4:30-7:00. Well, when students kept opening the door to our classroom at 6:50, since our room was being used after us, I was hopeful that we'd actually get out on time, but the professor moved us to a conference room instead, so we were a captive audience--also a cramped audience, the chairs were smashed up against each other, and it was awkward taking notes because the chairs didn't sit at the same height as the table. I started bringing my laptop because I couldn't focus on note-taking otherwise. Not that there was a lot of notes to be taken, since I didn't feel like we learned much, more like a retread of the same territory over and over for the last half of the semester.

But back to the Japanese lit class. As soon as the professor came in, she said she needed to change the day the class met from Thursday 2:00-4:30 to Friday 3:30-6:30.

My heart sank.

I could feel my three-day dream quickly evaporating. Everyone else (that is to say all three other students--one of which is only auditing the class and not actually registered) didn't find this idea disagreeable. I did. I told everyone that I have a freelance job that I do on the days I'm not on campus (true), but I didn't mention the fact that I can do this from home (perhaps devious). But it didn't matter. Since I was only taking the course because I wanted to learn (and because I'd like to tailor my dissertation around Japanese literature/pop culture), and not because I needed it to fulfill requirements, my opinion didn't count and the class was officially moved.

I'm not taking it. It's probably petty not to take it simply because I'm being rigid about my schedule, but my bus stops running at 6:30 (well, really, they stop picking people up around 6, and only do drop-offs, so it's even earlier), and I really don't want to wait alone for the metro bus anymore. After being called a bitch for not giving some guy my only metro token, also being propositioned, also being hit on--oh, and they moved the metro stop to the other corner of the street--which does not have a streetlamp--since this has happened, four people have been mugged on that corner. Coincidence? I think not. At this point, I just want a schedule where my use of public transportation remains unimpeded.

So I'm taking a feminist theory course instead on Tuesdays that ends at 5:50.

I thought I'd feel guilty about not taking the Japanese lit course, but I don't. Okay, well, I'm trying not to feel it. First and foremost, I'm a writer (trying), and I need to keep my writing time sacred. I already sanctioned Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays for writing, and Aimee Bender told me that it's okay to keep those days sacred. When people want to make plans on those days, it's okay to say that I have a previous commitment. I have to keep remembering this or else I'll lose what little backbone I already have.

Labels: grad school

( 2comments )

at January 15, 2007 11:31 AM  Lindsi Dawn said...

I have to say, I would have probably done the same thing if I were in your situation. Actually, I'm sure I have. Not with school, but with other things. I'm glad you considered the saftey factor in- you don't need to be on any dark corners in LA!

Will you be able to take the Japanese Literature class another semester?

Good luck with the femisnist theory course, that could probably go either way- good or crapy.

 

at January 15, 2007 3:33 PM  Princess Blogonoke said...

Don't feel guilty about changing your class. Waiting for the bus at night is scary, and the fact that people got mugged at the bus stop you would be waiting at is even scarier.