An Update
It’s been a while since I’ve done a personal update post. Here are some things that are going on with me:
Last week, I began coursework at San Jose State University. This, of course, is for my MLIS degree, and I didn’t even need to relocate. I’m doing the program online. As I’ve never truly had the full online course experience, I am glad that they have provided much resources to facilitate being a remote commuter student, including a class on social networking. Lest you think I’m taking a course to learn about Twitter, Facebook, etc, this is more about using technologies such as ANGEL (an internet course format), Elluminate (for real time class interaction), Second Life (for the same reasons as Elluminate), and overall tech literacy.
I’m a casualty of the California economy. I’ve wanted to get off the adjunct teaching boat for a while, but budget cuts more or less pushed me off. I have found teaching to be an emotionally draining experience, especially one that was hard to turn off as a community college instructor. Being in front of students would take a lot out of me and then I’d be faced with their papers and lesson plans. I’m simultaneously relieved and worried. I’m now looking for a new job, hopefully one that doesn’t involve classrooms.
I’ve been gaining some experience ever since earlier this year, around March, with my local branch of the public library. The library is wonderful, I like the people who work there, and the librarian’s great. I’ve been looking around for a gig that pays, and one with the public library would be nice. I’ve also looked at the various websites that have jobs listed in the library field (locally) and I’m definitely networking.
Now that I don’t have any courses, I’ve been trying to de-clutter my life. Whenever I’ve taught courses, I’d be afraid to throw anything out as anything I’d get would be crucial. Student work I can put in a box for the next several years just in case someone challenges a grade. With some other things, I need to decide whether to file them away or make use of my paper shredder, or simply recycle if there’s no vital information.
I’ll be glad when this whole economic nightmare is over. I’ll be glad when I come out of my own personal recession.
Hi Shin,
Hope everything goes well.
As a user of both the San Diego City libraries and the County libraries, it seems to me that the county is much better funded and more stable.
I could be wrong about that though. It has been a while since I lived in San Diego, as opposed to the random visit.
Maybe you could become a fire fighter, not to belittle anyones pain and suffering, but that seems to be an in demand occupation.
Andrew
Andrew´s last blog ..Tuesday, September 01, 2009
I keep coming back to how everything is outsourced–I think if our economy was built on something (anything) local (whether it be inside the country or inside your town) everything would be much more stable. Sure, we wouldn’t be as rich, but most of us would prefer stable, I think.
Regardless, good luck, man! You’re not alone in your search for work! In fact, I hadn’t considered looking for work at my local library. I have zero experience working in one, but I’m good with computers.
thepete´s last blog ..Tropicana Uses Very Deceptive Packaging for their new “Orange Juice Beverage with Vitamins”
@Andrew: The one thing about being a firefighter in beautiful, sunny California is work is guaranteed. Something always burns and we are very disaster prone in this region. Brush and forest fires are a natural part of the environment and the developers were stupid enough to build homes near them. Lots and lots of homes. Also, thanks to the idiotic budgeting of the California legislature, essential services such as firefighting for when disasters hit will put our state in the red. Teachers, on the other hand, are seen as much more expendable. Cut them and cram the classes of the remaining teachers full of kids. On the surface, it doesn’t appear that way, but a crowded classroom is a horrible working condition in many ways.
If I wanted to be a fireman, I would have done it a long time ago. However, it’s not too late to get myself into shape and get some training if I really wanted to. Plus, I’d get sexiness points for the simple virtue of the job. But, it’s not something I’d want to do, even though saving lives and habitations is very noble.
thepete: The whole greed of trying to create wealth outside of this country is what has gotten us where we are in the first place. Of course, the people responsible for the outsourcing are covering their collective asses, but this will definitely be their undoing. There’s a certain poetic justice to countries like India and China gaining ground on the US because we’ve essentially given them an economic foundation – skills, industrial base, even if it was out of exploitation. Of course, the Republicans would play it down if Americans got paid pennies on the dollar, because to demand just wages is socialist, right?
It hasn’t gotten there yet, but the idiots have found a renaissance in obstructionism unseen since the Clinton years.
Re: libraries – computer skills are excellent to have.