…. savage and serene in one hour” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

This quote seems a good summation of the world right now.

Another varied week with lots of metaphorical balls in the air. It’s hard to fathom that our exchange

students have been at NIC a month already and have only another month to go. We’ve been working on figuring out how to find more teaching hours for them. They’re keen to get experience and I also know how hard it is for everyone to find the ‘bandwidth’ to do what feels like extra in attending workshops (although it isn’t ‘extra’). They’re keen to offer insights into group dynamics and I know they offer a unique perspective: they are students, students with international experiences, and also novice teachers. We’re hoping this will be the draw for both faculty and students to come to their planned workshops.

It was interesting stepping back briefly into Program Review this week. I’m reminded of the value of these discussions and am looking forward to being the ‘internal’ member for the ‘external’ Review Team, for another program area at the end of this month.

I’ve been working on finding work-related resources on intercultural fluency within the lens of a ‘respectful workplace.’ There’s lots out there; some useful and some unfortunate in the bias promoted. In making some information more accessible, some resource creators have simplified the material to an extent that it is potentially misleading. It makes me wonder where I have made the same mistake. It’s a complex area and always changing.

This week ended on a high note with a celebration of the project for a new residence building for the College. It was wonderful (and still a little strange to be gathered), to see colleagues face-to-face and many who I’ve not seen for nearly two years. With any luck, we are moving into the light.