Ho Ho Home

Nineteen days after arriving in St. Louis, I'm still here and still smiling. I've been happy remembering winter weather, and I have enjoyed bundling up to brace myself for the walk to/from work on very cold and windy days and nights. I've had a lot of meet-and-greet appointments to begin establishing new relationships that I am hopeful will develop into sustained collaborations. I've enjoyed more student events and staff gatherings (like a Division-wide holiday party that had a full hot and cold buffet, a dessert table, and a beer/wine open bar; and at least two holiday potlucks). One night I stayed late at work and even got locked into the building and had to wait for a Public Safety officer to escort me out. I've discovered new local merchants (like an auto parts store, a car repair station, and a great tailor). A coworker graciously invited me to a really nice holiday dinner with his circle of friends. I've slowly gotten through my pile of "homework" but have a lot more to read and study (division and department reports, policy manuals, assessment projects, background papers, etc.). But at the end of these first three weeks at work, I am happy for a week off in the semester break, and I am also still affirmed by my search and choice to be here.

Everyone keeps telling me that I came at a good time: the pace is generally slow enough to allow for careful study and I have not yet been overwhelmed with student contacts and complex issues or critical incidents. Perhaps most fortunately, I joined the SLU team at a time that the campus is really quite pretty and festive.

One of the many marker gates of this urban campus.

The university's seal and sign over one of the entryway arches.

St. Francis Xavier College Church - a stunning building on campus.

Another view of the campus church - gorgeous!

Among the many public art works that dot the campus, this Nativity scene was recently installed for the season.

On one street corner is a campus-owned sculpture garden and this is one seasonal addition.

So the holiday parties and gift exchanges and surprise cards and candy canes have just added to a lovely warm welcome and I feel like I will be able to make this workplace a solid home. Now I just need time in January to really locate that new permanent residential address! At one of the department meetings I attended, the staff members were going around identifying what they were thankful for this holiday season and several said that they were very thankful for health, shelter and a home, and (in this economy) a good job with great people. I echo their sentiments as I prepare to fly out of here tomorrow (narrowly missing an incoming snowstorm, I hope): I'm just happy to be employed and safe and healthy and happy.

To get myself into my own kind of holiday spirit, I have started to immerse myself into the local arts scene and I kicked off my holiday show season with the Cirque Dreams production of "Holidaze" at the historic Fox Theatre. I also subscribed to the Broadway season at this theater, so later I will have to take one of the historic tours of the place because the interior was as spectacular as the acrobatics on display, in another St. Louis first for me.

The self-proclaimed "Fabulous Fox Theatre" in St. Louis!

My first theatrical outing in St. Louis...

...an appropriately holiday themed spectacle!

After just one more sleep, I will be off to the New York City land of family, friends, food, and my annual "Broadway Blitz" which promises to set a personal best record for number of shows seen in one trip (that will be the post-trip post), so in the meantime, I wish you all warm welcomes, sincere reflections, good company, affirmed choices, and very happy holidays!