What I Was Thinking While You Were Speaking

In the lead-up to yesterday's departmental meeting:

You said: I've got a project that I think will be good for the new kid. It will help them get a grip on what the department's about

I thought: You have no recollection of what the first term was like. And you're being lazy and trying to justify it.

At yesterday's departmental meeting:

You said: I've signed us up for a great opportunity that a few programs with similar ideals have begun to experiment.

I thought: Why do you write checks my workload is going to have to cash? Odds are you'll bail out of this great project 20 seconds after you finish your sentence, and half of my next term will be spent trying to honor your commitment.

In office hours with a former student:

You said: You know, I hated your method class, but it has been so useful.

I thought: Yes! Yes, I told you so! Now if only you'd tell this year's students or put it in writing.

On the phone with a study-abroad coordinator from another country:

You said: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. I really want this to work for your student.

I thought: Thank YOU for calling me. I wish I could get our study abroad folks to return my calls or to help our students. And wow, if we wind up in a global monoculture, I hope we all wind up with your accent.