And away we go!

After nearly a month and a half of practice lessons and teaching seminars, I have now "engaged the enemy". The cadets are intelligent, but a bit exhausted as their day starts at 6:30 AM and ends at 5:45PM, followed by dinner and an evening study period. I'm having lots of fun. So far, we've covered Egypt, Babylon and the Greeks. With a 15 minute break before class, I usually show an exciting or funny clip before class begins to get them fired up and to use as a jumping point for the discussion. So far, I'm loving every minute.

NIT and Getting Settled In

Well, It looks like I've found a place. It is a small town called Beacon that has a nice charm as well as upscale offerings (such as wine shop and organic store) thanks to the hippy-ish crowd drawn in by the modern art museum here.

Meanwhile, I've been going through NIT (New Instructor Training - the army is infatuated with acronyms. ) The picture to the left was taken at the Antietam battlefield up in the tower at the end of the Sunken Road. (The man who took the picture of us turned out to be a German from what was far Eastern Prussia, who had been a member of the Hitler youth, eventually immigrated to America, where he later joined the US Army and sent back to Germany as part of the occupation force.) My fellow NITtens (as I like to call us) have been watching example lessons and giving practice lessons. I think the most difficult thing to do is to give a fake lesson to people who probably know more about the subject than you do. This Friday we took a historical tour of the West Point area looking at the Revolutionary War fortifications. That is because the NITtens are given the task of leading tours the following Monday for all interested West Point personnel.

I'm still jumping through a lot of hoops to get all registered, but I made the pleasant discovery that I have the right to shop in the PX (Post Exchange - aka Military WalMart) Good bye Sales Tax!!! Unfortunately, I can't shop in the Commissary for food. However, I can get all the tax-free booze and Haribo candy I want. Yeah!

In-processing

Well, I reached West Point at like 1:30 AM on Sunday morning after a long flight and a crazy drive at night that included an unintended night tour of Harlem. Sunday was spent getting a small tour of the area by my friend Brian, who I'm staying with. Today, I started the in-processing, which was even more frustrating and complex than I could have imagined. While I was able to get some things done, other can not be completed until I get a permenant ID card, which can take 1-2 weeks, and I probably won't be able to get a parking pass for my rental car. Luckily I don't really need to drive onto campus while I'm staying with Brian, but I don't want to wear out my welcome.

The apartment search is crawling along as I don't have a cell phone and Brian does not have a landline. Probably I won't be able to get a cellphone contract until I have an address, maybe I'll just use my office address.

Meanwhile, I checked out one big town nearby, Newburgh, and a further town Beacon. Well, Beacon was not too far, but you have to cross a bridge to get over to West Point with a fare of $1 (only needed for one direction) Not much but adds to the cost. The apartment is not furnished as advertised, and one wouldn't be available until 1 Aug at $1,350. Newburgh on the other hand, is pretty much a shit hole. While the commercial sector is developing with some nice big stores like Target, Home Depot, etc, the downtown made Harlem look like upper-class suburbia.

I think we'll end up taking a more expensive apartment close to West Point, but in a charming safe village. However, without the furnished option, that means we'll need to spend a bunch of money furnishing the place. :(

Hallelujah

After two stressful and deceptive years of looking for a position, I have had the great fortune to be offered two jobs! Both 1-year visiting assistant professorship, one at Texas Tech, the other at the US Military Academy at West Point. At Texas Tech, I could have taught any French history course I wanted, while at West Point I'll be teaching just Western Civ and Latin American History.

After much careful consideration, I opted to accept the offer from West Point for a number of reasons including prestige, salary, location. It also includes a number of bonuses like paid moving, federal benefits, possibility of student loan repayment, etc. Also, there is also a good possibility that this 1-year contract can be extended.

As we'll only be about an hour from NYC, I hope everyone will come to visit.

Where have I been?

For those of you who still bother to check back here, you've noticed that I haven't posted for ages. Partly I have been too busy (balancing basically 3 part time jobs recently - Berlitz which pays shit, teaching for the Navy which pays well but I won't see a check for months, and my research which doesn't pay). Partly, I haven't had anything really interesting to post. Little money or time to do anything worth writing about. Partly, I haven't felt like posting.

It is the job hunting season again. Things have gone a bit better, I've had 3 interviews (1 by phone, two at the AHA conference). Basically for the phone interview I know I haven't been picked (it has been nearly 2 months since the interview) and the other two I'm waiting. The list of rejection letters are slowly accumulating at home...... I will continue to plug away, but it is extremely depressing and demotivating.

France is also depressing. I need to escape! Help me!