New Faculty Orientation ended today at the UB downtown campus. I feel a bit overwhelmed by all the grants and funding resources highlighted by the important folks of this university. Several newly tenured professors shared their experience going through the process, and they made five years sound like a glimpse. Classes start next Monday, on the last day of August. I’m already smelling the tension in the air, even from my most fun-loving colleague. We went out to get a glass of wine last night, and he said, this is probably the last Monday we could go out in a very long time, that’s sadly, but totally true.

My first month in Buffalo has been filled with a lot of firsts. I went to the furniture store for the first time, got my first bed, sofa, and dining room table sets. I went to my first estate sale and got a very nice cabinet and a bunch of other stuff. I got into my first car accident, hurt Barcelona princess badly, who is being cured now. I went sailing for the first time on Lake Erie, and did surprisingly well steering the boat. I bought my first subscription to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and look forward to the first concert of this season, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

In a way my good fortune continues to shine upon me. I didn’t get hurt in the accident, even though it definitely taught me a good lesson about defensive driving. I already have a friend in this strange city, who lent me a shoulder when I was scared to tears and laughed with me watching Julie & Julia. Every time I think about my first job out of graduate school, I can’t help feeling blessed because it’s such a perfect position for me. I get to do research at my own pace, teach courses that I like, and I’m surrounded by supportive, intelligent, and productive colleagues, both here at UB and in other institutions.

However, I am getting a bit anxious for the new semester. After mom goes home, I will be alone in this city. I will sign up for yoga classes to discipline myself. If my potential partner doesn’t bail out, we will take ball room dancing classes every Thursday night. We have looked at a number of interesting talks that we want to attend, including Kofi Annan, Tony Blair, and David Sedaris. I have joined the Buffalo Cornellians’ network, hoping to get more involved. I am still trying to live life to its fullest extent, even though my first year, as everyone has told me, will be extremely busy.

It’s always easy to lose insight when things are going well. Whatever happens, I know the trick to win this game is to be my own person and nothing less. I have to avoid distraction from other aspects of my life, even though it feels a million times better not to be alone. It is okay to sink in all the fun there is to have, once in a while, but I have to remember that I am in this game, all by myself, and this is a game that I cannot lose.