The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of preparation: of working on Harris Ranch, both compiling the site record together and creating maps for the documents at well. So far the entire document, without reference is over 8 thousand words. I am really hoping that it will not all languish in an appendix in my final thesis.
Today also marks the last day of eight straight days of teaching, although not all of it academic. The experience has given me new perspective into the future life I wish to live. A time to be reflective if you like, something highly encouraged from the start of my doctoral work.
The best part strangely was teaching a small group of Masters Students my theoretical approach. One person in the group was strongly against my ideas, and was not afraid to observe in his opinion were the short fallings. I disagreed with most of what he said, but I could at least understand from where his own theoretical background was founded. My dad used to say, usually after he had again beaten me soundly, "You learn nothing when you win at chess, but always something when you lose."
For this one moment it was nice to have a bit of opposition to my ideas. Not that one would like that all the time, but when you are preparing for the next big conference or paper, a think tank was invigorating.
