First week back to teaching

Well, this week has been quite a reality check after last week's leisurely enjoyment of quiet days at the Manor. This is certainly no holiday. Teaching in a stange place, to students you don't know, without any of the support structures of life back at Marian really was tricky. My first class on Monday was my introductory sociology class with 33 students. They have me in the state dining room since that's the only place that will hold this number of students. I thought you might like to see what that looks like. If you look at the screen, you'll see Derby who is keeping me company as a screen saver. The other picture lets you see one of three bay windows that look out the front of the manor just above the main entrance.

Here is a photo of the fireplace in the room. The black pillars came from an old church somewhere in Italy. These columns are beautifully carved and are the only decorative features in the house whose origins have been traced back to where they came from.

To the left is the ceiling of the dining room. If you can't quite tell, the insets are painted yello and those edges of the plaster are gilded. You can also see heraldic shields along the top of the wall at the bottom of the picture. Gregory Gregory tried to prove that his family name had a lineage that included royal and other noble blood.

This fifth picture shows the other end of the classroom spectrum here at Harlaxton. My "social movements" students, Maureen, Ashley, and Stephanie, are tucked into this little room with low ceilings at the back of the manor. They don't seem to mind and are excited about the class.

Below is the Great Hall once again, just so you can see it withou crowds of students and faculty in it. This is just on the other side of the wall from the dining room. I promise this will be the last of the indoor architecture views and starting this weekend we can move on to seeing other parts of England including Burghley House and the Burghley Horse Trials! I have my tickets and my wellies now tally ho!