The Schechter Saga, Random Thoughts, Pt. I

Aug 18, '09 11:52 PM for everyone

I should be asleep, but it's the eve of First Day (I can tell because my face breaks out, I'm tense, a real joy to be around, the usual...) and I'm too wired, so I'll try some graphotherapy.

The staff of the new school has been very warm and welcoming, but I can't shake the feeling of being an outsider. Some of this, of course, is because I'm the ONLY new staff person this year; thus, they didn't bother with new staff orientation. Mine consisted of my casually stopping by the week before opening meetings to see if anyone knew exactly when I'd be teaching (they were pretty sure they did) and had a 20-minute conversation with the Upper School head (there are at least 4 administrative positions for 120 students, though to be fair, they all also do other stuff, including teaching a couple classes). So I'm kind of lost, at least procedurally.

Add to that the conversations in Hebrew that are constant background or foreground noise, the kosher food (no meat allowed in the building), the singing, and I just kind of sit there with a blank look on my face. I haven't picked up much language yet. Although most of the staff is Jewish, not all are, but it's interesting being in the minority. There's no pressure or proselytizing, but I'm definitely on the outside looking in. I wonder if I'm part of some kind of affirmative action program, kind of the token heathen.

What makes this a little harder, too, is that I've gone from being kind of the ultimate insider to outsider, from the guy who knew all the ins and outs to the guy who needs help finding his way in and out. 

I've met virtually all of my kids' parents already and I can definitively say that each of them has a Jewish mother. That doesn't bother me, because so did I (she was Catholic, but she could have passed). It will be worth considering at the end of the year how close or far each landed from the stereotype. So far the common denominator is that they want a good education for their son or daughter. I can live with that.