Tuesday ...

Okay, it's Tuesday. I have been here since Sunday. In my dreams I was going to post something shortly after arriving at American on Sunday, but my dreams did not include having to figure out how to work the wireless internet. Or how tired I might be by Sunday evening.

The days are just packed -- was that sort of Calvin's line? Well, it is true for us. Today we were given a tour of the Reading Room - old and new - and the stacks (two floors below the main floor) and a glimpse of the vault (where those 79 copies of the first folio reside in air conditioned splendor).

Along the way we saw a card catalog (not everything is on Hamnet yet, but with all the book nerds in the group we were happy to see a card catalog, and a beautiful one at that) and lovely stacks of books, and books and pamphlets and more books.

Everyone at the Folger is so welcoming and friendly. Each morning the staff of the TSI is waiting on the steps as we arrive, waving us a welcome. They wave us off at the end of the day. Our bus driver is the most friendly bus driver I have ever met. He plays great music, and is totally obliging.

We have lectures in the morning, seminar groups for discussion, small groups for performance techniques, and groups for curriculum sessions. Lots of sitting but lots of mental activity. This week our focus in Henry IV Part I a play I would have said didn't say much to me, but boy has my opinion changed. I'm learning every day, and one of the things I am learning is how disorienting it is to be asked to change your mind, or try something new, or act in front of semi-strangers (things I ask my students to do all the time). It's good to remember what it is like to be unsure of what you are doing.

And today (Alex) I had lunch in the garden. I brought my salad and sat with my suite mate in the herb garden, admiring the statues. There was a nice breeze, and you could faintly smell the herbs.

Tonight walking back from dinner, fireflies helped light our path.

Tomorrow, a full day plus we view a movie of Henry IV then our monument tour.