People often ask me if having a split appointment means double the work, and I generally say no, with one caveat about the advising load, which seems to me to be quite heavy. But advising graduate students can also be one of the best parts of this job, so I'm not complaining. Thus far, both department heads have made a point not to give me the usual amount of committee work, but to aim for about half, which I appreciate. This weekend, though, the joint appointment does mean double the fun, because each department is holding a beginning of the year partay. One was last night, and the other is tonight.
The different ways each kicks off the year are noteworthy. One party hosted by the department with the grant-getting social scientists is a catered affair with an open bar (complete with bartender), while the more strictly humanities dept. holds a potluck with a keg provided by the grad studies office. Both are packed with graduate students; one (the potluck) tends to have many, many more children running around, often wielding plastic weapons (last year it was swords). The catered event is largely indoors and people dress up, while the potluck by necessity (because that department is much, much bigger) is mostly held out of doors, and people do not dress up. The amount of drinking that goes on at both is about dead even, though to be honest, the catered affair, per capita, may have a slight edge in that area. (Probably because of the kids, who typically don't drink.)
I should also add that the department that hosts the potluck has a bunch of people who can really cook. So the deliciousness and diversity of the food at the potluck might have a slight edge on the catered affair, though goodness knows last night I had a hard time laying off the potstickers. God, I love potstickers. And the little bite-size chocolate cake square thingies were quite tasty, and so easy to eat. I had a LOT of fun at last night's event, and I have just finished preparing my contribution to this evening's event: a zucchini ricotta tart with a potato crust. It has two dollops of someone's delicious purple pesto.
