What happens to professors when the semester starts?

Ah, the beginning of a new semester—a time of excitement, endless possibilities, and for us professors, a rollercoaster of emotions that only academia can deliver. Here's a sneak peek into our world as we closed the Spring semester:

1. The Great Vanishing Act
   Ever noticed how professors suddenly vanish from their social circles? One moment, we're laughing at barbecues and texting back within five minutes, and the next—poof!—we disappear into a parallel universe of syllabi, textbooks, and bottomless coffee cups. Friends, family, group chats: it’s not you, it’s Week 1. I apologize for ghosting y’all.
2. Coffee: The Elixir of Knowledge
   Forget the fountain of youth; professors swear by the sacred brew known as coffee. It sustains us through early morning lectures, late-night grading sessions, and those impromptu office hours that last longer than entire civilizations.
3. The Office Hours Odyssey
   Speaking of office hours, it's a journey into the unknown. Will students appear like ancient prophets seeking wisdom, or will it be a peaceful oasis for catching up on emails? Only time (and the syllabus) will tell.
4. The Saga of "Is This Going to Be on the Exam?"
   Behold the perennial question that haunts every lecture: "Is this going to be on the exam?" It's a dance as old as time, where professors navigate the delicate balance between academic rigor and the desire to maintain sanity.
5. The Endless Parade of Emails
   From student queries to department memos. From a colleague with an excellent idea for a new collaboration (guilty) to that journal with a very fast approaching deadline. Our inbox is a vortex of academic intrigue.

And this, dear reader, is the reason why I haven’t posted anything since January. I’ve been here—armed with red, purple, and green pens, surrounded by coffee cups, and clinging to my Google Slides like a lifeline.

Thanks for your patience. I promise I still exist. And, I’ve been promoted to Assistant Professor (Teaching) of Italian (YAY!) - what a great way to start the summer break!