Barnyard Lessons Applied to Work

I think it is because I am in a new job - I didn't have the lack of knowledge of the people and systems to allow for objective comparison between faculty meetings and farms.... In fact, until I came home today, I wasn't even thinking in those terms.

I have mentioned the injured hen living in the greenhouse; today, she decided it was time to rejoin the flock.  She has been down in the greenhouse for a week or two, hanging out with the cat.  When I got home today, she was in the stall (where, I felt like reminding her, she was when she got stepped on) waiting for me to let her back into the coop.  Since I spent a good part of my summer in the greenhouse, too, I thought, okay - this chicken is me.  She has been hanging out and now she is ready to rejoin the fray - and today was my first "real" day of work.

I opened the gate and she ran (or, rather, hopped) into the chicken run with joy - only to get pecked on and squabbled over by the hens re-establishing pecking order.

I felt a little bit like that hen today, ready to curl up with my head tucked under (the first time I saw chickens do that, I thought the dogs had bitten their heads off!)

I think tomorrow I will be on the lookout for sheep-like behavior.  I have a sneaking suspicion that the "ram" in the faculty room is going to turn out to be a woman.  She might be a little like Elvis, getting her licks in when your back is turned.... On the other hand, like the chicken coop, a few pecks and a quick re-establishing of order, this new member of the flock might settle in faster than she thinks.  I hope so, because today, I miss my co-workers and friends at my old school.  A lot.  (It's a good thing we're having dinner together tomorrow night).