in my life

It's occurred to me that I haven't actually expanded on the details of my new job, or the reason I was transferred. The official reason is that they needed the position filled by a former instructor (ie one of us girls), and I was picked because I was the "rightest person for the job": I am apparently "serious", "dedicated" and "creative". I like how they just know these things about me. I was also assured that several other bodies fought over who would get me when I was eventually promoted.

So that's the official reason. We ourselves concluded that the real reason was that with the 10 new girls in our department, we were simply too many instructors for too few courses, and cutbacks had to be made. Two other girls' job descriptions were slightly changed, and I was given this promotion, though I was heartbroken when I heard it. I still am, in a way. The last few weeks of instruction, when I finally gave myself entirely to the work and to my pupils, were incredibly fulfilling - not to mention the thrills and the joy I got from them. I realize that the new job is as equally important as the last, even more so - but a swift tide of desperate longing still washes over me every time one of my former colleagues tells me about her new course (I'd have been teaching commanders in training), and I'm sitting in an office, analyzing questionnaires.

The official title of the job is, like everything in Zahal, a long combination of initials that actually have nothing to do with the job itself, but here it is for the sake of it: Commander (Who Is Not An Officer) Of The Study And Development of Instruction. Or, in short, Masha"kit Chu"pa.

I don't actually know what it means. Basically it involves observation and study of all instruction going on at the base, identifying various instructional needs, developing solutions and new methods and training programs. Working with lots of staff members, commanders, rupe--er, officers (still in Pratchett mode).

The three week seminar (coming to a close at the end of this week)'s purpose is to prepare me and other present/future CWINAOotSaDoIs (now that was fun) for the job. Most of what I'm learning won't be very useful for me specifically, but I think that in general, they're good things to know for life. (For instance - how to give someone feedback. Real feedback, that includes good phenomena, bad phenomena, and strives to reach the source of problems and come up with solutions. Very interesting.)

I'm having a really good time at the seminar, too. The people are great - you know how in every learning environment there are always people whom, if you to be divided into groups, you'd prefer to be with? We don't have that here, or at least I don't. I know I'm comfortable with all of them. It'll be a little sad saying goodbye.

Will also be a huge shock going back to my base. I've already warned my parents that these three weeks will probably be the longest period of time they'll get to see me continuously until the end of my service. Too bad - with movies, friends, shopping and a play, it really has been quite fun.