Living the Cubicle Life

So for the next year I am working in temporary cubicle space instead of my private office.  Our building is being renovated so we all have to move out until construction is done.  We have been in the cubicles for a few weeks, but today was the first day full of student meetings.  After today and the first few weeks I have some observations about life in the cubicles.

First, there's really no windows in the cubicles, or in the building we're in.  This might not seem like a big deal, but it really is.  When you can't see outside for a lengthy period of time, it really wears on you.  I had to just go stand outside a couple times today to make sure it was still there.  Casinos can get away with not having windows because people are distracted with the gambling and the drinking.  Buildings with cubicles need windows so people don't go insane.

Second, I get very restless throughout the day and sometimes I just need to stand up.  In an office, that's no big deal and people don't notice most of the time.  In a cubicle, everybody sees when you stand up.  And when the people next to you are meeting with students, it gets awkward quick.

Finally, I play music during the day.  I like to sing and dance along to the music.  In an office, no one can see or hear you, most of the time.  Sometimes I do just belt it out and then the people in the hall could hear me.  But I've managed to keep my singing under control for the most part.  I sing just soft enough to not be heard.  Either that or people are just too nice to say anything.  The dancing, however, got the best of me the other day.  Like Gloria Estefan said, eventually the rhythm is going to get you.  And it got me.  So I started dancing because I was feeling it.  And everybody noticed.  Not that that's a bad thing, but still, everybody noticed.

So those are just a few things that I have observed.  Check back throughout the year for more!