Daniel
While finding out his best friend’s mom is a professor of his was a surprise to him, Gerald soon realizes there’s a silver lining to this.
Gerald
hey, man
i have a question
it’s about an assignment your mom gave
specifically about the required reading for her class
i tried looking for her but i couldn’t find her
Daniel
hey wait
i'm still in class rn
so it's kinda pointless to have me ask her
why don't you just text her directly?
Gerald
i can’t
i don’t have her number haha
Daniel
what?
we've been friends for years!
Gerald
that
doesn't automatically mean i should have her number lol
Daniel
why not?
i have your mom's
Gerald
how do you have my mom's number?
Daniel
good question lmao
prob from you calling her with my phone at one point
you were horrible at charging your phone
it hardly ever survived a full day of school lol
Gerald
oh right lol
that doesn’t really explain why you have it saved though
Daniel
i just don't like seeing unregistered numbers in my call history lmao
so i either save them or delete them
Gerald
that makes sense i guess
Daniel
i know lol
Gerald
you're detailed about some of the weirdest things
Daniel
and you're weirdly interested in sumthin as boring a topic as economics
Gerald
econ isn't boring though?
Daniel
and wanting to know whose numbers are whose on my phone isn’t weird
Gerald
okay okay fine haha
Daniel
anyway
i'll give you mom's number when we meet up later
Gerald
sounds good
your classes end at 6 today, right?
Daniel
yup
Gerald
i'll wait for you at the dining hall or something then
Daniel
sounds perfect
i'm already starving
Gerald
didn't you just have lunch? lol
Daniel
my brain uses a lot of energy lmao
see you later
Later that evening…
Gerald
hello, Professor Taylor
this is Gerald
Daniel gave me your contact info because i had a question
Anastasia
Hello, Gerald!
Go ahead and ask
Gerald
it's about the required reading you gave us
i was wondering if there's a deadline for when we should have read the books and journals in the list you provided
i just want to make sure i finish reading everything on time
Anastasia
The first two on the list will start being mentioned in our lectures about a week from now
I don't plan on discussing them in detail until a week after that though
Gerald
okay, got it
how about the rest though?
Anastasia
For those, don't worry
I'll make sure to let the whole class know of the soft deadlines I've set for each item in the required reading list
Gerald
that'd be great
thank you
Anastasia
No problem, Gerald
I have to say
I was quite surprised to see you in my class
Gerald
Dan didn't tell you?
Anastasia
That you transferred?
He didn't tell me at all
It probably slipped his mind or something
Gerald
i suppose he might have
Anastasia
You don't need to be so formal with me, Gerald
I've known you since you were in high school
It feels a little strange to be formal to each other now
Don't you think?
Gerald
i guess it is a little weird
but you're my teacher so...
Anastasia
I insist
It's only through texts anyway
Gerald
well...
i suppose if you insist...
Anastasia
That's the spirit 😊
How are you adapting to the new environment?
I assume transferring in the middle of the academic year wasn't easy
Gerald
it's taking some getting used to, yes
but it's nothing too hard
Anastasia
That's a relief to hear
Can I ask why you decided to transfer though?
It's a pretty unusual move
Gerald
it was a necessary move for me
Anastasia
Were you having trouble in your previous university?
Gerald
a little bit
it wasn't a big deal though
i just didn't get along very well with my schoolmates
and it was kind of distracting
Anastasia
Enough to make you transfer?
Gerald
i guess i've gotten a bit more sensitive to my environment
and i just thought
if i'm gonna transfer anyway
i might as well go to the uni where Dan is
Anastasia
I see, I see!
Did that help you at all?
Gerald
it did, yes
it wasn't as daunting
being in a brand new environment, i mean
Anastasia
I'm glad to hear that
I'm sure Dan would be happy to help you with anything if you just ask him
Gerald
yes, ma'am
i've already been acquainted to a few people outside of my classes thanks to him
so i think things will be much better for me now
Anastasia
That's wonderful to hear
Well then, do you have any other questions for me before I get off my phone to drive home?
Gerald
none, ma'am
thank you for your time
Anastasia
I'll see you in class then, Gerald
A week later…
Daniel
hey, dude
Gerald
hey
what's up?
Daniel
today officially marks a week since you transferred in
so i wanted to check on how you're settling in
Gerald
oh well
i realized the profs here are just as boring as in my last uni
Daniel
dude
can you blame them
there's only so much they can do to make econ of all things engaging 🤣
Gerald
i can think of a few ways but anyway
at the very least
their approach to the lessons is a little more interesting
and the materials they cover are less common too
Daniel
that's good then
though considering how your brain works
i doubt anyone is boring enough to make you shift courses lol
Gerald
bingo haha
it's been nice reading books that no one even brought into my radar before
Daniel
you are such a nerd 🤣
Gerald
shut up lol
Daniel
what about besides classes though?
Gerald
eh
Daniel
oop
that's not a great start
Gerald
it's not bad haha
but i do kinda feel out of place
Daniel
still?
Gerald
yeah
it's probably just a matter of time though
and thanks by the way
for introducing me to some of your friends
Daniel
ofc, man
did you feel like you'd get along with anyone in particular
Gerald
not really
but i did only just meet them
and i haven't actually hung out with them either
so that's to be expected
Daniel
i guess you're right
no one is bullying you though, right?
Gerald
no
Daniel
good
but if anyone so much as shows a hint that they will, promise you'll lmk
Gerald
i will
While he continues to adjust, Gerald focuses on his studies…
Gerald
hello, ma'am
i have a question about the book you recommended we include in our readings in class today
Anastasia
Hello, Gerald
I mentioned quite a few today
Gerald
oh right
it's the one you said you don't love everything about
but you still said is a worthwhile read
Anastasia
Oh, you're talking about Animal Spirits!
Gerald
yes, ma'am
Anastasia
What about it?
Feel free to ask your question
Gerald
i was wondering why you'd recommend it if you didn't actually love it
Anastasia
Well, it's a good read if you're interested in behavioral and macro
There are just some things in it that I'm not all-in about
Gerald
may i ask what?
Anastasia
You may, but I can't say yet
I plan on bringing those up in class for discussion after all
I'd rather hear your basic thoughts on it without being swayed one way or the other by the book itself
Gerald
oh okay
thank you for answering anyway
Anastasia
Anytime, Gerald 😌
…his occasional texts to Anastasia about lessons becoming more frequent…
Gerald
hello, ma'am
i'm sorry if i'm disturbing you
and i know it's late but
i have a question about the paper you wanted us to write
Anastasia
I'm a little preoccupied right now, but ask away!
Gerald
am i allowed to write the paper on one of the books in the required reading list?
Anastasia
That's a good question...
I would personally prefer you don't go for one of those
Gerald
oh, i see
Anastasia
If you don't know what other books write about, I can name a few recommendations!
Gerald
i'd appreciate that a lot, yes
Anastasia
Capital and Ideology by Thomas Piketty is a good one
Mostly Harmless Econometrics as well
This Time is Different too
That last one might be a dry read, but it's an important topic
Gerald
i'll look into all of these and take my pick from them then
thank you for the help, ma'am
Anastasia
Of course, Gerald
Never hesitate to ask if you have questions for me, okay?
I'll answer as best as I can 😌
Gerald
yes, ma'am
…and longer, yet barely touching topics beyond those covered in class.
Anastasia
Hello, Gerald!
Are you still in school?
You forgot to take your graded essay after class earlier
Gerald
hello, ma'am
i'm sorry for only seeing this now
my phone died in class and i totally forgot
i'm already just a block away from home now
Anastasia
That's all right!
Don't worry about it
You can check on the remarks I left on the essay itself after the next class
Do you want to know your score though?
Gerald
oh uhm
i think i'll wait til i see it myself
Anastasia
All right
Don't worry about the result, by the way
You did very well 😌
Gerald
that's a relief to know
thank you, ma'am
Anastasia
Of course!
It's a huge treat for me as a teacher to have someone like you in my class, by the way
I hope your interest stays alive and you keep working hard 😊
Gerald
that won't be a problem, ma'am
i can promise that much
Anastasia
Dan did say you're the type to remain stubbornly into the things you like
I'm glad one of those things is economics 😌
Gerald
it's really no big deal
but i'm glad it pleases you
i enjoy your lessons a lot, ma'am
Anastasia
I'm so glad to hear that, Gerald
Don't hesitate to talk to me about it, okay?
And I hope you're adjusting well to the school
Please let me know if I can help you with that as well
Gerald
thank you so much, ma'am
Anastasia
You're welcome 😌
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