Elective Information and Advice from Joseph

​Salvete omnes!
This is your RA Joseph, back to update you on my elective and give you some advice as you pack.
First off, my elective. Unlike the full classes that your teachers will be leading, this is just a single lesson. Mine is about how classics is used in an online space known as the Manosphere. Manosphere authors have a very different take on Classics from what you have probably been exposed to in class, so we will discuss how we feel about their messages and how we might respond to them. My hope is that you will leave that lesson with a deeper awareness of the range of ideas people promote using ancient life and text. I also aim to prepare you to engage with people who got into Classics via the Manosphere rather than traditional educational pathways. If this sounds interesting to you, sign up when the time comes! (Sign-ups are at academy, so don’t worry about that yet)

As for my advice, my main recommendation is simple: be open and eager. I mentioned this in my first post, but I really do believe that it is the key to a successful academy, so it’s worth repeating. All the people who have the best time at GLA are the ones who come in ready to make friends, learn from their teachers, and embrace all the unique things that you can only do at GLA. My other recommendation, perhaps biased a bit by my position as an RA, is to ask for help if you ever need it. Three weeks away from home might be a new experience for many of you and could take a bit of adjustment. Luckily, though, you have an amazing staff of teachers whose primary goal is to make sure you have an amazing time at academy. Come to any of us, but particularly the RAs, with anything you need to help you settle in and thrive, and we will do our absolute best. Making some new friends always helps homesickness too, so put yourself out there! On the homesickness front, make sure your friends and family know where to find the mailing information for GLA and make sure you know the addresses of people you want to write to. And don’t forget stamps and envelopes!

Finally, some packing tips, which I am writing out for myself as much as I am for you. (I’m a very anxious packer):
A nicer outfit or two – GLA usually stays on the casual side of things, but we like to get a little fancy once or twice
Something to wear as a toga/stola – while (un)fortunately this will not be your daily attire, we’ll break out the Roman clothes on occasion
Quarters, laundry detergent, etc  – please. Nobody wants you going three weeks without doing laundry. I would expect a cycle of washing and drying to cost somewhere from $2-5, so do your math for how many quarters to bring. You will probably get two laundry opportunities, maybe three. And I recommend actual laundry detergent. Some machines don’t like the pods.
A watch (and perhaps an alarm clock) – because early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.
A hat and/or sunscreen – we won’t be outdoors constantly, but it’s never a bad idea to be prepared
A water bottle – hydration is important
Small games and books – there will be free time in the evenings, which is a great time to hang out with your peers or take advantage of some alone time
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See earlier blog posts and other information on the website for more information about packing, as my list here is far from complete. Hopefully this will be helpful, though.
I can’t wait to meet you all soon!
Best,
Joseph