Today begins Vermont Law School Orientation for new first-year students, and faculty are introduced and mingle with the students.  Admittedly, after a year in China, I’m finding it all a bit overwhelming.  In China, despite the 14.5 million people in Guangzhou, I was a cultural outsider, did not speak the language fluently, and, thus, could and was often expected to be quiet and on the sidelines.  Today, during our opening convocation, I was in a room with more English speakers than I have experienced in a year, and students and faculty alike sought me out to say hello and ask me about my travels.  I’m enjoying be back and everyone’s kindness, but a little reverse culture shock is setting in.

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