Geology prof

I absolutely adore my geology professors. Well, actually, I really like almost all of my professors right now – but the geology professors are extra special in a wonderfully content, nerdy way.

When I first saw professor Dumont for our field study in the caves at the Bastille, he seemed a bit distant, his face strict and scrutinizing. He didn’t seem to smile much, nor to interact too enthusiastically with the students.

As the newness wore off and everyone became a little more comfortable with each other, this became very evidently the opposite reality.

He stopped to explain every crack and lump in the rock with equal enthusiasm for every student, endlessly patient with questions. And his grin revealed slightly but charmingly crooked teeth and a sparkle in his eye which betrayed any hope of hiding his passion for rocks, tectonic maps, and time on an evolutionary scale.

I had sought refuge in our classroom to get some work done before our discussion class started, and M. Dumont showed up 15 minutes early, stacks of papers and rolls of maps under his arms. He immediately started chatting with me (darn – so much for getting ahead on my grammar exercises), asking about some technicalities with the class, how the other sections seemed to be going…

He unrolled his maps, and with an affectionate flick of his wrist, placed them face down on the tables. After some unsuccessful rummaging through his bags, he went next door and came back with some tape. One piece carefully placed at each corner, and they were ready to be taped to the chalk board. Oh, but that won’t do. Too much chalk on that spot.

Finally he was satisfied with his placement, stood back to admire the lines and lines of seismic soundings, smoothed out the creases, and taped the bottom edges to the board.

Now, we’re ready to start.