Memorable Moments

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Out of all the significant things that happened during our class, from the moment I shared in class about writing on the board, or setting up the banquet, or JBK’s truly impressive Cookie Monster impression, or any of the ice breakers, or getting to know the very cool people in the class through our talks, I find it very difficult to decide on any specific one. I do think I’ll say that I finally started taking some kind of notes for a few days during Diane Eck and Darsan, and looking at them, they might make no sense, with “RECIPROCITY” and “RELIGIONS ARE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND YOU CAN’T DO THAT WITHOUT SENSES” typed in all caps, but it felt special and important to have a record of what was said and these big ideas of the class, even if I wouldn’t use them for a test or anything. I think I’m a bit of a hoarder, because like I said, I have a hard time picking favorite memories, so evidence like notes is important to me.

Taking this class now, as sometimes the only freshman that would be in the room, I started out wanting it to be like a second Rituals of Dinner, and in a way it was, but it had a life of its own. It’s a class that kept me grounded through noticing the physical world around me at times, which was important, because I was a bit frightened of the end of my first year. One thing I always enjoyed was that it seemed like we were all coming to the class from where we were at in the moment or in our lives, because people brought in their own experiences and religious practices and areas of study to add to what we were learning about. As a first year, I loved seeing that element of the class, and I hope for it to happen more often in other classes I’ll have. I also think there was one time I was very worried about something or other, and it was time to go to Smells & Bells, and I thought, “just get up and go, and you’ll feel better by the end.” Ultimately, that’s a bit of what the class became to me. Thoughtful, and not reassuring in a bland way, but more that it would redirect the course of my brain completely— and often in that we laughed together so often.

I don't have any good pictures from the class, but I did take this one of the tree out the window!

 

Comments

  1. Jonathan Brumberg-KrausMay 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM

    "I also think there was one time I was very worried about something or other, and it was time to go to Smells & Bells, and I thought,' just get up and go, and you’ll feel better by the end.' Ultimately, that’s a bit of what the class became to me." I am so glad the class was able to do and be that for you - that was pretty much the point, not just for class, for for life. We need places, situations like that built into our lives.

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