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EcoLit ESem
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POST YOUR THOUGHTS HERE
Welcome to the on-line conversation for Ecological Imaginings, an Emily Balch Seminar offered in Fall 2012 @ Bryn Mawr College, in which we are re-thinking the evolving nature of representation, with a focus on language as a link between natural and cultural ecosystems.
This is an interestingly different kind of place for writing, and may take some getting used to. The first thing to keep in mind is that it's not a site for "formal writing" or "finished thoughts." It's a place for thoughts-in-progress, for what you're thinking (whether you know it or not) on your way to what you think next. Imagine that you're just talking to some people you've met. This is a "conversation" place, a place to find out what you're thinking yourself, and what other people are thinking. The idea here is that your "thoughts in progress" can help others with their thinking, and theirs can help you with yours.
Who are you writing for? Primarily for yourself, and for others in our course. But also for the world. This is a "public" forum, so people anywhere on the web might look in. You're writing for yourself, for others in the class, AND for others you might or might not know. So, your thoughts in progress can contribute to the thoughts in progress of LOTS of people. The web is giving increasing reality to the idea that there can actually evolve a world community, and you're part of helping to bring that about. We're glad to have you along, and hope you come to both enjoy and value our shared explorations. Feel free to comment on any post below, or to POST YOUR THOUGHTS HERE.
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Walk Your Own Walk
At the beginning of my walk Friday morning I started out with every intention of taking a Thoreauvian one; I started out early, turned off my cell phone, declined to caffinate, opting rather to wake up with the rest of the world. However once I got outside and began my walk I realized not only was I not ready to take a Thoreauvian walk, I didn't want to. I wanted to take my own walk, which didn't turn out to be much of a walk at all. I sat down at every possible opportuniy, but when I was sitting I ended up having my most complete and clear thoughts. Basically, a Thoreauvian walk didn't work for me, it didn't help me ruminate, and I can't "walk like a camel." However, I can sit and I can observe and I can think. While I was sitting and enjoying the surrounding nature I began to think about the concept of boundaries, real and imagined ones. I think geographical boundaries are important, and they exist for a reason, however they should not limit us, and that is where imagined, or mental, boundaries come into play. Geographical boundaries do exist, yes, but the only power they have is the power we give them. There is no limit on learning, and the boundaries of a college campus do not define an area in which knowledge can be gained. You can learn just as much in the town of Bryn Mawr as you can at Bryn Mawr College. I found the walk very enlightening and liberating, and I look forward to my next one.
![Hannah's picture Hannah's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/37c6059cedd533b96a60070472923f05.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Reflexions on walking
I didn't really feel any difference in my walking style while I was trying to walk like Thoreau. I think that Thoreau wants us to be thoughtful and mindful when we walk and to be curious and adventurous about what new things we might encounter, and I already do that a lot of times when I walk by myself and walk places that I am not hurrying to get to. In my essay I mostly just described some of the things that I thought about while I was walking. During part of my walk I went down senior row and I remember feeling really peaceful and wondering about Oak trees (because a lot of the trees in senior row are oaks) and how they used to be sacred to the druids that used to live in Ireland. I also visited some Beech trees and thought about them and about how people have carved their names into them. I thought about what causes people to carve their initials into trees and what this act can tell us about people and nature and the world in general.
![Sarah Cunningham's picture Sarah Cunningham's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1105.jpg)
Writing in a circle, or, Squeezing till it flows, or, How deadlines do us a favor
I found this one very hard to do. I thought it was because of the situation: I was very tired on Thursday night, had to do both the walk and the paper then, because completely booked up on Friday. Thursday had been full too, things got done, connections got made, but leaving me feeling used up and decidedly un-Thoreauvian. I felt, grumpily, that a walk under the duress of producing a peper from its ruminations could not possibly be an authentically Thoreauvian one. Once I'd written the paper I realized there were underlying emotional reasons too, which I'd been keeping well buried, and which the writing of the paper revealed to me. I think-- and hope-- that maybe this is exactly what Anne's teaching methods are trying to help us do. To discover, by writing, what we think-- AND what we feel.
![mtran's picture mtran's picture](/exchange//files/images/SerendipStudioAvatar.png)
To walk like Thoreau?
Now as I think of my “Thoreauvian walk”, it was nothing like the real walk that Thoreau refers to in his essay. Actually I find it impossible for me to walk like Thoreau, to leave behind all social affairs, to say goodbye to my family and just go on for an aimless walk. Perhaps it is because we are born into a life of busyness. Since we were young we have been learning by imitating other people: we learn how to walk, how to talk or to sing all by simulating adults. It is not surprising that we also learn from them the way people keep themselves busy. We hardly ever slow the pace of life to the level of sauntering. Even when I walk just to relax, I cannot keep my mind from thinking (about the past or the future or just anything in my life). No, perhaps it is just me who has not been able to truly immerse my soul in nature, to forget everything else but the surrounding scenery. As I read about the art of sauntering, I read this quotes from John Burroughs: “To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life. ” I admire the way John admires and treasures elements of nature. It feels as if John and Thoreau can really feel and live the way nature lives and exists. When we are able to “find the universal enough” or “find the air and the water exhilarating” – we become true saunterers.
![wanhong's picture wanhong's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/86e376284d7d1d420ab3af0dc34b5453.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Reflections on Paper One
When I was doing Thoreauvian Walk, I sensed the rhythm of nature by listening to the cicadas' songs and capturing the wind that flowed between my fingers. I felt so peaceful and free, but I also felt that my mind was going blank--it wasn't as amazing as I had imagined.
Then, I decided to walk as usual. I walked from place to place with a destination in mind, and I also enjoyed myself. As for me, I feel I am energetic no matter I walk in which style.
Walking as a freeman was a whole new experience to me, and although I wasn't used to it, the shadow of freedom surrounded me. Walking as a normal person, on the other hand, allowed me to discover the beauty of daily routine.
![Barbara's picture Barbara's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5b6b8d647a72cd81a9800ecaba4f01ab.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
We Write Differently, How and Why
Hey everyone! I just finished reading the one and half chapters of Solnit’s “A Field Guide to Getting Lost”, and I had some exciting and funny experience that I am eager to share with you all. I am very attracted by a sentence which says to lose oneself is to be “utterly immersed in what is present so that its surroundings fade away.” While reading it, I was thinking “that is the right words I was looking for in yesterday’s essay!” In the essay I wrote for this week, I talked about my experience sitting on the grass slope and relaxing. Just now, I referred to the Friday essay and see what exactly Iwrote to express it. Surprisingly I found out that I actually said “I didn’t feel I was at lost.” This is really interesting! How we define a word definitely influence how we express. In Solnit’s book, I totally loved her idea about losing oneself and the way of her expression. However, before I read her way of saying it, I used a completely opposite way to describe the same thing. In my Friday essay, by using "lost", I was trying to express the situation where people feel idle, bored, and worthless. But Solnit’s “lost” is to be “fully present, and to be fully present is to be capable of being in uncertainty and mystery.” I want to share this reflection with you in order to make a point that, sometimes even when people are trying to say the same thing, they use different words to express themselves. To avoid misunderstanding, we need to patiently communicate and develop our skills on expressing.
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Annotating docs on your computer...
Okay, folks, I think I've found what we've (well, I've) been looking for (ta dah!):
a way that you can read the articles for this class (all your classes?) on your computer,
and annotate the electronic text, without having to print anything out.
These are the steps that worked for me:
1) download (the free) Adobe Reader X from http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html
2) open up one of the pdfs assigned for class reading
3) The Comment & Markup toolbar doesn’t appear by default, so either
select View > Comment > Annotations, or click the Comment button in the Task toolbar.
This will make both the highlighting and the sticky notes functions available, so go to town!
4) There are tutorials on how to use other features @
http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/site/misc/annotating.pdf
but, for now, these functionalities are enough for me!
Have fun--
Yours in the service of paper-less-ness
("I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues"),
A.
![Anne Dalke's picture Anne Dalke's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-39.jpg)
Writing Conference Schedule
In Anne's office, English House 205 --PLEASE KNOCK WHEN YOU ARRIVE!
Week A (9/12-13, 9/26-27, 10/10-11, 10/31-11/1, 11/14-15, 12/5-6 |
Week B (9/19-20, 10/3-4, 10/24-25, 11/7-8, 11/28-29, 12/12-13) |
Wed | Wed |
10 Rochelle | |
10:30 Zoe | |
11 Sarah C | 11:05 Shengjia |
Thurs | Thurs |
9 Maddie | 9 Barbara |
9:30 Hannah | |
10 Elizabeth | |
10:30 Minh | 10:30 Alex |
Mondays: 9/17, 10/1 (all re-scheduled for the same time on Wed, 10/3), 10/22--also note change here!, 11/12, 11/26, 12/10 |
2:30 Susan |
3:00 Wanhong |
3:30 Claire |
4:00 Sara L (10/22 conf rescheduled for T, 10/23) |
![wanhong's picture wanhong's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/86e376284d7d1d420ab3af0dc34b5453.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Self Introduction and 5-Place Travel Experience
Hi, I am Wanhong Zou. I grew up in Beijing, China, but in official records my hometown is Xi'an. Although I like to stay indoor, I'm feeling excited about exploring the outside world with you! I'm really happy to get to know all of you!
The five places in campus are so different from each other! As for me, I feel happiest around the English House. In fact, before doing this assignment, I had never been to the English House, and I discovered it with amazement. It was surrounded by trees and bushes, and it looked like a small magic house in fairy tales. I went inside, and the light was dim--but it makes me feel so warm. The English House definitely has beautiful scenaries and peaceful atmosphere.
Glass stair case in the Dalton Hall was elegant, but not as attractive as the English House as a place to stay, especially when there were no one around. When I stood beside the stair case today, I felt lonely and a little scared because when I see through the glass windows, I felt like the outside world was far away from me. It was like just me and the stairs staying in a modern, transparent prison. I think it would be better if there were many people around me. I rank the Parking lot as the third comfortable one--although it has the slight gasoline smell and could not receive much sun shine, it has lots of cars that made me feel safe. The Morris woods and Biology Lab (Park Science Room 020) both made me feel bad but in different ways. The Morris Woods were crowded with plants and the trees are so tall that made me feel I was too small.
![Elizabeth's picture Elizabeth's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1108.jpg)
If There Were Any Plants in Dalton's Staircase...
Hello, Ecological Imaginings! My name is Elizabeth Vandenberg. I'm from Iowa City, Iowa, which is a college town, so it's only (surprisingly) marginally filled with corn fields. I grew up in Northern California in a really small town in the foot hills of the Sierra Nevadas and in Springfield, Illionois. I've never been on the East Coast for such a long time before, but I'm really glad that I'm here at Bryn Mawr, because it seems like a wonderful, wonderful place. Because it's been raining so much, and the sky is so grey, I think that everything I've walked past outside seems misty, all the greens of the plants seem more mysterious and less vibrant now that the sun is away and the bark around them has been turned an even darker color by the water that keeps sinking into it. I've been going in and out of the Dalton Hall staircase for the last couple of days, and that, I think, has been an even more interesting experience, at times, than being outside. (Although, because most of those times would have involved being soaked to the skin if I were outside, I might be a little bit biased.) The glass staircase seemed like a much more sterile, disheartening place than the puddle-dotted outdoors. I was reminded that I was not a part of the outdoors anymore, and the never-ending emptiness of the staircase and its air conditioning made Dalton's staircase feel far less hospitable than the fertile place I had to leave. Although I think that plants would have liked a break from the downpour, I don't think they would enjoy the staircase.
![Sara Lazarovska's picture Sara Lazarovska's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1110.png)
The Urban Creature Surrounded By Flora And Fauna
Hey! My name is Sara Lazarovska and I'm a freshwoman. I'm from Skopje, Macedonia (a tiny 2-million country in southeast Europe), and I plan on majoring in Growth and Structure of Cities with a minor in Environmental Studies. I also work at UnCommon Grounds, so if you ever see me there, say 'hi'. A fun fact about me is that my original accent is British - I took British English for 11 years - but I generally take in the accent of those around me, so here I have an American accent.
I will do my best to rank the places that I visited according to where I felt happiest, so here it goes:
1. The Dalton glass staircase
2. Campus Center parking lot
3. Park Science lab
4. English House
5. Morris Woods
![Rochelle W.'s picture Rochelle W.'s picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e170149a2d639827758c583977a179cb.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Unhappy Plants, Unhappy Me
Rankings of where I felt happiest:
1. The English House
2. Morris Wood
3. Dalton Stair Case
4. Park 20
5. Campus Center Parking Lot
For the Plants:
1. Morris Wood
![Shengjia-Ashley's picture Shengjia-Ashley's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/09403f0f1ad81498f3818340fbeabd69.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Happiest at English House
Hello, I am Shengjia (Ashley) Zhu from Shanghai, China.
Everything in the Park Science Lab was still and lifeless. Even the sunlight seemed weaker though the glass window. I was very uncomfortable in the void lab. And I don’t think any plant would be happy to live in a lab either.
The pavement was cracked and the sun was hot at the parking lot. My view was filled with rolls of cars. Plants were pushed to the very edge of the space. Alone in this empty spot, I felt so stressful that I wanted to flee.
The English house was a lovely and quiet place away from the main campus. Stood in great harmony with the surrounding trees, the English building seemed to be its own world of peace and serendipity. I felt calm and relaxed at the house.
The plants are certainly happy in Morris Woods since they grow without restrictions. However, it was a bit hard for me to freely move around and orientate in this little kingdom of thriving plants, chirping birds and flying insects.
It was showering when I got to Dalton staircase. The rain splashed onto the glass and made lousy noises. Though I stayed dry with the protection of the glass, I felt colder and more helpless.
I believe plants and human both like to stay at peaceful yet vital places. The difference is that rain make plants happy and human unhappy.
![Barbara's picture Barbara's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5b6b8d647a72cd81a9800ecaba4f01ab.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Relating to the Surroundings
Hello everyone! I am Yaxuan (Barbara). I love exploring the new, going outdoors and getting close to the nature. Because of my crazy schedule during the shopping week, I was not able to visit the five sites in a row. I went to each place during different time of the day; therefore, the variables (time, weather, temperature, crowds, etc.) might have influenced my experience and thus the reflection. My favorite location is the glass staircase in Dalton Hall. It was in the morning, quiet and refreshing. The scene was great and I could observe from different angles by going up and downstairs. I felt protected by the glass architecture still had the connection to outside surroundings. My second favorites go to English House and Morris Woods as a tie. I went there 2:30 pm. It just rained. The woods were very lively. Plants in the woods seem to have been lived for hundreds of years because they are all huge; obviously the woods would be the most ideal location for plants. However, I predict that if I were in the woods alone during night, that would be very scary and I wouldn’t be able to enjoy. My fourth favorite is the lab in Park Science; actually I was taking a Bio class there and I enjoyed it. However, the space was packed and I felt overwhelmed by it. My least favorite space was the Campus Center Parking Lot. It wasn’t lively or pleasant. The area was hotter than other places. My guess for plants’ favorite as from best to worst is as below: Morris woods, English House, Dalton Hall, Park Science and the parking lot.
![Susan Anderson's picture Susan Anderson's picture](/exchange//files/images/SerendipStudioAvatar.png)
Happiness in a Green World
Here is my ranking, from happiest place to unhappiest place:
1. Morris Woods
2. Dalton Staircase
3. Park Science Lab
4. English House
5. Parking Lot
I absolutely loved the Morris Woods. Once I found my way into the woods, I felt like it was a great, peaceful place. I felt that the plants surrounding me provided this calm, protective bubble from rain and the sometimes pervasive noises of humanity. I felt like I had to keep going down the path to discover what was at the end of it, which I am glad that I did because I thought the graveyard and the bench were really cool spots to explore. Plants would be happiest here because their growth is unrestricted by humans and because their basic survival needs are most available there.
I felt good in the Dalton Staircase. There was a lot of sunlight streaming into it and there was a feeling of clarity and openness that I liked. Plants would be maybe second happiest here because of the sunlight pouring through the glass, even if they would be confined to a pot.
![ZoeHlmn's picture ZoeHlmn's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7dc77bcf7bda49153194b1f8107f1b92.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
People and Places
Hi my name is Zoe Holman and I am from Walterboro, SC. like most of you I am starting my first year at Bryn Mawr. During my mini excursion through our five locations I had unexpected reactions to each of the spots on campus. I believe that I was most peaceful in either Dalton Hall or Morris Woods while Park Science and the Campus Center Parking Lot were areas that caused me stress. English House was somewhat in between the two and would have been a comfortable transition from Dalton and Morris to Park and the parking lot. I feel that the main reason I categorized these places as such was because of the amount of people I found in each of the areas. The more people the more stress; less people less stress. The plants however would thrive in Morris Woods because of the lack of people and fear of being trampled on. The isolation appears to be a common thread between myself and plants but the difference between us is our comforts. Where plants are more comfortable being outside 24/7 I am more inclinded to stay indoors.
![mtran's picture mtran's picture](/exchange//files/images/SerendipStudioAvatar.png)
Greetings and impressions
Hi, my name is Minh and I am from Vietnam.
My ranking of the places where I felt happy seems to reflect very well of my personality. I feel happy to be immersed in nature and to enjoy my own space. I have been looking for myself a personal space to spend a bit of everyday reflecting on myself or just relaxing. That is why the Morris Woods appears as a wonderful place for me. As I seat there, surrounded by tall green trees and the sounds of birds chirping, I feel as peaceful and happy as if it was home. The Woods is also quite distanced from the campus center, therefore, apart from the sounds of nature, it is quiet. As such, it is also an ideal place of concentration for me.
It was hard for me decide the positions of the remaining places as the glass staircase in Dalton, the English House and the lab in Park Science are the same to me. They all are separated from nature but have a nice view to the greens. I also feel happy at the parking lot but somehow do not really like to be distracted by the cars and people moving in and out of the lot.
So here is my ranking:
![CMJ's picture CMJ's picture](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5164c3aa771050f3830be4373caa9803.jpg?d=https%3A%2F%2Fserendipstudio.org%2Fexchange%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FSerendipStudioAvatar.png&s=85&r=G)
Scavenger hunt for happy feelings
Hi-- my name is Claire Johnson and I'm from Portland, OR.
I must begin with stating that I don't think I was very "happy" at any of these places, but that each one brought out different sensations or feelings, and not all of them close to happiness. I was physically uncomfortable out doors because of the heat, and in the case of Morris Woods, the misquitos. MW was the second to last stop on this mini-hike, which was perhaps either unfortunate or lucky, as my time spent on the Dalton staircase was marred by nursing/trying not to scratch my bites (lucky because it was my last stop). However, I think out of the indoor spaces I enjoyed my time at Dalton the best, as I saw the space as the most dynamic--the closest to being outside without actually being outside, which presented a nice dichotomy. Plants would not have been very successful inside that space, though because the outer world was visible I suspected the plants/trees I did see there were content indeed. In one final note, my time spent inside Park Science (I walked all over but could not find the room--I settled for a geology-looking hallway) was the most intellectual and inquisitory, yet the natural, living world could not be seen. I had an awareness of knowledge which I did not have in other areas I wandered to, though the physical space was a bit unpleasant.
![alexb2016's picture alexb2016's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1106.jpg)
Introductions and My Impressions
Hi Everyone!
My name is Alex Beda, and like you, I'm a freshman. I'm from Woodstock, Vermont and I'm planning on majoring in wither Economics or International Studies with a minor in French. Now onto the assignment:
My Ranking:
1) English House
2) Morris Woods
3) Park Science Building Lab
4) Glass staircase Dalton Hall
5) Campus Center Parking Lot