The Mind of Brian

Well, Monday night was my first day of classes at Loyola University Chicago. The first time I have been at a non-evangelical school in 9 years or so. The first time I have been to a really big school. The first time I have been at a Catholic school, though it many ways it seems more like a secular school. So, what was it like?

I was a little surprised to find out that my class was on the 7th floor of a building (Damen Hall, soon to be destroyed as it is affectionally known as the radiator buiding because it looks like a radiator you would have in your home). I have never been to a school that has 7 story buildings. I figured out that the campus does not seem bigger than my other campus, just more condensed (because of the urban setting) and also with bigger buildings in general. I took the escalators up the building to the 7th story (another first). In many ways, the building (I will have most of my classes in a different building) felt more like a high school building than a college building; the classroom with its small desks seemed more like a high school classroom (but I guess Milner had similar desks at Cedarville) and I even saw lockers on the way up the escalators (not sure what for). While the material was not really challenging (German is more review for me), the classroom also had a different sort of feel. Obviously, students are there for different reasons than in college or seminary.

The library was nice; I sat and read by the window by the lake (a definite perk). The professor was nice and has a sense of humor (she is not German, Bulgaria….so it is not like Dr. Schanbel last semester who shows that German’s can have a sense of humor). Other students seemed to have already formed a community, though I met another new student and got to know a couple of returning students as well.

It was a good day, I was nervous getting there but that is more of the newness factor. But I am glad I am there and it will definitely be an experience.