Blogging has been hard to keep track of.  I think I need to set an alarm or something to remember to do it.  More and more I’m questioning my scheduling tactics–I don’t write anything down.  I just rely on my own memory.  How much more productive would I be if I scheduled out blocks of time to do specific things?  Organization, I’m finding, is key to being a TA.  I’m fairly organized, but there are certainly areas in which I’m lacking.
This week I have greatly enjoyed the readings on Islam.  We read a piece written by Seyyed Hossein Nasr on Islamic religion and history, as well as some writings on and by Rumi.  Islam is very unfamiliar to me, but what I read I loved!  Many of the ideologies we read about reminded me of what I know about Hinduism.  There is something about non-dualistic religions that strike me as beautiful.  Islam is that, but pays particular attention to God.  These readings hit close to home for me.  More than that, they fueled a fire from within that I’ve left to dwindle over the last few years.
I first encountered Rumi in my yoga studies–there is always a Rumi poem that comes up in practice.  It is cool to read about Rumi in a different context.  In yoga, we only take what applies to our own life.  In the context of Islam, every line is relevant.  What does this say about the importance of presentation?  Is it ethical to read the words of Rumi in all scenarios?  How can I apply these thoughts to our map project?
The project…isn’t going too hot at the moment.  The Map Test really set us back.  Hopefully this weekend we’ll be able to dig our teeth in and get a clear picture of where we are at before starting Fall Break.