Lindsay Son

As I have begun to settle into the rhythms of Bowdoin, one constant comfort in the somewhat distressing, yet exciting process of finding my place at this school is the dinners. That is not to say that I always like the food that greets me or that it always agrees with my stomach, but rather that Bowdoin dinners sit at the intersection of the perfect time and environment to connect with others—so much so that I might otherwise be lost without them.

But why dinners, specifically? Why not an article about the superiority of breakfast or lunch? Well, one reason is that I rarely succeed at waking up in time to grab breakfast, so there isn’t much to say about that. Furthermore, between breakfast and lunch, neither offers quite the comforting energy nor the perfect stretch of time to relax that Bowdoin dinners do. Dinner creates a warm atmosphere, as although still busy, it’s the first part of the day where most people can freely relax with no more classes to rush to or keep in mind. At least in my humble opinion.

Picture this scene: the high ceilings and low lights of Thorne, not too crowded just yet. You enter holding your plate of food, packed with what might be your best bite of the day. Maybe you sit at the very edge of a table, maybe you grab a booth, but you really can’t go wrong wherever. It’s been a long day, but now you can finally settle down and gain some energy to last you through until the night. And if you get to talk to a friend while you do so, great!

Among my treasured dinner connections is the somewhat (and in my opinion, unjustly) hated “flinner.” Every flinner, I get glimpses into the lives and personalities of floormates in conversations punctuated by bursts of laughter—conversations which would otherwise never happen. During dinners, my endless list of to-dos is finally wrapping up, and I find myself ready to divulge the details of my day. The moment I settle at a table with others, stories come spilling out of me. Quickly, I share bits of my day, and as we bounce several random topics off each other, bits of my life and bits of theirs come mixing together, as we understand each other a little more than we did just an hour ago. These are the connections that I have come to love and know as the heart of a Bowdoin dinner and constantly look forward to.

However, I must emphasize that a dinner alone is something to be valued too. The first time I walked into Thorne alone for dinner, I felt a slight shame in grabbing a table as I looked around at the groups of people around me, all engrossed in their conversations, while I would probably sit and scroll on my phone. I felt overwhelmed as I looked around, trying to place where I could fit in the confusing landscape of a college social life. The conversations around me created a soft buzz, and yet I sat alone head down to my food with no one around for me to say anything to. But in my two months here, I have gained an appreciation for those kinds of days where I step into the hall and sit with my own company, no familiar face needed. What is the most important connection if not the one with ourselves?

So I write all this not just to bombard you with reasons why I find Bowdoin dinners so beautiful, but to urge you to either reach out to grab dinner with that one person you’re curious about or to be receptive about being reached out to. Maybe join along in a flinner if you haven’t. But even in your moments alone in the dining hall, treasure your time, enjoy the beauty of your company and finally, enjoy the good food.

Nora Adekoye is a member of the Class of 2030.