What do you "assign" to the Shire?

[Cailín]

This is going to sound terribly silly.

I assign to the Shire that one girls’ bathroom at our university library. It’s the most wonderful bathroom I‘ve ever come across in the entire world. It’s in such a remote place in that labyrinth they dare call a building, hardly anyone is able to find it, but once you have, it’s so rewarding.

The walls are covered with poems, famous quotes and declarations of love to long-dead poets, phone numbers, sketches of Shakespearian theaters and advice. You are always the only there - despite the many different handwritings and names that can be found on the walls. On one of the toilet doors, one can find the following message:

After four years, finally done. I will never forget this bathroom.

It’s like a novel in itself (and I have a far too romantic mind).

--

Also I like to send chocolate chip cookies (though I'm sure I'm not the first) and that cute bartender at the Irish pub, who is so skilled in getting even our teachers slightly drunk.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Silly? Not at all. . . Ok mabey a bit.

I have been in a bathroom like that and what a joy. . .

[Gandalf_the _white]

a bathroom? watever floats ur boat lol

[littlemanpoet]

I assign to the Shire that reawakened awareness of the trees, bushes, and air around as you walk that comes when you let yourself believe that something from Faerie might just peep around the corner, or from within that pine tree, or scuttle (thanks, Lal) between the bushes, and you just know it's not a four-legged critter.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I assign relaxing hours with a good book. I finally understand what my mum tends to mean when she says "I just don't have time to read." and yet... I make time. And it works out especially well when you truly enjoy reading required course-work.

I guess it's more... I assign the feeling that you get when everything just kind of falls into place to allow you to learn, relax, and enjoy yourself all at once.

And I assign great teachers. Everybody has had good teachers, who make you learn, and make you work, but has anybody else ever had that one teacher? That one that truly changed your life for the better? Who challenged you, and who helped you, and who you knew was always there for you. The one to make you laugh, and with a single admonishment, carried the power to make you cry, and never once in the world would consider using that power. The teacher that cares more for you betterment than their own personal lives, devoting many hours of their off-work time to their students. The kind of teacher that makes you think... "I wish I could be like them."

[the guy who be short]

Call me crazy, but French A level belongs firmly in the Shire. So rewarding, so beautiful, so how learning French should be.

And Aldous Huxley's corpse should definitely be somewhere in the Shire. Pala is perhaps more Shirelike than the Shire itself.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

People who, when you encourage them to read a good book, do it, and find it as fascinating as you had hoped they would. They can relax in the Shire with said good book.