Our generation has spent more time on their phones and the like in instead of engaging in conversations. I speak from personal experience that I can often be texting and walking (dangerous) and the bubble around me zones out all the "background" noise surrounding me. The sad thing is that that background noise isn't really background, but because I chose to engage in something else it's been demoted. Almost a month ago, I was charging my phone and it feel off the table, face first and my internal screen broke (white screen). Besides the initial panic, my first thought was "I need to either get this fixed ASAP or get a new one." A month has gone by and I have done neither. Not because I'm lazy, or broke (aren't all college students), but because after a while I enjoyed not having the distraction. You don't realize how much you miss by focusing on a device.
I spend more than 4 hours a day on the MTA, unfortunately, but for this assignment it's been ideal. So much happens on the train. I decided to "meditate" here because unlike a specific neighborhood that I would have chosen, the personalities and actions on the train are often unpredictable, aside from the occasional solicitors and show-time boys.
I get on at the first stop of my train line, therefore I often spend a few stops alone in the train cart. During this time I paid attention to the sounds the train itself makes, like the conductor fumbling to get the "lineup" and confirming with his partner via the PA. However I think regardless of your activity while on the train, everyone knows the famous "stand clear of the closing doors please (ding dong)" followed by the sound of the rubber numbers meeting, or the ever frustrating "we are being held by the trains dispatcher, we will be moving momentarily. We apologize the inconvenience."
Through this exercise I realized how weird people assume you to be for just sitting and staring, although that would have been the norm a decade ago. I'm sat next to a woman continuing a conversation on the phone since she boarded a few stops ago. I'm not a habitual eavesdropper, but when I do, I often try to imagine the full conversation because all I get is what I'm hearing coming out of the one person's mouth.
There's something soothing about the sound of the train on the track and the rocking with every twist and turn--ironically. I wanted to fall asleep (with my coffee in hand).
I guess after you start paying attention to individual noises, you can skeeved at the thought of being enclosed with sick people. I don't mean this in a rude way, but I noticed the orchestra of different people coughing and sneezing that I would have probably assigned to one person had I not taken the time to trace the cough to its cougher (not sure if that's a real word)
There's always that one person playing their music at an obnoxious level that not only do you find yourself either humming along or frustrated, but also worried for that person's eardrums. The man sitting diagonal to me is blasting Beyoncé (unleash the inner Queen B).
A lady walked on at DeKalb Ave, and her shoes clacked as she boarded. That must be annoying to have to deal with--can never walk by incognito. What's the appeal in heels that make noise? Is it a self affirmation thing?
Overall it's a pretty quiet morning on the train. Perhaps because it's not even 9am and there's no service underground. I must say I miss the show time boys right now (never thought I'd say that)
As I approach the one hour mark required for this assignment, we've reached crossing the bridge aka service (thank the gods is everyone's thoughts as the fumble to find their phones to check for messages or make calls). And like expected, the volume increased.
I spend more than 4 hours a day on the MTA, unfortunately, but for this assignment it's been ideal. So much happens on the train. I decided to "meditate" here because unlike a specific neighborhood that I would have chosen, the personalities and actions on the train are often unpredictable, aside from the occasional solicitors and show-time boys.
I get on at the first stop of my train line, therefore I often spend a few stops alone in the train cart. During this time I paid attention to the sounds the train itself makes, like the conductor fumbling to get the "lineup" and confirming with his partner via the PA. However I think regardless of your activity while on the train, everyone knows the famous "stand clear of the closing doors please (ding dong)" followed by the sound of the rubber numbers meeting, or the ever frustrating "we are being held by the trains dispatcher, we will be moving momentarily. We apologize the inconvenience."
Through this exercise I realized how weird people assume you to be for just sitting and staring, although that would have been the norm a decade ago. I'm sat next to a woman continuing a conversation on the phone since she boarded a few stops ago. I'm not a habitual eavesdropper, but when I do, I often try to imagine the full conversation because all I get is what I'm hearing coming out of the one person's mouth.
There's something soothing about the sound of the train on the track and the rocking with every twist and turn--ironically. I wanted to fall asleep (with my coffee in hand).
I guess after you start paying attention to individual noises, you can skeeved at the thought of being enclosed with sick people. I don't mean this in a rude way, but I noticed the orchestra of different people coughing and sneezing that I would have probably assigned to one person had I not taken the time to trace the cough to its cougher (not sure if that's a real word)
There's always that one person playing their music at an obnoxious level that not only do you find yourself either humming along or frustrated, but also worried for that person's eardrums. The man sitting diagonal to me is blasting Beyoncé (unleash the inner Queen B).
A lady walked on at DeKalb Ave, and her shoes clacked as she boarded. That must be annoying to have to deal with--can never walk by incognito. What's the appeal in heels that make noise? Is it a self affirmation thing?
Overall it's a pretty quiet morning on the train. Perhaps because it's not even 9am and there's no service underground. I must say I miss the show time boys right now (never thought I'd say that)
As I approach the one hour mark required for this assignment, we've reached crossing the bridge aka service (thank the gods is everyone's thoughts as the fumble to find their phones to check for messages or make calls). And like expected, the volume increased.
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