In looking back at our soundscape experience, it was a truly informative experience. I really enjoyed going all over campus and listening to the different sounds that each environments and atmospheres had. At times I felt really odd and out of place just standing there and not doing anything. I remember being at the library and standing by the computers and having people star at me because they were wondering why I was standing there if I wasn’t using a computer. I found myself pretending to be texting, writing something down or looking in my backpack to try and not seem so weird.
It was a very interesting experience in listening to the actual sounds of what our campus are. Usually I walk around campus in a rush talking on my phone or ipod. It was cool to take the time and notice what the “ambient” noises around campus are.
But to be honest the most interesting part of this assignment was how much I learned about myself. The fact that in the library I need to pretend I was doing something because of how out of place or uncomfortable I felt showed me a lot about myself. I was not alone in that other people in the class were checking the e-mail and using their phones as well. Why is it that we cannot just simply sit there and do nothing? What is wrong with me that I cannot just listen to the sounds of my environment? Is it that I am so used to multi tasking that I am basically too restless to sit around? I think it is deeper. Personally I think it has to do with the silence and not being ok with it. It’s the silence that I think people find scary. I think it could be the silence of being alone or the silence of our own thoughts. But to be honest I’m really not sure.