Notes:
Observation Notebook:
My observations from the week can be split into three main categories: experiences on subways, experiences in parks, and experiences while walking by myself. Subway rides are an everyday happening for most people in the greater New York area. When I first came to New York, the subway was always an experience, but now that I have to use it everyday in order to be where I need to be, It has become a very mundane activity. What I noticed when I focused on observing the people around me was that the subway is actually a very private place. Most of the time, people are traveling alone, and most of the time, they are either on their phones or listening to music through headphones. It seemed to me that the majority of passengers on the uptown Q train I was riding were more than happy to be left alone to their social media swiping, their favorite tunes, or their attempt to catch up on some lost sleep. The only disruptions to people keeping to themselves was the introduction of a new character: maybe a performer, or a cute baby, or someone asking for money. One of the saddest things that I have had to get used to riding the subway is being surprised when someone pulls out their wallet for a person in need rather than being surprised when nobody does. The most common practice is to stare straight ahead, or down, or whatever direction we can in order to avoid eye contact, and sit their silently until the homeless man continues on to the next train car.
Another network that exists in New York is its parks. Each one seems to have its own purpose, function, and energy. The park which I am the most familiar with, Union Sq., is the halfway point on my walk to school in the morning. The round steps on the south end of the Square are a place for people to sit and congregate, though throughout the winter months there has only been a small number of congregations. On the Thursday before last, however, we had a dramatic change in temperature. It was late February, and freakishly around 73 degrees outside. Walking out of class around noon on that day, I noticed that Union square had taken on a whole new energy. Instead of the few small groups of people on the steps, they were full of people having lively conversations and enjoying the sunny warm weather. Street performers filled the air with music. People seemed to be walking slower, in a more leisurely way. The warm weather had created a sense of community; You could feel everyone around you elevating their mood, enjoying the opportunity to be outside in a T-shirt and feel the sun on their faces. I also visited Central Park on this day, and it was a very similar vibe. One thing that made this day unique was that it was a beautiful day in February, meaning it didn’t feel like the city was crowded with tourists, because who would want to be here in February? It was a beautiful day that the people living in this city together could enjoy together.
The last category I made observations in was how I walked through the city while I was alone. What I noticed was that when I was walking to school or some other obligation, I walked at a very fast pace. I walked as fast as I could until there was someone in front of me, and then I accelerated to pass them on the left. I was very focused on getting where I needed to go. On my walk to school, I have little markers along the way that remind me of how much further I have to go or how much time I have to get where I am going. For example, if I am at the Union Square subway station entrance on 15th by 8:45 AM, then I will make it to Class on time. Walking alone when I have no obligations is a very different experience. Last Friday I was in the west village after class and instead of taking the subway home like I normally would, I decided to walk. I meandered through streets I had never been down, went into little shops I had never seen, and really just enjoyed taking my time to explore. This is the way I want to get to know New York because it made me notice so much more around me and made me enjoy the journey instead of hurrying through it.
