Walden Silence On the Go
Thoreau tried to live in the wild without any form of technology known to man doing his time. His words and way of living still manages to survive on after all of these years. I have decided to give his philosophy a try. For four days, I am not going to use my IPod for anything. I use it for my writing, to wake me up in the morning, traveling around on campus, help me with my chores and just to pass the time.
Day 1: 4/19/10:
I had my alarm set on a different setting, but I turned off before my time to get up at 7:30. I got up on time, however. I got ready for classes in silence. I spent a little time on my laptop with music from YouTube. The walk to classes was silent for me. The silence followed me to the library, my American Literature class, lunch, my break, shopping, poetry class, Japanese Culture Club, back to my dorm, and through my homework and writing. I have to admit, I do not really like the silence that much and I really do miss my IPod.
Day 2: 4/20/10:
I used a different function on my alarm clock and woke up to it this time. It is a plastic device attached to the clock that shakes against a hard surface at the programmed time. It was rather annoying when it rattled against my desk. Still, it was back than the classic ringing of any alarm clock on the planet! I got ready for classes in silence. I spent a little time on my laptop with music from YouTube. The walk to classes was silent for me. The silence followed me to the library, lunch, shopping, Literary Studies class, therapy session, back to my dorm, Anime club, back to my dorm (though that is normal), and through my homework and writing. I still hate the still, but I got to meet a new person today. Her name was Cici. She seems like a nice girl.
Day 3: 4/21/10:
I found the shaker rather annoying this morning. I really do miss the sweet music on my IPod. That was at least a little more tolerable that the shaker rattling against my desk to wake me up. I got ready for classes in silence. I spent a little time on my laptop with music from YouTube. The walk to classes was silent for me. The silence followed me to the library, my American Literature class, lunch, my break, poetry class, another short break, Psychology of Parenting class, back to my dorm through Safe Ride, and through my homework and writing. I still hate the still and I find that I do not get work does as fast as I normally would with my IPod playing in my ears. I did pass by Cici today. We briefly said hi.
Day 4: 4/22/10:
Ah, alas I reach the end of my experiment. I hate my shaker, but I am happy this was the last morning to use it. I will be happy to play my IPod in the morning for an alarm. I just really do miss my music-on-the-go. I got ready for classes in silence. I spent a little time on my laptop with music from YouTube. The walk to classes was silent for me. The silence followed me to the library, lunch, Literary Studies class, back to my dorm, Film Club, dinner, back to my dorm, and through my homework and writing. I got to talk to my people in the Film Club on the way to Hokkaido, during lunch, and back to my dorm. I had such a fun time. I did pass by Cici again. We briefly said hi.
My experiment relates to the chapter six, “Visitors.” Without my IPod, I found that I had to talk to people more often. Playing my IPod put me in a box with my thoughts and ideas. Even though he believed in solitude, Thoreau believed in having relationships with people as well. He says on pg. 1945, “I think that I love society as much as most, and am ready enough to fasten myself like a bloodsucker for the time to any full-blooded man that comes in my way.” He seems to believe that no man is an island. Even though I miss my IPod, I have come to learn that over the course of four days.
