Audio Portrait - The experience of a 20-something woman in Manhattan

https://soundcloud.com/adomanmedp/dating-and-sexuality

I decided to pull a friend aside in the middle of the day and ask them if they would allow me to interview them for this project. What's nice about talking a friend in a formal setting is that the dynamic is completely changed as our usual dialogue isn't planned, such as the questions in this interview. In a conversation, it really is a mutual exchange of thoughts and ideas. Since this was an interview, the dynamic between Karah and I completely changed, despite the personal questions I asked her, I did not add any personal commentary to this interview. I had already prepared questions but Karah's answers changed the direction of the conversation. I maintained my role as the interview and tried to maintain the focus of the interview.

What I enjoyed about it is that her answers completely caught me off guard-- you can't predict what the other person is going to say and I loved how comfortable Karah was. Yes she is a close friend but I had never really sat down with her and asked her these types of questions, our conversations on the matter only skim the surface when it seems relevant. Despite the fact that I asked Karah very personal questions, she was calm the entire time. Listening to an interview or a conversation between two people, we have no visual clues to look at. Listening to the tone and change in pitch and volume of the interviewee, the listener can grasp a keen understanding of the dynamic between Karah and I. We can't listen to this and see facial expressions, so by actively listening to interviewee, there is an active power exchange happening.

You can hear Karah comfortable as can be as she expressed herself on an intimate level. Her realistic approach, to answer these questions and consider herself in relation to others was surprising while also stimulating. Karah sought to explain how she felt and how she sees herself in relation to others. I detected confidence in the consistent volume of her voice -- not raising or lowering it once. Listening to someone's reaction to a question, one that is ordinary, a hard pressed question, a provocative question, even a question with a motive, someone's self awareness is evident in how they respond - not just what they say but the sound of their voice when they say it.

This experience has taught me that listening to someone's voice is a key indicator in how secure they are when pressed with questions regarding different topics - both neutral and intimate questions. I am truly amazed at how Karah answered each question with poise and confidence, which demonstrated her keen sense of self.

The Soundwalk

Whenever I'm in a new place for a short period of time I always try to save a moment of it by closing my eyes and basking in the natural sound. The last time I went to the beach I was in Antigua and before I left I went to the beach by myself and closed my eyes. I let the sun hit my face and I listened to the calm sound of the waves, people chatting around me, and the distant sound of the birds flying around. I tried to save some piece of tranquility in my head before I went home to the loud city. I find it difficult to find a tranquil place in the city that isn't my bedroom, and even there, I can hear the sounds of sirens and construction outside of my window from the 23rd floor.

I took a walk in the west village the other day. I decided to sit down on a stone bench in a small park and somehow try to capture that feeling of ease I had that day on the beach in Antigua. I closed my eyes. I heard the wind blowing and the rustling of the leaves on the trees above me. I heard the squeaking of the metal swings nearby at the play ground and the sounds of children giggling in joy. I could hear cars passing by me, the sound of a car when it breaks at a red light. The sizzling of the hot dogs roasting at the cart on the corner. I heard the sounds of people chatting excitedly as they waited online for cupcakes at magnolia bakery and the swinging of the door of the crowds walking into the bakery. I didn't hear any harsh or particularly loud or bothersome sounds. It was the sounds of the day going by around me as I sat there in that moment. It wasn't a peaceful moment but it was calm and I was able to grasp a small moment of ease that I felt so nostalgic for at the beach.