Monday, March 3, 2008

Location + emotion: SMS writing

At the end of the first class I asked everyone to go to a place in the Uni where they'd had a strong experience or emotion; and then send an SMS describing where they were, what they could see, and relating the memory . Here is what came through...your vivid experiences of location and emotion.

...3438

Main entrance to the tower building, standing outside looking at the banners that say "federal government rates UTS as one of the best". I remember having an argument with people from the socialist alliance stall. I argued that there would not be a revolution until they changed their PR approach.

...6140

Building 6. cafe. Red plastic chairs. Square pool of sunlight. Smell of cigarette smoke and the sound of high pitched chatting. Its the place where the boy that wasn't my boyfriend told me he was in love with me.

...3060

Glasshouse Bar. I can see leather/vinyl couches filled with (mainly first year) students. I remember when the couches were older and eclectic, coming here with my new uni friends at the tender age of 17. Though not my first time drinking underage, it was my first time drinking underage where they actually checked id. I've never felt so old and so young at the same time since.

...9949

I am in the lift at the end of Bon Marche. Today all i see is myself, reflected thrice in the mirrored walls. I remember once taking the lift to level 5 when just as the doors were about to close a hand appeared and my tutor stepped in. he broke the awkward silence on the way up with 'i like your top'.

...6030

Oh, the stairwell on level 5. I'm feeling dizzy. I can see the street outside, i can see all the way down. I knew i should've taken the lift.

...5216

I'm in building 6, level 3. I remember a few people clutching timetables looking at doors. I had to look for a ceretain number 28. I think i walked around in a circle before i realised i passed the two big lecture doors twice...

...0778

In front of building 4. i see street, car and student walking out from Peter building. He was there yesterday. The guy with the yellow t-shirt. I am here now. I pray to God to meet him again. I will not walk past him as yesterday.

...1716

Building 1 level 12. I was busting for the loo and ran around the surrounding levels but couldn't find the toilet. Eventually found it. Oh the relief...

...7888

I'm in the loft sitting on the stool. There's a painting of a man. he looks like my friends dad. Wed lunch at the loft is a tradition. I like the 6.70 nachos.

...8177

In the Bon Marche stairwell. The between class rush of students, bodies and voices full of start-of-semester pep. In my memory the stairs are empty, just me and her. She was a friend and now she's gone. I seem to be here still.

...5341

In first year here, I was about to go up the escalators from level 4 to Building 5 in Building 1 when i saw some people I knew from the year below mine, which was a bit of a shock. I think they were on a day trip. Around here there's escalators, a board covered in posters and the like; a notice board welcoming people to the mobile blood service; a bin; directional signs; pillars; walls, carpet; stairs down; and a lot of space.

...0423

A crowd of anxious people waited noisily outside the guthrie theatre for the first day of lectures. I stood behind the glass doors and finished my cigarette as i watched them gather and rustle with nervous excitement and anticipation. I dragged slowly on my cigarette and tried to think of my first day at high school. the awkward greetings of strangers getting to know one another. This calmed me and i entered the theatre.

...4499

Uni cafeteria, see pipes and lights on ceiling shine on empty bottles on table, this is where we grew close, had all the fun..and where she didn't say goodbye.

...7305

I am where the table tennis tables are usually. I don't see them. I remember being smashed at with the ball.

...3626

Level 4, Tower building. This is where i made a resolution last year to become more involved in uni, by joining up to things during O week. And where i broke that same resolution a week later, by slipping out of class early and ditching all my club memberships, in favour of going shopping instead.

...8129

At haymarket art cafe, where they have the best turkish raisin toast. Love coming here in my break.

...6207

This is the spot on the Concourse- red carpet, grey pillar, and smelling of banana bread. This is the spot where a boy once sat me down, face to face like an interview, and told me he was flattered by my attention but he was in a place in his life where he wasn't ready for a relationship. I cried for three days, and then I got out of bed, put on my makeup, and decided I wasn't a quitter. It turns out he didn't know what was best for him after all. We've been dating for eighteen months.

...7101

I'm at the loft standing in the doorway looking up the stairs. It's where my friends and i gather the last day of semester each year and have a few drinks.

...9425

Building 6 cafe. Sun is shining on group of 5 sitting at table in middle of courtyard, others sitting in the shadows not as prominent. The quest for a good coffee at uni and a nice place to meet friends was completed when my friend introduced me to the dab cafe. Weeks were spent trying to find a suitable meeting place to relax and chat, until this moment. Since my initiation, it has become part of my uni routine.