Today was the last day of academic classes at my host university, and I’m grateful that I can end the day by being present here at my sit spot. I walked by the park after what I thought was closing time, but it turns out that the park is open later in the evening when […]
Author: nj104
Entry 7 – Changes
I am here at my sit spot on a cloudy morning. Today is a Monday morning, but it’s busier than usual here at the park because it’s Labor Day in Europe. There are families here with children chasing around ducks. This is the first time I’ve seen ducklings out and about at this park; I’m […]
Entry 6 – Cherry Blossom
Here at my sit spot, I am facing a cherry blossom tree overlooking the pond in the center. I closed my eyes, and I pictured my arms as the branches of the tree. It’s starting to rain, and I can feel the droplets collecting in my hair like the way raindrops collect on flower petals. […]
Entry #5 – Can you feel the noise?
As I close my eyes, I can hear the chattering of a lone bird calling out in long, direct chirps. Farther from this bird, I hear a faster-paced calling between a few birds – almost like a conversation. These birds have a higher pitch. The sounds are then interrupted by the cry of a baby. […]
Post 4 – Place in the Community
Over the past few days, the area around my sit spot at the Square des Batignolles has been obstructed because of ongoing construction efforts to remove some of the trees by ordinance of the city. I was able to make my way around the blockage, and I found another sit spot within the park. From […]
Entry 3 – Roots and Water
I am sitting on this park bench facing the pond at the Square des Batignolles. I imagine myself as a tree wrapping its roots around the legs of this bench. The roots circle the base of the bench and fan out towards the edge of the pond in the center. The wind whips the strands […]
Entry 2 – Returning to the Square des Batignolles
As I am walking up to the park gates, I realize that it’s just about to close. I first notice the people that surrounded the gates. I see older folks or parents with young children having conversations by the gate. I can hear the distant voices of people playing a field game on the other […]
Week 1 – Visiting the Square des Batignolles!
I am sitting on a park bench at the Square des Batignoles, and my hands are freezing as I am writing this entry. I got a crepe to warm up a bit. The Square des Batignolles is a wide green space and public park in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. I happen to live in […]