Blog 2: What I Hear (Soundwalk)

As I walk through my neighborhood of Bushwick, there are always a few sounds that make up the noises that I constantly hear in the distance that I sometimes just forget are even there unless I really pay close attention. Sounds like car alarms and the sirens of ambulances(I live near a hospital), are constant throughout the day. I grew up right next to a fire station as a kid, so I tend to forget how noise polluting sirens really even are because they're so normal to me and in a funny way they're almost comforting. As I exit my building and walk south, I hear my neighbor's television turned up quite loudly so that even down on street level across the street, I can make out every word of the soap opera they're watching. Off in the distance I hear the sounds of busy construction. I'm not actually sure where it's coming from because there's currently so much construction happening. The doors to my local laundry mat are always open and the muffled sounds of swooshing, churning clothes and the hum of dryers in the back of the place can be heard as I walk past. There's the light clinking sounds of a dog leash as a woman walks by me while walking her dog. It's not a loud or annoying sound but almost pleasant in it's constantly clinking way. I hear the sounds a broom brushing up against the sidewalk of an older gentleman trying to sweep the fallen leaves away from in front of his building.As I continue walking I pass Maria Hernandez Park, and hear the voices of dozens of kids. The elementary school across the street doesn't have a playground attached to it so all the classes walk across the street to play here instead. Running around the park, playing baskets ball; all different voices coming together to make a mass of sound that you can't really pick apart to hear one distinct voice unless you're really focusing hard. I hear the soft thumping of paws on sand as a group of dogs run around in the dog park portion of the park and the quiet chatter of the owners all standing around watching their dogs enjoy their little bit of freedom off a leash. Some noises like the sounds of dogs paws in the dog park and the sirens of ambulances are tied to specific places while other noises like are constantly moving and getting louder and quieter as they move like the sounds of ridiculously loud latin music being blared from cars as they cruise through the neighborhood. None of these sounds are in any way unique to here and only here but they all come together to make the sounds of an active and lively neighborhood. Bushwick is a neighborhood through and through and the sounds reflect that in every way.