I’ve always lived in the same place: the same house, the same district, and the same people. When I came to Virginia Tech, it was like a whole new world had opened up. Since coming to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech, I have never felt the need to venture past what was known to me. Once I set a path to go to a class, I would not stray from it, even if the other path was shorter. Even when I went for a nightly stroll to get some fresh air, I took the same paths because they were familiar.
Before this semester, I was truly missing out on a myriad of places to see in Blacksburg, whether it be something small like the Blacksburg Library, or something rooted in school spirit like a football game. With this class, I was able to look at Blacksburg in a new light. Rather than it being a place where I focused solely on my academics, it is a place to talk to new people and explore what I can relish in not just now, but also later in life.
This semester, I took a step toward exploration. I prided myself on going through and trying to find new places in Blacksburg and connecting them to back home, a place where I’ve always felt the most comfortable. I used this to stray away from something I’ve always held dear to me, familiarity. I explored places that I would have never thought I would have enjoyed, for example, Huckleberry Trail, and encountered places I’ve grown to love and have now frequented multiple times. Although all the things I have done weren’t as enjoyable as others, I have found places that I will continue to visit after this class comes to an end.
A is for A Matter of Time
Prompt 2.16; Photo and text, Thursday, Oct. 23rd
Figure 05. My hair was blowing across the streets of Chinatown in DC, a bow clipped into my hair to match the hundreds of others in the line, waiting to see Laufey for her ‘A Matter of Time’ concert. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)
The weather was extremely frigid outside. My glasses were no longer protecting me from the winds, as I wore contact lenses. The girl behind me was whispering to her boyfriend, her distress hitting my ears. The fear of not being able to enter the venue in time discouraged me from getting the artist’s merch. The girls I had found while walking over from the parking garage talked to me about how everyone was dressed impeccably. Their outfits covered the streets of D.C in a sea of blue and white. (90)
B is for Beaver
3.16 Non-Commercial Walk, Photo and text, Thursday, Oct. 23rd
Figure 06. As I entered the giant gas station, the commemorative beaver was perched outside the store. Before I took my own photo of it, I aided two different elderly women in figuring out how to use their phones and take pictures next to it. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)
As I was on my drive to DC, the boredom of driving had finally gotten to me. Whilst I was driving, I came across a Buc-ee’s, the first ever in Virginia. I felt compelled to visit, taking in the large establishment. I walked through every aisle, taking in their assortment of products from freshly made burritos to dog toys. As I walked, the urge to purchase an item never crossed my mind. Although each item had the commemorative beaver on everything in the store, I was content with just looking. (90)
C is for Carter’s Mountain
3.12 Five Senses, Video and text, Friday, Oct. 29th
Video 02. A video of the Fuji apple trees, each one higher than the last. According to the people working, they were the perfect amount of sweet and tart. (Original Video, Gunjan Rekhi)
As I walked across the rocky pathway, trees covering my eyeline, I could hear families laughing across the orchard. My arms began to hurt as I carried the bushel of apples back up the hill, the bag ripping under the weight of them. The smell of apple cider wafted through the air, salivating my mouth. As I stood in line, the smell of donuts getting stronger, my patience began to wear off, but when the sweet taste of them hit my tongue, it was all I could ever dream of. (90)
D is for Dying My Hair
2.32 Shortest Walk, Photo and text, Wednesday, Nov. 19th
Figure 09. A picture of my hair after I dyed it pink in my apartment bathroom. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)
Change is temporary. Hair can be long. Hair can be short. It’s subject to change. The developer is strong. The bleach is stronger. Mix them and apply. Wait for a while. Watch the color lift. The color turns orange. My hair is brittle. I wash it out. Time to dry. I apply the color. Color mixed with conditioner. I apply and wait. Pink stains my shirt. I clean my sink. Praying pink doesn’t stain. I rewash my hair. The tub turns pink. I redry my hair. Looks a little different. (90)
E is for Eavesdropping
2.04 Overheard, Less Context, Audio Recording, Friday, Nov. 28th
Audio track 01. A 13 second audio of my friend listening to a little boy getting yelled at by his mom and she found my hair in her clothes. (Original recording, Gunjan Rekhi)
I was walking around an outdoor plaza with my friend when we came across a boba shop. The inside, frequently bustling with people, was filled with people talking. Some are discussing work, others are listening to their screaming kids as they jump across the store. I pull out my phone to listen to this mother ever so slightly scold her kid. His face shifts from one of glee to a pout. I began to reminisce about my own mom and how she would do the same when I was younger. (90)
F is for Flickering Stars
Prompt 3.14 Star Gazing, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 9
Figure 03. The Big Dipper, taken in the night sky of suburban Virginia, shines brighter than ever. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)
The song “In a Sentimental Mood” by Ella Fitzgerald played through my wired headphones as I watched the stars flicker above me. The Big Dipper was prominent in my eyeline as I almost tripped over the root of a tree at my feet. I watched as the stars I once wished upon as a kid waltzed across the night. The sight of my childhood park brought me back to a place of serenity, unlike the bustling nightlife of Blacksburg, where you could hear students no matter the time of day. (90)
G is for Gazebo
Prompt 2.19 Duck Pond, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 2
Figure 01. My friend and I are taking in the view of the duck pond from the gazebo, trying to decipher how long it has been since it was a part of the pond that has become ever so popular in the grounds. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)
As my friend and I walked towards the gazebo, I began to recognize my surroundings. It had been months since I had visited the familiar area. The evening air was crisp, the scent of fall wafting through my nose as I began smelling the leaves churning. Around Duck Pond, most creatures had gone still, yet the noises of the ducks quacking lingered across the water’s surface. The fresh air was a tender blanket that covered me after being confined to my room for days on end, after fighting an illness. (90)
H is for Heckler
3.08 Bird Watching Walk, Saturday, Oct. 18th.
Figure 08. I came across a duck on a nightly stroll across the duck pond. While the other ducks were in the lake, he was sitting far away, watching everything unfold. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)
Walking across Duck Pond so late at night was a slightly terrifying feat. Although most birds had begun to migrate south, there were still a few chirping around. The first being a crow, sitting perched on the tree, his cawing being heard for miles on end. The second being a Greater Scaup; his quacking sounded almost like a heckle, ricocheting off the trees and across the pond. The last bird that was spotted was on the way back, a Hermit Thrush, its small body barely noticeable in the night sky. (90)
I is for In Need Of A Meal
2.12 Indoor Walk, Illustrations, Sunday, November 9th
Illustration 03. A drawing of the path I take from my room every time I feel hungry, thirsty, or am just plain bored. (Original Illustration, Gunjan Rekhi)
I began my venture from my room to my kitchen, and I could overhear my roommate’s laugh. Her giggles pierce through my headphones. I ventured into our kitchen in hopes of getting something to eat, and I stepped on a melted piece of ice. Annoyance was radiating off of me. I felt as if I would never eat again after these circumstances, but I persisted. I rummaged around the fridge, trying to find something that appealed to me. After careful consideration, I decided to heat the leftover food I had. (90)
J is for Juna
2.16 Waiting in Line, Photo and text, Friday, Nov. 28th
Figure 10. Me waiting in the carpeted electronics section of Target with my headphones blaring so loud I can barely hear my own thoughts. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)
In hopes of beating the Black Friday lines, I went to the electronics section. Alas, my attempt was proven futile. As I waited in line, I was so thankful that I had brought my AirPods. I played the song ‘Juna’ by Clairo, praying that the line would move faster. I began to feel more and more impatient as someone cut me in line. Since I was too afraid to say anything, my frustration was not evident on my face, but in the way I tapped my foot on the carpet. (90)
Kindred Spirits
2.25 Micro-Interview with a Being at Windows, Audio Recording, Thursday, Nov. 13th
Audio 02. A voice memo of me awkwardly walking up to a girl in the park and asking her what she uses her phone for. (Original Audio, Gunjan Rekhi)
Seeing as the weather wasn’t too windy or chilly, I decided to walk around the park near my apartment complex. After a while, I decided to sit on the grass and listen to music and just watch the people around me. One person was playing with their dog, while another group was just talking on the grass. It wasn’t until I saw someone just walking scrolling through their phone that I got up. I went up to them and asked what they were using their phone for while walking outside. (90)
L is for Leaves
Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different, Photograph and text, Tuesday, Oct. 7
Figure 02. The tree resting right outside my apartment window, which whistles through the air at night, has finally begun to shed its leaves, signifying that autumn has finally begun. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)
The day itself felt like a juxtaposition pulled straight from a novel. While walking back to my apartment from the bus stop, I thought the air would be slightly frigid as the seasons had begun to change, wishing to feel the crisp air against my face, causing my nose to run ever so slightly. Alas, the weather was still warm, the humid air causing my hair to frizz up as I walked along the street. What struck me was that the leaves were still changing, giving the illusion of autumn. (90)
M is My Daily Path
2.01 Campus Map of the Imagination, Illustrations, Wednesday, November 12th
Illustration 01. My usual daily path that I take to go to my classes on Monday and Wednesday. (Original Illustration, Gunjan Rekhi)
On my usual path to classes, I keep my headphones on and my head down. I don’t take in the infrastructure around me; I just stare at the ground and pray I don’t accidentally run into anyone. On my walk, I decided to look up and take in the scenery, so I left for class earlier than I usually would. Without my headphones, I could hear how many people were talking with their friends, birds chirping above me, and even ran into one of my friends while going to class. (90)
N is for New World
2.07 What Even Goes On In There?, Photo and Text, Friday, Nov. 7th
Figure 11. A screenshot of me texting my friend on how I thought that the DDS building is very nice and somewhere I would study often. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)
Things in my room distracted me from the task at hand, and as the night passed, my urge to study waned. My roommate, noticing my struggle as she heard me let out a heavy sigh, suggested a change of scenery. We ventured on campus and went to DDS, as she suggested. It was my first time walking into the building. Since it was 11 at night, only a few people were roaming the halls. I took in the building in awe; the bathrooms were sparkling clean, and there were study rooms galore. Each one was filled with TVs and whiteboards. I decided to venture out without her, set up my stuff in the study room, and explore. The ceilings were ever so high, and everything in the building looked brand new. I was so fascinated that I started texting my friends about how nice the building was. I would have never suspected that the building was so modern and sleek. A giant screen covered one of the walls on the second floor, showing multiple different languages and colors played ahead. (180)
O is for Out of It
2.22 Stairs versus Elevator, Audio Recording, Tuesday, Nov. 3rd
Audio 03. The sound of the elevator taking me up to the third floor of the building for my 9:30 class. (Original Audio, Gunjan Rekhi)
Every Tuesday and Thursday, I had to choose between walking up three flights of stairs at 9:12 in the morning or taking the elevator. At the beginning of the semester, I would walk up a hill to my class in the ‘Corps Leadership and Military Science Building.’ At first, I would take the stairs, but as time went on, I gave up. There was no point in walking up all those stairs when an elevator, filled with people from class, was right there, conveniently placed next to the entrance. (90)
P is for Pecking
2.11 Huckleberry Trail, Photograph and text, Wednesday, October 8th
Figure 04. A rooster pecking across the grounds of the Huckleberry Trail in attempts to find its morning meal. I guess he did not wake up early enough to get the worm. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)
I continued along the trail; the smell of manure filled my senses, my nose twitching. I took a sip of my water, trying to distract myself from the scent as I came across a stream hidden on the outskirts of the trail. The water covered the rocks with a brown hue due to the mud surrounding them. It wasn’t until I heard a slight crowing that I noticed a rooster pecking into the ground behind me. I jumped back slightly and watched as his black eyes looked directly into mine. (90)
Q is for Quiet at Last
2.29 Public Library, Photo and Text, Saturday, Nov. 1st
Figure 12. A picture that I took of me reading a book in the library. I brought my own book seeing as I had just started reading “A Three-Body Problem” and wanted to continue it somewhere peaceful (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)
I have grown up around libraries, the closest one to me being Twin Hickory Library. Whenever I was bored as a kid, my mom would take me and read a myriad of books. It was to the point where we would max out the number of checkouts on both of our cards. Libraries have always been a solace to me, helping me not only expand my vocabulary but also offering an escape. It was the place I would go with my friends after high school to talk and study. (90)
R is for Running
Prompt 2.04 Overheard, Less Context; Video and text; Friday, Oct. 10
Video 1. A slightly chunky Bichon Frise, Buddy, begins to run across the Glen Allen lake, taking a slight break to take in the grass being mowed around him. (Original Video, Gunjan Rekhi)
What seemed to be a normal walk to get my 7-year-old dog’s daily exercise turned into a wild goose chase. Buddy has never been one to chase after different sounds, only reacting when someone says “ice cream”, his ears perking up at the thought. As we ventured on our walk, my heels digging in to try and get him to turn back, the sound of an industrial lawn mower interested him. He ran towards and sniffed around for a few seconds until he began rolling into the bladed strands, causing his freshly groomed fur to get dirty, with green hues covering him slightly. Bringing him home was nothing short of a hassle, as I once dug my heels into the ground, so did he, his body tired after our mile-long walk. He looked at me with distaste, his whine echoing throughout the lake, begging me to pick him up and carry him home. How could I reject such a plea? The sounds of him panting echoed through my ears, and my body felt fatigued carrying him back to my car. (180)
S is for Sweet Treat
2.32 Shortest Walk, Photo and text, Tuesday, Oct. 14th
Figure 07. I made an apple crumble for my roommates, and as the weather began to turn, I felt the need to make something using cinnamon. But apple crumble is never complete without ice cream, so I ventured to my freezer to get some. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)
Sweets are essential. They bring me joy. A warm, crisp apple. Covered in cinnamon. The crumble coating it. Fresh out the oven. It still needs more. The freezer steps ahead. Retrieving the cold sweet. The bucket thuds. The tabletop colder. The bowl still warm. The apple crumble waiting. A la mode. The only acceptable way. Two steps more. I grab a spoon. I scoop it in. The dessert is perfection. The ice cream cold. The crumble hot. They mix perfectly together. A symphony. My mouth was overjoyed. A perfect treat. (90)
T is for Tattered
2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories, Photo and Text, Tuesday, Oct. 21st
Figure 13. A picture I took of my shoe, that even though I’ve worn it everywhere, it’s still in good condition because I cherish my shoes. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)
Since I was a kid, I’ve hated getting new shoes. I didn’t understand the appeal; it wasn’t until my shoes were quite literally tearing at the seams that I felt the urge to get new ones. As I started my freshman year of high school, my dad decided to buy me a new pair, something I could use to mark a fresh start. Since then, I’ve worn these shoes daily. Whether it be a quick walk to the grocery store or walking almost 5 miles in Chicago on a whim. (90)
U is for Unbelievably short
2.12 Indoor Walk, Illustrations, Sunday, November 9th
Illustration 02. A drawing of my room going to my bathroom, it’s an extremely short drawing, seeing as my bathroom is directly in front of my room. (Original Illustration, Gunjan Rekhi)
Every morning, the first thing I have to do, no matter what, is brush my teeth and floss. It is something I must do before I even make my bed. Because the sun starts shining in my room around 7:30 in the morning, that’s usually when I get up to brush my teeth. The walk from my room to my bathroom can’t even be more than three feet, but it’s become a part of my daily routine. One that I cherish as I turn on my early morning playlist. (90)
W is for White Out
2.08 Sporting Event, Photo and Text, Saturday, Sept. 20th
Figure 14. The Hokie bird dancing on the field next to all the cheerleaders, showing his hokie pride! (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)
My first-ever football game was an experience. Due to the heat, the walk from the Maroon bus loop to the stadium was one full of sweat. You could hear people yelling across the drill field, their voices carrying even as my friends and I ventured past. As we got to our seats, you could hear the roaring from students and guests as ‘Enter Sandman’ by Metallica played. Throughout the game, you could hear people’s keys jangling as they shook them, or the smell of the concessions coming to the bleachers. (90)
Y is for Youthful
2.23 The Things You Carry, Video and Text, Monday, December 1st
Video 03. A video of me showing off all the contents that reside in my to go bag. It’s things that I find essential to whenever I go for a walk. (Original Video, Gunjan Rekhi)
Usually, before I go on longer walks, I love taking a Miffy themed tote bag of things with me. It makes me feel at peace knowing I have things that are non-essential as well as essential in case of any emergencies. In my bag, I have a portable charger and my Kindle, in case I get bored or my phone dies. I also keep a pair of wired headphones at all times if my wireless headphones die on my walk. For emergencies, I have a plastic water bottle and Band-Aids. (90)
Z is for Zapped out of Reality
2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different, Photo and Text, Monday, Nov. 10th
Figure 15. The trash can outside of West End filled to the brim and expelling with trash. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)
I was walking back from West End at night, when I turned to my left and saw that the trash can outside the dining hall was filled to the brim. It didn’t stop people from coming over and piling more and more trash on top of the trash can and even around it. Another trash can was only a few steps away, but people didn’t want to take the extra ten steps, which really frustrated me because they kept littering and making custodial staff’s lives harder through their own laziness. (90)