Respone #1 to Jennifer E. Cross "Sense of Place"

After reading "Sense of Place" by Cross I would draw similarities from the persons that Cross interviewed and my own experiences. In Crosses essay I could relate with what Cathy calls a "Spiritual Relationship". Cathy states that her spiritual relationship with her environment is one where she feels at home.Cathy also says that she enjoys going to other places, but when it all comes down, her neighborhood or environment is one she adores.
During my Drift 1 walk yesterday evening, at times I would feel at home as I would walk the urban streets of South Milwaukee. I am not from South Milwaukee, but the sounds, appearaces,smells, and social bonds with people of different cultures would force me to reminise of my earlier years at home. I would get excited when I would hear the sounds of the Ice cream truck rolling down the street or the smells of hot charcoal as people were grilling outdoors. The scenery of people of diverse ethnic backgrounds socializing on porches and children playing together would activate this spiritual relationship I call "home".
In Cross's reading the topic of "Place Alienation" was another favorite of mine as I would relate with the participant Kathryn. Kathryn is an individual whom has lived in many places and explains why she feels different in some of those places she has lived in. She digs further on why she is not satisfied with those certain places.
I currently live in a place where I feel alienated, to a point where I tend to shy-away from enjoying the outdoors. Not to say that I live in fear in the location where I am, but I despite taking walks in the area, because of the lack of culture and the stiffness of the people. Unlike my spiritual relationship with home, I am less greeted or paid attention to when I walk the streets. The rareness of eye contact or verbal communication exists in the new place where I live now. I would say that it is more or less people friendly, compared to my spiritual relation I have with my true home.
Cross's article touched upon various connections that a person may feel or think of his or her environment. I enjoyed reading the participants point of views of their living experiences within different locations. This article forces the sound artist to establish a more intimate relationship with his or her environment
-Dominitric Griffin