Auto-Ethnography

Skating down a hill

The taste of nerves runs through your mouth just before you push off and it's gone in an instant. There is the familiar sound of the wheels rolling on the tar seal, almost grinding by the sounds of it. The rough road sends vibrations up through the board and into your feet as you begin to build speed. By now the wind is whistling past your ear and flowing through your hair and its cold, bitingly so, but also refreshing. By now you are full of excitement as you hit the bottom and your feet feel tingly now from the vibrations.

Listen to the sounds.

Playing Fooseball

You feel the hard smooth texture of the ball as you put it into play. The sound it hitting the ground is loud and sharp but this only lasts half a second as it is now being hit all over with a clack, clack, clack. The ball wizzes so fast that it becomes reaction rather than trying to follow with your eyes. Nerves are quickly replaced with excitement and back again as the game progresses. Your lower back starts to ache and your right thumb is sore from constant rubbing. There is a smell of fireworks now as the powder on the ball explodes from multiple hits and this triggers more excitement.

Cooking Porridge

There is a faint fresh smell from the oats as you pour them into the pot. The sound of the water joining is one great slosh. All the oats are just spinning around now with a little bit of white oozing from them. When the pot is put on the element there is a ticking, groaning noise. Steam starts to wash upwards and hit your face making it feel warm and then cool as you back off. The water starts to boil and making bubbling and popping sounds and the smell is now being released. The steam is flowing thick now and the oats have all gone white and formed into one mass as the water has disappeared.