My 24 Hours Without Technology

Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #1 - I had forgotten how awesome it is to have a watch

Not-So-Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #1 - I had also forgotten how easily one can get tan lines from wearing said watch.

Early Mornin'.

Waking up was the easy part. From my morning routine, I had to cut quite a few routines. No Music, No Television, No early morning email-checks... and no hot, fast breakfast.


The most crippling thing to result from my technology-less morning was definitely the weather. With no access to the weather forecast, I was left without an idea as to how the day in Boone was going to turn out. Considering I live an hour an fifteen minutes DOWN the mountain from Boone... this was bad. I had absolutely no way to predict. It actually ended up being a really nice day and I was upset that I didn't wear something more comfortable to celebrate what will most likely end up being one of the last nice days before the frigid cold.

Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #2 - I left my house on time.

Not-So-Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #2 - I didn't have a very good breakfast.

The Drive.

One might think that the long car drive would be incredibly boring without music. In actuality, I am quite accustomed to driving without music. I would prefer it most of the time. This day/drive was different. Because I KNEW that I couldn't listen to the radio, naturally, I wanted to listen to it more than ever. Sure, I got over it eventually, but, initially, it was frustrating simply because I don't like being restricted.

Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #3 - It was probably the safest drive to school I've EVER had. 

Not-So-Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #3 - I missed my morning news show

Strings.

My first class of the day - String Methods. Luckily, I don't really have to worry about technology in this particular course unless it is playing along with a soundtrack. This class period was devoted entirely to our playing quiz; therefore, the tracks weren't necessary.

After strings, I was feeling the twinge of anxiety at not being able to check my email. I went to see my professor/employer/thesis director and explained my predicament. Of course, she already knew because I had sent her a text the day before, but she sympathized anyways. Especially because I couldn't check my email --- we're really alike in that respect.

Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #4 - More FaceTime with my professor (30 minutes more)

Not-So-Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #4 - I definitely missed some important emails in 24 hours. Definitely.

The Library.

The most aggravating part of my day was undoubtedly in the library. With opera looming later in the day and having the need to be off-book for a scene, it was definitely annoying to not have access to the computers. Why? Because there isn't a card catalog anymore! Seriously?!? I had to pick through the entire opera section to find one transcript and then through the even LARGER reference section to find a book with aria translations. Not cool.

Bring back the card catalog!!

Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #5 - A new appreciation for the library looker-upper website.

Not-So-Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #5 - I was NOT off-book for opera that day.

Lesson/Math/Opera.

Luckily, the only technology needed for my lesson was a piano... which is DEFINITELY older than 1940. I guess the good thing about being a music major is that, in spite of not being able to use technology to experience my daily dose of music, I still got to perform it/listen to it.

Math was tricky. I had to sit through an hour and fifteen minutes of a lesson in geometry WITHOUT a calculator. Granted, this is probably much easier for me than the average person simply because I didn't use the calculator a to growing up in school until I got to calculus. Still, it was a luxury I had grown accustomed to having at my call. 

Obviously, because of my library predicament, I was not nearly as prepared as I should have been for opera. Also contributing to this travesty? Without an iPod, I had to rehearse my scene with no track --- Which is not so fun. 

Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #6 -  I sharpened my long, lost, dormant math skills.

Not-So-Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #6 - Did I mention how horribly opera went?

Dinner?

What Dinner? You see, in a world of convenience, teachers like to make unreasonable deadlines near dinner-time because they feel like we should be able to quickly access a dinner option. So, basically, without technology, you're screwed. You can't call, use Boontakeout, etc. So what do you do? Dash to your car ten minutes away, drive to Dominos, get a ready-to-go pizza, and be 30 minutes late for call-time. Excellent.

Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #7 - You have to work harder to get something -- as opposed to having it instantaneously.

Not-So-Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #7 - You're NEVER ON TIME (Even if you are wearing a neato watch)

Ireland Performance.

This past summer, I traveled to Ireland. 

Naturally, it is a good idea to have an "informance" during the fall semester to recruit people for the trip next summer (Jealous). Thankfully, traditional Irish music does not require technology. Instead, it requires good, old-fashioned talent and acoustic instruments. However, there was a nifty slide show of pictures from our trip that I couldn't see projected on to the stage. I sang two songs with an ensemble (4 other vocalists who went to Ireland) and got to talk about my experience seeing the Queen of England while I was there.

 Regrettably, I had to use a microphone so the hundreds of people in the auditorium could hear me. Alas, it could not be avoided.

Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #8 - I was more appreciative of the age-old ingenuity that went into making instruments... without technology.

Not-So-Good Thing to come out of this Assignment #8 - I missed out on the photographic evidence of my memories of Ireland

The Ride Home/End of the Day.

The ride home was definitely both a joyous and momentous occasion. I left Boone at 9:37 so not long after I was out of the city limits, I waited with bated breath as the clock ticked ever so slowly to 10:01. At 10:01, I turned on my phone, and at 10:01, I checked my email before I listened to voicemails or read text messages and missed call lists. What does this say to me? The only thing I missed was my email... and my cell phone was the closest thing to me. 

However... I did turn on radio.

Just because I could.

Best Thing to come out of this Assignment - I found my dependence is on my email... not necessarily technology in general.

Worst Thing to come out of this Assignment - I missed quite a few important things that day... I suppose my dependency on checking my email is warranted.