Photos From My Room
Una oda a mi habitación.
Readers, today I present to you a new kind of photographic experience - one which hopefully will change hearts and minds, give us new eyes with which to see the world. So often with the camera, my attention is turned outward at the various sights that surround me when I go out. But for today's exercise, I am turning the lens inward to capture the essence of my own bedroom.
This idea comes from my buddy Frank, who suggested that I document the place where I spend much of my time so that I can look back upon it down the line and reminisce about what it was like to be there day after day. I understand I am making myself vulnerable to all kinds of "damb son, you live like this?" criticism and that's part of the fun. So let's get started and take a virtual tour of my chambers.
1) a view of my desk, as seen from the bed. 2) what the scene might look like when I am working at night. 3) sentimental photos of my parents and my beloved TT, with a timely valentine's rose. 4) a collection of small metal objects: a pocketknife, wristwatch, paperclip, scissors, tie clip, dragonfly keychain and a segment of one of those charm bracelets which reads "italia."
First and foremost comes my desk, which is the most versatile zone in the room. This is where I get my writing, reading and eating done (there is no dining area in the floorplan). I have adorned the walls with a handful of photos and letters from loved ones, as well as my ocean conservatory wildlife calendar. I actually have never bothered to keep a monthly calendar like this, and I think so far it's been helpful. It is nice to look up every now and again and be reminded of those that share their lives with me.
The chair isn't very comfortable and feels rather flimsy, but it's capable of supporting my weight I suppose. I will pull the chair out and use it to practice the lute in front of the door so that I can observe my form in the mirror (see below).
Atop the desk goes my laptop, headphones, and a couple of important notebooks. One is my diary where I am practicing to write about my life and feelings in Spanish; the other is my judo journal. I also store the camera with my copy of dSLRs and Photography for DUMMIES on the desk, but I was obviously holding the camera when I took these shots.
At the foot of my bed is this table where I keep the materials for some of my various hobbies. Here lie a couple sketchbooks with colored pencils, my lute practice journal (I have a notebook for everything apparently), a meager sewing kit stored in a VELO nicotine pouch tin, and my Chesterfields. I also keep fruits here when I have them.
Expressing myself through art has been a cathartic practice for me during this chapter. I have been attempting to embrace a simple life without rushing myself, and drawing three-panel comics or practicing a 20-measure tune are two great ways to fill the days. I will take the sketchbooks with me to a cafe or the library to pass an hour or two when I can. My lute practice takes place inside this room for the most part; as the weather gets warmer I hope to take it outside more frequently and contribute to the general soundscape of the town.
1) A view of my bed from the doorway. I was doing laundry when I took this. 2) My bedside shelf thing and backpack.
Folks, we all do it, we all love it: sleep, the soft death. This right here is where I get all my sleeping in. The bed is pretty cheap and really not that comfortable (recently described by a friend as a 'tough sit'), but it gets the job done. My sheets are whatever and slip off easily, but I really like the blanket I purchased from el mercado chino. Beside my bed live all my toiletries (shoutout to the curly girl method for haircare, it has changed my life). My glasses and the books I'm currently reading go on this shelf with Lamby Pie. Most days end with me getting a chapter or two in here before slipping into the unconscious.
1) The contents of mi armario. 2) The mirror fixed to the backside of my bedroom door.
Fortunately el armario is built into the wall, which is useful for saving precious space and keeping my clothes from getting in the way of everything. Unfortunately I only have like seven shirts and go around in the same outfits like a cartoon character. The incredibly thin mirror on the door is one of the more valuable installations; I use to check my appearance before I hit the town each morning and to correct my lute-playing form.
1). A view of my bedroom window from the bed. The windows to each of the one and a half bathrooms are in view. 2) A view out the window into the whatever you call this. Take a look at all that stuff!
The building I'm living in is kind of a mess. There was a pretty bad spell of wind while I was drafting this piece, and the clothesline literally fell off the wall with my clothes on it. One of the bathroom doors doesn't close all the way, and the windows to each were smashed from the wind last week. The electricity will randomly go out during the day, but hey it's home! I hope my living situation doesn't always feel like this, but for now I am appreciating it for what it is. My roommates, for example, have shown me so much generosity in sharing meals and inviting me in. I believe I am learning important lessons during this chapter of my life; hopefully they will pay dividends down the road.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so this bedroom tour basically counts as a 10k word essay. It's a very humble setup I have at the moment, having moved across the ocean with whatever I could fit in my luggage. Yet interestingly enough, I have still managed to give the room a bit of my own stank and have come to like being in the space. Recently I visited the house that Orihuela poet Miguel Hernandez grew up in a hundred years ago, and found that he similarly had a humble bedroom. And he was able to write freaky poems that people enjoyed. Ok that's it bye~
