The "Parking Lot"

For my education class, I was told to find a location (other than campus) and describe/interpret what was going on in this setting.  So, I chose to do this while on my First Year Retreat at Carroll Lodge this weekend.  My friend Annie agreed to do it with me on our last day while everyone else was busy with other things.  We chose to sit in a sun room attached to the house and sit at the table together.  After just a few minutes, we both described the setting in great detail and interpreted that everyone was in a happy and peaceful mood from escaping hectic life on campus.  It was so interesting to be sitting in the same place and see the different and also quite similar ways Annie and I looked at things.  Below, is what Annie and I saw.

My Description:

• 25 windows
• 3 couches
• 21 chairs
• 9 people all sitting in wooden chairs around a long wood table
• One painting on the wall
• Trees surrounding the entire house 
• 2 people holding sandwiches
• 7 people holding black pens and writing on small slips of paper
• Laughter in the other room
• Silence in this room

My Interpretation:

• Some people were enjoying their last meal on retreat while others were explaining how much they appreciated their new friends by writing positive notes
• Everyone was in a relaxed mood because they got to escape normal life for a weekend

Annie's Description:

• 9 people in the room
• Long wooden table connected to a smaller wooden table
• 21 chairs
• 2 couches
• Windows surrounding the room on three sides, while the 4th side connects to the community room
• 8/9 people are sitting at the table, the other person is on a couch
• there are papers, folders, water bottles and pens on the table

Annie's Interpretation:

• Everyone is sitting around enjoying themselves and the presence of their new friends
• Some people are writing letters and some people are enjoying non-cafeteria food
• There is a joyful atmosphere present in the room