This fun activity can be done, anywhere. That’s right, just
step outside your door and there they are, the strange, the beautiful creatures
that occupy much of our planet. The
habits of these creatures are fascinating.
They are often humorous, without even trying.
Listening to the dialogue of these humanoid subjects can be quite
amusing. Some seem to have made up their
own special language. Others use gestures
to communicate without saying a word.
The dialect varies according to location. A perfect place to hear a variety of accents
and languages is Disney World. I, for one, love to hear small children visiting from England speaking to their parental units. Even when they whine, it sounds
simply adorable, “Mummy, Mummy, please, please may I have it?”. Restaurants
and Diners are wonderful places to listen to conversations. I love to hear small children carry on a
conversation, especially when they don’t know you are listening, they are extremely
entertaining.
The mall is also a choice place to observe the habits of
these subjects. You will see young ones
being pushed along in strollers, and older ones trudging along at their own
pace, carefully avoiding being mowed down by the younger ones. There are security officers who keep a
watchful eye over the scene. Sales people are present, trying desperately to
get someone to listen to their pitch. Take a seat on a bench and watch the parade; each
one different, each one with a story of their own.
Your place of work is also an excellent source for noticing
the habits of others. Most likely you spend
a great deal of time with these individuals.
You see them every day but may not give too much thought to the way they
approach life. Take time to listen,
watch and learn from other people. Some lessons
are definitely, What Not to Do, but
you never know when you might pick up a tip that will make your life easier.
So when you are out and about, take a note pad, pretend you
are on a surveillance assignment, and write down everything you see and
hear. You could meet the next character
for a story, just waiting to be discovered or you might just get a funny story
to tell.
Homework (Choose any or all) :
1.
Describe
an amusing conversation you overheard.
2.
Detail
the most outlandish outfit you have seen in public.
3.
Give an example
of a lesson you learned by watching someone else.
4.
Tell us what your favorite place to people watch
is.
5.
Has there been a time when you have developed a
character and then later observed someone who seemed to fit the bill? Tell us
about it.
I am excited about our upcoming sessions! Hope to see you
there!
Until Next Time,
Lisa M. Crosby
