I constantly use my phone throughout the day, whether it consists of a casual glance or more thorough browsing. This assignment helped me realize how my phone plays an integral role in making my daily interactions go smoothly as I explored the exciting city of Austin.

One of most unique experiences I participated in was going to the ACL music festival this October. I had never been to a music festival quite like it. The scene was overwhelming with crowds of people and a variety of bands. I was only familiar with a few, so I had the opportunity to explore and discover different types of music. I could not resist arriving early to get good spots for some of my favorite bands, including Kygo and The Chainsmokers. My friend was able to get us some VIP tickets, so we had access to a lounge area with Central Market catered food, free drinks, and other fun amenities. However, I think this exclusive feature somewhat diluted the ACL experience since I did not experience the long lines for overpriced tacos and lemonade. I am not complaining though, for I had an amazing experience seeing popular bands with some close friends.

This assignment gave me the perfect excuse to go get brunch at Magnolia Café. I didn’t know that it was such a popular place, but I realized it too late, for when I arrived at the restaurant I was told the wait was an hour and a half to get a table. I was in a time crunch, but thankfully there are two locations, and the other one had a significantly lower wait time. I went with my family since they came to visit me during parents’ weekend. I ordered a simple oatmeal with blueberries and raisins accompanied by a coffee. My family ordered a stack of blueberry banana pancakes for us all to share. This brunch was the perfect way to end a nice weekend. I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn’t mind a waiting a bit for a delicious meal.

I stumbled upon the last component of my digital trail by accident. I went to Central Market for the first time since I arrived in Austin. I love that Whole Foods and Central Market are both on North Lamar and equidistant from where I live. I went to grab a quick lunch and sit outside to eat and work on some homework. I was surprised to see a beautiful green park alongside the grocery store. After having a relaxing meal, I went and explored the natural scenery. There was a medium sized pond with a small creek protruding out of it. Rocks were scattered throughout the creek, allowing me to walk across them and sit down on one of them. I was impressed by Austin’s ability to provide a scenic component to an otherwise ordinary grocery shopping experience.

The above experiences helped me realize how much I truly depend on my phone for my daily activities. I captured these moments via Snapchat and saved them on my phone, thus adding to the pre-existing thousands of pictures I have already taken. Taking pictures of my adventures made me feel more connected to the Austin community, especially since I am new to the area. My phone serves vital functions, allowing me to digitally connect with others and navigate around the city. I used the ACL app on my phone to help me navigate the park and find the stages of the bands I wanted to see. I researched popular breakfast restaurants in Austin to find the Magnolia café, and when the wait was too long, I used my phone to find other locations nearby. Furthermore, I used Google Maps on my phone to find Central Market. Although there are some days I barley look at my phone at all, for the most part, I find myself very dependent on my phone’s amenities to tackle everyday tasks. This course has opened my eyes to the extent that digital culture has impacted my daily life.