Austin and I get along really well. We have the same sense of humor: Weird! I love how this city can be completely new and exciting one minute, and turn into home the next. Coming from the suburbs of Houston, Austin was a cultural awakening for me. Don’t get me wrong, Houston is awesome! Though, I don’t particularly like the idea of having to drive on a highway flyover just to get a view. (Sorry Houstonians!) But I digress. I have found my niche in Austin. There is something to do for every kind of enthusiast: whether it’s art, music, adventure, food, business, or just lazying around at a hip cafe! (Yes, you can be enthusiastic about being lazy. It’s a thing.) To continue my cultural awakening this semester, I visited some Austin favorites!
1.) Austin Capitol Building:
My friend and I took a tour of the Capitol Building! The inside was as beautiful as the magnificent facade. Tip: walk up to the middle star in the main lobby, look up, and gasp at the grandeur of the dome looming up above. I couldn’t stop staring until my neck hurt! I have visited the Capitol many times, but never took a tour. I really recommend it! It helps give perspective to the whole experience, and you get to learn a lot! After words, we had a picnic in the beautiful grounds. We got blankets, had our lunch, and felt so peaceful. And the view was great! Tip: chicken salad sandwiches are the best picnic meal. Pro-tip: chicken salad sandwiches with BBQ chips are the best picnic meal. Afterwards, we decided to take a walk around the grounds. We may or may not have caught a Pikachu:)
2.) Esther’s Follies comedy variety show:
THIS IS A MUST DO! A group of friends (and my twin for those who are confused. My sister is holding the playbill.) visited one weekend, and I decided to take them to an Austin staple. The show has been running on the same stage for over 30 years, and it is HILARIOUS! It’s in the heart of downtown on Sixth street and has a great vibe. The whole production is done on a small stage, and the audience size is really small, so you really get an up-front and personal experience with the show. It has everything: singing, dancing, comedy sketches, and my favorite part: magic! I fell in love with all the cast personalities.
3.) Sunset at The Oasis Restaurant
This place is heaven on earth. The restaurant is set atop a cliff overlooking the gorgeous Lake Travis. When I first walked into the restaurant, I was taken aback. The architecture is gorgeous, and every little space is covered in some kind of artistic detail, fixture, or greenery. The angels were singing before I even made it to the balcony with the view! The food, I’ll admit, was ok. We waited for sunset at the top most floor, and when it came, I actually got emotional! Check out that fiery dance of clouds and light! It was breath-taking!
I didn’t really realize the role technology played in my experiences until going through this course. I am now always aware of what I’m doing in the digital world. I found myself drawn to sharing these pictures with my friends and family (even in chat groups with family from India!) over WhatsApp immediately after taking them. As soon as I would post them, I would wait for a response from them. I was hoping they would find my day as interesting as I did! I always thought that our lives revolve around technology and social media too much. But this course has definitely taught me to appreciate and embrace the digital culture we live in. I realized I am very dependent on my phone functionally. I couldn’t have found The Oasis Restaurant or Esther’s Follies had it not been for my trusty side-kick: google maps. Looking back at these pictures, I’m so glad I whipped out my phone and took them. Sharing my snaps from the Captiol building and Esther’s Follies made me feel more connected to my Austin experiences. The photos created permanent memories. My phone was helping me connect with my social circles too. I loved being able to share, and also learn what my relatives are up to in India or Houston. This is when I realized that technology was actually enhancing my communication with others, not hindering it.
-Love, Sakeenah Tyebbhoy