Category Archives: Audio

Consumerism/society expectation and loneliness

Today I interviewed my post-stranger friend, an Iranian-Canadian in her 30’s.  She is an environmental educator and involving volunteers and public events related environmental issues.  I am especially interested in the relationship between loneliness and environmental educators.  She called the spider at her entrance who residents there for a while, “sweetie!”

One Audio – March 30, 2017

Today, I stopped by the Hillcrest Centre around 5pm. The centre has not only sports facilities but also a public library (Terry Salman Branch)

There were children and mothers and grandparents who were waiting for kids to finish their classes.

I got one decline from an Asian mother and one acceptance from an European mother, who has been here long time.

Female age 40-50 European Immigrant

It is an interesting that people talk more after the interview.

Today’s interviewee said she is too busy to seek new friends (social connection) because she has family, work, and existing friends.  She needs own time.  Actually, the 30 minutes when I was interviewing her is the only time to spend by herself and read a news.

Also, she was mentioning it might be the life time, 20’s and senior (after children leave the house), when people struggle with loneliness; in the 20’s to find out who they are, and in senior to find purpose of life.

In addition she mentioned that the weather (rainy winter) is hard to go out to meet people in Vancouver.

Today’s approach

  • Instead of using the word “loneliness” I started to use “social isolation.”
  • First she was not comfortable the fact I would record our conversation.  So, I just told her that I would not ask her name.

Questions:

  • What is the definition of loneliness for you?
  • Have you ever had the experience?  What did you learn from that?
  • What is the solution? and more detail.

Three audios – UBC on campus – March 5, 2017

I interviewed at the Student Union Building and the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre library at the University of British Columbia with the questions below:

  1. What is loneliness?
  2. When do you feel lonely?
  3. How do you solve the loneliness?

Exchange Male 3rd Yr UK Student

International Female 4th Yr Chinese Student

Local Male 3rd Yr Asian Local Student