Date: February 3, 2011

Location: Student Accounts Office, Memorial Hall, Hofstra University.

Time: 3:45 pm

Far away sounds: The footsteps of people in the hallway downstairs, the occasional yell from someone talking loudly when walking into Bits & Bytes, people talking on the phone in the various offices.

Moderately close sounds: Clicking of keyboards at the desks near where I’m sitting, several students chattering while waiting in line to be helped, the voices of the employees discussing financial matters, the buzz of running computers.

Very close sounds: The ripping of perforated paper right next to me, the sound of my breathing through my mouth because my nose is stuffy, the sound of my throat swallowing, the vibration of my cell phone against a book in my bag.

One word description: Busy/efficient?

Crucial sounds to recreate this atmosphere: Computers running, keyboards clicking, respectful/office-like chatter.