Thursday, July 8, 2010

Journal # 3

As I was working at the Lander Swimming Pool, I noticed that there were countless symbols or icons which many people understand the meaning of. First I spotted a ‘no diving’ symbol in the shallow end of the pool. Next, I found the Red Cross symbol in many places, such as one on my lifeguard shirt, tube, and more on swimming instructions hanging all around the premise. After I noticed the first aid box I realized that it had a cross symbol much like that of the Red Cross, however, it was white on a green background.

When I was leaving the pool deck, I noticed the EXIT sign above the door and realized that it too was a symbol. After life guarding, we are required to clean the showers and locker rooms so my next stop was the custodians closest where I instantly saw a skull and crossbones located on a bottle of muriatic acid. Then I thought to myself, wow, it would really hurt to get muriatic acid in your eyes, but as I turned around, I saw an eye wash cleaner with a icon of its own (although this icon might be very helpful at the time of an accident…). After the thought, I got back to work and began to mop. On the mop bucket I noticed a ‘caution wet floor’ icon and on a piece of garbage I picked up I noticed a please recycle symbol.

As I was carrying the garbage outside, I spotted two more symbols—a warning: high voltage icon and a handicap-parking icon. Upon leaving work and walking home, I saw a wood carving of the town’s school mascot and realized that it too was a symbol. I then crossed the road at a crosswalk sign and almost got hit by a Toyota icon. Angry at the driver’s carelessness, I decided to go on a bike ride and let off some steam. While biking, I passed by countless political signs, which did not help the cause. This was just another day in my life of symbols.

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