In my room, New Cross, London, 7am

Back to my room, where sounds of airplane can be heard very frequently. This time, these sounds do not remind me of going home or endless travelling between Taiwan and London. Surprisingly, they remind me of the floatplanes in Vancouver and Victoria! Multi-culturalism, peoples’ friendliness and beautiful sceneries of Canada have impressed me very much. I have also experienced so many sounds that I could never imagine, such as the floatplane, the steam clock, Canadian English, traffic signals for passer-bys, etc. However, I could not imagine that my long-term attachment to the airplane sounds would be changed from the cause of home returning to the cause of 7-day new experiences in Canada. Sonic associations can be changed so easily?! By travelling among different countries, my sonic constellations are constituted by more than the sound events of Taiwan and London. By listening and mediating carefully, there are also sonic constellations of Paris and now, Vancouver to assist my orientation. Because the experiences of sonic constellations all happen in the past, there is a possibility that these sonic constellations can provide me a sense of nostalgia. I enjoy my trip in Canada. I miss the Korean food there! Obviously, what can make me miss Canada and also my past in general are no longer restricted in elements of Taiwan but multi-culture. This should be a phenomenon reflected through my interviewees.

T&T supermarket, Richmond, Vancouver, 18pm

I was told that T&T is the biggest Chinese supermarket in Richmond (Many names of places in Canada are the same as the UK but being placed differently. What is in the north in the UK goes to the south. What is dominated by English white in the UK is dominated by Chinese in Canada. Feeling quite displaced.).
In Richmond area, 70 present of population are Chinese, which includes mainly Taiwanese, Hong Kongese and Chinese. T&T is one of the largest Chinese supermarket in Richmond. Walking around the store, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Cantonese and various Chinese dialects can be heard. At the same time, musak is played through the broadcast system to generate senses of comfort and carefree to the customer. As playing musak is a common feature in supermarkets around Chinese countries, the seemly featureless tune in fact makes customers feel at home. This is a sonic example of how globalisation helps people to feel at home in a foreign place.

Intersection of Government street and Yates street, Victoria, 18pm

The sound of pedestrian’s beep is like a bird! Nice, but need to learn that it is not of birds to be confused.

Victoria Inner harbour, Victoria, 17pm

First time hear and see the sound of floatplane. Before, I can only imagine it from the text about Tamsui used to have a floatplane airport in the Japanese period. I tried to record the engine sound but always too late. Again, too many good sounds are missed just like this.

4 hours after the flight landing

My ears and nose are blocked because of flu and landing. I commented the customer hall was quiet is probably affected by my blocked ear. I couldn’t hear things well. I did no how loud I spoke. I didn't know what sound I have missed. Why there hasn’t been anyone finding a way to unblock our ears after landing? Is it not necessary? Is it something we can only depend on chewing gum, health and luck?

Jacky Shih’s house, Vancouver

It’s not far away from the airport. However, I hear only very subtle flight sound occasionally in the sky. Jacky doesn’t even sense it or complain about it. The residential area is so quiet. No police siren, no car horns, no people shout. I don’t even hear him from my room. So far, at 11pm, I can hear one very subtle flight sound, rain sound, occasionally car passing through the wet road. Jacky only complain about snores from his dog—it snores to loud and out of rhythm! He said his father complained about that too. So they don’t want the pet dog to sleep in their rooms. This is probably the first case ever about a master complaining about his loud snoring pet dog!

The customer Hall, Vancouver airport, 19:30pm

The first object/sound before really entering the space of Vancouver, the customer hall, is a big Aboriginal-style waterfall, in visual and sound. The customer hall is spacious (later on, I realised that it was not that big. Simply the whole airport was built with glasses and suspensions). There were many people queuing for passing through the customers. However, it was quiet. Perhaps it was the acoustic design of the building. It was quiet all the time expect the broadcasts.

Flight BA85, at Vancouver international airport, 19:30pm

Just arrived at Vancouver from London Heathrow. I was waiting for the flight door to open and enter the ‘real space’ of Vancouver. It was still the sound of flight engine while we were waiting for the door to open. Everyone seemed to want nothing but the door to open. Walking from the flight cabin to the bridge is the first environmental sound of Vancouver a tourist can hear. Walking from the bridge to the flight cabin is the last sound of Vancouver. When I was thinking about recording that moment of sound, crowd started to move forward. I had to follow. There are always sounds missed to be recorded like this—when you think about it, it’s too late. Anyway, welcome to Vancouver.