140 days in.

It seems like a good time for reflection on this project. Not just because the number is even, but also because there are some reoccurring themes that have come up since I’ve started this project, and I feel like making note of them.

Last night while hanging out with friends I realized the three people I was hanging out with were all faces of the day at some point. (Jeff on September 1st, Nico on October 6th and Chrysanthe November 12th) One I met completely by chance on the day of his interview. One was already a friend who I then got to know better. And the third was a girl I had met briefly once, but didn’t really know when I interviewed her. In general most people I interview initially fall into one of those three categories: Stranger, Friend or Acquaintance.

However our socializing shows that the interaction doesn’t always end there. And one of the things I love about this project is my interaction with a face of the day does not alway end on that day itself. If you look at the Facebook group for 365 Faces a growing number of officers who have been faces of the day are visible- and many of them I’ve seen since interviewing them.

For example on October 1st I interviewed Valeria, and was observed by her friend Richard. 60 days later on November 30th I interviewed him, and just this last Friday I met him again in a social dance class. One could say this is a result of the small size of my school, and not related to the project at all, but it’s also happened in the surrounding community. Over at Stanford when I was interviewing Chrysanthe on the 12th of November, her former roommate who also present, mentioned that she knew about the project through her friend Jeff. Jeff was my first face on September 1st. Outside of the academic sphere on December 21st I interviewed Anna at the SF MOMA. On January 5th I ran into her at Coupa Café in Palo Alto and she introduced me to her friend Rachel. While I was interviewing Rachel friend a man named Chris overheard and three days later on January 8th by random chance I met and interviewed him at the same café.

In fact many of the people I meet through friends and interview, I end up knowing better and to some degree befriending as well. And some who are strangers when I interview them, I later discover other connections with. In fact looking at the list to see who I’ve met thus far, I feel more like I’m looking at a list of friends than at a group of strangers. (while some were initially friends, most were not when I interviewed them) Yes there are some who the interaction has been limited to a single day interaction. And I would be rather surprised if those I interviewed in Portugal, Spain and London were to run into me while I was running around doing my daily routine. But even those I only see for the length of the interview, I feel like I’ve seen more because I’ve seen their words multiple times while rereading interviews, and I see their faces again and again when uploading and organizing photos. If nothing else, there’s a sense of familiarity and fondness for them.

Song of the Week:
Dancing on Thin Ice - Shock Stars

Day 53 - Mano

Day 53 - October 23rd 2007
Location: Granada, Spain
Setting: Hotel Lobby

1. Preferred nickname?
Mano, Emanuela
2. Birthplace?
San Margherita, Italy (NOTE: I can’t read my handwriting, so the town name could be wrong)
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
I was growing up with my grandmother so not many toys. I played with kids. And bear named Andrea from Swtizerland
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
I was in Italy and I was on the beach.
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
I always say, my motto, ‘Always the true’
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Depend where I am... In nature. Could be sea side, on the mountain, everywhere!
8. Song of the week?
I think it’s not a real song, its flamenco music. .Not one special, should be a song.
9. Do you know any racist jokes?

10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Uhh... oof. The book is Indian author in America... Vishnu death (I then promised to look it up and have since found out it is The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri)
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
Oh I think Oprah

Day 52 - Keith

Day 52 - October 22nd 2007
Location: Gibraltar
Setting: View Point

1. Preferred nickname?
I don’t have one. Keith.
2. Birthplace?
Liverpool
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
Oh. Dear me. Uhhh. My bike I think.
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
I was at work. But I was at Liverpool Airport actually.
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Just be honest
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Riding a bike. Sorry, I meant with my wife!
8. Song of the week?
Um yeah I like that new Amy Winehouse, Valerie

10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Bourne Ultimatum
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
Oh Oprah. Well the big Oprah.

Day 51 - Norma

*

Day 51 - October 21st 2007
Location: Hotel Lobby
Setting: Torremolinos, Spain

1. Preferred nickname?
Mom or Norma
2. Birthplace?
Buffalo, NY
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
Roller skates
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
I was in my bedroom preparing for a ladies guild meeting, Catholic group. Heard it on TV.
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Believe in God.
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
I used to love Tennis
8. Song of the week?
La Vie En Rose
9. Do you know any racist jokes?
No
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Two thirty two uma
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
I like Oprah

*The post I wrote regarding the problem encountered during the interview can be found HERE
Trying something rather different with the processing on this one, but I hope you like it. I might go back later and reprocess.

Day 50 - Ignacio

Day 50 - October 20th 2007
Location: Sevilla, Spain
Setting: Hotel Lobby

1. Preferred nickname?
Ignacio
2. Birthplace?
Argentina
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
My ball
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
In the beach
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
I don’t know, relax
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Painting! Rowing! Listening to music
8. Song of the week?
Crazy Mama
9. Do you know any racist jokes?
No. I don’t know any jokes
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Any one of Agatha Christie
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
I don’t know anyone

Day 49 - Gordy

Day 49 - October 19th 2007
Location: Selema, Portugal
Setting: Breakfast room of Amaré

1. Preferred nickname?
Gordy, it’s becoming gord
2. Birthplace?
Glasgow, Scotland
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper one’s be nicer
4. Favorite childhood toy?
Racing car
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
Actually I was in Niagra Falls, Canada
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Be Happy
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Well we’ve got young ladies among us, we’ll say walking
8. Song of the week?
Song of the week? Can’t think of one actually. Give me Sunshine
9. Do you know any racist jokes?
I never remember any jokes. I’ve heard em.
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
I quite liked Bable
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
Oh Oprah Probably.

Day 48 - Papu Sako

Day 48 - October 18th 2007
Location: Selema, Portugal
Setting: A Seaside Restaurant

1. Preferred nickname?
Papu Sako
2. Birthplace?
Selema
3. Paper or plastic?
Plastic, we don’t use paper here
4. Favorite childhood toy?
As a child I had no money to buy toys. Football and such.
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
Here. I saw direct on TV second crash.
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Eat fish, is very healthy
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
When I have nothing to do, I go siesta
8. Song of the week?
Brazilian song from Martillo de Villa, piano player Nelson Freire
9. Do you know any racist jokes?
Many..
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
Equador, from Portugese writer
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
I don’t know any one of them. I don’t watch much TV.

Day 47 - Ekury

Day 47 - October 17th 2007
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Setting: House party

1. Preferred nickname?
Ekury
2. Birthplace?
Porbandar, India
3. Paper or plastic?
Paper
4. Favorite childhood toy?
Childhood blanket
5. Where were you on 9 -11?
At home I guess
6. Best piece of advice you could give?
Live today.
7. Favorite way to spend an afternoon?
Going for a walk
8. Song of the week?
Bhulai from the film of the same title
9. Do you know any racist jokes?
Unfortunately I do. What do you call a black guy with pimples? Ferrer Roche
10. Latest book or movie you’d recommend to a friend?
I just loved this one book I’ve read, Chicken Soup for the Soul
11. Who wins in a caged battle-to-the-death match: Rosie O’Donnell or Oprah?
Oprah