24. Noise

1. Do you mind noises?

Do any noises bother you?

Do you mind noises?

I would say I'm pretty tolerant to noises when I'm not asleep as I've learned to cut out the unwanted ones. But when I am about to fall asleep, I become very sensitive to any kind of noise, and nearly anything can make me irritated. Sometimes I toss and turn throughout the night just because I hear the muffled sound of slammed doors in the flat next door.

Do any noises bother you?

There's no worse noise than scraping chalk on a blackboard. You know, many cafes still use such boards as an advertising medium. When I see them, I can't help imagining the way this information was written down. And even the thought of it makes me feel sick.

2. Do you think there’s too much noise in today’s world?

Yeah, the level of noise is getting higher and higher. In fact, it is so high that it is now regarded a type of environmental pollution. This is because nowadays cities are more crowded than in the past, which means that there's much more traffic on roads. There are more people talking everywhere. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention air conditioning equipment which is one of the biggest parts of all ambient noise in today's cities.

3. What type of noise do you come across in your daily life?

We are surrounded by different sounds both indoors and outdoors. My typical day starts with the sound of boiling water as I can't imagine my morning without a cup of coffee. Every single day I'm accompanied by roaring engines, slammed doors, mouse clicking and constantly ringing phones.

4. Are there any sounds that you like?

Oh yeah! Splashing waves and screams of sea-gulls sound like music to me. I also enjoy the sound of rain when I'm inside and don't have to go anywhere. And I can't help mentioning the train tracks clanking in a constant pattern. This sound makes me fall asleep as soon as the train leaves.

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