Mapping Excercise

I mapped the density of people at the Plaza of the Americas during Krishna Lunch time. After seven years attending Krishna Lunch daily, it is interesting to me how the location of the Krishna Lunch Parlor shapes the distribution of people in the plaza. The distribution have changed as they have changed their location throughout the years (i.e., three main locations in the last seven years); and changes when it is cloudy, and they change their location to protect their food in case of rain.

The Touch-Greeting Map helped me realize how people are not as used as they used to be to being greeted by strangers. It is interesting also how this particular map correlates with the density of people around: a higher density of people on a given path will make you change direction first, while a lower density of people on a given path will make you change direction later. In the end, this map maps that, the amount of people that crosses your path. Some people walk away from any kind of interaction with strangers. Fortunately, you always find people whose moods change positively after being greeted by a complete stranger. I have always believed in exchanging smiles as a way of sharing happiness.