I guess I would be remiss if I too, like others, did not discuss where I grew up and the context of how I came about to the city. I am from a smaller rural college town called Northampton in Western Massachusetts. Growing up in the Pioneer Valley area, it would be difficult to overlook the immediate connection nature; whether it is through the Connecticut River winding through the landscape or the collection of small mountain ranges in the area, my process of wayfinding has always been dictated by natural paths and landmarks, including architectural elements, marking waypoints upon which to travel to.
Now, Boston is a completely different built environment, but I believe my approach to orienting myself is not all that different from back home, simply just adapted. I feel as though navigating the urban fabric of Boston is a conversation between the way architecture begins to shape the landscape and the signage that begins to direct us. A lot of times, I find that most people are not even aware of how perceptive they are of the surrounding language of signs. Rather, these common symbols are just understood and followed willingly to, from, and around architectural elements because signage becomes somewhat instinctual, although I would say navigating Boston is just as much an exploratory journey as what I have experienced time and time again back home.
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