Date Collected
Fall 11-30-2018
Place item was collected
Logan, Utah
Informant
Shanna Holt
Point of Discovery/Informant Bio
Shanna Holt is from South Jordan Utah. She learned how to make a paper airplane from her aunt when she was young, stating that she was “very crafty”. She has recently taught her brother how to make a paper airplane and likes to do crafty things. She is a graduate student from Utah State and is looking for a job in South Jordan. Shanna works at a call center with the interviewer where this is taken place.
Context
Shanna learned how to make paper airplanes from her aunt. She liked spending time with her and she seemed fun with lots of different crafts. She has since been able to teach others these skills, including her brother. Shanna and the interviewer work at a call center and after they clocked off of work they stayed longer to make paper airplanes.
Text
Shanna used a piece of graph paper that is 11 x 8.5in. (see attached picture).
Texture
Shanna started by looking around to make sure no one was looking, seeing that we were at work. She started by folding it in half and then joining the two sides in the middle, making a triangle. She then folded it hamburger way a few times to make complicated square. She said this is a “fancy plane” because she uses folds others don’t normally do. She spoke very calmly and not very loud, as to not disturb others around. Knowing her for a few months, she is usually pretty calm and collected, not drawing much attention to herself. She laughed a lot and smiled when she was making the airplane. The finishing touch of the making of her airplane, was ripping the top making a fin so it could fly better. When finished she said “wa lah!” but then looked around to see if anyone saw. I told her to fly it and she threw it at the wall, but when it went straight up and then straight to the ground, she laughed, looked around, and picked up. After laughing she crouched to the ground behind the cubicle walls and threw it at the wall again, being a little straighter after she refolded a fold. After collecting the airplane again she laughed and sat back down at her cubicle.
Course
ENGL 2210
Instructor
Dr. Lynne S. McNiell
Semester and year
Fall 2018
Theme
G8: Toys
EAD Number
5.9.2
Recommended Citation
Smith, Courtney, "Late Night Worker" (2018). USU Student Folklore Fieldwork. Paper 290.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/student_folklore_all/290