Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?
The classmate I chose was Cindi Schuler. For My California the authors were: Dumas, Major, Chabon, and Goldmark.
What is something this classmate said about the choice that relates to any of the assignments in projects 2-3?
Cindi writes about Dana Goia, who is one of the authors in My California. He is a writer and poet who was born in Los Angeles, but now resides in Santa Rosa. In 2002 he was asked by President Bush to participate in the National Endowment for the Arts.
What is something different this classmate said about their choice that you did not realize before when you completed projects 2-3?
I didn't realize that the Oakland museum was the only museum that offers art, history and natural science in California. The museum opened in 1969 and it holds a great deal of educational programs for kids.
How has project 2-3 helped you with the readings of the textbook?
I got to learn more about the cities surrounding me. Most of the cities or museums we take for granted, but they hold great significance. The projects brought a greater understanding.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
5B-Reflections
REFLECTIONChoose any 1 classmate of project 4 that wrote about an entirely different set of authors anduse the following format in a blog post.
1. Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?
The classmate I chose was Lucia Dobrawa. For My California she was group #1 which included the authors: Arax, Liu, Parker, and Mackey.
2. What is something this classmate said about the choice that relates to any of the assignments in projects 2-3?
In project 3C, she wrote about Napa Valley being the home of endangered plants. It's unfortunate, but also amazing that we are able to have those plants near us. Napa and Sacramento are similar because both places use the river as an important food source and transportation. She also wrote about the Museum of Photographic Art (MOPA). Many of the cultures are united in one museum representing people from many places of the world.
3. What is something different this classmate said about their choice that you did not realize before when you completed projects 2-3?
I didn't know that the Museum of Photographic Art existed. I want to go visit because I also like photography. About surfing, I learned that many Polynesian cultures regard experted surfers as superior.
4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?
I always thought surfing was fascinating, but I didn't realize how much culture it involved. Surfing has influenced many cultures including ours. Some people have a negative perception of surfing and what a surfing lifestyle is like. Somethings may not seem that important to some people or as significant, but to many people it's what their lives revolve around.
5. How has project 2-3 helped you with the readings of the textbook?
Projects 2 and 3 helped me learn about some of the areas that were being read in the book. Also, by researching California, I was able to appreciate some of the things I haven't before.
1. Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?
The classmate I chose was Lucia Dobrawa. For My California she was group #1 which included the authors: Arax, Liu, Parker, and Mackey.
2. What is something this classmate said about the choice that relates to any of the assignments in projects 2-3?
In project 3C, she wrote about Napa Valley being the home of endangered plants. It's unfortunate, but also amazing that we are able to have those plants near us. Napa and Sacramento are similar because both places use the river as an important food source and transportation. She also wrote about the Museum of Photographic Art (MOPA). Many of the cultures are united in one museum representing people from many places of the world.
3. What is something different this classmate said about their choice that you did not realize before when you completed projects 2-3?
I didn't know that the Museum of Photographic Art existed. I want to go visit because I also like photography. About surfing, I learned that many Polynesian cultures regard experted surfers as superior.
4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?
I always thought surfing was fascinating, but I didn't realize how much culture it involved. Surfing has influenced many cultures including ours. Some people have a negative perception of surfing and what a surfing lifestyle is like. Somethings may not seem that important to some people or as significant, but to many people it's what their lives revolve around.
5. How has project 2-3 helped you with the readings of the textbook?
Projects 2 and 3 helped me learn about some of the areas that were being read in the book. Also, by researching California, I was able to appreciate some of the things I haven't before.
5A Group #2
"An Ordinary Place" by D.J. Waldie2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
In his story, Waldie, talks about the small town where he grew up in, Lakewood in Los Angeles County. His parents moved there after World War II. This was the typical suburban area. The people living in these neighborhoods had to settle for just enough and never being excessively wealthy, which was what made Lakewood unique in Waldie's eyes. Waldie explains that it was humbling growing up and living in Lakewood. There were photographs taken of Lakewood that didn't represent them in the best ways. Even though the author loves where he grew, many outsiders misjudge Lakewood. Waldie continues to live in the same home that his parents bought in Lakewood in 1946.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent
"I don't live in a tear-down neighborhood, but one that makes some effort to build itself up." (p.149)
"Except you can't see the intersection of character and place from an altitude of five hundred feetm and Garnett never came back to experience everyday life on the ground." (p. 151)
4. What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
I liked the fact that Waldie loved growing up where he did. The story reminded me of my dad. My father and his family were poor growing, but he loves the life he grew up in. He grew in Veracruz, Mexico out on a ranch. My dad and his siblings recall the memories of growing up in Veracruz with fondness. They didn't grow up with luxuries, but growing up were they lived was very humbling and shaped their characters. This story made me think of my dad because they both love were they grew up and take pride in their homes, even though the circumstances were very different.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
With some of the other stories, I didn't know a certain town or city existed and it's nice to learn about the places these authors grew up in. Although the authors and I live in different cities and regions of California, we all share the same love of pride for California.
"Almost Home" by Gerald Haslam
2. The story is about where Haslam grew up, in Oildale located in Central Valley. His family first began living there when his great-great grandparents migrated f
rom Mexico in the 1850's. Oildale used to be pretty green, meaning more trees and animals. Haslam used to go play in an area he called "Tarzan's House." This town soon became and developed more as an oil refinery, and destroyed most of the little nature Oildale had. Haslam, no longer lives in Oildale, but visits with his wife, to recall the memories they had growing up. It's not quite as he remembers as a child.
rom Mexico in the 1850's. Oildale used to be pretty green, meaning more trees and animals. Haslam used to go play in an area he called "Tarzan's House." This town soon became and developed more as an oil refinery, and destroyed most of the little nature Oildale had. Haslam, no longer lives in Oildale, but visits with his wife, to recall the memories they had growing up. It's not quite as he remembers as a child. 3. "On those vistits too, we especially love to sit on a pal's porch, watch doves drinking in the gutter and view orange-and-blue sunsets spectacular as the northern lights. We know that air pollution creates those colors, but in Oildale everything is bittersweet." (p.156)
4. Once again it made me think of my dad. There was a part where Haslam tries to tell his kids about where he grew up. My dad always likes telling me and my little brother about his childhood and when we go back to the actual location, he tells us every detail he recalls. The orange/blue sunsets reminds me of what we were recently seeing here in Sonoma County and even Marin County, during the wild fires.
5. I didn't know that the Native Americans living in the Central Valley region where the Yokuts. I also didn't know that in that same region there were pronghorns, grizzlies, and elk.
"My Little Saigon" by Anh Do
2.The author, Do, tells about the city of Little Saigon in Orange County. This city
emerged in the 1970's when a Vietnamese refugee opened the first business there. Her father started the first Vietnamese language paper in the United States in Little Saigon. The story is about Little Saigon and how much its like being in Vietnam for most people. Her family helped out other Vietnamese families, who had just arrived from Vietnam. Little Saigon, now has thousands of Vietnamese owned busineess. Their tradition and culture is still very present.
emerged in the 1970's when a Vietnamese refugee opened the first business there. Her father started the first Vietnamese language paper in the United States in Little Saigon. The story is about Little Saigon and how much its like being in Vietnam for most people. Her family helped out other Vietnamese families, who had just arrived from Vietnam. Little Saigon, now has thousands of Vietnamese owned busineess. Their tradition and culture is still very present.3. "And it's possible to exist here like we existed in Vietnam, without speaking a word of English." (p. 162)
"Tradition survives. But it's a delicate balance." (p. 162)
4. In a way in made me think of my culture. Our parents, and the people before that struggle to maintain their identities and cultures alive. From my point a view, Do's father started a newspaper, to make the Vietnamese people feel more comfortable in the United States, without losing their own culture. Many of the people who come from other countries try to maintain true to their heritage and roots and to pass down that pride an culture to their children and future generations.
5. I had no idea that the first Vietnamese language newspaper in the entire United States was started in California. I didn't know that the newspaper is still running in Little Saigon.
"The Nicest Person in San Francisco" by Derek M. Powazek
2. This story is about Powazek as a high school kid visiting San Francisco for the first time. He can with his dad because he ahd a business meeting and Powazek to see UC Berkeley. Well, Powazek's dad gives him the car keys to visit UC Berkeley and told him not to visit San Francisco. Powazek did visit UC Berkeley, but he also visited San Francisco. He got into a mess while visiting San Francisco, but his dad never realized it because he got to the hotel room right before his dad did.
3. "There's this moment when you pop out of the Treasure Island Tunnel and the city just explodes into view. The bridge towers jet up and bang! You can see the whole place all at once: the skyscrapers in the financial district, Coit Tower, all of it." (p. 167)
4. It made me think of me driving in San Francisco. I know the city pretty well, but when you are driving it's a whole different story. I absolutely love San Francisco, but I hate driving there. I can only imagine how Powazek might of felt driving in a city like San Francisco and not knowing anything about it. It also made me think the first time I actually went on Treasure Island, not just driven through it. I really like being there. The quote above is a perfect explanation.
5. Although it was an amazing story, and I enjoyed it a whole lot. I really didn't learn anything, except what Derek Powazek experienced.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
4B- Reflections
For a reflection on "World Cities" I decided to take a look at Lauren's blog.
http://lauren4211985.blogspot.com/2008/07/3a-world-cities.html
As a world city she picked Berkeley, which I was surprised, but I found that it's very well-known. It's known for it's academics, and for it's high activity in politics. From classes, I have learned that Berkeley, has been an extremely political city in the United States. The other city was petaluma and I learned that it's one of the oldest cities in California.
I decided to take a look at "Beaches" in Lauren's blog as well.
http://lauren4211985.blogspot.com/2008/07/3b-beaches.html
Her choices were Pismo Beach and Pacific Beach. Pismo and Pacific beach are both touristic beaches, but there are communities residing in both. Lauren believes that a person's connection to nature, is a huge part of any culture and I agree. Different cultures have a stronger connection and a greater respect for nature. Many of us express our connection to nature in different ways.
http://lauren4211985.blogspot.com/2008/07/3a-world-cities.html
As a world city she picked Berkeley, which I was surprised, but I found that it's very well-known. It's known for it's academics, and for it's high activity in politics. From classes, I have learned that Berkeley, has been an extremely political city in the United States. The other city was petaluma and I learned that it's one of the oldest cities in California.
I decided to take a look at "Beaches" in Lauren's blog as well.
http://lauren4211985.blogspot.com/2008/07/3b-beaches.html
Her choices were Pismo Beach and Pacific Beach. Pismo and Pacific beach are both touristic beaches, but there are communities residing in both. Lauren believes that a person's connection to nature, is a huge part of any culture and I agree. Different cultures have a stronger connection and a greater respect for nature. Many of us express our connection to nature in different ways.
4A Group #2
"Ode to Caltrans" by Hector Tobar
2. Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph; be specific in your summary. Remember that your classmates will rely on you for this information. 2 percent
The author, Hector Tobar, tells the story of the significance the highways and caltrans played in his life. He talks about the various memories he experienced on several Los Angeles area highways, from his wife giving birth to his stepfather's suicide. He vividly recalls all his sights and the thoughts that were running through his mind at the time. Tobar also acknowledges how the highways have changed, but his memories still remain.
3. Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph (include entire quote; use quote marks and page number)? 1 percent4.
"The freeway was a canyon of sound, something between wind and rushing water, as if the lanes were rapids filled with canoes that occasionally blasted a horn or screeched brakes." (p. 56)
Tobar puts significance into things many of us take for granted.
What did the reading make you think of? (be specific eg "There is a bridge in SF that spans 4 miles from SF to Oakland and in the middle of the bridge it crosses an island called Treasure Island. This story makes me think of that specific little island where I can see the entire city and bay area. That city was also in the news recently where .... ) .75 percent
The freeways and highways are something we take for granted, but we use them just about daily and that's how we get to the place we need to go. Living in Marin all my life, I know and these roads, and freeways and the story made me think about when I use to go visit family or go to beach. The memory that first came to mind, was the first I was going to Disneyland, and we were driving; I was so anxious to get there. We first arrived to Los Angeles, since I have family there, and I was amazed. There were so many people, and much more was going on than in Marin.
5. What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know (again, be specific using concrete examples)? 1 percent
I didn't know that when a roadway worker died, a Caltrans helmet was placed on the side of the freeway in their honor. From the reading too many of the workers were dying, so they stopped placing the helmets.
1. "Montalvo, Myths, and Dreams of Home" by Thomas Steinbeck
2. Steinbeck begins by giving a history of how California came to be named. The name came from a book written by Garcia Rodrigues de Montalvo. In his story was a lively description of a utopian island in which he named California. The Spaniards named both Baja and Alta California. He tells about the myth of California and then he begins to tell his own. He grew in Big Sur, which he loved and felt completely at peace. Steinbeck explores and defines the beauty of Californ
ia.3. "If it can truly be said that one's spirit may be stimulated to accept the sublime by one locationas opposed to another, then for me that place exists high on the crests an along the rugged cliffs of The Big Sur." (p. 67)
4. I absolutely LOVE California. This book made me think about how much I love California and all the beauty this one state contains. Steinbeck found peace being in the cliffs of Big Sur, and it made me think of where I felt at peace. I thought of China Camp, in San Rafael. That place is so peaceful and whether you want to hike, walk or ride your bike, it's just a great atmosphere to be in.
5. I knew the Spaniards had named California, but I never knew where the name came from. Now I know, it comes from a story that Montalvo wrote in the 1500's. He described California as a paradise, and that's probably what the Spaniards thought when they saw California.
1. "The Last Little Beach Town" by Edward Humes
2. Seal Beach is a small town, where people know eachother and big companies don't own most of the streets. Humes describes how comforting it is to live in a place where you can trust the people that live in your same town. He also talks about how he came acroos Seal Beach. Humes is from the East Coast and came out to California for job; he didn't discover Seal Beach until later. Once he knew about Seal Beach he was "hooked." He writes about how much he enjoys living in Seal Beach.
3. "Except for sunny summer weekends, the beach is so wide it is possible to be lonely here, to feel small, to not hear the Nokia song chiming in someones pocket." (p.74)
4. My first thought went to Monterrey, California. I visited the Monterrey Bay Aquarium when I was nine, and I returned 2 months ago, just to visit. Monterrey is more touristical than Seal Beach, but it's still pretty small. It was nice being so close to the beach and just learning about the history of Monterrey. I would've loved to grow up near the beach because the ocean is truly amazing.
5. I didn't know Seal Beach existed. Humes makes it sound so incredible, that I want to take a drive down there.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
3C- Inland Areas: Napa Valley and Sacramento
Napa Valley and Sacramento are two cities that helped shaped the culture and image of California. Napa Valley has made California known for its incredible wines and vineyards, while Sacramento is our State capital and the laws that pass by affect our daily lives.
Watch a clip on Napa Valley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooGzDVfJt3w
What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
Napa Valley is where California wines come from and I heard some of Napa Valley's wines are internationally known. Sacramento is were former actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger holds office as governor.
List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point
- Both cities attract not only local people, but tourists from other states.
- These two cities developed rapidly after the gold rush.
- Rivers located near the two cities were and continue to be important for the cities.
List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point
- Napa Valley has made a name for itself internationally because of its wine, while Sacramento is mostly well-known by Americans.
- Sacramento is the state capital and California's Capitol building is there.
- Napa remains rural, but Sacramento is rapidly growing.
Denya's Blog http://dbeaudryhuman7.blogspot.co m/2008/07/week-3-project-3c-inland-areas.htmlI learned that Porterville is home to California's oldest high school band. She's actually from there. That's a city I have never heard of and it's an assumption she said most people make. Obviously our experiences are very different because she grew up there and I don't know anything about that town, but now I know at least a bit.
Links:
http://www.cityofsacramento.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California
http://www.napavalley.com/
http://www.napavalley.org/
3B-Beaches: Stinson Beach and Malibu Beach
Beaches can have a huge impact on cities. Many cities get their tourism from beaches, some cities have their lifestyles defined by beaches. It's important to know and understand what roles beaches play in their nearby cities. What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
Northern California beaches are known for having cold water. Stinson beach is particularly cold. Malibu beach attracts many people because of the warm weather.
List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point
Malibu Beach and Stinson Beach have more differences than similarities. The only two similarities I could find were that they are both (obviously) in California and people enjoy going to both. These two beaches are completely different.
List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point
- The weather!! Where Malibu Beach is located the weather tends to be more favorable than Stinson Beach.
- Malibu Beach is much more popular than Stinson Beach. Stinson attracts mostly locals.
- Malibu beach has previously been used in films.
Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point
Mikes Blog:
Growing up, Mikes favorite pass time was visiting the beach. He often visited Stinson Beach. I also went to Stinson Beach growing up and enjoyed, sometimes I ended up going to Point Reyes, which I love. I don't visit the beach as much as I'd like, but growing up my family always went during the summer and it was a lot of fun.
Links:
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