Bắc Linh Đàm

            We travelled by motorbike to our mapping destination and the view was surprisingly strange in comparison to the city life.  Bắc Linh Đàm lies on the outskirt of the city life so for quite some time we passed through rice fields then into an area with heavy construction.  Dirt, dust, and debris cloud up the vision from a distance ahead and then appear from the pollution were new tall buildings, gated park area fill with green trees, visible sidewalk, and empty streets.  There are no street vendors selling their goods along the walkway, no running children, no tourists group browsing the area, no traffic problems, no xe om waiting in every corner of the street, no dog meat stand, and no people period.  The area was very spacious, clean, and really nice in comparison to our visit to a traditional area.  There were few if any trash around the streets and everything looks newly built.  

            Although its appearance seems clean and neat; however, I feel disconnected to the entire area because there was a lack of human interactions between people that I witness and participate everyday walking down Đường Nguyễn Trãi.   The major difference that I notice from being in the space is the big distance from residential area to the market place.  Everything was pretty much spread out and a motorbike is essential to travel around the area.   There wasn’t anyone walking the street like the traditional area where there weren’t much space to drive around.  For this very reason, our team experience is purely through driving around in the province rather than walking around.  We found most of the places we needed to map within the same area which is away from residential housing and the village within Bac Linh Dam provide the fresh vegetables and pork meat.  Funny enough, I felt more normal riding the motorbike into the village area which is a more traditional space.  Another observation I notice is the river surrounding the area creates a fortress and separation from the modern space from traditional area.  One can distinctively note the lower class space across the heavily polluted river and the nicely built homes with a clean gated lake area with benches.   The gate and river symbolizes the separation between the class struggle and contrast the quality of living condition depending on which streets one lives on. 

I find it really interesting that the path going to the Bắc Linh Đàm reveals the change from rice patties to construction zone and into a modern suburb.  The change is drastic and unimaginable how Vietnam would transform itself in the next 10 years.  Would all the rice fields become giant residential area with man-made nature surrounded by gates?  Will ‘development’ cause more deterioration nature’s beauty and the traditional lifestyle? I guess we will have to see in our near future…

Now the question comes down to whether I would want to live in this area and the answer would probably be yes. Why?  As much as I think the space allows more privatization of public space and limits the communal space for everyone, it attracts me to a place where it is away from the city life madness and pollution.  I would want to live in this area because it seem safe, secure, peaceful, and clean.  I would prefer to live here only in my late-20's when I have a stable career because after a long day of work, i would enjoy going home to place of quietness and away from the loud atmosphere.  It is close enough to the city and convenient store if I travel by motorbike. I also like its location around a clean lake and park area so I would probably enjoy exercising/jogging after work or on the weekend. Life would be pretty neat! :) 

Stepping into a different space: Ho Linh Quang

            Narrow. Enclosed walls.  Shady.  Small.  Unfamiliar. Strange.  Intimidated. Confused. These are among the few words to describe my initial experience and feelings walking in the neighborhood of Ho Linh Quang.  Prior to entering the village around Ho Linh Quang, we were warned by locals that it is windy path and to guard our belonging carefully.  I suppose there are a lot of robbery and crime in the area so they just warned out which heighten my alertness about my surroundings.  Luckily, we encounter with an elderly woman who was nice enough to lead us to the market area where we would start our mapping project.  As we approach closer into the market place, the streets becomes smaller and smaller until no cars can pass and only motorbikes, bicycles, and pedestrians can go through.   There were no longer streets but it became narrow alleys.  I felt as though I was walking through a maze with many turns and no exit!  I was very nervous walking around this unfamiliar strange place where no street vendors are visible.  However these feeling subsides when we actually entire the market place around the lake. 

            Entering the new space where street vendors sell their goods has never felt so comforting to me when I finally got to the market place.  The transition space between the isolation from people while we walk through the village into a more populated area made me felt at ease.  It was definitely a relief to see a lively and busy place where one can find anything along the street.  By mapping out the locations designated on our assignment, I realize how close and convenient everything is around the village.  Those who live around the area do not have to walk or travel very far to get all their daily necessity.  Life is sustainable in a nutshell within this small urban village.  The area was more traditional than modern because all the vendors are small and it is within their private home as well.  The people around the village were very friendly and nice when we asked for help and directions.   I really enjoyed exploring new areas around the village and finding the essential needs all within walking distance.  The area was very compact and crowded with young kids playing the park and elders playing badmintons. To sum it up in a few words after walking around Ho Long Quang:  lively, friendly, and compact.  Would I live there? I think I would enjoy growing up or retiring in a small neighborhood similar to Linh Quang village because everything is so convenient and easy to travel around.   However I would not want to live there when I’m in my adult years because it is way too narrow and I would love more space as well as quietness.

Gig: Occupation -- Porn Star

The title says it all: Occupation -- Porn Star.
      After reading numerous accounts of occupation experiences, the one that stands out most to me is the porn star Brad Armstrong interview. It was so interesting to read his experience because I would never think to record a porn star as a occupation or would talk to one. In the constructed community, a porn star is not often mention as an ideal career path that children growing up tell their parents. Therefore, anyone doing this type of job are often ashame of it and would not openly discuss their job to the public.  Brad Armstrong or Rod Hopkins, his real name, provides a different light to the industry and how intense and serious he takes his job as a adult performer.  He described how rigorous it was to be a porn star and the amount of body control one needs to become real good porn star.  I did not realize the amount of time dedication and focus adult performers had to endure! It fathoms me so much and the seriousness of acting in the midst of just "doing it" with someone.  Rod is very proud of his career choice and he saw it as helping other feel good about themselves which surprises me because I honestly never looked at it that way.  I just really brings a new view into perspective on how people perceive their career can help others and not be ashame of being an adult performer.  I enjoy reading his experience and will definitely see porn stars in a different light.
        I feel that we often condemns particular jobs as meaningless and absurd because we are told by our family, friends, neighbors, strangers, and society as a whole.  The general society has great influence on our career path and choices.  It places the validity of jobs in terms of our paycheck and the power we obtain from it.  In this scenario, I think we forget it's not only the job that makes us happy but the meaning we find in our everyday job.  From Rod's experience, I learned a lot jobs that we think are petty and insignificant can make a huge impact in the structure of society.  Furthermore, I gain a new respect to professional adult performers. 

From the beginning...

            My name is Katie. Born in Saigon, Vietnam on December 3, 1988. I lived in Vietnam for the first 6 years of my life and remember a lot of things before I went to the States. I have four older siblings -- 2 older brothers follow with my 2 older sisters; thus, I am the baby in the family.  I am an active kid at a young age and I kept that energy up until now but probably not to the same intensity.  I loved being out and running around the neighborhood with my friends.  I only come home when the sun sets or when my parents told me to go home. When I went to high school, I played basketball, volleyball, and softball.  I love team sports and enjoy the competition that it brings out of me. From playing competitive sports, I learn about dedication, passion, and heart which I find it essential in my everyday life as well as for higher education. The interesting thing about going to high school for me was that I had to go to an entire different school from the rest of my friends that I know from elementary as well as junior high.  I was faced with new faces and new environment.  However, I believe that from experiencing being the newcomer into a new space without knowing anyone helped me establish a sense of independence.  At the age of 16, when I can legally work, I started working at a local movie theater and learned the value of a dollar from labor. Working part-time does not allow me to spend frantically on my wants but simply on my essential needs and I felt myself growing as a young adult.  Senior year of high school came rather quickly and I had to decide which college best suits for me, I wanted to be on my own and get away from the small bubble of predominantly asian community that I have lived around all my life. I wanted a new perspective and experience being an independent adult in college. In the end, I selected UC Santa Barbara. I love it there and enjoy the beautiful beach, weather, and lively student life. My college experience by far has been amazing; however, I wanted more from just being a college students and wanted to see changes not from small community of students but on a larger scale.  It felt like I was living in another bubble, a student community bubble, a bubble that does not seem to see father down the road than a year or two from now.
             From ambitious friends to classmates who has challenge themselves to study abroad, I was drawn to the idea of putting myself into a foreign place where I can grow and learn extensively from the local and other students.  I signed up to study abroad in Vietnam from many reasons:
1)  I'm studying global studies and my focus is southeast asia. I need some require classes from the region.  2)  I have not gone back to Vietnam since I left it.
3)  I feel the need to learn and lived in the culture and lifestyle that I was born into. I need to learn my roots.
4)  I want to help the people in Vietnam and leave a impact in Vietnam whether it is small or large.
5) I love traveling but never had the chance to do so for some reasons.
6) I enjoying being a foreign new place that forces me to adapt and learn about myself as an adult and scholar.
There are many more reasons why but these are the primary reasons for my desire to study abroad. What I hope from studying abroad is to absorb, record, learn, and share my experience with those students in the States to encourage them to study abroad in Vietnam.  Another reason is to enjoy and witness the changes in Vietnam in front my eyes. I think the method of higher education is very relevant to the growth and development of the Vietnamese rich culture.  I hope to take on a different view on their political, social, and global perspective on the ideas of Westernization and globalization that's spreading  like wild fire.  It fascinates me that in such a short amount of time, the changes that takes place in the city and how modernization reconstruct a sense of community.   I have a open mind to what I can do and what I can learn from the locals; therefore, I think my expectation is fluid and easily change from day to day. I definitely want to an impact and share my knowledge with others.