1. Cindi Shuler, component a, "My California": Dumas, Major, Chabon and Goldmark.
2. Cindi expanded a lot on "Berkeley," by Chabon. She went into detail about how unique Berkeley is and that was how I felt about all the places I researched for projects 2-3. Each city has its own unique culture, with many subcultures created within.
3. Something Cindi said that about Berkeley that caught my attention was how different it was from neighborhood cities. It made me think about how crossing a simple city line can completely change everything.
4. Cindi's work helped me to look "outside the box." Instead of just taking into consideration Berkeley's characteristics, I was also able to put it into perspective by thinking about what the life surrounding Berkeley entails.
5. I feel like this project helped to understand projects 2-3 more than projects 2-3 helped me understand this project. Looking at classmates' responses to the readings has helped me have an even more open mind.
Friday, July 18, 2008
5b: Reflections
1. Lizabeth Magana, component a, "My California": Tobar, Steinbeck and Humes.
2. Magana's description of Tobar's essay regarding his experiences with highways and caltrans related to the assignments in projects 2-3 because they are what connects all the cities we have been learning about this semester.
3. Something I did not realize before reading Lizabeth's blog was that I did not even take into consideration the cultural experiences that take place on highways that connect us to all these cultural cities. Some of my favorite memories of trips I have been on took place on the highway on the way there. I think it is easy for people to get caught up on their destination and forget that the journey there is all part of the experience.
4. In regard to Freire's ideas on dialogue, I see his point of view now on the importance of learning from each other. While I had my thoughts on the cities I had specifically read about, I also have a new view on the parts of the city that have less attention paid to them like highways. Overall, it expanded the way I think about a place as a whole.
5. Projects 2-3 helped me with the readings of the text because it helped me learn how to appreciate a city's culture for both shared personal experiences and factual information I found in my research.
2. Magana's description of Tobar's essay regarding his experiences with highways and caltrans related to the assignments in projects 2-3 because they are what connects all the cities we have been learning about this semester.
3. Something I did not realize before reading Lizabeth's blog was that I did not even take into consideration the cultural experiences that take place on highways that connect us to all these cultural cities. Some of my favorite memories of trips I have been on took place on the highway on the way there. I think it is easy for people to get caught up on their destination and forget that the journey there is all part of the experience.
4. In regard to Freire's ideas on dialogue, I see his point of view now on the importance of learning from each other. While I had my thoughts on the cities I had specifically read about, I also have a new view on the parts of the city that have less attention paid to them like highways. Overall, it expanded the way I think about a place as a whole.
5. Projects 2-3 helped me with the readings of the text because it helped me learn how to appreciate a city's culture for both shared personal experiences and factual information I found in my research.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
"909"
by Percival Everett
"909" is a story about Riverside County, or the Desert Hills known as "Badlands." It begins with a description of how it used to be: filled with orange groves, wheat fields, horse ranches and cattle ranches, but it is filled with tracts of affordable housing and jobs. Sitting in the space between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, "909" was described by Everett as the place in-between where people live and where they want to be.
My favorite sentence in "909" was as follows:
"Trying to fit in with the big boys by accommodating their oversized
posteriors" (122).
The reading made me think of how there are places like the Badlands everywhere. In particular, it made me think of Petaluma. I feel like Petaluma is the in-between place for San Francisco and Santa Rosa. To tie in the quote I chose, I also feel like sometimes Petaluma is trying to hard to accomodate to a higher class lifestyle. An example would be how a lot of expensive boutiques are popping up all over town.
Before reading "909" I did not even know of the Badlands. I also did not know that it used to be known for meth labs and prisons. I vacation with my family in Palm Springs every summer and I never would have guessed that a place so close to Palm Springs would be known for drugs and prisons.
"The Line"
by Ruben Martinez
"The Line" is a description of the border at Tijuana and the events that take place. At night a whole migrant culture surfaces. As Martinez stated, a mini-economy of vendors exploits prices on last-minute items needed. Booze, magazines, food, music and even prostitutes were all part of the nighttime celebrations. It was an adventure to say the least. Sexual encounters were a huge part of these nights, though Martinez expands toward the end on how the Tijuana border has changed over the years.
Here are my favorite sentences:
"At night, it is lit a harsh amber. The glow that falls from the gigantic light towers straddles the line for several hundred yards in each direction, meaning that the gringo light actually falls on Mexican territory-illegal light as it were, but the Mexican government has never complained about it, or, the constant noise pollution from the helicopters on patrol" (130).
The reading made me think about how much the American economy's ups and downs effects cultures all over the world. The culture of immigrants at the Tijuana border was drastically changed by the downfall of the American economy.
Something I did not know before reading "The Line" was what I stated before. I knew things had changed at the border, but not to the extent that Martinez described.
"Flirting With Urbanismo"
by Patt Morrison
Patt Morrison begins by explaining that most people have in fact seen downtown L.A even if they haven't been there. He claims that the majority of movies set in Chicago or New York have clearly been filmed in L.A. He goes on to describe a few buildings and objects of interest (i.e towers etc) that are in either New York and Chicago but have appeared for the sake the filming in L.A. Later, he changes tone and goes into detail about how versatile and different the streets of L.A really are: Skid Row is squalor, Spring St. is Spanish, and across Broadway you find a "Latin American mercantile fest" (p.134). In the middle of his essay, Morrison compares downtown to ranchos, which he claims are like suburbs. He also claims that downtowns are made by "demography, not geography", meaning, L.A is prestigious due to the fact that its immigrants were all middle class women and men with money and education, whereas everywhere else has foreign immigrants. The activities associated with this kind of downtown include: working, shopping, walking dogs while sipping coffee, and dining out. Towards the end, he explains how real estate has created the unwritten law that land is precious only when you can sell it; hence resulting in a serious lack of city parks. If people want parks, they create their own private park at home. He finishes his essay by describing a few places that do in fact bring him joy, such as Union Station, the garment district, and the Triforium.
My favorite part of the entire essay is the line where he says
"...downtown is part circus, part museum-everywhere, something worth
looking at" (p. 139).
This is my favorite because it's totally true. Each time I have visited L.A I have found some new building or museum or part of town to explore.
This essay makes me think of all the different places I have seen in L.A. It also makes me think that if you really look for them, you can find interesting and intellectual places outside of the "typical Hollywood lifestyle".
Something I learned that I didn't know before reading this is that even though L.A is considerately plastic, underneath it all downtown really does have a rich, interesting, and historical culture in the form of museums, old buildings, and culturally-specific parts of town.
"Waters of Tranquility"
by Carolyn See
The waters Carolyn See thought of as tranquil were the waters of Lake Shrine. Tucked away half a mile behing Sunset Boulevard and the beach, Lake Shrine was a place of many different experiences. Several religions, romantic moments, families, tourists and emotions took place at Lake Shrine. For Carolyn, the most significant part of Lake Shrine was the grieving she was able to accomplish over the loss of her love. She would do many laps, each ridding her of different feelings.
My favorite paragraph:
"Every day, I'd swing on over to the Lake Shrine, right on the brink of murdering one well-meaning relative or another, and make the first circle, swearing, muttering oaths and imprecations, sneering at whoever got in my way. By the second time around, I'd remembered why I was there, how I was losing the man I loved most in the world. I'd lean against trees and weep, sit on those benches and sob. The third time around, I'd hear myself asking for courage, steadfastness, compassion! The fourth time around, I could walk, and watch" (145).
The reading made me think of my own very fresh experience with losing someone I love. I truly enjoyed reading this because it was a reminder to me that all the emotions involved with death are normal. It made me want to find a place like Lake Shrine to release the wide array of emotions I have bottled up.
One thing I learned was that grieving, though the loss may be different, is very much the same. It was really comforting to be able to relate to this author.
by Percival Everett
"909" is a story about Riverside County, or the Desert Hills known as "Badlands." It begins with a description of how it used to be: filled with orange groves, wheat fields, horse ranches and cattle ranches, but it is filled with tracts of affordable housing and jobs. Sitting in the space between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, "909" was described by Everett as the place in-between where people live and where they want to be.
My favorite sentence in "909" was as follows:
"Trying to fit in with the big boys by accommodating their oversized
posteriors" (122).
The reading made me think of how there are places like the Badlands everywhere. In particular, it made me think of Petaluma. I feel like Petaluma is the in-between place for San Francisco and Santa Rosa. To tie in the quote I chose, I also feel like sometimes Petaluma is trying to hard to accomodate to a higher class lifestyle. An example would be how a lot of expensive boutiques are popping up all over town.
Before reading "909" I did not even know of the Badlands. I also did not know that it used to be known for meth labs and prisons. I vacation with my family in Palm Springs every summer and I never would have guessed that a place so close to Palm Springs would be known for drugs and prisons.
"The Line"
by Ruben Martinez
"The Line" is a description of the border at Tijuana and the events that take place. At night a whole migrant culture surfaces. As Martinez stated, a mini-economy of vendors exploits prices on last-minute items needed. Booze, magazines, food, music and even prostitutes were all part of the nighttime celebrations. It was an adventure to say the least. Sexual encounters were a huge part of these nights, though Martinez expands toward the end on how the Tijuana border has changed over the years.
Here are my favorite sentences:
"At night, it is lit a harsh amber. The glow that falls from the gigantic light towers straddles the line for several hundred yards in each direction, meaning that the gringo light actually falls on Mexican territory-illegal light as it were, but the Mexican government has never complained about it, or, the constant noise pollution from the helicopters on patrol" (130).
The reading made me think about how much the American economy's ups and downs effects cultures all over the world. The culture of immigrants at the Tijuana border was drastically changed by the downfall of the American economy.
Something I did not know before reading "The Line" was what I stated before. I knew things had changed at the border, but not to the extent that Martinez described.
"Flirting With Urbanismo"
by Patt Morrison
Patt Morrison begins by explaining that most people have in fact seen downtown L.A even if they haven't been there. He claims that the majority of movies set in Chicago or New York have clearly been filmed in L.A. He goes on to describe a few buildings and objects of interest (i.e towers etc) that are in either New York and Chicago but have appeared for the sake the filming in L.A. Later, he changes tone and goes into detail about how versatile and different the streets of L.A really are: Skid Row is squalor, Spring St. is Spanish, and across Broadway you find a "Latin American mercantile fest" (p.134). In the middle of his essay, Morrison compares downtown to ranchos, which he claims are like suburbs. He also claims that downtowns are made by "demography, not geography", meaning, L.A is prestigious due to the fact that its immigrants were all middle class women and men with money and education, whereas everywhere else has foreign immigrants. The activities associated with this kind of downtown include: working, shopping, walking dogs while sipping coffee, and dining out. Towards the end, he explains how real estate has created the unwritten law that land is precious only when you can sell it; hence resulting in a serious lack of city parks. If people want parks, they create their own private park at home. He finishes his essay by describing a few places that do in fact bring him joy, such as Union Station, the garment district, and the Triforium.
My favorite part of the entire essay is the line where he says
"...downtown is part circus, part museum-everywhere, something worth
looking at" (p. 139).
This is my favorite because it's totally true. Each time I have visited L.A I have found some new building or museum or part of town to explore.
This essay makes me think of all the different places I have seen in L.A. It also makes me think that if you really look for them, you can find interesting and intellectual places outside of the "typical Hollywood lifestyle".
Something I learned that I didn't know before reading this is that even though L.A is considerately plastic, underneath it all downtown really does have a rich, interesting, and historical culture in the form of museums, old buildings, and culturally-specific parts of town.
"Waters of Tranquility"
by Carolyn See
The waters Carolyn See thought of as tranquil were the waters of Lake Shrine. Tucked away half a mile behing Sunset Boulevard and the beach, Lake Shrine was a place of many different experiences. Several religions, romantic moments, families, tourists and emotions took place at Lake Shrine. For Carolyn, the most significant part of Lake Shrine was the grieving she was able to accomplish over the loss of her love. She would do many laps, each ridding her of different feelings.
My favorite paragraph:
"Every day, I'd swing on over to the Lake Shrine, right on the brink of murdering one well-meaning relative or another, and make the first circle, swearing, muttering oaths and imprecations, sneering at whoever got in my way. By the second time around, I'd remembered why I was there, how I was losing the man I loved most in the world. I'd lean against trees and weep, sit on those benches and sob. The third time around, I'd hear myself asking for courage, steadfastness, compassion! The fourth time around, I could walk, and watch" (145).
The reading made me think of my own very fresh experience with losing someone I love. I truly enjoyed reading this because it was a reminder to me that all the emotions involved with death are normal. It made me want to find a place like Lake Shrine to release the wide array of emotions I have bottled up.
One thing I learned was that grieving, though the loss may be different, is very much the same. It was really comforting to be able to relate to this author.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
4c: Reflections
I learned a lot about Mission Beach from Rosio Serrano. I did not know how popular it was in the 1920s. Sometimes I forget about the fact that the beach was there first, so it was nice to hear some history about how the houses ended up being built.
4b: Reflections
I learned from Meredith Porter that Sacramento is connected to the San Francisco Bay by several rivers, while Fresno is strictly landlocked. I do realize this is something I should have already known, but I really did not know that.
http://mer-human7.blogspot.com/2008/07/3b-inland-areas.html
http://mer-human7.blogspot.com/2008/07/3b-inland-areas.html
4a: Group #1
Write the story title and author name.
The Big Valley
by Mark Arax
Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
The Big Valley is Mark Arax's tale of his experience with culture in the Fresno and surrounding areas, influenced by what he had learned from his father and grandfather. The culture his ancestors had experienced was far different from the experiences he had and the experiences his kids were having. A point he made very clear was how many people were willing to sell the farmland since the things that made money long ago are not necessarily what sells now. After taking a journey to a farm-equipment show, Arax describes in further detail how if given the chance, a lot of people are willing to sell their heritage. Above all, Arax shares with the reader how he is still an "honest farmer," as opposed to a farmer who farms for money: "a grower."
Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
"As another orchard gets plowed under out there, I plant another pomegranate or apricot
tree back here. I know it's futile, but my garden is now ample and year-round, and the dirt
under my nails is honest farm dirt" (26).
This was my favorite because of the symbolic point he made. No matter how much money is involved, the genuine joy of something will still remain. Although he did not agree with the building of several corporate buildings, which essentially depleted the history he had known, he was still able to find it in him to do what he loved: farm.
What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think of this one particular trip I took to San Diego. I remember seeing a Fresno sign and thinking about a friend of mine who went to college there. I had no clue what Fresno was like, but after reading about Arax's view on Fresno I realized that a lot of times the impression I get of places may not actually have much to do with its roots. I do not recall ever hearing anyone say anything close to what Arax described. This story was another reminder of how easy it is to get caught up in how we live now, instead of appreciating history as much as we should.
What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I had no clue that Fresno was a fig-capital. In the very first paragraph of Arax's story, he makes it very clear exactly how much figs were a part of his growing up; "With one orchard stitched to the next, it was easy to lose your sense of geography and time" (17). I also did not know that Fresno was such a huge farming area in general.
Write the story title and author name.
Transients in Paradise
by Aimee Liu
Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Liu put into words her experience and struggles with the city she lives in: Hollywood. With several descriptions of what she sees in people and places within Hollywood, Liu creates a more genuine picture than most of us are used to hearing about Hollywood.
What was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
"I see buses carrying housekeepers from Crenshaw nudge the pick-ups of gardeners from Englewood, Range Rovers
driven by trophy wives cut off by Hondas bearing handicap placards" (31).
This quote shows the diverse classes even within places like Hollywood. It takes the presence and labor of less fortunate people to keep the reputation of Hollywood going. I like that Liu used such great detail to express this point.
What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think about how there are homeless people and less fortunate people everywhere, but it is easy to overlook. Especially is places like Hollywood, it is easy to make assumptions about what kinds of people are there. The fact that Hollywood is usually noticed for its wealth, but not the actual people who maintain the beauty of the area, or the people who do the "dirty work."
What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I learned that Hollywood is not exactly like I hear it is. When I visited there I do not remember noticing the things Liu noticed, but now it makes me want to go back and experience it in a different way.
Write the story title and author name.
Showing Off the Owens
by T. Jefferson Parker
Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Parker takes novelist Brian Wiprud to experience the Lower Owens River, one of his favorite places to go fishing. The way Parker had remembered it was not exactly how it was anymore. He appreciated the history for what it was and learned to appreciate the new qualities it had.
What was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
"Gradually the south end of the Owens River trickles into view. It isn't much to see at first and I bemoan again the Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power's theft of the Owens River water many decades ago for their thirsty city far to the
south. One of the families living there in Los Angeles and using that water was mine. The Owens was once a mighty river
that held mighty fish. Now it is not. However, DWP does keep parts of the reduced Owens open for anglers, so I choose
to be an optimist and tell myself that the river is half full" (38-39).
What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think about how sometimes in life things change, but we can either choose to dwell on how negatively they have changed, or continue to look at the good points that still exist. I loved that Parker still wanted to show off the Lower Owens River, regardless of how much the water had gone down.
What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I did not realize how much power the Department of Water and Power had on rivers.
The Big Valley
by Mark Arax
Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
The Big Valley is Mark Arax's tale of his experience with culture in the Fresno and surrounding areas, influenced by what he had learned from his father and grandfather. The culture his ancestors had experienced was far different from the experiences he had and the experiences his kids were having. A point he made very clear was how many people were willing to sell the farmland since the things that made money long ago are not necessarily what sells now. After taking a journey to a farm-equipment show, Arax describes in further detail how if given the chance, a lot of people are willing to sell their heritage. Above all, Arax shares with the reader how he is still an "honest farmer," as opposed to a farmer who farms for money: "a grower."
Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
"As another orchard gets plowed under out there, I plant another pomegranate or apricot
tree back here. I know it's futile, but my garden is now ample and year-round, and the dirt
under my nails is honest farm dirt" (26).
This was my favorite because of the symbolic point he made. No matter how much money is involved, the genuine joy of something will still remain. Although he did not agree with the building of several corporate buildings, which essentially depleted the history he had known, he was still able to find it in him to do what he loved: farm.
What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think of this one particular trip I took to San Diego. I remember seeing a Fresno sign and thinking about a friend of mine who went to college there. I had no clue what Fresno was like, but after reading about Arax's view on Fresno I realized that a lot of times the impression I get of places may not actually have much to do with its roots. I do not recall ever hearing anyone say anything close to what Arax described. This story was another reminder of how easy it is to get caught up in how we live now, instead of appreciating history as much as we should.
What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I had no clue that Fresno was a fig-capital. In the very first paragraph of Arax's story, he makes it very clear exactly how much figs were a part of his growing up; "With one orchard stitched to the next, it was easy to lose your sense of geography and time" (17). I also did not know that Fresno was such a huge farming area in general.
Write the story title and author name.
Transients in Paradise
by Aimee Liu
Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Liu put into words her experience and struggles with the city she lives in: Hollywood. With several descriptions of what she sees in people and places within Hollywood, Liu creates a more genuine picture than most of us are used to hearing about Hollywood.
What was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
"I see buses carrying housekeepers from Crenshaw nudge the pick-ups of gardeners from Englewood, Range Rovers
driven by trophy wives cut off by Hondas bearing handicap placards" (31).
This quote shows the diverse classes even within places like Hollywood. It takes the presence and labor of less fortunate people to keep the reputation of Hollywood going. I like that Liu used such great detail to express this point.
What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think about how there are homeless people and less fortunate people everywhere, but it is easy to overlook. Especially is places like Hollywood, it is easy to make assumptions about what kinds of people are there. The fact that Hollywood is usually noticed for its wealth, but not the actual people who maintain the beauty of the area, or the people who do the "dirty work."
What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I learned that Hollywood is not exactly like I hear it is. When I visited there I do not remember noticing the things Liu noticed, but now it makes me want to go back and experience it in a different way.
Write the story title and author name.
Showing Off the Owens
by T. Jefferson Parker
Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
Parker takes novelist Brian Wiprud to experience the Lower Owens River, one of his favorite places to go fishing. The way Parker had remembered it was not exactly how it was anymore. He appreciated the history for what it was and learned to appreciate the new qualities it had.
What was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
"Gradually the south end of the Owens River trickles into view. It isn't much to see at first and I bemoan again the Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power's theft of the Owens River water many decades ago for their thirsty city far to the
south. One of the families living there in Los Angeles and using that water was mine. The Owens was once a mighty river
that held mighty fish. Now it is not. However, DWP does keep parts of the reduced Owens open for anglers, so I choose
to be an optimist and tell myself that the river is half full" (38-39).
What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think about how sometimes in life things change, but we can either choose to dwell on how negatively they have changed, or continue to look at the good points that still exist. I loved that Parker still wanted to show off the Lower Owens River, regardless of how much the water had gone down.
What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I did not realize how much power the Department of Water and Power had on rivers.
Friday, July 11, 2008
4a-Group #1
Write the story title and author name.
The Big Valley
by Mark Arax
Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
The Big Valley is Mark Arax's tale of his experience with culture in the Fresno and surrounding areas, influenced by what he had learned from his father and grandfather. The culture his ancestors had experienced was far different from the experiences he had and the experiences his kids were having. A point he made very clear was how many people were willing to sell the farmland since the things that made money long ago are not necessarily what sells now. After taking a journey to a farm-equipment show, Arax describes in further detail how if given the chance, a lot of people are willing to sell their heritage. Above all, Arax shares with the reader how he is still an "honest farmer," as opposed to a farmer who farms for money: "a grower."
Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
"As another orchard gets plowed under out there, I plant another pomegranate or apricot
tree back here. I know it's futile, but my garden is now ample and year-round, and the dirt
under my nails is honest farm dirt" (26).
This was my favorite because of the symbolic point he made. No matter how much money is involved, the genuine joy of something will still remain. Although he did not agree with the building of several corporate buildings, which essentially depleted the history he had known, he was still able to find it in him to do what he loved: farm.
What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think of this one particular trip I took to San Diego. I remember seeing a Fresno sign and thinking about a friend of mine who went to college there. I had no clue what Fresno was like, but after reading about Arax's view on Fresno I realized that a lot of times the impression I get of places may not actually have much to do with its roots. I do not recall ever hearing anyone say anything close to what Arax described. This story was another reminder of how easy it is to get caught up in how we live now, instead of appreciating history as much as we should.
What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I had no clue that Fresno was a fig-capital. In the very first paragraph of Arax's story, he makes it very clear exactly how much figs were a part of his growing up; "With one orchard stitched to the next, it was easy to lose your sense of geography and time" (17). I also did not know that Fresno was such a huge farming area in general.
The Big Valley
by Mark Arax
Summarize the reading in one brief paragraph.
The Big Valley is Mark Arax's tale of his experience with culture in the Fresno and surrounding areas, influenced by what he had learned from his father and grandfather. The culture his ancestors had experienced was far different from the experiences he had and the experiences his kids were having. A point he made very clear was how many people were willing to sell the farmland since the things that made money long ago are not necessarily what sells now. After taking a journey to a farm-equipment show, Arax describes in further detail how if given the chance, a lot of people are willing to sell their heritage. Above all, Arax shares with the reader how he is still an "honest farmer," as opposed to a farmer who farms for money: "a grower."
Which was your favorite sentence or paragraph?
"As another orchard gets plowed under out there, I plant another pomegranate or apricot
tree back here. I know it's futile, but my garden is now ample and year-round, and the dirt
under my nails is honest farm dirt" (26).
This was my favorite because of the symbolic point he made. No matter how much money is involved, the genuine joy of something will still remain. Although he did not agree with the building of several corporate buildings, which essentially depleted the history he had known, he was still able to find it in him to do what he loved: farm.
What did the reading make you think of?
The reading made me think of this one particular trip I took to San Diego. I remember seeing a Fresno sign and thinking about a friend of mine who went to college there. I had no clue what Fresno was like, but after reading about Arax's view on Fresno I realized that a lot of times the impression I get of places may not actually have much to do with its roots. I do not recall ever hearing anyone say anything close to what Arax described. This story was another reminder of how easy it is to get caught up in how we live now, instead of appreciating history as much as we should.
What is one thing you did not know before you started the reading that you now know?
I had no clue that Fresno was a fig-capital. In the very first paragraph of Arax's story, he makes it very clear exactly how much figs were a part of his growing up; "With one orchard stitched to the next, it was easy to lose your sense of geography and time" (17). I also did not know that Fresno was such a huge farming area in general.
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