Experiences

Throughout these couple of weeks we have continued with our Project text and have kept reading a number of different stories from “ Another City.” We have had many different interesting conversations and assignments that have made us think and connect somehow back to the book. From all the stories that we all have read think I finally found some I really was able to dig deeper and connect to some situations in the stories. I learned that Los Angeles is a space but we all don’t live the same way or go through the same struggles, it is us who shape and mold our spaces.

In “Fried Chicken” there was a boy who had a friend by the name of Shane and just stopped talking. I was so moved with that story because I could just connect to Shane. It made me think how many people out there do something wrong and later wishes they wouldn’t have made that discussion. This story took me back to the pain of loosing a “friend.” It was something hard but later on just how he regretted saying the things he said and doing what he did, so did my “friend.” Sometimes in life you need to be careful with the decisions you make, because you can both hurt someone’s feeling and later wish you could take back all the stupid decisions you have made but it might be to late. We might live in a place were it is all about competition and change but honestly you shape your life.

When I read “ Interesting Times” it just took me back to the poem “ The Beach At Sunset.” It was two stories I could just relate to allot. The cancer theme of the poem was something hard for any one and can relate to the lines in the poem. The same way of going through the Northridge earthquake, the 1992 riots, being afraid to get of the wrong exit to her cars breaking down is also not easy. I learned that regardless anything you go through in life it is the experiences in life that shape you to the person you are today. Without knowing what pain is, or without the negative situations we go through how will we ever be thankful of the good. I wrote my essay on a situation that was hard for me which was cancer but regardless of everything I have witnessed, and gone through just like in “Interesting Times” I was ambivalence at the beginning but my interesting experiences have shaped me.

In class we have had a whole lot of different conversations but one that really began to get me to think was this week. We were told to share the stories we have written to one another as we did I learned a lot from my peers. Every face has a story behind it, allot of put our negative experiences aside but does not mean there gone. I enjoyed to see how we all had a different story that some how shaped us being the environment we were but somehow turned it positive in our life’s. We all may not have the same families, the same friends, the same house, the same material stuff but what I do know is that we all shape our environment and our environment shapes us

Los Angeles

Throughout project text we have been reading the book “ Another City” edited by David L. Ulin. This book has made me stop and really try to see Los Angeles as an outsider. It wasn’t easy at first but I have to admit reading some of this story really makes you look at Los Angeles as an outsider. I say that because some of the stories have brought me to the state of shock, and some situations that were just unnecessary or important. I understand that Los Angeles is not perfect; it is a place that many will not agree on what it is.  

Los Angeles is what? Chaos, misunderstood, disconnected, scattered, opportunity, money, what? Some words my fellow classmates mentioned when Professor Marca asked what was one word that described Los Angeles. Not one soul in the classroom said the same word. I have to admit that when other words were mentioned I could see how it played a role in Los Angeles. Everyone has a different mentality and how Paul mentioned “ perhaps our own personal life’s have some kind of role in the word we say?” I have to admit it has to be true if you ask a wealthy person what they think of Los Angeles they wont have the same perspective then a poor. It has to be what you make of your life that really makes an impact on Los Angeles.

            I thought Los Angeles was described with chaos. Los Angeles doesn’t sleep, always someone walking the streets. Not a dull moment, always crime happening when you turn the news on. There is always a police officer or an ambulance on the run to try to do their duty. Everyone has a different day at work, at school, with family, yet alone problems. Some people may laugh at a joke while others cry themselves to sleep. I can speak for myself when I say I cant walk the streets on Los Angeles without having my phone on speed dial on 911 just in case anything happens. I have seen and heard of to many stories of girls being taken, robbed, raped, beat, and killed. Nothing less to expect when all your life you might have witnessed some kind of crime or situation, how they say expect the unexpected in LA.

A story and discussion I was in shock was reading Los Angeles. I could not believe the disturbing graphics yet alone the whole incident happening only a year before I was born. I felt a sense of betrayal in not knowing this all my life till now. It was like it was hidden from us in the LAUSD district. My thoughts were how horrible it was and how fast it all escalated. I couldn’t wrap my head around how Los Angeles was once a place of total dysfunction. It was a marking stone for Los Angeles that changed so many people lives and yet I had no clue.

Throughout the reading I noticed how there was graphic details in the stories “Cactus” and “Maternity.” Even though at a point at the beginning I couldn’t understand why there was so much detail was necessary. The conversation between Professor Marca and Sally made me see how having details in a story just really makes us want to read and keeps us interested. It is a way of actually taking the reader to whatever scene is happening in the story. It is going to definitely make me really think about having details in my future stories.

Overall, hearing all the different stories and conversations that went on in the class made me really want to shape my future writing. I also was inspired to look back in to the 1992 riots and ask my parents about it as well. Doing these reading projects have made me really catch a lot of details I miss when I read alone. It excites me to go to class and share what I got from the stories and hear my peer’s opinions as well.  It has pushed me and Sally views on getting together and doing future readings together to really be able to work on a future poems or stories we both might be having a hard time on. Adding details and having a conversation with others about a text has made me realize it makes a difference.