Blog Post 3: I think that one of the best things to do to destress is to walk around aimlessly in old and new parts of town, just letting the music blast through my headphones, and enter random stores depending on the mood to window shop. Whether it was in my hometown, San Francisco, or New York, I loved how much there was to see in cities or small downtowns and soak in the hubbub of people going about their daily lives. In college, I made it a point to absorb San Diego in all of its glory, whether it was taking a bus randomly and ending up at Old Town, finding new study spots in downtown La Jolla, and admiring the city lights in Downtown San Diego. Despite my love for adventuring and taking walks, the class trip to Barrio Logan made me realize how little I was actually observing the areas I walked and how much I took things for granted. When walking around Barrio Logan with Professor Lewis along with my classmates, my eyes were drawn to issues that I never noticed. The number of benches, the cracks on the sidewalk, the limited availability of sitting areas like benches, nature components, the number of trash cans, and more. How could I have missed this when I was on my walks? It never occurred to me that people with less mobility, whether they were pushing a baby cart, an elderly person prone to falling, or those with injuries, would have to figure out how to get around town in the safest way possible. I also tended to zone out white noise so I had difficulty recognizing that the highway sounds and the airplane sounds were loud, maybe even annoying to live around. It felt eerie, how the town was very empty with little to few people walking around in the middle of the day. At first, I couldn’t quite imagine the town with a lively community, despite seeing the small hubbub gathered around a quaint Mexican food place right along the church. However, I quickly dismissed the thought as soon as we stumbled into Chicano Park. I had never seen pictures of Chicano Park, I assumed it was similar to Balboa Park, so I was in absolute awe with the powerful art pieces that radiated the community’s power. All of the murals and art pieces sprinkled throughout the neighborhood seemed like a sneak peek of Chicano Park and I loved being able to see the local talent being spotlighted. Despite the grandeur of Chicano Park, I know that I can’t overlook the issues of accessibility and community engagement especially in Barrio Logan. This class trip made me aware of how much I could assess a neighborhood, simply by observing certain components, and it’s made my walking adventures even more stimulating. Overall, this trip made me even more grateful to be able to experience the town simply as it is and I hope that as I grow older, accessibility and walkability is addressed in more neighborhoods so I can continue to explore new places.
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Miyu NakajimaMiyu Nakajima is a International Business major with a minor in Supply Chain. She is from San Jose, CA Archives
March 2022
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