What the fuck is a Vietnam? According to Swedish academic, Victor Alneng, Vietnam is a lot of things. She is yesterday’s news, a tourist destination, a unique culture, but most importantly, “Vietnam is a country, not a war.” (Alneng, 462) After having been in Vietnam for 3 weeks studying abroad, I can agree that Vietnam […]
Cracking Open a Fresh Can of Deregulation and Environmental Racism; An Analysis of Coca-Cola
Check out my post about Cracking Open a Fresh Can of Deregulation and Environmental Racism; An Analysis of Coca-Cola!
Vietnam War, Brought to you by Disney: The Problems of Commodifying War
When I went to the Cu Chi Tunnels, I was warned about what to expect. This still does not prepare for what I was about to see. The Cu Chi Tunnels did its best to clean itself from the war and make it into fun for the whole family. There were features that made sense […]
Exploitation of Ethnic Minorities in the Name of Ecotourism
Here I have linked my observational post on the exploitation of ethnic minorities in the name of ecotourism.
Cleanup Culture: Geographical Discrepancies in Vietnamese Trash Disposal Habits
The streets of Saigon are filled with vendors and buyers, smokers and loungers, each accumulating and depositing waste into the gutters and trash bins and sometimes even directly onto the sidewalk. However, despite this relentless barrage of consumption and disposal, each new morning I am greeted by a relatively waste-free landscape. I have been pleasantly […]
Land Use and Iriaichi: Recognizing Change and Comparing Cultures
The past 10 days were spent in a rural Japanese village on the northern side of Mt. Fuji. We lived in a nearly 200-year-old farmhouse and spent the evenings swimming in nearby Lake Sai, one of the region’s famous five lakes. During our time there we conducted a research project at a number of sites […]
Management of Forests and Land: The Pacific Northwest to Japan
Here you can find my latest blog post comparing forest management practices in the Pacific Northwest and Japan.
The Modern Traditional Village: A Perspective on Continuity and Change in Rural Japan
After leaving the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, we now find ourselves in the Japanese countryside, living in a large, old house that we have come to know fondly as the “Farm House.” The Farm House rests on the edge of Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba, a reconstructed village that attracts Japanese tourists. The slower […]
Mt. Fuji from Top to Bottom: Spring Water and Community Formation
Soils that have lots of large pores allow water to pass through them faster, and therefore are poor retainers of surface water. Geologists use the term “infiltration rate” to describe the rate at which water seeps into the ground. Mt. Fuji, being mostly composed of permeable rock, has a very high infiltration rate. Once the water […]
Little Dog in Big Japan: Dachshunds in Japan as Evidence for Local/Global Forces
Dachshund being held at festival in Enoshima. As I continue my journey in Japan, I have been introduced to many novel ways of looking at everyday life activities that relate to the situated themes of this program. The local/global theme is one that I see constantly whether I am in the depths of downtown Tokyo, […]