Thursday, February 11, 2016

Neighborhood Identity

The International District is a place of juxtapositions.

Chinese characters and signs supporting the Seattle Seahawks decorate a restaurant's front window.


A man smokes in front of Ocean Star Seafood Restaurant.


Flowers mark part of a memorial for Donny Chin, a community leader in the International District killed in his car by a bullet last summer.



An American flag hangs in the Tsue Chong Fortune Cookie & Noodle Factory.

The International District has always been a destination for me. There's good food, easy transit access, a strong mix of cultural landmarks, and other attractions that would be hard to find anywhere else in the city. However, after working in the neighborhood for a few months, I've lost much of the excitement for this place. Maybe it's because I'm beginning to notice the things I don't like about this place. I've started to notice how dirty some places are. In an area known for its terrific selection of Asian restaurants, the idea of getting Vietnamese or Chinese food is almost obnoxious. The place has lost its shine. Maybe it's because the destination has now merely become part of the routine. Something that I used to look forward to visiting has begun to truly show itself to me, and I am struggling to appreciate it in the same way that I used to.

I wanted to see if I could revisit the neighborhood with a fresh pair of eyes after coming here everyday for the past four months for work. My camera led the way and above is what I found. This kind of outing was helpful. It reminded me that there are gems when you make an effort to see them. Still, I struggle to see the appeal of this neighborhood like I used to. 

I think a part of feeling torn about this neighborhood has to do with how I want to identify myself and how the idea of working in the ID not aligning with that vision.. This neighborhood reflects this identity conflict well: It's a mish mash of Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and American culture. It's a place that's growing and changing within the context of a booming metropolitan city while still gripping tightly to its cultural roots. It's a place with a lot of pressure to stay the same and the pressure to adapt. It's a place figuring how to attract a new generation of Asian Americans as well as supporting the families that come before them. What you get from all of those factors is a motley crew of a neighborhood. A neighborhood that's old and new, modern and traditional. Does this mean it has a strong identity or none at all?

Maybe the reason why I like this neighborhood less is because I'm afraid of how closely it resembles myself. 

Monday, August 24, 2015

Barred

It's been a while since I've visited the Yesler Swamp. Pretty cool to see the changes that have happened hear over two years. Like this boardwalk! It's made of rot resistant heartwood cedar and is designed to be low-impact on the surrounding fragile swamp environment.

Tyler ties pink tape around a native tree signaling to Swamp visitors to take heed of where to step.

Then I saw my very first barred owl!!


The boardwalk is about 2/3 finished. The Friends of Yesler Swamp is currently looking for funding sources to continue and finish the project. 





  Even in the middle of a highly urban area, you can still find pockets of greenery and wildlife. The Yesler Swamp is a prime example of a community coming together to help preserve and tend to shared green spaces.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Dani and Snike












Before Dani heads off the D.C. and then Arizona in the next couple of days, we decided one more photo session was only appropriate, this time featuring Snike the snake! They are a great duo and it was fun to get back into portraits. Good luck with your fellowship Dani!

Complete Set




Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Northwest Asian Weekly


Last week I took photos for the Northwest Asian Weekly newspaper. The Chinese American Citizens Alliance had a conference in Seattle and the group was schedule to tour the newspaper office, so I hung out around the ID to snap some photos. It felt good to have an assignment again. This whole post-grad situation is weird, and some days are better than others. Having something like this to do added a little excitement to the monotony of finding actual employment..

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Deception and Coincidences

Not a bad view for a wrong turn.

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Explaining intertidal species and good shoreline management to anyone who'll listen.

*senior portraits*

Thank you, ma'am, for your great seating choice.



What are the chances of running into three of your classmates over spring break? What are the chances of getting to the same park one minute from each other? Too many things had to go wrong/right for this to happen, and I'm so glad they did. Obligatory celebratory selfie coming right up.


Many of these photos came from this guy. Thanks for your help Ryan!