I Really Like Turkish Food

Today we journey to a part of London where Turkish culture was present and extremely vibrant. As a class we had a meal at Diyarbakir Kitchen where I ordered the Iskender, a dish that Dr. G recommended. I had never tried food like this before and have to admit that I was a little hesitant about how well the yoghurt was going to taste with the lamb but it was probably one of if not the best meal I've had in London. Being in that area of London and experiencing the culture and food at that restaurant not only opened my eyes to the diversity, cultural understanding, and inclusion in this city but it also made me question why I wasn't seeking out experiences like this in my state and hometown. I'm excited to go back home and explore different things, and maybe step outside of my comfort zone as I did today to try new things and experience things other than what I'm used to. The area in which the restaurant was located was extremely impressive as it felt that everything there was linked in some way back to the culture and the presence of all of these Turkish restaurants and shops made me curious to know more about the residents that live there. I wasn't expecting the Turkish culture to be that present and was under the impression that the are would be more like Brick Lane in that while it did have remnants of the Bangladeshi community, it was mostly overrun with businesses brought on by gentrification, such as the vintage shops. However, this area was not at all like that and it seemed that the Turkish community was still very much present and in control of the space which I really enjoyed. The food and company was amazing and I can't wait to try more Turkish foods in the future. 

East End

 

Today I visited the East End of London while on an excursion for another class. I felt it was important to discuss this visit because it is extremely close to Brick Lane, and felt that it added some additional context to the history of the area that we read about in class on Tuesday. Our group was led by a blue badge guide that was instructed to speak to us specifically about the inequalities and poverty within the area. Our tour guide spoke a lot about the history of the Hagguenauts and how they were kind of the first people to inhabit the area. It was interesting to walk around and take a closer look at some of the homes and building they were responsible for building. In addition to this our guide also explained the same kind of cyclical flow of migrants coming in and moving onto other areas, specifically how the hagguenauts dispersed all over the country, stating that about 1 out of 4 brit’s could be traced back to a hagguenaut or french ancestor. Another thing I really enjoyed about the tour was that she showed us one of the last remaining jewish synagogues in the area, explaining that the jewish population has dwindled significantly over the years to a mere couple thousand. It was kind of sad to hear that because of this the synagogue was now struggling to remain open. We also got to see how the area has been gentrified over the years. Our guide showed us both an old soup kitchen for jewish groups struggling with poverty and an old homeless shelter run by nuns. Both of which had now been converted to high end apartments and housing. In addition to this we also saw Spitalfields Market which was also nearby and had been present there for over a hundred years, I would be very interested in looking at old pictures of how it was ran and operated, including what type of people were visiting. I really enjoyed this excursion as it allowed me to learn more about the area which provided more context to the material and conversations we’ve been having about Brick Lane recently. 

• Francesca :)

Piccadilly Circus

 

 

Today I explored the area around Piccadilly Circus. The area was just another example of how diverse London actually is, as well as how welcoming the city is to all groups of people. The area in itself is impressive because of how it's situated between Chinatown and the SOHO area, so you can kind of experience three vastly different cultural landscapes all within a fifteen minute walk. For example I bought a taiyaki ice cream from a bakery under the Chinatown Gate and finished it in Piccadilly Circus next to the M&M and Lego stores. The proximity to Chinatown and the SOHO area of course makes the area a tourist hotspot and you can see this reflected in the kinds of businesses present there. There are several souvenir shops, big brand-name stores, and hotels. In addition, the area is also crowded with tour groups and hop-on hop-off tour buses. The thing I enjoyed the most about the area however was the decorations for Pride, and it seemed that every other business was participating in the festivities as well. Again, I feel that this supports the idea of London as an extremely diverse and progressive city. This is sort of hard to come by in Texas, so seeing and experiencing it here is very interesting and exciting. Another thing I found interesting about the area was the number of theaters and casinos. I am aware that theaters do tend to be in areas that are frequently visited by tourists however i’ve never really considered the role casinos play in attracting tourists. Especially coming from a state where there aren’t any, it was weird to see them in such a central and public area. I actually would be interested to learn what legislation is currently in place in London regarding businesses like casinos and whether the local community welcomes them or if there is any contention over it. I really enjoyed the food and watching the people there, and overall had a really great day at Picadilly Circus.  

- Francesca :)

Brick Lane

 

 

 

Today our class went on an excursion to Brick Lane, an area of London famous for its connection to several immigrant groups including the Bangladeshi people. Recently it has also become a topic of debate over the impact of gentrifcation and who has the right to fight for sontrol over a certain space. While reading about Brick Lane both independently and with the class, I was curious what percentage of the area was truly overcome with signs of gentrification such as pricey vintage shops and expensive bistros. I mean its truly hard to imagine how a space operates when you really only have articles to go off of, therefore I really enjoyed our excursion as I was able to experience the place for myself. Prior to our visit I felt that maybe the gentrification was at very early stages from the way it was described however I believe it has been well affected by incoming businesses and initaitives to develop the area into a touristy location. There was however still remnants of the diverse community still very prevalent within the area, especially as we moved closer to the mosque. The entire experience was definitely conflicting especially because I enjoy vintage clothes and markets and it almost seems that to contribute to those businesses is kind of an active betrayal of the actually local community. I was also mesmerized by all of the street art and can imagine that these installation and paintings were also a byproduct of this gentrification, something used to add character to the area. Therefore it's hard to feel like you're justified in enjoying the experience, when you know that these spaces have in a way been ripped from the community. Especially when you consider place attachment, and the possibility that the vintage shop you're exploring now could've been a restaurant that held extreme sentimental value to the bangladeshi people just a couple years ago. I enjoyed our excursion and hope to discuss some more about the affect these changes in the neighborhood have on the local community and cuture cultivated by said group over the years they've inhabited the area. Very excited to discuss our trip in class!

- Francesca :)

Weekend Trip: Liverpool & Wales

 

 

 

I have already talked a bit about Liverpool and Wales but I thought i'd try and relate my experiences there to diversity, a topic we've been discussing this week. Something I noticed about both areas over the course of the weekend was the absence of certain ethnic and racial groups. In comparison with London these two areas were significantly less diverse which prompted me to question what makes certain areas more attractive to migrants than others? As we've discussed in class this week, immigration is often the result of push and pull factors, and for most immigrants, the largest pull factor is increased job and economic opportunities. If we compare Liverpool and London, its no competition over whether who has the larger more diverse job market. This is primarily because while London is a popular tourist destination it also holds signifcant weight in the world market with its business and finance district. Liverpool on the otherhand hold most of its economic impact in its dockyard's and is not a hub for wealthy businessmen and corporate offices. Overall from the persepective of an immigrant, London is by far the best bet for new opportunities and something also has to be said for it's long history of being a place of trade and area which allowed and invited in numerous diverse groups. I would be interested to learn the origins of Liverpool as I wonder if it was established to be another version of London or did the founders set out to separate and distance themselves from the growing city and its increasing diversity. Another thing I'd be curious to watch unfold in the generation to come is will we continue to associate urban areas with diversity and rural areas without it, or will the increased interest in social equity for immigrants result in success for ethnically and racially diverse groups at a level higher than what we've witnessed this far, spurring a move from cities to rural areas as is typical of those with high incomes who are looking for a calmer life in suburban areas. Will this mean a more diverse image and definition of urban and small town areas? These are questions that are important to ask ourselves as we consider the future of some of our greatest cities, and if and how progress will affect them, including potential consequences. 

- Francesca :)

Goodbye Paris :(

 

 

 

I spent my last day in Paris on Sunday and a bit into Monday morning as well due to a delayed flight so I figured i'd talk a little more about my experience there. On my last day in the city we explored one of its most popular tourist destinations: the Louvre. The museum was floor to ceiling covered with brilliant paintings and each room filled with intricate sculptures. Everything was so beautiful and my day was made when I got to take a selfie with Mona Lisa. Something that I immediately noticed when entering the Louvre was just how many different people were there, it honestly felt like every time I turned my head, another group of tourists was speaking a new language I couldn't understand. For some reason I had this assumption that once I got to Paris, I would only be hearing French but every corner of the city was diverse in both skin color and dialect. In fact you could see the long rich history of diversity in France through the art displayed at the Louvre. The museum not only had extensive art and sculptures from different cultures just as that of the Islamic people but also it seemed that almost every significant work displayed there was that of a foreign artist so enamoured with France (or so they led me to believe) that they donated significant portions of their collection to the Louvre. Another bit of diversity I encountered while I was there was the hostel I was staying at for the weekend. As seen in the first picture, I visited the restaurant directly attached to my hostel and was thoroughly surprised to see just how many different people had traveled here to France. What i found particularly shocking was the age range because while I had this idea that those who usually stayed in hostel were usually young and in their twenties that was far from the truth. Overall I really enjoyed my last day in Paris and felt comfort in knowing that there were other foreigners enjoying the same sights and experiences as me.

- Francesca :) 

FRANCEsca

 

This Friday I decided to leave behind the comfortability of London and head for a brand new urban environment: Paris. While I did spend most of my Friday in trains and airports, I did get the opportunity to explore the city a bit at night and was instantly amazed at just how different it was from London. One of the first things that shocked me was that the metro operated on these paper tickets which had to be read by some kind of scanner while entering and exiting the station. I found this system quite annoying as we were constantly running out as they are only good for one ride and on top of that they are completely useless when they make contact with the magnets of your cellphone. I also noticed just how things were relatively far from each other, and with a metro that is not only slow but also difficult to access, public transportation became my worst enemy. I can’t imagine how it is for other tourists. This made me question whether Paris was in a way combating tourism through these outdated practices. Although it might in fact be making the people of Paris more money due to last minute taxi or uber rides for frustrated tourists. Another thing I noticed about the city of paris is the amount of street vendors selling souvenirs everywhere there are tourists. I also noticed that these vendors would kind of scoop their merchandise up as soon as they saw police or other officials passing by. I am not entirely sure why they were doing that but the whole ordeal made me wonder why things like that weren’t as common in London. Over the course of the night I started to draw my own conclusions about what makes tourism in London and Paris so different and I think the leg difference has a lot to do with what we’ve been discussing in class. I believe while London actively commits itself to catering to tourists, Paris takes a back seat in situations and let’s the monumental attractions and authentic city life speak for itself. While I do think they work on upkeep in regards to repainting the Eiffel Tower for the upcoming olympic games, they really have no interest in going out of their way to devote funds to modernizing the metro or banning the local vendors to put in their own souvenir shops. I would actually be curious to learn where, if they’re not spending it on tourism, are allocating there governments funds? Maybe they have fantastic poverty or homelessness assistance or maybe they have other projects they’re working on. Either way, no matter how difficult the metro might be or how unfriendly the city is to travelers, that in itself draws people in as it seems less centered around capitalism and more about realistically experiencing the beautiful city of paris, something I really enjoyed. My visit was short but mostly sweet and I hope to make it back there soon! 

- Francesca :)

Literacy Pirates

 

As part of an earlier class we went on an excursion to a charity organization called the Literacy Pirates where they help underprivileged young children between the ages 9 to 13 to improve skills in reading and writing comprehension as well as confidence and perseverance in the classroom. This excursion is relevant to the course materials as this resource was located in an area that experienced poverty on a large scale. While walking around on our way to the building I noticed quite a few things such as the large amount of indian/asian restaurants as well as african beauty shops. This stood out to me as it reiterated that large urban areas such as London disproportionately push out minorities into the outskirts due to the rise in rent and other unfortunate byproducts of capitalism. In addition to this I also noticed a park within the neighborhood that seemed privatized and was not busy at all, we didn’t have much time to explore so I was able to confirm if it was open to the general public but it was obvious that the space hadn’t become a social hub as it perhaps was intended to be. The organization itself also brought attention to the large role of poverty in urban environments and how easily kids slip through the cracks, especially when in these overwhelmed school districts. I enjoyed our trip to Hackney to tour the Literacy Pirates as it brought to light, a more realistic picture of the issues of poverty in London and how they affect certain cultures of people more than others. Finally, I found that the area was similar to backside in that it had a bit of a reputation, however the main difference being that it wasn’t chosen for regeneration or any new developments. This is most likely due to location and perhaps that the residents weren’t exactly the proposed target for consumerism. This makes me wonder how exactly developers go about choosing the right area for development and whether issues of gentrification are considered when drafting these plans. Overall I really enjoyed my visit!  

- Francesca :) 

London Tower/Bridge

 

 

 

    Today we went on a program excursion to the London Tower which is just off the side of London Bridge. In addition to the tower's beauty and rich cultural background, it also inspired me to think more deeply about the intention behind why these landmarks are treasured and protected both in London and other large metropolitan areas. Especially when you consider that the location of some of these medieval sites could be extremely profitable if they were developed into either commercial or residential spaces. The only real answer to this question is what we've been discussing in class, that these areas have a personal significance to the residents of these cities. In addition, this is also another example of marketing your city, as while sites like this might cost the local government a huge sum for maintenance, security, and etc., they are also profitable in terms of attracting tourists from foreign areas who can then go on to spend their money in your city. Another thing the group I was touring the facility with found interesting was the apartments that were located towards the outside of the tower, yet still physically on the property. We were curious who lived there as we assumed the rent to live there must be astronomical given the location to both the city center and the fact that these flats were basically inside a castle. My group ended up asking a beefeater who lived there and found out that those apartments were actually available to the tower’s staff at a reduced rate. This actually surprised me as if i’m being honest the discussion during this course has kind of made me suspicious about city officials and originally thought they would have had more capitalistic intentions in developing these areas of the tower into apartments. My visit to that area today was extremely fun and I felt that I came away with more knowledge than I came in with. If I had to pick a favorite feature of the excursion it would be the royal beast's room as it was interesting to hear about the moronic things they did for entertainment. 

• Francesca :)

The Darkside

 

 

 

    This afternoon our class went on an excursion just across the river in an area known as Bankside. We were accompanied by our Blue Badge guide Antony, who expertly told us stories of Bankside's history as a sort of "wrong side of the tracks" area for a new and developing London. In addition to this, Antony also walked us through the communities efforts to shed that reputation, narrating Bankside's transitions from a primarily industrial space to an extremely popular haven for the arts and residential area. I found it very interesting that an area that was often treated as a dumping ground for things seen as unfavorable in the city (illegal activity & coal power factory), was able to transform into the area it is today while still maintaining its edge and personality. Connecting it to what we've read and learned in class, this reminded me of the London Docklands, particularly the second attempt at regenerating the area. As discussed in the article, the second stage came about after original plans fell through due to an over-emphasis on potential market value and not on the wants and needs of the community. I believe Bankside is the perfect example of a success story which did focus on the needs of the people, as you can see now from walking around the city on our tour that Bankside is now not only economically prosperous but it still maintains that cultural and societal value that is so important to its residents. Examples of this are art including both the Tate Modern and smaller installations like the poem done by Antony's colleague. These two things while I'm sure contribute to the economy in their own way, also create a common identity among the residents of the area. Another way I see that the community is still serving the people of Bankside is the amount of affordable housing that Antony pointed out to our group. Not only are these buildings extremely close to the central area of Bankside but they coexist with large businesses and pricier accommodations, not being pushed off into some corner as I feel is often the case in American cities. I really enjoyed our tour with Antony and felt that he contributed a lot to our discussion of cities and the urban environment, and don’t believe I would’ve had the opportunity to explore the dark side of Bankside otherwise. 

• Francesca :)

Walking In Wales

 

     

 

 

    This weekend while on our program-wide excursion to Liverpool, we drove an additional two hours to Wales where we toured popular tourist destinations such as Conwy Castle and Llandudno. It was an interesting experience to go from busy areas like Liverpool and London to smaller environments. A big difference I noticed is that while London and Liverpool have largely diverse business sectors, Conwy and Llandudno seemed to be primarily focused on tourism, with Conwy profiting off the medieval castle which the city was built around and Llandudno offering a lively pier and attractions along the beautiful cliffs and beaches. This allowed me to make connections between these two beautiful cities and the points brought up by Zavattaro and the way cities have grown to market themselves to attract business opportunities. Specifically, I noticed this connection when exploring Llandudno, as I quickly noticed the only people really exploring the city were older populations and families on vacation. In fact, I had noticed two women eating at a local pub that had also previously been at Conwy Castle. It was clear that Llandudno had successfully marketed itself as a popular tourist destination. This prompted me to consider the perspectives of those who lived in these cities full time, do they welcome tourists as a boost to their economy and maybe even do their best to potentially profit off the situation, or have they taken a backseat as developers who hope to profit off tourism prioritize the economic needs of Llandudno over at the expense of those permanently residing there. This was especially concerning to me as I realized that the majority of the residents were seniors attempting to enjoy their retirement. It is also important to consider how our group itself might contribute to this, specifically, do visits to touristy areas like ours result in the eventual gentrification of these areas, raising rent and cost of living for these retirees who were hoping to spend their newfound free time enjoying the silence and peacefulness of the coast. All in all, I really enjoyed my trip to Wales and exploring environments that were so impacted by increased tourism. 

- Francesca :)