Humans of Davis

[daniels-davis-discoveries-blog]

So I was able to make it to part of the painting of the “Art Garage.” I planned my attire very poorly and the clothes I wore I was not willing to get paint on, so I didn’t participate in the actual painting. Instead I grabbed my phone and photographed the process. Of…

[culturecow]

Wow, so cool!  Haha, I think one of the main things that we learned from this seminar is the importance of public art and art in general for a community and a town’s culture.  It’s events like these that make Davis’s culture so unique!  Wish I could have been a part of it but I am sure there will be other similar events in the future.  It is very uniquely Davis!

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

I can’t believe you actually went! That is so cool! I am a little confused emotionally, right now. I admire you for going, but I am a little jealous, too. It’s very disorientating! Regardless of my emotional state, I am happy you were able to go! The pictures you took look amazing! It looks like such a great time. I wish I could have gone. Even though you weren’t able to participate, it is very neat of you to have gone a watch. I do agree, though. Many people would normally have just gone to the finished product but you wanted to watch it’s creation; and I think that’s very noble of you. And, I also think you’re right when it comes to the event being an illustration of the human nature. People working together to make something beautiful. And, to be honest, had the “Art Garage” not turned out beautiful, it would still be beautiful for majority of the people. I’m glad you have this last adventure of the freshman seminar, but your first without needing to. You sought out art and culture, and that is amazing!

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

The Best For Last

On Friday, my classmates and I participated in a cultural offering of the city of Davis. Oh, I don’t mean the scavenger hunt.

The scavenger hunt was great- don’t get me wrong. It made me very nostalgic to see all the sites from the beginning of the quarter, and to witness the progress of the eight-week course. We each came in with our own cultural offerings, and with different levels of knowledge of Davis’ cultural offerings; and although we all came out of the class uniquely different, we all came out with a better understanding of the cultural offerings of Davis and what a city’s culture may include. But, today I am not here to talk about any of that. This blog, afterall, titled “Humans of Davis”.

I tried to be witty and clever with my blog. I meant for this blog to focus on the cultural offerings of Davis, but with an emphasis on the people that make Davis. Because, well, what is a city and what culture would it have without the people that inhabit the space? Which, incidentally (or, not so incidentally), explains why the blog is titled what it is. Me being the person I am (And, if you are still not sure what kind of person I am, and would like to find out, I am more than happy to become better acquainted.), I made the URL (inanutshell-galaxy-life) a spin of a very popular novel by Stephen Hawking, The Universe in a Nutshell. See? Clever.

My experience with culture has showed me that, well to summarize it in a nutshell, it is a living style. Culture makes up many aspects of our life’s. Some may argue, that it is, in some way, life. That is for the reader to decide! However, I do have something to say about culture and the humans that make its existence possible.

By far, the best cultural offering of the city of Davis is the people. In earlier blogs I mention how people have contributed to Davis’ culture, but I am talking about the people that made up my freshmen seminar. The cultural offering I was alluding to earlier, the one my classmates and I participated in last Friday, was by simply being. Davis has such a diverse selection of students, with different ideologies, goals, and ambitions. I have visited many prestigious colleges in my days, and in those schools you get diversity but you’ll mainly find a similar mind-set. I know that everyone is an individual and there is no way to describe a person completely, but there are things majority of the people have in common. There is an over-all underlying commonality between people, and that is where I theorize we as a society define our “normality”, but Davis is different. Now, I am not saying that Davis doesn’t have it’s own sense of “normality”, but I am saying that our “normality” is strange. Never have I seen students enjoy themselves so much. People just look happy to be alive, and to be where they are. Usually, the students who get into Davis also get into other good schools such as Berkeley. Davis, usually, isn’t the worse school students get into, but it’s not the worse either. No, I have observed that the students who end up in Davis are in Davis because they genuinely want to be. Davis, is one of those rare “good” schools where students chose it for reasons other than it’s title and prestige.

Last Friday, I observed my classmates visit familiar locations. Locations where people, including ourselves, have once stood and others will stand. One of Davis’ best cultural offerings is a mixture of lifestyle, people, history, and simply existing there. I apologize for not being able to define said cultural offering, but there isn’t a way I could define it. You simply have to be there to understand. You must simply exist. Does that make sense? I am glad we were able to end the class with a mixture of Davis’ best cultural offerings (ie. bikes, strangeness of a scavenger hunt final, kindness, smiles, adventure, art, people, and simply being). It’s been a true pleasure participating in this class, and all the mediums in which it included. I appreciate the opportunity presented for personal growth. I came out with a better understanding of culture, the people around me, and Davis.

[citynittygritty]

Did I fool you? I posted this picture upside down to show how beautiful and reflecting the water at the arboretum is! The water is a bit ripply in this picture because some ducks were swimming nearby. We saw the famous river otter poke his head out of the water every once in awhile too! There’s so much amazing wildlife to see there. I’m definitely planning on going back soon!

[imjinvolved]

At first glance I definitely did not suspect that the picture was actually upside down. I never knew there was a river otter there! The only time I have “visited” the arboretum was by accident. I was trying to look for one of my classes and I ended up biking in the arboretum.How did I get so lost? Just blame the fact that I am a very clueless freshman. But I have to visit the arboretum when it is nice and sunny. I have only heard great things about it and how it is a great study spot and a great place to relax with friends. 

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

I looked at the picture, and I noticed it was a picture of nature and it's reflection, but I had not taken the time to assess the waters position relative to where it is suppose to be. Sadly, I read what you wrote before the picture, which I might add is a rare occurrence. Anyways, I looked at the picture and it was a very clever tom-foolery. And, I have yet to see the otter! I need to join you on your travels next time, so I might be as lucky to bump into said otter. That is, if it is okay with you.

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

From the Beginning

Not so long ago, I read a blog of someone’s good-bye to the University of California, Davis. I don’t know what it is about quarters, but it always feels like the end of a school year to me. Is it weird to get sentimental?

Regardless, I have been thinking about how things have and will end. Mainly how high school ended for me, and how my career at Davis will end. I once heard, but I do not remember from who or where, that it’s when we reach the end that we start to think of the beginning. Well, I am standing here, in the beginning, wondering about the future. Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a daily occurrence. It’s just something that happens. However, it was last Friday’s adventure that really magnified these thoughts and gave them life.

We went to the Yolo County Visitors Bureau last Friday to hear all the cultural offerings of Yolo County has to offer. Personally, I think it’s great to find out what our neighboring cities have to offer. Part of the cultural offerings of Davis is the accessibility to travel to other parts of Yolo County. I have never heard, or seen, neighboring cities in the same county work together as much as those around Davis. It’s strange, but amazing to see such a collaboration between cities! It makes Davis seem more as a family town, one that thrives and is willing to help others thrive, as well.

When I was deciding between colleges my friend really wanted me to go to a school near her, so she decided to show me this page where students gave their opinions about universities, and how colleges compare to one another. The main complaint about Davis, that I read, was that there were not enough things to do. Obviously, these students needed to go into Yolo County Visitors Bureau. There are so many things to do! More so, if you are over the age of twenty-one.

The Yolo County Visitors Bureau has currently relocated, which they seem to be very pleased with, to 132 E Street, Suite 200. We all sat in a semicircle, with the preferable sitting position of “cris-cross-applesauce” as my kindergarten teacher so eloquently described it a long time ago. (Like I mentioned earlier, you start to think more of the beginning.)

Hearing the guest speaker impart his knowledge on what the community of Davis, and the rest of Yolo County, has to offer made it hard for me to not look around. It was like being at a museum or a historical location, and as the speaker or tour guide is telling you all these interesting facts you walk around to absorb the feel and get a better understanding of what exactly happened. Somehow it helps with absorbing the information being shared. And, as it just so happens, I was sitting next to the rack of brochures and pamphlets! It was very difficult to not just grab all the pamphlets and look through them! In fact, I eventually gave in to temptations and asked one of my peers to hand me a brochure about the Almond Trail in Capay Valley. But, can you blame me? Being an outdoor enthusiast, that trail just seemed too beautiful and interesting to pass up.

I realized, after absorbing Yolo County from the “outside”, that I hope I get the opportunity to do everything found and not found in the brochures before I leave Davis.

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

[davis-moooorethanmeetstheeye]

Since I have come to Davis, I have noticed the prevalence of Asian culture in Davis. Every year, there is an Asian Pacific Culture Week held by UC Davis. Also, during the first weeks of school, I went to an Asian club fair, and a whole room at the ARC was filled with Asian related clubs trying to...

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

I agree. I am excited to see what other things the Asian community brings to Davis in the future. My home town did not have a large Asian community, so my interest in Asian culture was very limited. I was interested in Asian art and various aspects of different cultures of Asian countries, but looking back now, I see that my interest was very surface. I wanted to visit various Asian countries, but they weren’t on the top of my list. I was more interested in learning more about Asian cultures including the instruments associated with specific countries. Oddly enough, I was not very interested in Asian languages, and I did not feel that visiting Asian countries were a matter of life and death. But, since I started learning Japanese and learning things outside of Japanese art I am way more inclined toward Asian culture, and all it involves. Maybe Davis just needs to start “learning an Asian language” (weird metaphor). And, I am sure when it does, the Asian community will flourish more! Also, strawberry mochi ice-cream is the best.

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?”

One of Shakespeare’s most familiar characters, Juliet, had once so famously asked, to what seems to be the Heavens, a matter of ‘why’. Although, she was not questioning the reason for Romeo’s being, but rather why he exist in the bloodline of the Montagues. She was still questioning ‘why’ regarding the matter of some form of existence. I, for one, am grateful for the life’s of Romeo and Juliet. As, I’m sure, the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble shares the same attachment, or rather appreciation for the Montagues and the Capulets existence as myself.

Last week did not involve a somewhat dangerous ride to the unfamiliar, nor did it involve a treasure hunt of a “new” building. A message containing the information of where our next class would meet arrived rather late, but the destination was clear. I knew we would be meeting with the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, and to be honest, I was grateful the destination did not include an expedition to the unknown. I did not have the privilege this quarter to enlist into an English related course, so you can imagine how much I terribly miss the enriching, beautiful words of Shakespeare. I was excited! I was going to learn more about a group of people who are Shakespeare enthusiast, as well

I had been in Olsen numerous times, but I had not yet been to that room of Olsen. I had expected to see more people from the ensemble. I did not expect for the speaker, however, to have such a wonderful sense of humor and to be so down to Earth. The speaker kept everyone’s attention, and made the class not only informative, but also lively. It was a great class!

There was only one down part to the new information shared with us. I was truly disappointed when our speaker uttered the words that the ensemble no longer worked with students. There was no opportunity, from my understanding, to part take in one of the selected plays. It was a conflicting time. I was sad that I did not have the opportunity to explore the ensemble further, if I so chose; but I was also happy for the available opportunities to volunteer and I was also a little proud. I was proud, because by no longer really working with students the ensemble became a testimony to illustrate how far the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble had come. For example, the ensemble is hoping to expand into a Shakespeare camp, festival, tour, and other educational programs.

This ensemble is just another tribute to Davis’ culture. In one of our earlier classes our instructor pointed out that the student’s drive and “go getter” personality is among one of Davis’ observable culture offerings. He pointed out that the students of the University of California, Davis have this tenacity. They do not wait for change to happen, or to be handed what they want. When they want something, they go get it for themselves, just look at our school bus system. Students saw an opportunity. They wanted to exploit their admiration for Shakespeare and put on a play for the sheer love of it at the arboretum, and now they have a Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, that goes much farther than the city of Davis.

Just another day in the culturally rich city of Davis. There is so much to be learned, and so much to do!

[davisdiscoveries]

The Beauty of Rain

This beautiful tree greets me every time I go to eat. Every day I have watched more flowers appear. It reminds me that spring is coming, but we still need a lot more rain if we want a vibrant season. Yet, the rain seems horrible to us when we have to bike to our classes. We stare out the window at the rain and think to ourselves “is going to class worth the struggle?” We sigh, grab our raincoat, rain boots, and a towel to wipe down our bike seat. We walk to the door, pull our hood up, pause for one more second, and then run. “Just get to class… just get to class… just get to class,” we tell ourselves as we squint to see in front of us while dodging the puddles. We finally get to class, sad and wet. In our minds, we hope the rain goes away before we have to venture back out again. Yet, on the other hand, we want the rain. We realize we are in a drought and need the rain to bring life again. So we say, “it can rain when I don’t have class.” But don’t you think the rain would get really confused;

 Rain’s schedule:

7-8 Jimmy doesn’t have class so I can rain, but Susie has class                                                                                Don’t rain             

8-10 Susie doesn’t have class now, but Jimmy has class                                                                              Don’t rain

10-12 Emily has band practice                                                                             Don’t rain

12-1 Lunch                                                                      Don’t rain

1-2 ……                                                                          Don’t rain

The rain can never make everyone happy. I mean, I feel sorry for the rain; it gets so much hate, yet, it’s the source of everything living. Remember the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” It’s interesting how something can be loved and needed, yet also bring such sadness. Yet, we get through the winter because we all know that this rain will bring beautiful things, like this tree. That is why we also love it so much.

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

I LOVE RAIN!

[coolturaldavis]

As I was walking to my car on the fourth level of the Hutchinson parking garage, I was captivated by this view. The photo I took really doesn’t capture what I saw. The sky was shades of purple and blue and the sun was slightly above the horizon. Birds were flying around and making the weird noises they make. The field was brightly lit and the adjacent water tower was standing tall, almost as if on watch. The contrast between the dark of the trees and the befalling night with the setting sun and the lighted fields along with the softly colored sky just made me feel so good. It was a breathtaking view, and again, the photo doesn’t do it justice at all.

[imjinvolved]

Wow! This is a really beautiful picture! I think you captured the scene excellently. The various colors and contrasts really make this picture great. 

[culturecow]

Such a cool panorama!  I wonder where this was taken!  Davis sunsets are quite nice.  The sky always turns these amazing shades.  It is always great appreciating the small things.  

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

The sunsets here are amazing! This picture is so beautiful, thank you for sharing.

[citynittygritty]

The squirrels on campus are so cute! Sometimes I think they’re a bit too comfortable with people though haha!

[imjinvolved]

I have to agree that the squirrels on campus are absolutely adorable! Although it sometimes feels like they are a little comfortable with bikers. I can’t count the times I have had to swerve my bike to avoid running over a squirrel, and usually the swerving makes nearly hit a human….

[youllseedavis-blog]

This is my favorite picture I’ve seen all day. The squirrels are one of my favorite things about Davis, actually. I want to hug all of them and name them all George. I definitely do not mind sharing our town with them, even when they dart in front of my bike.

[culturecow]

This picture is very funny!  Yes, the squirrels here each seem to have their unique personalities.  They are quite cute.  I think they have integrated themselves into Davis’s culture quite nicely.  

[dwilderone]

Actually, today I almost ran over a squirrel while riding my bike. A car was coming from the other direction, so I’m really glad the squirrel decided to run to the less dangerous side of the road.

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

The squirrels in Davis bring up mixed feelings! You are just lost in thought and then a squirrel runs past you and you are brought back to reality. And, you look around and are filled with a feeling of contentment as you watch the people and squirrels pass by. But, then sometimes the squirrels are suicidal, or something, and cause you to be scared out of your wits. Got to love them though.

[imjinvolved]

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Don Saylor the Yolo County Supervisor and local politician. While the meeting was wonderful the travel was not so pleasant. I was not familiar with the location and it also happened that there was heavy rain all around. Needless to say I was soaked and I…

[dwilderone]

I also would not have spoken up if I was in his situation. There are many things that I hold in high importance that I don’t speak up about. It was great to see that both as a politician and a human being, his actions match his passions.

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

Don Saylor is a wonderful local politician! I am so incredibly happy that he is the YOLO County Supervisor. Hearing him talk was a wonderful experience. I am happy we got to meet him, and hear his story. I am also very happy that he spoke up on behalf of the arts. His contributions to Davis' cultural offerings are just too great!

[coolturaldavis]

So I haven’t actually been to any well-known, fancy plays like Phantom of the Opera or any Shakespeare reenactments. The only plays I have been to are the ones my high school had. To be fair though, these plays were actually really good. I have some great memories from these plays.

Some of the…

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

I, also, haven’t been to any “well-known, fancy plays”, either. However, the theatrical plays your school put on was more than what my school did. I would have loved to go to the school plays performed by your old classmates. Regardless, I am happy your school celebrates the arts!

[coolturaldavis]

So I haven’t actually been to any well-known, fancy plays like Phantom of the Opera or any Shakespeare reenactments. The only plays I have been to are the ones my high school had. To be fair though, these plays were actually really good. I have some great memories from these plays.

Some of the...

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

I, also, haven't been to any "well-known, fancy plays", either. However, the theatrical plays your school put on was more than what my school did. I would have loved to go to the school plays preformed by your old classmates. Regardless, I am happy your school celebrates the arts!

[citynittygritty]

More proof that Davis is beautiful, even in the rain!!

[youllseedavis-blog]

These are beautiful pictures! Where can I find this walkway? I also found Davis fairly pleasant in the rain (which is high praise from someone who hates all forms of precipitation). I love that they had the Farmer’s Market anyway—just goes to show you that Davis-ites are committed to their culture!

[citynittygritty]

Thanks Kimmey!! The walkway is a small path leading up to one of the houses in the Davis Village Homes, which is off Russell in West Davis. (If you’re biking on the bike path on Russell towards the Rambles, it’s right where the road splits off at Arlington.) I’m glad I’m not the only one who liked the rain this weekend! :) Although I’m sure the plants appreciated it too!

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

I need to see this walk way and never step on it, ever! These pictures are so beautiful! Davis and the discoveries of people never ceases to amaze me.

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]