Lowell Excursions, Pt. 2

One of the things that helps distinguish Lowell is how so many different cultures come together to form Lowell’s culture. Since coming to Lowell, I have explored the city both on and off of campus to get to know the city and get a better sense of what Lowell is. One of the places we visited was a Cambodian restaurant, Simply Khmer, which is run by a Cambodian couple, one of whom is a refugee of the Khmer Rouge. A few friends of mine also took me to a Mexican restaurant where we had the unique experience of listening to a mariachi band play for the patrons of the restaurant. Lastly I went to a South Indian restaurant, Udupi Bhavan, where I almost felt like the food I ate at home, and it was a welcome change from the school dining hall food. Because food is such an essential aspect of a culture, each of these three restaurants gave me a small glimpse into the lifestyles of people from the different cultures, which gives an understanding of how they assimilated to life in Lowell without leaving behind their traditions and lifestyle.

When we went as a class to the Cambodian restaurant, Simply Khmer, one of the first things I noticed about the restaurant were the Asian accents around the place, like the tall bamboo stalks in every corner, the artwork on the walls, and even the giant fish in the fish tank added to the restaurant's ambiance. Two tables had been reserved for the class and after everyone had been seated, the restaurant owner and his wife came out to speak to us about his story and experience in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge. The owner, Sam, started off by explaining that he was only a child when the Khmer Rouge was in power. The Khmer Rouge was a communist party, aided by the Vietnamese, that rose to power as a result of the French's attempt to colonize Cambodia. Nearly two million people were killed under the Khmer regime for anything that could potentially associate them with rebel groups, such as being educated or gathering to hold discussions. Sam explained how when he was a boy, one day his dad came home and told them they had to leave home and that they had to pack up their essential belongings and evacuate their village. In particular, he touched on how they used to have a dog and that they had to leave the dog behind, but that his father would still go back every so often to check back on their home and on the dog. One day, however, his father did not come back, and up until today, it is still not completely certain what happened to him, but it is highly likely that like so many others who disappeared, he was executed. Sam then explained how he was able to get a foster family and eventually he opened up Simply Khmer in Lowell because cooking was one of the skills he had a knack for and had had to have when he was younger. Today, he is the main chef in his restaurant and he and his wife both successfully run the place together. One thing I got out of this visit was that after coming to America, Sam did not lose the traditions and values of the country he came from, rather he brought his culture to Lowell and while bringing a piece of his old home with him to share with others in the area, he made it a part of Lowell's diverse culture as well.
My second excursion took place a week ago when my friends surprised me and took me out for a birthday dinner at a local Mexican restaurant called El Potro, which translates to "cowboy" in Spanish. When we arrived at the place, it took me a moment to locate the restaurant 's small sign amidst the other shops lining the block. We entered the restaurant and were greeted by a friendly waiter who, after seating us, handed us the menus and gave us a few minutes to decide what we wanted. Instead of looking at the menu, I spent a good amount of time just observing the surroundings. The restaurant was a small and cozy place, with a bright red orange and yellow color scheme and frames/artwork lining the walls and booths, that gave it a very Latino ambiance. Most surprising was that there was also a live Mariachi band performing for the patrons--many of whom appeared to be Hispanic or Latin American, which was a very unique experience; I had been to Mexican restaurants before, but this was my first time listening to a Mariachi band in one. It so happened that when the waiter came back out to take our order, I was not ready because I had spent the past five minutes admiring the restaurant's design rather than looking at the menu. When I finally did look at the menu, I decided on a vegetable enchilada and my friends decided on fajitas, a burrito, and nachos, which may be considered "tex-mex" food, but is still prepared in Mexican style. The food came within ten minutes, freshly cooked and hot. Each dish came with a side of either beans or rice or both, which is typical since beans and rice are both typical Mexican foods. What stood out most to me about this restaurant was the mariachi band, the Spanish-speaking staff, and the mix of different patrons eating there. Just like with the Cambodian restaurant, eating at the Mexican restaurant gave me a glimpse of Mexican culture, especially because of the Mariachi band, and it was interesting to see how well the Mexican culture was accepted and integrated into Lowell's culture as a whole.
The third place I went to was Udupi Bhavan, a South Indian restaurant located past South Campus off of Pawtucket St. Normally I do not enjoy--or used to not enjoy--eating out at an Indian restaurant because the point of going out to eat is to have something different for once, and my mother already makes Indian like nobody else can, so why pay someone to make something that my mother could just make at home? However, now that I do not live at home, the dining hall food gets repetitive and boring, especially for a vegetarian like me, and all of a sudden Indian food is the closest thing to "home away from home" in terms of food. I took a few friends with me for dinner and when we arrived at the restaurant, were seated at a small table in the corner. The seating area was not very large, but the place was clearly popular because once 6:00 hit, the tables filled up quickly and there was even a fair sized line of people waiting to be seated. The whole place reminded me of India itself, from the designs on the wallpaper to the paintings of various Hindu gods and goddesses framed along the counter tops. This time, I could relate to how Indian culture was brought to Lowell and that it became a part of the Lowell community. This restaurant was clearly a popular place to eat at for Indians in the area because it was just like eating home cooked food and its presence and popularity shows how Indian customs and traditions were accepted into Lowell's own culture.
By visiting three restaurants, all of which can be found withing a two to three mile radius of each other, of three different countries, I was able to see how prevalent Lowell's cultural diversity and acceptance is. Food is a large part of a country's traditions and values and if a counry's food has been accepted as a part of Lowell, it is fair to say that those cultures have become a part of Lowell's as well. Despite representing three completely different cultures, by bringing a part of their respective cultures to Lowell, they have added to Lowell's overall culture as a whole.

The Common Creative

For a person from a quiet suburban town in a large city like Lowell, finding a peaceful moment is magical; to only hear the sound of water flowing and leaves rustling in the wind, to not hear the cars rushing by, occasionally blowing a horn, is like music to the ears. The hardest thing to do is find a place to yourself, where no one will walk by and disturb your peace, where you can turn your phone off and disappear in your thoughts for an hour, because even that basic privacy has been stolen from you since you came to live in a dorm with one or more roommates and an entire hallway of loud college students. Any place you go to is full of people, you can't even find a bathroom that will stay empty for more than five minutes.

A walk down the canal might seem perfect, but then you see the mill chimneys in the distance and you still hear the sound of cars and you realize the canal is not a good enough refuge from the city.

You see a path behind your dorm and the reds and oranges and yellows of the leaves blanketing the ground call out to you and you think that this path may very well be the quiet place you seek.

You walk along the path, searching for a spot to sit and you make your way down to the riverbank which provides the perfect place to sit and let your thoughts take you out of the present...or so you think.It only takes fifteen minutes for the first smoker to arrive, with his joint rolled up and held firmly between his fingers. You think that you're fine and you won't be bothered, as long as he is quiet and does not bother you. Soon enough, the smell of weed permeates the air around you and he even comes up to offer you some...you glare at him and walk away; this was not the magical spot you were seeking.

You head back to the path and walk further along it, hoping to come across another spot by the riverbank, away from the smoker hangout and in your irritation at the people who had to choose such a beautiful place to get high, you almost miss the little trail leading back down to another spot by the river. This spot is much smaller, only enough space for a few people to stand, but the view of the water and sky and the opposite bank is beautiful. There is even a large rock with a good vantage point so that even if someone were to come alone, they would not notice you and you would be left in peace. You let yourself relax, believing that since you barely managed to find this spot, others would not find it either.

And this time you are right; you found a peaceful moment and it was magical; no cars, no people, no trash littering the ground. Only you, the trees, the water, and the occasional squirrel or bird.

You think about your day and your friends and you simply watch the river flow and watch the birds dive into the water and watch the squirrels dig around in the blanket of leaves on the ground...and for the first time since you came here, you forget about the homework due at midnight, you forget about your roommate issues, you forget about all the things that added up and that you did not even know where stressing you out until you forgot about them for that one hour. And that was magical.

 I based my Common creative assignment off of a series of photographs from Issue 9 by Teju Cole (pages 31-41). In his piece, Cole has a set of photographs of different places in Switzerland and also includes a brief story at the beginning that coincides with the photos and shares a little bit behind what the though process was or what is happening in that photo. I chose to base my assignment off of this piece for a few different reasons, most important being that I very much enjoy photography. I also liked how Cole told a story at the beginning with many different interpretations; I chose to look at it as the story the photographs were telling.

My own piece tells my story of finding  a quiet place to relax and be alone in. As a large city, Lowell is full of people and cars and even in the dead of night sirens can be heard as the police are called from one emergency to the next. This noise and busy atmosphere is part of what makes Lowell the city that it is. However what makes it special is that despite its high level of activity, one can still find a quiet and secluded place, far away from the loud and obnoxious students in the dorm and away from the stressors in life. By choosing to share photographs from along my endeavor, I shared a unique side of Lowell that few people see and and get to appreciate as they go through their hectic and day to day lives, unaware of the silence and relaxation that can be found only a short distance away. For me, this spot is a two minute walk from my dorm building and it is a perfect spot to go to for a late night walk (not alone, of course) when I need a break from studying for a big exam or writing a paper due the next day. It is this side of Lowell that I enjoy the most, and much of this enjoyment comes from the feeling of fulfillment from having found a special and magical spot that I can almost call my own. 

The photographs I included in this assignment reflect my feeling of contentment and helps portray the natural beauty and quietness of this special place in Lowell. Doubtless, there are many other places like this in Lowell, where the sounds of the city fade away and a person can get lost in their thoughts and by sharing this assignment, I also hope for others to be able to find a spot of their own like this for when they themselves are stressed out or just need to be on their own.

Lowell Excursions

One of the things that helps distinguish Lowell is the wide array of historical and modern turn of events that help shape and define the city’s culture. Since coming to Lowell I have explored the city both on and off of campus to get a better sense of what Lowell is. One of the first places we visited was the Boott Cotton Mills which was the first set of mills built in Lowell and provided a brief glimpse into the history of Lowell. We also went to the Merrimack Repertory Theatre where Benjamin Scheuer performed a one man musical that told his coming-of-age story that shared a personal and individual experience and brought the audience, the people of Lowell, to relate together. Lastly, I went to a Riverhawk hockey game which made me a part of the modern Lowell society.

Visiting the Boott Cotton Mills provided insight on the historical aspect of Lowell and how it was the center of the Industrial Revolution. The Boott Cotton Mill was the first mill built in Lowell and represents the starting point or center of the Industrial Revolution. Lowell’s location on the river is what specifically made Lowell and ideal spot for industry, because water power could be turned into mechanical power that could then be used to run the mills. We were brought into a room packed with mechanical looms. After seeing how ridiculously close the looms were to each other, I was not surprised to hear how many injuries occurred in the mills. However, I was taken aback when the tour guide told us that in the past the looms were actually placed even closer, with barely enough space to walk safely. Another interesting thing was the amount of noise the looms were making. Out of all the looms in the room, only about half a dozen were running and when we left the room my ears were ringing after only five minutes of standing in the room. Working for over ten hours every day with hundreds of these looms running at the same time is unimaginable and it was no wonder that along with all the physical injuries, many women also had hearing problems after working in the mills for a while. After visiting the loom room, we were taken to a workshop where we were assigned roles to play to simulate working in an assembly line at the factory. It was interesting to see that despite the ridiculous work expectations and pay, women were still coming to work at the mills because even with the terrible conditions, they were getting extra spending money, which was something they were not getting from working in a rural environment. The women also had little choice in the quality of their work environment or their pay; if they held a strike or protested they were very easily replaceable by immigrants or other women looking for opportunities to earn spending money through work. It was through this exploitation of people rural areas and immigrants that Lowell was industrialized, which is a huge part of Lowell’s culture.

When we went to watch “The Lion,” I had walked into the Merrimack Repertory Theatre expecting to watch something interesting, but cheesy and unenjoyable, because I had no idea how a one-man musical was supposed to work. What I did not expect was the moving story Benjamin Scheuer poured out to the audience. The one-man musical was basically the man, Benjamin Scheuer, retelling his life story in the form of songs, using several different guitars to symbolically portray and share the different stages in his life. There was a guitar for his childhood years, one for his angsty teenage years, and several more for when he fell in love with his girlfriend, when he was diagnosed with cancer, when he reconnected with his family, and other significant events. Along with the symbolic use of different guitars, the mood and tone of his story was also depicted by the constantly changing color of the back wall. The way his tone was broadcasted onto the well really helped set the mood for the audience and helped me empathize and feel a part of his story, experiencing what he was experiencing, rather than an outside observer like I actually was. Attending this event helped me connect to Lowell’s artistic and emotionally sensitive side as Scheuer brought his captivated audience on a roller coaster ride of different emotions from happiness to depression to excitement to anger and several others, and this connectedness is part of Lowell’s culture.
The third excursion I took was to a Riverhawk hockey game which brought me together with the Lowell community to be a part of something that we all enjoy. It was a Saturday night and with nothing to do I went to the UMass Lowell versus Colorado College hockey game at the Tsongas Center. I had never watched ice hockey before and was not sure if I would actually enjoy it or not, but I was pleasantly surprised. One of my friends was on his phone for the first half of the game, which I was completely baffled by because the game was quite captivating. I have to say, the most intriguing parts of the game were when the puck would go flying halfway around the rink against the wall and whenever somebody would get checked, or slammed into the glass, and my friend on his phone could not help but agree once Lowell scored the first goal against Colorado. Every Lowell goal was followed by an exuberant playing of the UML Fight Song while the crowd sang along. By the end of the second period Lowell was tied 1 to 1 and the crowd was starting to become rowdy. The third period of the game was the most intense part and eventually we won 3-1. What I most enjoyed about going out to the game that night was the feeling of being a part of the community, because ice hockey is a large part of Lowell’s culture, and being a part of the game and cheering the team on brought me in with Lowell’s culture.

The three excursions I went on were completely different from each other, yet they all contributed to bringing me closer to Lowell’s heritage. The visit to the Boott Cotton Mills helped me understand Lowell’s history and background which are a large part of the city’s culture. Benjamin Scheuer’s performance of “The Lion” at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre was also important because it brought the audience together in relating or sympathizing to a common circumstance. The Riverhawk hockey game was also a contributor to bringing me close to Lowell’s culture because much of Lowell’s social culture revolves around ice hockey. It is because of this cultural connectedness that I can experience Lowell to the fullest. As someone who was born in Lowell I can now say that to come back to Lowell after so many years is an experience and being able to become a part of Lowell’s society and feeling the cultural connectedness is something that I am looking forward to.