#the previously mentioned inclusion of sam within trainings

[aliusfrater]

[rkhemlani]

June 16th - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park

Nico and I skipped breakfast again this morning and slept in a little bit. We knew there was going to be a quiz, so we reviewed the readings one more time before Professor Smith’s announcement at 9:00 am (we are familiar with your tactics Dr. Smith). Prior to fully entering the bamboo forest, we stopped at a love shrine, because the last one we tried to visit was closed. Professor Smith recalled my previous joke saying that I need the love shrine really badly, which I thought was funny. I already know I drank from the Romance Stream of water from the Kannon temple a couple days ago, so I didn’t want to ruin my odds. As we strolled through the bamboo forest, we saw a man playing this extremely soothing disc instrument that I had seen on Instagram before (I don’t know the name of it). We continued along and of course Vishnu and I found an extremely photogenic spot to take pics along the water, which oddly reminded us of what we thought Vietnam would look like. I wanted to go for a swim so bad. After that we broke for lunch, where Vishnu, Chelsea, Sam (the boy), and I all went to a ramen place that was a solid 7/10. After that I got Chelsea coffee and myself coffee and she repaid me by buying me a yummy strawberry ice cream. I think that’s like at least five different people I have gotten to buy me ice cream. Vishnu and I took more pics on the bridge, and we met back up with the group for a hike up to a monkey park. There, we took more pics as a group, fed monkeys peanuts for 50 yen, and enjoyed the wonderful views above Kyoto. It’s kinda sad that the trip is going to be over in a couple days, because we have a really weird, yet fun group. We headed back down the mountain and a group of us (Boy Sam, Girl Sam, Eliza, Vishnu, Chelsea, Casey, Julie, Nico, Aulora, and I) stopped at another coffee shop where we chit chatted, had overrated drinks, and reminisced the trip. We took the train back, Nico and I napped, and then we met downstairs to go to a rooftop bar. I had a good talk with Casey about our favorite parts of the trip and what we missed the most from back home. Unfortunately, I led the group to an overpacked bar as I had forgotten it was Friday and it was happening. I felt bad for making everyone walk for half an hour. On the way back, Julie and I talked about the way our Asian parents punished us as kids and we offered each other restaurant recommendations in Miami/Broward. I love when people give new spots for me to try in Miami. We stopped at Family Mart for snacks and some of us played Uno in our room to end the night which was nice. Nico and I also played heads-up poker after everyone had left, because we are dying to play when we get back to Miami. I hope this group can be able to meet up in Gainesville for a party or a function later on this year.

Academic Reflection

Today one of our readings was on “The Tale of Genji”, which I had read parts of previously in my Self and Society in East Asia quest course during the Spring of my freshman year. It was a great read and an even better read now. The entire plot revolves around the romantic adventures of Genji, the son of the emperor who exiles himself after committing some wrongdoings. It was interesting to visit the place where he had his affair with Lady Rokujo. The story is considered to be the world’s first novel and is a classic piece of literature. It was enlightening to be able to picture the settings described in the story and I was glad that we were able to visit said place.

The other reading discussed the importance of preservation for the bamboo forest. I found it particularly compelling the way the article mentioned the inclusion of nature within city planning. I wish we had this back in Miami, where there aren’t many large parks that are nature based other than protected ocean reefs. We were able to see dense and luscious forests that were located in the middle of Kyoto when we were at the monkey park on top of the mountain.

[aliusfrater]

#CRAZYYY. the insinuation of whatever imaginary mental gap john believes exists between sam vs dean and john is#being represented by sam's loneliness (sully as a symbol) which spills over into john's (and dean's) infantilisation and exclusion of sam#which culminates in the lack of information he grants to sam + sam's exclusion from the familial dynamic#(which is also ultimately his inclusion) AS WELL AS#the previously mentioned inclusion of sam within trainings#like what fucking nine year old can shoot a gun and run two miles!! but is excluded from the activities#these skills are introduced to be cultivated for#liminal space moment. which is where sully's existence as an aid comes in#but also the subtextual connection between this + sam's season seven arc. “well i never had an imaginary friend” vs#“now onto our other big problem. how're you doin'? and do not say okay.”#also thinking about this + sully dealing with kid sam's 'there's something inherently wrong with me' ("i can't go on a quest like that...") thoughts#while sam and dean are actively attempting to negotiate sam's inclusion in his family#like they just bounce off of each other. sam has sully because of his exclusion + those feelings of inherent wrongness#but he continues to be excluded because of sully's existence as an aid for his exclusion

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