PRM 380: Blog #2 - Nature and culture

As much as I view nature positively, I do have to admit that the media and pop culture does have an affect on how I view nature, especially at night time. I thuroughly enjoy getting out into the wilderness, but I am a little scared of what is out there at night, mostly due to the fact that you can not see what you are getting yourself into, or observe your surrounds. In addition, the main reason that I enjoy recreation in the woods/wilderness is that I can look at and appreciate all of the beautiful natural surroundings.

Nighttime, though, is one of my necesarry evils about enjoying the wilderness; you usually have to sleep outdoors in the woods on a camping trip, after all. The root of my fears come from horror movies, and my friends and I are constantly joking about "the killer" that is lurking in the woods, right outside of our tent waiting to strike. If it weren't for horror movies depicking the nighttime woods as a place where you run into to escape "the killer" never to return, I don't think that I would have much reason to hear the wilderness.

I do beleive that the media and culture have the ability to change our perception of nature, namely because it has changed that of me and my friends. I have to struggle to find the serenity in the nighttime (usually by gazing at stars) to distract myself from the horror that (apparently) awaits on the other side of the river from my campsite.

PRM 380: Blog #1

Reflecting on nature, eh? The most prominent thing that attracts me to nature is peace and quiet. As I mentioned in class, I really enjoy the city life. I live in downtown Phoenix, have no car, and take advantage of living in an urban environment. On the other hand, I love nature and the retreat from this lifestyle that it provides (and since I don't have a car, my natural excursions can't be spontaneous).

Along the same lines of peace and quiet, nature also makes me feel very small in this big world (see picture from previous post). Even though the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground, it really put you in your place. Likewise, I hiked the Kiwanis Trail in South Mountain Park last Sunday with my parents, and the valley through which you hike, surrounded on both sides. Speaking of my parents, I think that they are the reason I am fond of nature, especially viewing nature as an escape from city life. Growing up, we had a cabin on the eastern side of Olympic National Park in the wilderness of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. We enjoyed the natural settings, playing around the river, and digging for clams in the Puget Sound. My siblings and I were taught at a young age that nature was something to be enjoyed, and that we were fortunate to have such great natural areas so close to home in the Northwest.

These views on nature have affected my life because I always enjoy going out into nature, and some do not. Also, I am a person concerned with preservation of open space and conservation of our environment because I enjoy nature. From a career standpoint, preserving wilderness areas for the sake of tourism will affect my career because people enjoy visiting the outdoors and participating in recreation. Overall, in my eyes, preserving nature and the environment has a large, positive ripple effect to all aspects of life.

PRM 380: Introduction

What's up, PRM 380?!?

My name is Randy Coté, and I am a tourism development and management major. This is my final semester at ASU, and it's been quite a ride. Here are the essential facts:

* I'm from Seattle, WA and plan to return there after graduation. I cannot picture myself living anywhere else (at this time), and growing up there has really shaped me and my world view.

* I'm pretty down with Mother Nature. I'm big on sustainability, public transit, enjoying the outdoors, and getting other people to live an environmentally responsible life too (but I'm NOT some crazy hippie).

* I am passionate about my major and working in the industry. I always have fun in everything I do, and working in the tourism field will (hopefully) allow this continue.

Here's to a great semester, and have a great holiday weekend!