about alana
My name is Alana! I am a (fifth) year biological anthropology student, when I graduate I hope to work at a zoo or animal sanctuary with primates, my favourites are lemurs! Speaking of lemurs, I am really looking forward to going to the zoo in Sapporo since they house many types of primates including lemurs! Aside from being a student, I have worked as a swim instructor for six years teaching children. My hobbies include swimming, running, travelling and yoga. Since I am in anthropology, I am looking forward to travelling to Japan to observe and participate in the culture, most especially flower arranging and meditation. I am really interested in visiting a Buddhist country as this is the first time I have visited one. When our group studies are finished in Hakodate I am going to Bali for ten days and then will be coming back to Tokyo for two days before coming back to Canada! In Tokyo I am really excited to go to the zoo and to shop at the 100 yen stores!
Name: Alana, my friends call me Lanny
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Major: Biological Anthropology (Primatology)
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What are you most passionate about: Animals, Yoga
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What do you do in your free time: Anything outside or active, swimming and yoga are my favourite
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Hobbies: Shopping (I am a kijiji queen), travelling, yoga
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Favourite place you have travelled to: Bali, or Brighton, UK
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Favourite flavour of ice cream flavour: Honey Lavender
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Favourite meme:
Individual Blog Post #2: Hakodate Kanemori Red Brick Buildings
Published May 13, 11:00AM
In order to begin in field research on the history of the Hakodate Port, including the red brick Kanemori warehouses that reside next to the port, my group and I have arrived in Hakodate, Japan. Since being in field we have visited the Hakodate Port twice, and have walked past the red brick Kanemori buildings, as well as visited briefly the shops inside of them.
It is obvious that the red brick warehouses are an import tourist landmark here in Hakodate, as there are signs for them everywhere with directions. Inside the red brick warehouses are put together shops, selling famous baked goods, sweets, clothing, traditional fans and robes, and souvenirs. In order to better understand the significance of the Hakodate Port and the history of the red brick warehouses there is a museum that our group plans to visit. Aside from actually visiting the Hakodate Port, there have been some museums that have had some good information on the history of the port that we have visited. One museum that was full of information was the Old British Consulate. In this museum there was a lot of information on the opening of the Hakodate Port and about the importance of the opening of the port for trade and also for the influx of culture and trade that occurred in consequence to the port opening. With the opening of the Hakodate Port there were Western influences on architecture. This can be seen in the architecture of the Kanemori red brick warehouses. Many of the materials that other buildings in the area are made out of are wood and paper and are very traditional and typical Japanese. The red brick warehouses resemble more of a Western influence in materials (red bricks of course) and also in style. The red brick warehouse to me resemble how homes in England look. The doors of the red brick warehouses are heavy steel doors, not delicate sliding wood and paper ones like in traditional Japanese homes. By visiting the Old British Consulate is also obvious that this building was influenced by Western culture as it looks like a home from historical Europe more than it does historical Japan. It is interesting to realize that this influence would not have occurred if the port had not been opened in Hakodate.
I am interested in learning more about the other influences the opening of the Hakodate Port had on Hakodate in terms of culture, history, and architecture. I am looking forward to continuing the in field research of the history of the Hakoate Port and researching the social aspects of ice cream in Japan.
Individual Blog Post #3: self rflection and other thoughts
I have been in Hakodate Japan for over 10 days now, and I have learned so much. I have enjoyed watching all the people, learning about the culture and history, and of course sampling lots and lots of ice cream! Finding ice cream in Hakodate has not been hard at all, it is offered everywhere! There are so many unique types of ice cream and flavours that are specific to the area we are in, such as squid ink ice cream. We have been lucky enough to be staying right across the street from the Port of Hakodate, it is really beautiful and full of history. Finding information on the history of the port has been a bit more difficult, as the only information we could find has been on signs that are scattered throughout the area, and in various museums. It is obvious though, how important the port has been for the prosperity of Hakodate, and still is. Fishing is a major industry here due to the port, along with tourism that the port and the Red Brick Warehouses along the port attract. I am really glad we chose this topic for history project, as the area has become my favourite place to spend time in Hakodate.
