Tunnels, Palaces, and Museums...Oh My!!

Today has been an amazing first full day in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Melissa and I started out by heading to the one and only Starbucks at 6:15am. We had to wait outside for about 15 mins for them to open, but spent our time taking pictures. I was able to try the Indulgence Asian Dolce Latte, and it was so delicious. I also got a BBQ Pork Wrap which was one of the most delicious food items I've ever gotten from Starbucks. I also fulfilled my mission of getting a Vietnam Mug and we admired the inside of the store before heading back to our hotel to meet up with our group who was at breakfast.

We then began our 1 1/2 hour journey through Ho Chi Minh, a Rubber Plantation, and the countryside to the Cu Chi Tunnels. They have turned the infamous system heavily utilized throughout the French and American Wars into a tourist site. We got to crawl all around the tunnels which had been widened for tourists.

The view coming out of a tunnel 

Dylan descending into one of the tunnels. 

Photo-op with the mannequin

Cassava with a salt, sugar, and peanut blend

Northern Vietnamese performing surgery in a tunnel.

From there we headed to a firing range that was part of the tunnels. I got to shoot 5 rounds in an M-16 rifle. 

Cody (who is blind) giving me aiming tips, hilarious and helpful

We headed back into town for lunch which had oh so many courses that were incredibly delicious.
For the afternoon portion of our day, we headed to the Reunification Palace (Independence Palace) where our guide Phoung took us around and showed us the highlights.

Reunification Palace

 After the palace, we headed to the War Remnants Museum. This museum is clearly telling the story of the French and American War through a communist lens by using photographs and some artifacts. They strange part about most of these cultural locations is that they are very open air. Which as a museum professional kind of freaked me out, but the galleries were climate controlled to some degree. The objects are also essentially used to the crazy humidity here. The three levels contained different exhibitions that were topical to the war. I chose to go to the Effect of Agent Orange gallery which looked at how the ten year period from 1961-1971 that the United States dropped NaPalm on Vietnam has had a lasting and horrific affect on the Vietnamese people. It was incredibly sad. We then journeyed to the Historical Truths gallery which definitely used sensationalized language to tell about the events that led up to the United States entering Vietnam for war. The final exhibition that I liked was about the various protests that happened around the world against U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Not only did anti-war protests happen at home but in just about every major city and country you could name. That was eye opening to me, to see how many people around the world were rooting for Vietnam to just be left alone and free.

War Remnants Museum 

 We left the museum and headed back to the hotel to freshen up before a delicious dinner. After consuming a lot of food, several of us decided to head out and explore a night market, Saigon Square, and other aspects of night life here in Ho Chi Minh. We ended up at a lovely establishment entitled the Drunken Duck which we all thought was hilariously named. After consuming a drink we split off with part of the group going back to the hotel and four of us decided to go look at a couple really cool architectural buildings. I was able to get a really nice Filipino man to take a group shot of us and then we headed back to the hotel.

It has been a crazy full day and I cannot wait to see what kind of shenanigans happen tomorrow. Vietnam is pretty awesome.

Preparing for the 'Nam

Tuesday I'm leaving on a very long journey to Vietnam. I have the amazing opportunity to go on a Vietnam War study abroad trip to Vietnam with my lovely undergrad institution and my favorite history professor who I went to Europe with 3 years ago.
Many people are shocked when I tell them that I am going to Vietnam. They look at me and wonder why in the world I am going all the way to this southeast Asia country. Well because I have done most of my undergraduate and a lot of graduate school research and projects related to the Vietnam War. My first project examined the roles of women in the Vietnam War from nurses, to the women's army corp, red cross workers, and other civilian organizations. In addition I continued to further examine this War and women's place in it throughout grad school.

Second  Lieutenant Kathleen Sullivan treating a Vietnamese child 

All of this research was spurred by a conversation that I was fortunate to stumble upon in undergrad. I was conducting oral history interviews with woman veterans when I found a woman who had been a nurse in the Vietnam War. Since that day I have essentially become obsessed with finding out more about this war and time period.
Enter this lovely study abroad trip with my favorite professor from my undergrad, Flagler College. It will be a fast paced trip through a country that is comparable to the size of New Mexico in land area.

Our Itinerary has us in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) and surrounding area for about 3 days. We will explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, and a floating market. 

Tour guide demonstrates a secret entrance into the Cu Chi Tunnels 

From there we will begin our journey north stopping in Da Nang and the Cham Museum, followed by Hoi An where we will visit the iconic and famous My Khe beach which was nicknamed "China Beach" by the English, and the Marble Mountains.

My Khe Beach aka "China Beach"

 In addition to these we will get a change to explore Hoi An including a bicycle excursion into the countryside. (I haven't ridden a bike in a couple years so this will be interesting). After a full day of exploring we will begin our journey to Hue which was a former capital of Vietnam and full of the ancient history of Vietnam. We are scheduled to explore the Tomb of Tu Doc, Khai Dinh, and Minh Mang. That afternoon we will get to ride down the perfume river exploring the 200-year-old Citadel and Imperial City.

Imperial City 

 Our final stop in our tour through the country will be in Hanoi, the capital of North Vietnam during the war. Our major stops will be the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the Hoa Lo Prison, aka the "Hanoi Hilton" which became famous when American POWs were held there. This trip will be eventful and amazing. I cannot wait to see all that Vietnam has and visit the first and only Starbucks located in Ho Chi Minh! 

(all pictures come from Wikipedia) 

Changing America

Changing America is the new exhibit in the National African American History and Culture gallery located in the National Museum of American History. This exhibition parallels to huge events in American history that transformed our nation. The first event highlighted is the Emancipation Proclamation which was signed January 1, 2013. That section of the exhibition talks about what that meant for those enslaved and how their lives were transformed by the proclamation.
The second important event is the March on Washington (MOW) which occurred in 1963. In talking about the MOW, the exhibition also talks about several movements that led up to this great event. Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Monument, A. Phillip Randolph's failed attempt in the 1940s, and the major players in organizing the MOW like Randolph, Bayard Rustin, and others.

Exhibition Entrance 

Center Section/intro panel that shows the two different sections. I also like the A.P.R. quote. 

Harriet Tubman's shawl. 

Commemoration print of the emancipation proclamation

Another commemoration print. I actually did some research on this object as part of my internship.

Transitioning to MOW side with a wonderful MLK quote. 

A sign carried at the MOW 

Official MOW poster I believe 

The exhibition concludes with showing how the MOW also inspired other campaigns like the Poor People's Campaign, and the American Disabilities movement. 

 One of the coolest parts of this exhibition was the fact that several of the objects in the emancipation proclamation side I have done research on as part of my internship. It made my day to see them in person.
Overall, I think this is one of the best exhibitions that has been sponsored by the museum. However, my one complaint would be that it is slightly cramped mainly because of how small the gallery is. The walkway between the cases felt almost claustrophobic and I'm sure was at the minimum allowance for ADA requirements.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/changing-america

Time to Explore

Grad School has definitely put a damper into my blog writing. I think it's been over a year since I last updated, and I am feeling like there is a need for a change in direction. Working in museums over this last year where I have learned more and more about what good interpretation and informal learning looks like. In addition, I have been consistently asked what can museums do better, and how would I possibly change what museums are doing now. So this blog will probably get incredibly nerdy.

Of course the consequence of being in grad school for museum work means that I don't actually go to museums all that frequently. Life has a way of distracting you, and making you not want to spend even more time in a museum. However, there are some exhibits that I have been looking forward to opening, and I'm planning to go to during my winter break.

Food: Transforming the American Table, 1950-2000 at the National American History Museum
This exhibit contains Julia Child's kitchen (which I love) as one of the centerpieces. Check out the website

One Life: Amelia Earhart at the National Portrait Gallery
I have always loved Amelia Earhart, I guess being the daughter of a pilot will do that! In addition this exhibition also appears to have artifacts in addition to the various portraits!
The website 

A Will of their Own: Judith Sargent Murray and Women of Achievement in the Early Republic at the National Portrait Gallery
I just happened upon this by looking at the NPG website. The hilarious part is that my final project for my Historic Site Interpretation Class revolved around this very topic! Check out the website

While I am sure that I could add more, I find it bet when I limit myself to a couple exhibits, otherwise I get overwhelmed and can't concentrate on the various elements I've now been trained to notice. I'm really excited for this semester of school to be over, and hope that this break allows me to explore some new exhibitions!

Christmas at Mount Vernon

I was able to get the chance to go to Mount Vernon and see it decorated for the holidays. While in the 1790s they did not decorate like we think of Christmas decorations today. The decoration in the house was pretty much limited to evergreen bows over the windows, and the Christmas Camel on the lawn Aladdin. I just love going to Mount Vernon, and I now have an annual pass so I can go whenever I want!

The Thanksgiving Turkey

Aladdin the Christmas Camel

I love this house so much!

The Greenhouse

View of the Potomac from the Veranda

View of the Spinning Room. 

The Loom. G.W. was a huge proponent of homespun cloth for his Plantation. 

Mount Vernon in Gingerbread, Incredible!

Veranda View

It is so detailed, and looks exactly like the house!

One of my favorite spots. I can just picture the Washington family sitting out here, and watching the activity that passed by on the Potomac River. I am in awe when I stand here, and think about it. I'm so lucky to be able to go here whenever I want to. 

The City of Brotherly Love

 A few weeks ago I was able to go to Philadelphia to do research for a paper. I was able to do research as well as be a tourist as well. I had so much fun, and have fallen in love with Philly. I want to go back and spend more than a few hours. Regardless here are some pictures from my trip and I apologize for the overload.

Independence Hall. They are working on restoring the tower, and I think it is scheduled to be done soon. 

I don't remember what this is, but Philly has some gorgeous architecture. I love the pattern on the window above the door. 

If I remember correctly this is the building that the Philly/Independence National Park NPS Headquarters is located. 

Another architectural detail. 

An example of an English style garden? I just really loved this gazebo and pathway. 

I love the pattern on this gate. 

Part of "Bank Row" All of these buildings used to contain some of the first banks in Philly. Fortunately the buildings are still there!

This is the whole reason why I came, for this exhibit. This is the street entrance to the Presidential House exhibit.  The liberty bell center is in the background.

Me inside the exhibit. 

The dining room area. Each room is supposed to have mini vignettes about several of the slaves that lived at the Presidential House in Philly. The colored panel has a significant event that happened in the house? I was kind of confused by them, I didn't exactly know the significance of the events that were on some of the glass colored panels. 

Archaeolgoical remains of the Presidential House, and the structure that was built ontop in the early 19th centruy. the Rounded portion in the upper right corner is part of a window that George Washignton added to the house. 

NPS sign about the house, gave a brief summary, and is nice because of the visual of what the house used to look like. 

Independence National Park 

The Liberty Bell!

A George Washington Statue. Fun fact this one is also on the GWU Campus. This is a fun game to play. How many George Washington statues can you find!

This is the train board at the station in Philly. It's so old school. When I was in the station I felt like I was back in 1943 or something. It was magical, and I was totally romanced. 

The train station was beautiful!

So that was my trip to Philadelphia in a nutshell. It was the first time that I had taken a trip by myself, and I survived. I was a bit nervous, but it was wonderful. I do wish I had someone with me, but that's for another time. I was able to see the exhibit, and get more source ideas for my paper!