I have realized that my intrigue with the SoMa district is still lingering, despite the struggle I had getting to know the neighborhood at times. I still find myself there more than any other part of the city as I loom around the streets after work or a night of drinks. It has become more of a comfort zone as the semester came and went and I continued to meet more people who only welcomed me more. So with that I have decided to continue a blog on the SoMa district in hopes that I become better at reporting on a specific location.
I have also gotten some positive feedback from both the class and some online publications on the stories I have covered in the SoMa. My aim to get better acquainted with the people rather than the place. Over the semester I only wished to have more time to do more of anything, but primary to be better suited with a place I was spending so much time in and thinking of. Already there are stories that have happened than I wished had come sooner so I would be able to write about it and share it with the class.
As of now I am taking a lot of lessons learned from the SoMa. It taught me to be tough when needed and not looking on guard all the time. People can tell when you just want to get the hell past 6th Street.But as I made my decent from there day in and day out I found out that people will read you and take what they transcribed. I found people who were not just homeless, but kind and wanting to just talk to someone.I found men who would cat call to the point of no end, but once told how uncomfortable it made me they would later just say hello when I saw them again. I have threatened people who thought my response to them would be passive and submissive, but walked away not feeling like a victim.
If anything I have learned to respect the neighborhood. Officials, locals, and tourist can wish for it to be different or more comfortable to their lifestyle, but there is a line of respect for all sides that must be accepted. It is the way it is because of the actions we have acted on in the past. That is why I think what we take away from our neighborhood is important. It will change our approach when entering a new or even familiar place.
