Of all the subjects that I'm taking this semester, I like Geography best. At first, I actually didn't thought that I would like this subject because I thought it will be boring and more about talking and familiarizing the different places all over the world, teaching how to tell directions and giving other information about the physical landscapes of the Earth. I was wrong. My geography class proved to me that what I was expecting was far beyond what geography is about and what more it can offer. This subject is so cool and mind-puzzling. Taking up my sociology course, I saw how sociology and geography as disciplines of social sciences are interconnected. I love how my geography class suppress my bad notion for this subject and filled my mind with broad knowledge and understanding on looking on spaces. 

             In the latter part of the class, I got interested how we discussed in the class the different perspectives of the future Geography. I gathered the following pictures below to expand my words on how geography taught a lot of things to me.

Photo grabbed from http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/fundamentals/images/nelson-1.jpg

  

Photo grabbed from https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSh6yYN2Bd09kFBllMlsqQM_fUQPYjW66r_YB_wYuxgoqU4NICzwg

   Photo grabbed from http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a0a92334ef11145ff45c3cf233468e871de5d21a/c=216-0-2880-2004&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/03/28//1396038490000-ETAB-hotel-Las-Vegas.jpg

Photo grabbed from http://bigbangjrproductions.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/future-city1.jpg

                 

                  This subject showed the transitions of the society from the era of hunting and gathering to our current society where in cities is getting bigger where more “pseudoplaces” are present that are products of capitalism and globalization which greatly influenced the changes on our culture and landscapes. We can see how our society changed from the pictures above. The picture shows the kind of society that we have in the beginning that transforms and developed until we reached the kind of society we have now that can be viewed on the third picture. And looking at our present society today reminds me to of my favorite poetry by His Holiness the Dalai Lama titled "The Paradox of our Times"

 THE PARADOX OF OUR TIMES

Is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers

Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints

We spend more, but we have less.

We have bigger houses, but smaller families

More conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees, but less sense

More knowledge, but less judgement

More experts, but more problems

More medicines, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often

We have learnt how to make a living, but not a life.

We have added years to life, but not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back

But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.

We have conquered outer space, but not inner space.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted our soul.

We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We've higher incomes, but lower morals.

We've become long on quantity but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men, and short character;

Steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare,

More leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorces;

Of fancier houses, but broken homes.

It is a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you,

And a time when you can choose,

Either to make a difference .... or just hit, delete.

                 This will lead me to discussing my point of view on the future of geography related to the fourth picture above. I have this pessimistic perspective on what our world would be in the future. Because of the rampant discoveries and innovations of technology, our way of living have really changed and back when I was younger, I often think about of what will the world would look in the future. Technology has been making our life faster and more efficient but we cannot hide its negative effect to our environment and health. I believe that if we will not open our mind to what is really happening to our world, our days are leading an end. Because of the rapid increase of population, politics, economic and cultural ideology which is in the wrong tract, our geography will change and will end and so our lives which so sad to think about. And the fourth picture that I've posted above is quite close to the imagery in my mind about our future geography. 

               This subject showed me that it is quite mix of sociology and geology that gives keys to understanding the world.Geography have given me a lot of information about our landscapes and society and also realizations about life as well. I am so glad that my geography class surpass my expectations to this subject. On the other hand, I don't think that I will appreciate Geog1 this much if my professor was not sir Joseph. I believe that my professors way of handling the class, his teaching instructions and activities and him being very knowledgeable and passionate lectures motivated my performance and appreciation towards the subject.