English # 7

My subculture is all about giving back, and helping people. I think by doing my fieldwork about volunteers, I am giving back, by giving my subculture some publicity. By teaching other people ways to volunteer and about the volunteering community, it will hopefully show them how much fun and how rewarding volunteering can actually be. I think that getting the word out, and getting more volunteers, for any site, is the best thing to give back to the volunteering community. It is hard to give to the volunteering community because they are always the ones giving to everyone else.

HOBY/Volunteer survey

http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=if6jprphg39cnj5550030

English Groundwork

The first impression that I got as I arrived to HOBY was, oh my lanta, get me outta here, these people are nuts. When you first arrive at HOBY, there are people running at you and your car, screaming and welcoming you. This was a little much for me at 8:00 a.m. I soon then realized that this place could be fun. No one knew me, I could break out of my shell, not worry about what anyone knew about me, or thought about me, because they didn't know! HOBY is a place where students come to be themselves. There is only one student from each school in Indiana, so they may know someone from another school, but it is unlikely. I then learned about volunteering at HOBY and I was in love. Volunteering made me feel so great, it was like I was high on volunteering, and nothing was bringing me down. The people around me were passionate about what they were doing, and it made me want to be more passionate.

As I entered HOBY, I felt overwhelmed. People running and screaming, being so enthusiastic, I wasn't sure what to expect for the weekend. As I got settled in my room I realized that I could make this place great, so all of a sudden I wasn't overwhelmed anymore, i was excited. I was excited to see what the weekend had a head of me, of the people i would meet, and of what i would find out about myself. Once we started our volunteer projects and heard panels about volunteering, I was anxious to start my volunteer work, and keep at it for a while.

I am an insider at HOBY and as a volunteer, now but I wasn't before i went to HOBY. If you have never been to HOBY, you are automatically an outsider, it is something that you must experience before you can become an insider, and really understand what HOBY is all about. I am still an outsider in some ways, but not as I was before. I would say that I am an "outsider" to the "administration" of HOBY. The adult staff and executive board are basically the administration of HOBY, and I have not had inside access to either one of those. As a volunteer, you are either an outsider or insider, either a volunteer or not a volunteer. I would say that many people are insiders without even realizing it, some people are just more passionate about it than others.

English # 6 - Annotations

1. Dowshen, Steven. "Volunteering." Kids Health.org. 2008. 18 Feb 2009. .

This website and this particular article talks about the benefits of volunteering, and how to start. It talks about how you need to find what volunteer activity fits you, your needs, and your interests. You should volunteer somewhere that has to do with your interests, so that your passionate about the time you give. It also talks about how you have to make sure that your volunteer time must fit your schedule. You must find the right volunteer group or place, but also make sure that you're schedule allows you to take that time and spend it volunteering. You also must open up your mind and thoughts to your volunteer project. Lastly, the article talks about how you must feel good and look good, and how volunteering looks good to other people. You must feel good about what you are doing, you're helping someone else, and you're also helping yourself grow as a person. When you volunteer you must look good, and also it looks good on applications and in other peoples eye's.

I will be able to use this article in my mini ethnography because it tells you the basics of volunteering, and how to get started. This is helpful because it is a background on volunteering everywhere, not only in my sites. Volunteers are important to our world, and this article helps our teens and kids get started and gets them informed about how to volunteer and what the important parts are to it.

2. HOBY.org. 2009. Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership. 18 Feb 2009.

This website in its entirety talks about HOBY and what the organization is and what the organization stands for. The specific page that I am writing about is the "about" page. This page talks about how HOBY was established and what it essentially is. HOBY is a seminar put on each year in every state, showing students how to lead, volunteer, and be bright. Each adult that works with HOBY is a volunteer, and there are over 4,000 adults volunteering for HOBY each year. HOBY has strong values and has many alumni to spread the beliefs and values of HOBY.

This website will help me tremendously with my ethnography because HOBY is one of my sites that I am writing about. HOBY is where I started my volunteering, and it is a very important organization to me. The website will help me find facts about HOBY and about volunteering.

English Box # 18

The particular focal point I find in my setting, is the point of being a volunteer and even a mentor to others. At both of the places i volunteer, there are volunteers that are mentors to others. I have been in both positions. At one time i was one of the people with a mentor at HOBY and I also have been the mentor at HOBY and CMFK. I also have mentors at CMFK. I do however think that my perspective has a role in how i see what i see at my sites. It would be a completely different view to be one of the little buddies at CMFK, they are in an unfamiliar environment, learning about unfamiliar things. I however also think that being in the position of having mentors at HOBY, i can understand what the kids that i have mentored are going through. I think that no matter what situation you're in, your perspective has a role in how you see everything that you see.

English travel journal

As I climb in the car I am unusually comfortable. Not because the car seat is comfortable, but because I'm with someone that is very comfortable. Although she's not my true family, she's very much like family to me. Suzanne is the driver, and we're going to see Chelsea, to surprise her to be exact! The car ride to Chicago is about two to two and a half hours from home, and I know that means I'm two and a half hours away from seeing my best friend. The ride there was very smooth, a lot of conversation between Suzanne and I, as there usually is. We see mostly flat land around us and smell the fresh crisp air. As we head into Chicago I can see the city skyline and my stomach starts to get butterflies. We're almost there, and Chelsea still has no clue I'm coming! Chicago is a beautiful city. As you drive along Lake Shore Drive, you see the lake on one side, and the cite on the other. On this particular day in Chicago, there were a lot of people running and jogging on the sidewalks, almost like they are training for a marathon of some kind. As we enter Loyola's parking garage, I look around and see the buildings Chelsea's school, and think about how alike they are, but mostly different from Ball State. There are only a few main buildings, maybe 4, and there is hardly any open field area, thats when I realized, duh, we're in Chicago! As we get out of the car to go get Chelsea, I can smell the city air. The city has a different smell than what I am used to, living in the country. Going inside Chelsea's dorm, you hear many different things, but mostly people talking, in many different accents and languages. As our day went on I noticed one thing most about the city of Chicago, and that was the noise of the streets. There is so much honking, screeching, yelling, and sounds of motors, it's hard to hear anything else. The trip was a wonderful one, full of sights, sounds, and smells, and yet the best part wasn't the enjoyment of the city, but being able to see my Best Friend! :)

English # 5

My plan to finish my mini-ethnography is to finish my interviews, and to do some book/internet based research. I think that more research needs to be done in the book work and internet based research, more educational research. I think I have spent an adequate amount of time in my field site, but i think i might need to spend more time as an observer than a participant in my site.

English Box # 15 visual

English Box # 15

As I sit on the porch swing at home, many different senses hit my body. I can hear, see, smell and feel many different things. Sitting on the swing I see the river in front of me. Sometimes on the river are people in inner tubes, canoes, and boats. I also see my back yard, and the neighbors yards. All of the land around me is beautiful and full of life. Across the river is a large wooded area that extends up a giant hill. Although I have a large picture of landscape in front of me, I also have the small picture of my back porch around me; the green swing I'm sitting on, the wood of the deck below me, around me, and above me on the roof, and the other patio furniture. Dad's grill is in the corner and in the other corner is my cat, Tigger's, favorite place to nap. I can't sit on the swing without actually swinging. I feel the wind hit my face, and on a nice warm summer day, it feels wonderful, very peaceful. I also can't sit on the swing without my two dogs coming to greet me, and get a back rub along with it. I feel the fur of my dogs, and I think of the undeniable love they have for us. The smell of the river is in the air, and I wouldn't know what to do without it. I have grown up in this house all of my life, and I know that all I have to do is step out the door and I will smell fresh air. Sometimes, after we go fishing however, the smell of fish over rides the smell of fresh air. Often, sitting on the swing, you can also smell dad's dinner cooking on the grill. Last but not least the sounds of my house, of being on the porch swing, are probably my favorite part of being on the swing. Depending on the time of day and time of year you will hear many different things sitting on the swing. In the spring, summer and fall you hear the birds chirp. At night during those seasons you hear the crickets and frogs, and it is the most soothing sound in the world. All through the seasons you hear the river running through its banks, and the dogs barking all around. No matter what, the swing on my porch is one of my favorite places to go and simply relax and read a book, clear my mind, and best of all, it's the most pristine napping place at my house.

Dogtown and Z- Boys Documentary

I believe this was both an ethnographic study and a form of entertainment. It was very entertaining and interesting to watch. The ethnographic part of it was the fact that you were learning about the subculture of skateboarding and surfing.

The interview subjects were the people in the Zephyr club. They are important because they are the insiders of the group, and know the most about what went on. The interviews play a huge role in this documentary. It would have been very boring without the interviews. I feel that the interviews are what brought life to the film.

The attitude that stuck out to me the most about the subculture of skating was "we do what we want, where we want" and also the fact that only locals are allowed. You must make your way into the group and earn your spot, no one just comes in as they please.

The structure was was organized in a chaotic way. I believe this showed a lot about the subculture because it showed that they had fun and were outgoing but knew when they needed to be organized and stable.

The stereotypes that I always had or heard about skaters were that they were punks who thought that no matter what skating was all that mattered. I think this holds true after seeing this film, but in a more positive way. They were by far "punks", but they were also kids that came from rundown families. Also i saw how they made skating (and surfing) the only thing that was important to them, but it showed that they were passionate about their interest.

English # 4

As I think about my subculture, the conclusion I can come up with is that Volunteering is a great thing in life, and each person should experience the feeling of volunteering. I believe that my subculture would be the same almost any where you go. The organization HOBY is a group of people from all over the united states, and even in other countries, and they are all spreading the same word and spirit. Volunteers are pretty much the same all over the place, no matter if you're here, in Muncie or if you're in a different state or country. I know that some subcultures would be different in different geographic places, but i really believe volunteers are the same around the globe!

English # 3

For my cultural paper, I haven't done any interviews thus far, but I have visited my cultural site. My site is one that I visit every week, and am involved in very often. I have observed many things at my site. The first thing that i noticed was that while everyone is volunteering, they don't even think about the fact that they are there to volunteer. The people at College Mentors for Kids are there for the kids, and there for the experience. This made me question wether most volunteers are conscious of their volunteer actions, or if they just automatically do it out of habit. When I interview the people in my culture, i will ask many questions, but some important questions i will ask are: When did you get involved in your volunteer activity? What does volunteering mean to you? How much time do you spend volunteering? and How do you feel after volunteering? These questions are important because it will bring another dynamic to my paper. I haven't researched any basic "academic" research yet. I do believe there are differences in academic and non academic researches. I would consider books, "credible" internet sources, documentaries, and articles academic resources. On the other hand, interviews, movies, and observations i would consider non academic research. Even though they are different, I believe that both sources are important to putting together an interesting and well rounded paper.

English Box # 12

Privileges:
Being an American
Being Female
Being born in a middle class family
Having a home
Having a loving family
Being able to go to school
Being able to go to college
Having freedom
Getting grants and loans for school
Having great friends

These privileges affect my research because I am able to have my freedom and I am able to volunteer my time whenever I want to. Also being from a middle class family and going to school, I was able to learn about volunteerism and able to be submitted into my subculture. I also will be affected because I know my privileges, and I am likely to run into people who don't share the same privileges that I have, therefore I will want to volunteer to help them receive the privileges that I obtain. I don't think any of my privileges listed are going to affect me negatively in my subculture research.