Blog 5: Project Prosal and Preparing for Interview/Observatoin

Remind me and yourself of what your critical question is.
    My critical question is, “When transitioning to adulthood, do we as humans become more or less close minded, and therefore does it limit the potential happiness we can have in our lives?”

Explain what single person (a profile) or group of people you plan to study for your project.
    This has been an extremely difficult decision for me, just because of the limitations that come with taking a summer course, where kids aren't in school etc. But I have chosen to do my interview on a group of retired folks in a nursing home. If it falls through this next week, I hope to be able to talk to as many folks in retired homes, but I am still waiting to hear back from the administer at the Legacy.

Why did you choose them?  How will studying this person/group shed particularly interesting light on answering some aspect of your critical question?
    My whole project is about the different perspectives we have in throughout our lives and growing old. So, the age group is kind of the “last stop” or last perspective we have in life. If my thesis is true, that people become more closed minded as they get older, by the time they are in their 70s or 80s, they have chosen a certain way of thinking, determining their happiness for once and for all. I am excited to find out what the results actually entail.

What aspect of this person or group will you study specifically?
    In my questions, I don't want to scratch the surface. I want to here what they think of life and their purpose. This means I will specifically ask them questions pertaining to experiences of losing innocence and that childhood trust. Of course to keep my assessment fair and accurate I will use the same questions, maybe explained a little different for the younger subjects because of possible misunderstanding, but otherwise, my curiosity is telling me to ask the same questions and seeing the difference.

What is your relationship to your person or group? (How well do you know them and in what capacity?)
    My relationship with the people at the Legacy Retirement Home is nonexistence. So most of them I wouldn't even know their names prior to the interview, which I think is essential.

How will you contact or communicate with this person or group in order to set up your observation and interviews?
    I want to, in person, interview the individual group.I will be able to see the subjects in their natural environment.

If you are doing an Ethnography of a group:
Include 3 questions you might ask of various group members
    -“What was the moment in your life you realized you were an adult”
    -“If you could, would you go back to thinking like a child, innocent and trusting?”
    -“Do you believe that you’ve become more or less more closed minded as an adult.”

Where you’re first observation will be (and when if you know)
    -While writing this I just got a call from Gramercy Retirement Homes that is allowing me to come in during dinner time on Saturday and Sunday. The director of the retirement home is giving me names and table numbers for the residents participating in the interview. 

What kinds of things you will be looking for in your observations?
    -Not that this is true in all cases, however, most people I believe say they are happier or describe a better life than what is deep down. So, I am observing to see whether the old folks act as happy as their stories depict, when they don’t think I am looking. This is why I am observing them before they know I am there, so that the observation is unbiased and natural. Then on Sunday, they will be expecting me, so I will see the differences in responses and attitude when they know they are being observed.

What will you be using to record your observations?
    I will be using my phone to audio record, just because I know old folks are usually less open when they know they are being video taped.

Blog 4: Responding to Podcasts and Brainstorming

PART ONE

In "Becoming Batman" by Ivisibilia,  the journalist focuses on one subject, profiling a progressive blind man, Daniel Kish. The podcast plays with the question of expectations, and if expectations limit situations. "Maybe, just maybe, the organization's low expectation for what blind people could do, was in some way limiting the blind people who those organizations sought to help." This quote sums it up for me, the fact that Daniel was given high expectations and no limitations as a child, he learned ways to overcome his blindness and immobility. The journalist does a wonderful job with mixing her sources by talking to medical professionals, however, leaving Daniel as the main subject. The idea that intrigued me was just the general point Invisibilia made. The journalist even mentions at one point feeling guilty because of her inherent low expectations. The predisposed expectations we have for ourselves and others, limit the possibilities we see.  I would use these texts as examples for my projects because the master of organization, and quality interview questions. Both podcasts, Summer Camp and Becoming Batman, get to the point and are organized easy to follow. I would say that, in Summer Camp, The journalists organize it chronologically, and in Becoming Batman, it is a little in chronological order, but mostly by theme.

In Notes on Camp, an Ethnography, two journalists, one male and one female, interview the counselors, and camp goers in their habitat. The actual camp. the reasons why this is an ethnography is because the journalists stayed for multiple days, and interviewed all sorts of campers, old ones, young ones, girls, boys, counselors. This gives legitimacy to it, because the many signs of camp are shown. The point, I think, of this podcast would be to show, in a subtle way, that at camp, children feel like they really belong. In one of the interviews Davey Himmel describes his experience as a camp-goer, and counselor, "I think I enjoy things better now because of camp. When you live so close to people like this-- and it's sort of like college-- but everybody at camp is just real close knit. It's like a bond that just happens. And that's why a day at camp is two weeks in real life. It's like a time warp here." The idea of camp struck me in a way I wasn't expecting. To be honest, I never got to go to any outdoors camps when I was younger. My parents didn't trust an organization with their child for that long of a period. So, this podcast made me bitter because I remember all of the hours begging my parents to go, and getting shot down. My friends in school went to Camp Kitaki for four years and said that it was the best part of their summer. Something about camps, and being away, makes people fall in love with the community.

PART TWO

This is a difficult question to answer, just because I have been really looking forward to interviewing a group of people ever since I read this assignment. The project would be interesting if I chose a group of unheard and unseen people. People that maybe don’t get to have their story shown. For example, people in a retirement home, or People City Mission. The different stories and perspectives I would hear would be astounding. If I had to choose a certain person for a profile, it would be someone dynamic, and that has a lesson to learn. At my high school for one of my projects, I interviewed a blind Pius mom, who walked me around the neighborhood, made me put on a blindfold and gave me a stick. It was crazy to actually know what it “felt like” to be blind. Her whole mission was to not be tied down to her condition, and to share that with nearly blind people who she helps learn how to interact when blind. It is hilarious, she would always know exactly where I was in the room when I would be in their house. I had no idea how. Some other people I could interview could be a church, Parthenon, a Greek restaurant. Lots of different options.

Blog 3: Question Draft 2 and Artifact Free Write

                                                                   INNOCENCE
1.) At one of my jobs last night, I discussed with my coworker Jane that I was taking this class, and some of the projects and course overview. One topic that came up was the critical question. I told her that I chose to write mine on health care and inevitable rights endowed by the constitution. She kind of laughed and said I was taking the easy way out by choosing something I already knew and understood. Being an economics major, and a politics buff, it was true, I had chosen a critical question, but it wasn't necessarily personal to me, other than it was something interesting. Although I am unsure of the process, however, I wish to change my critical question.

Do we as humans become more or less closed minded than as children, and how does this affect our happiness through life?

I apologize ahead of time for the last minute change. This question not only applies to all of society, it is something I have pondered but haven't explored. I have a personal experience that hit me like a ton of bricks that has to do with this. I don't necessarily believe it is too broad, but my analysis will become more specific, but generally, I don’t like to phrase my questions as too specific because it can be constricting.

 Make a list of 10 potential artifacts you are considering for this first project.

1.) old trophy
2.) Big book Jambooree
3.) Hershey kiss stuffed toy
4.) Pokemon/ Yugioh cards
5.) Bible
6.) Art
7.) Bikini
8.) Christmas lights
9.) Old diary with written life responses.
10.) Bow for my hair

Then select 1 to do about 300 words of free writing about

Christmas Lights, I remember as a kid in West Virginia, my best friend and I would pretend that all of the Christmas light bulbs were a place. We envisioned ourselves in Santa’s workshop. Each bulb could teleport you to a place in the world. I above anything, Loved having rainbow colored lights. Some nights I would sleep under the tree and see my skin changing colors, the smell of the pine and cinnamon, thinking about all of the places I want to go. I could touch the lights and feel the warmth coming off, and wonder if there really was a city in there. Christmas lights represent more than just a memory for me. It is an artifact from the time I realized I was being lied to, and the trauma that came from it. In my essay, I want to talk about the realization of a fake Santa Clause, but it is more an analogy of the story I will tell about later in my life when I really questioned adulthood.

This artifact relates to most of American society and childhood because of the years we grow up being lied to about Christmas. There still exists an innocent and sentimental feeling towards Christmas, but I find myself a little bitter (rhyme unintended). It makes me wonder that if a child is told the truth all of their lives, they would be a content adult, or if it would in the end, make them unassuming and cynical just as I have partially become. The thought that maybe it is adulthood that makes us close-minded, and that's why we’ve become close-minded, not because people have sheltered us. Like I said earlier, it is a universal question because most children don’t come out of the womb with obituaries to read instead of fairytale books, and watching documentaries on rape statistics instead of watching barbie.

Blog 2: Critical Question Draft 1 and Free Write

 PART ONE: BRAINSTORMING

1.) Looking around my room, it's all black because my lights are off. I tend to write at night when I'm tired and can let go a little easier. I can see the faded mounds of clothing outline my floor. Never been cleanly about my clothes. The amount of clothes I have is enough but also never enough. Wearing something twice is my worst fear. Okay, maybe not wearing something twice, but wearing something twice while in company of others who have seen me wear the same outfit.

2.) What I thought about while showering probably had to do with how tired I was, or how people always overestimate the amount of shampoo they need to wash their hair. A quarter amount is enough for me, and I have decently long hair with a lot of layers.  Most of the excess shampoo ends up in between the cracks of your fingers anyway.

3.) When I was falling asleep last night, I was thinking about my next days events. From this time until this time I will run errands, oh make sure to set your alarms. Then from that point on I will go to class, I should probably check my alarm again to make sure I wrote AM instead of PM. Okay and then I will go to work, wait did I just check my alarm, did I put it on loud? When all my t’s were crossed and i’s dotted, I fell asleep. Check the alarm for good measure.

4.) that's a pretty hard question to answer. I have a difficulty picking favorites and anything usually, especially with interests. My favorite things to read about usually are historical, Nonfiction, or a super cliche and romantic comedy. I enjoyed all of my history courses in high school and my psychology course was extremely fun. Keeping in mind that the most fun I had, was in the Study and effort I put it in after class.

5.)I like to banter between ideas with my self to be honest. My parent, however, have always been proponents for knowing how to defend what you like, arguing, and sharing ideas. Sometimes with my parents it gets heated, because all of us are extremely competitive. The last argument was between my father and I about the over population of government organizations. Keep in mind, he is the head administrator for his federal division.

6.) Right now I am thinking about how tired I am. The truth is that I can’t help but to stay up later, I love to read at night, as well as talk to people on the phone because I'm a night person. It can be frustrating when I wake up exhausted, but I don't feel bad or have regret about it. I also am thinking about the fact that my uncle is leaving the priesthood after like 25 years. Why? What does that mean? He is the man that baptized me. I think it is extremely intriguing. How could someone have a vocation for so long, and then one day realize it isn't meant to be. It is truly mind boggling to me as well as hard for me to face, just because I only knew him in that way.

7.) My home community has all of my family in it. To be honest, I don't really grasp the question, but to the best of my ability I will answer it. My ideal community, I imagine the ocean, beach houses for all of my family just off the eastern shore. I imagine late night walking on the beach, and early morning sunsets. I imagine eating crab until the bay seasoning makes my lips sting. Swimming in the endless ocean, splashing around, and diving into incoming waves. This is my community, because I grew up going to big family reunions at the beach. That's what I pictured. My questions would be: Can a home be figurative? Why are we expected to love our families?


PART TWO: CRITICAL QUESTION
1.) I have a difficulty choosing topics to write about, just because I want to make sure it is the perfect one, or that I am choosing one, not too hard, not too easy. Listening to the ‘Worth’ podcast, I could only think about how our society is becoming more and more dependent on one another. Some say this is good, others not. The responsibility to help others by paying for their health care is a debate circulating around now. Question: In fellowship in the United States of America, are we responsible to take care of others or to help them have opportunity.

2.) I chose that question because my favorite things to talk about are economics, politics and theories. This seemingly simple question has many different circumstances that can apply. For example, the Constitution, our rights as American citizens, and our right to a pursuit of happiness in a way.

3.) This question to me has been circulating around the world for hundreds of years. The reasons why I chose it are the same as why it relates to me personally. It is a question that has one thousand opinions, has been debated through history. This kind of thing intrigues me. Questions that may or may not have a definite answer. I guess thats most things though. In my opinion grey’s exist in the world more often that blacks and whites.

4.) This question greatly influences the mentality of our generations, what is believed to be entitled to them, and the drastic effect it has on our country financially as well as generously. Because government money is circulated around in taxes, most government programs are paid with tax money. Tax money is given to the government by the people who live in the US. That id why this has to do with the United States.

5.) I could apply this question to any of my projects just because of how universal it is. Im especially looking forward to the second project because I get to observe a group of people and interview, and based on that and research, make my conclusions. The first project, I could focus the critical question on a more broader outlook. Make it more so about the tendency of humans to feel codependent and wanting what they cant have. Also focus on the tendency of humans to not be generous and caring. The third project seems very fun, this is something that will cater to my more creative side. Because I was in creative writing and AP literature at Pius X High School, we did multi-genre projects, which are similar to the third project. I love the idea of doing ‘real-life’ writing projects.

6.) My concerns for this course would probably be the work load. I am working at two other jobs during the summer, I go straight to a law firm after class. Because of my somewhat hectic schedule, I would want you to understand that I will work to the best of my ability to be on time and have quality product to give you.

Blog 1: Introduction

CREATIVE WRITING    

     When I'm hungry, I order too much. I'm currently sitting in Asian Fusion, and hating myself as I look down at the 1/4th eaten plate of sweet and sour chicken.  Never go to a food establishment alone, you are bound to order too much.
     My name is Kally. I have a dry sense of humor, maybe just a dry personality. Sarcasm is a natural tendency of mine. This can become an issue when I am writing, mostly because sarcastic writing is hard to pick up on unless spoken out loud. Writing reminds me of drawing. It is just as difficult, taking eight drafts for one somewhat good product. It is creative, is vulnerable, conveys a message, brings laughter, harbors sadness, invokes every emotion but also no emotion at all. There are great artists, great writers, bad artists, bad writers. Writing is art.
     It is hard to let myself go in my art. Exposing myself to whoever is willing to listen. If the world wasn't aware of my emotions and vulnerabilities, I would feel safe. However, that is the very reason why I force myself to write. Writing lets me let loose those repressed emotions, but in secret. Almost like a therapist. haha. My biggest issue with creative writing is choosing a topic.
It needs to be powerful, impactful….I want it to be timeless. I don’t want a reader to be selected by my topic. Maybe I am doing that without knowing it. Should I write about something so small as a leaf, or the hairs on my arm. Going to the other extreme, I could write about something humongous, like the Idea of Freedom, or my ego. No matter what, I would hate to be cliché. My head hurts.
I have many stories, but no skills to convey the emotions within my brain. I can’t seem to fathom writing a story, or what I figure as a story. My ideas are flat, like an infinite flat plane of points on a graph, every point a new topic that I wish to address. I need to realize how to “connect the dots” and create a universal shape. Whether it is a heart, a circle, a trapezoid, who cares?
The left side of my brain hurts, but my right is calm. People say that I am a “right-brained” thinker, because right- brain thinking supposedly deals with creativity, whereas the left-brain is logic and processes. They are not in sync. Honestly I get angry when others assume that I am a creative. Or I get labeled as that one girl, “She wants to draw me a picture because she is a talented artist”.  Secretly I am very realistic and possibly cynical. I can imagine two sides in my head, two personalities. A war between my personalities. Back and forth they spew ideas at each other.  They never match up to a common notion. That’s why I stay away from creative writing.
     That is one type of writing. I need it, but I hate it. I enjoy writing clinically or in research. I like to think of myself as open minded. However, I love to debate, ponder, analyze, observe and transcribe those dissertations.  My current aspirations in these next four years at UNL will be geared towards going to law school. Therefore, any practice in rhetorical and critical thinking is integral. People say law isn't a school of fact, it is a school of thought. Professors teach you to think a certain way and to consider all circumstances and possibilities. Critical and persuasive writing are my favorite because not only do I become more educated because of research, I learn to take what I see and make conclusions. Which is, what I believe, one quality of a successful person, no matter what success means to that individual.
     Thinking about it, this blog is my first ever homework assignment for college. Oh no.