Ethnography Results, Week 8

Paola Garza

April 7th, 2011 (Thursday)

9:00 am-11:00 am

·    

·         Reading: 1

·         Computers:  ( M 3 P 2 )

·         Headphones on: 2

·         Studying (with studying materials w/wo computers): 4

·         Visiting: 2

·         Alone  (I could see from where I was sitting, including me): 6

·         Two or more  (I could see from where I was sitting):   7 groups

·         Patrons that seem not be students (if any): 12

·         People that came in and left while I was here: 2

·         People that were before I came in and left while I was here:  4

·   

·         Guys: 5

·         Girls: 13

My Location:

Today I’m sitting in a very particular location, and under very particular circumstances. I had never been here during the week at a morning time. I’m sitting in one of the couches that were recently set in the space right to the door. I have a view of the counter. I was able to observe more drive-thru activity, as well as well as more frequent purchases. There was actually a line… During the past weeks I would come at times where even though it was crowded, there wasn’t a long line waiting to order.

The Customers:

As I mentioned above, a really different crowd from what I’m used to.

There were two men sitting in the middle room, dressed with suits. Businessmen, maybe. There was also an old men who had some coffee and pastries, and was reading the news paper. Then he went back to the counter to buy some more coffee. He reminded me of a man  I saw on a Sunday morning who was a drinking some coffee but instead of reading the newspaper he had a computer on his lap. I figured he was reading some news online.

There was also a young man who seemed not to be a student because of the way he was dressed, but he was reading a book and taking notes on a computer.Other students, majority girls, also went up to the counter to buy some breakfast and came back to the tables to do some studying.

Majority of the students that were coming in at this time were buying some breakfast, including me for the first time, and started studying right away.

At this time in the morning, I observed more activity in the drive-thru. Even though it was really quiet, the place wasn't empty at all.

Ethnography Results, Week 7

Paola Garza

March 27th, 2011 (Sunday)

6:00-8:00pm

·         Guys: 6

·         Girls: 7

·      

Interesting Facts:

There was a police car outside when I first got there with the lights on. I wasn’t able to figure out what he was doing, I didn’t see anything out of the order.

There were around three of four girls who place a table outside, close to the main door who were representing Coffeemate. They were giving out promotional items including notebooks, t-shirts, etc.

My Location: Mirror’s Room

I first sat in the very back of the middle room (close to the restrooms) but then I saw a person leave from the first middle room, so I decided to change locations since I wanted to see the experience the place from this different space where I hadn’t been before.

This little space is in the heart of Sweet Eugene’s. It has two main entrances, one is big, one whole wall is open and connected to the hall where the counter is. The second entrance is part of a wall, connecting it to the middle room.

In this room there are four couches; one for three people, one for two people and two for one person (I’m sitting in one of them).  There are also two “living room tables” which in reality are chests. As decoration there are 22 mirrors in total, hanging in the walls of this small space, they are all different sizes and different styles. Very original. In addition to the real mirrors, there are two open spaces in the wall, which may very well give the impression of mirrors. There is only one painting in this room, and it’s a really abstract one of a man dressed in red.

I don’t think I had noticed this from any of the other places, but in part of the shop there is a big speaker in one of the corners playing some soft music. Not boring, but the kind that you don’t really notice when you are doing something else. From this room I have view of spaces of the coffee shop that I didn’t have a view before, like the bar next to the counter, the tables next to the entrance and a few tables in front of the counter. And of course, this space itself.

This small room invites patrons for reading or just working on a computer, like I was doing and a girl in another couch was doing as well. I don’t think students could really work in here with study materials and all. It is a really dark room, there are only three lamps (which do not really give very much bright light) lighting the room.

The Employees:

Employees are always nice and friendly, but do no really make much conversation with customers, at least not with me.

The Customers:

In the room there is a guy reading The Hobbit, he seems pretty interested in the reading and the music doesn’t seem to bother him. As I said, I think this kind of music can actually help you concentrate in what you are doing.

There is another girl with a mac computer in one of the other couches. All she has with her is the computer. Not study materials.

From inside the room I have a view of some tables between this room and the counter. Three tables to be exact and, one more from the very entrance. In these tables I see students working on  their computers and study materials. 

I hadn't had a chance to observe the bar next to the counter. Throughout the whole time I was there, there was always at least two people sitting there with computers out. Majority of them seemed to be there alone, and did not stay there for very long. I don't think it is a very comfortable place to be studying. 

After the other girl left, two more girls came in and left their stuff there. Then two more guys came in and sat in the same couch. Apparently, they were together. There weren't there for studying, only for chatting. One other guy came in afterward and sat in the same couch where the other guy was sitting. He also started reading.

It was a really interesting and different experience from the previous weeks of study.

Ethnography Results, Week 6

Paola Garza

March 21th, 2011 (Tuesday)

5:15-7:15pm

·         Computers:  ( M 1 P 4 )

·         Visiting: 7 (1 group of 7)

·         Alone  (I could see from where I was sitting, including me): 3

·         Two or more  (I could see from where I was sitting):   5 groups

·         Guys: 7

·         Girls: 15

5:45pm – 6

6:15pm – 20

6:45pm – 30

7:15pm – 28

7:45pm – 15

My Location:

I was sitting in the living room space, next to the back door. There is a new attraction to the room, a mannequin sitting on the ceiling bar. It looks like they just put it up because many students come in and make reference of it.

The Employees: I saw many people having dinner, so I noticed more employees going around bring in the food. Something I have noticed throughout the weeks is that if they are not bringing food, they do not really notice there are things they need to pick up from the tables.

The Customers:

There wasn’t much activity or noise when I first got here. I guess it is because of the time, it was too early. Students started getting here right after 6:00pm. However, suddenly many more students than I expected started to show up.

There was a group of around 23 students meeting there. Students just started getting there, some of them sitting down others just standing up around the couches. I kept counting them, but more and more continued getting there. I decided to wait until they started their meeting so I could a concrete count, however there was no formal meeting started. I did notice something weird, one of the girls had a money bag, and as students were getting there she would give them money for they to go buy some coffee and/or pastries.  Some of the students gathering came in with subway sandwiches but in addition bought something from the coffee shop. Around 7:30pm they started leaving, until only a few of them stayed behind.

There were three couples of students, all with computers and study materials out. Around 6:10 another group of students came in. With study materials and sat close to where the big group started gathering. But they changed from there to a different space right away. They must of thought it was too noisy . Two more groups of couples came in. They both went to the couches, with computers and study materials.

With the exception of the big group of students, majority of the other patrons were there with study materials as usual. Something different this time was that I did not see many students with headphones on. Maybe because this place invites students to come in and study in groups, not so many individuals students.

Ethnography Results, Week 5

Paola Garza 

This week I decided to do one hour of observations like the previous weeks. For the second hour, I decided to go to Sweet Eugene's with the purpose of working in my homework in order to get a feel of what it is like for those students that make Sweet Eugene's their place to study.

First Hour: March 3th, 2011 (Thursday)
6:15 – 7:15 pm

Second Hour: March 5th, 2011 (Saturday)

9:30 - 10:30 am

First Hour Quantitative Information:
· Reading: 1
· Computers: ( M 6 P 3)
· Headphones on: 3
· Studying (with studying materials w/wo computers): 11
· Visiting: 2
· Alone (I could see from where I was sitting, including me): 4
· Two or more (I could see from where I was sitting): 7 groups
· Patrons that seem not be students (if any): 1
- Guys: 7
· Girls: 11

Counting the two middle sections:

6:15pm – 18
6:45pm – 18
7:15pm – 19

Qualitative Information - Both hours, compared and contrast. 

My Location:
First Hour: I was sitting in the middle section of the coffee shop. To my right I could see the section right to the door, and the Living Room space to my left. 

Second Hour: I was sitting in the Living Room space, towards the back corner so I could have a view of the complete room and partial view of the middle room.

The Employees:
First Hour: There was a girl and two guys working. The girl that took my order seemed to be nice. But I still haven’t been able to recognize them. I thought I was good with faces, but apparently not.

Second Hour: On Saturday morning there were more people working there than during the week.

The Customers: 

Having Lunch:  Throughout the time I have spent at Sweet Eugene's, I had seen very few patrons just going there with the means of having lunch. On Thursday I did see a couple of girls having lunch and chatting, sitting in the same right next to door. However, on Saturday the whole environment was really different. Many people who were there went with the purpose of having breakfast. It is important to note that majority of these people were not students, they were families or older couples. Many of the students who were there to study (alone or in groups) would eat some breakfast before they started studying.

Visiting: During the week, you don't really see many people who just go for chatting. On Thursday I was able to observe a couple of people who at first were just having some conversation, but it ended up being a study group that was just waiting for someone else. 

There was a lady sitting alone since I got there, with a computer out, but playing Sudoku. It seemed like she had had some lunch. However, after a while a girl came in and sat with her. She also pulled out a computer and they were just chatting. I couldn't really figure out what was the purpose of their visit (I don't think they were from the Education College).

On Saturday, there were many people who seemed to be there with the purpose of just meeting with people. For example, there was this lady with two kinds, her grand kids. They  were sitting in one of the couches when a the grand pa came in and took the kids to buy them some treats. After a while a family came in, they sat in the couches as well and started talking. It seems like they were waiting for this family to come in. 

Use of technology: Majority of students that are there with the purpose of doing some studying will have their computers out. However, there are some that won't. For example, on Thursday I observed a girl and a guy who seemed to be studying finance or accounting. They didn't have a computer out, only a books, notebooks, and the like. 

And it seems that technology not only appeals to students, but also to older people. The lady mentioned above had her computer out, even though she didn't seem to be using it at all. On Saturday, I observed an older man (sixty or seventy) sitting in one of the couches with a cup of coffee in the table to the side and a computer in his lap. 

Ethnography Results, Week 4

Paola Garza

February 22^th, 2011 (Tuesday)

5:00 – 7:00

·         Reading: 1

·         Computers: 12 (5 M 7 P)

·         Headphones on: 5

·         Studying (with studying materials w/wo computers): 4

·         Visiting: 3 groups

·         Alone  (I could see from where I was sitting, including me): 9

·         Two or more  (I could see from where I was sitting): 7 groups

·         People that came in and left while I was here: 1

·         People that were before I came in and left while I was here:  7

·         At the coffee shop with no signs of consuming any products: 8

·         Spotted using their phone at least one: 5

·         Guys: 10

·         Girls: 15

·         Entering through the back door: 13

5:00pm – 12

5:30pm – 16

6:00pm – 9

6:30pm – 14

7:00pm –15

My Location:

When I first got there, there was a lot of people. I tried finding a seat in the two spaces I haven't yet experienced, but since they are smaller (much smaller) there were no open sits. I sat in the Big Living Room space. I suppose it is a good location in order to compare and contrast with my experience last week, since it was the same space, same time, same day in the week.

The Employees:

Each time I have gone, I haven't been able to recognize the employees that I have seen before. The guy who took my order seemed really nice. This was the first time they asked me if I wanted my java shake to go or to stay there. I just said for there, but I did not expect to get a glass, I thought I would get a plastic cup like the previous weeks. After one hour or so one of the employees was going to drop dirty cups and plates to the back, and he picked up my glass on his way (he asked if I was finished it before taking it).

The Customers:

Regulars: There was one guy sitting alone, with headphones on, and some writing materials on the table… I think he was there last week when I came in (same day, same time).

Visiting: When I first got there, there were three couples of girls just taking. Two of them were sitting at the sofas and one at the bar. Since last week I was able to notice that students or patrons in general who are not there to study are more likely to sit in a couch than in a table and carry on with the conversations. However, I have not yet observed the opposite correlation (having visiting patrons sit in tables, at least in this room). There are students who are there to study and do sit in the couches, but not as many. By around 6:30pm all of the people who were just visiting had left, only one of the groups was still there, a guy had joined the girls, so maybe new conversation came up and that's the reason they stayed longer!


Study Time: From 5:00pm to around 5:30pm, majority of the people were just visiting, but a bit after 5:30 it started to get quiet, and more individual students started to show up and occupy the tables with their computers and study materials. This could be observed by the amount of computers, and technology overall, present in the room. When I got there, there were only about two or three computers, from people that seemed to be studying already. During the time I was there, it majority of people who got after me were alone, with computer, headphones and study materials (occupying tables).

Visiting, Studying, Neither or Both: Majority of the people who were getting there seemed to know the purpose of their visit, however I did observe this one girl who sat at one of the sofas and seemed to be doing nothing. After a while she went and got some food. She finished, then doing nothing, then studying with only flashcards in her hands. It gave me the impression that she was waiting for someone but she was there for around an hour.

Study Groups: Just like last week, the vast majority of students present in this room were either alone or in couples. However, there was one group of three students who were there before I got there, and still there when I left. They seemed to be pretty quiet, each one of them with their computers and study materials out. Not much conversation between them.

Guys v. Girls: For most of the time I was there, majority of the patrons were girls, two or three guys at a time. Towards the end of my stay, I noticed more guys coming in alone with study materials than girl though. At least in this room, it seems that guy's rather be on their own than with more people. The opposite for girls.


Entering through the back door: On the two hours that I was there, 13 people came in through the back door, even though it clearly instructs to enter through the main door. All college students. I would like to observe if the older patrons are, the best they follow instructions.

Ethnography Results, Week 3

Culture at Sweet Eugene's House of Java

Tuesday February 15, 2011

5:30-7:30pm 

Quantitative: 

All quantitative information is only taken from the spaces that I was able to observe from where I was sitting.

Totals for the evening:

Reading: 2

On Computer: 9 (4 Macs, 6 PCs)

Headphones on:4

Using phone at least one: 8

Electronic book: 1

Studying (w/wo computer): 22

Guys: 7

Girls: 16

Alone: 12

Groups of 2 or more:4

Were there before I came in, left while stay: 2

At 5:30pm there were 13 people sitting at the “Living Room Space”

At 6:00pm people have left, but others have come. 13 again, it seems to be the average

At 6:30pm 12 people…

At 7:00pm 10 people...

At 7:30pm 8 people...

Qualitative 

My location

Today I’m sitting at the ‘Big Living Room’ space. I was thinking it would be a good idea to observe each of the different spaces the coffee shop provides each time I come in so I can get a feel of the different environments patrons can obtain from each space.

This space has brick walls and painting hanging around, with arches and lamps sitting around. It certainly looks like a big living room... There are 7 sofas and around eight tables in the room. The tables can sit up to 25 people (with the chairs that were already in the room). Sofas invite patrons for reading or studying with few materials, a notebook, and/or a textbook at the most. Chairs and tables will more likely be used for studying with many things out, and maybe in a group.

It is a really quiet place; I see much more interaction in the middle room (where I was sitting last week). I suppose the students who choose this space know they can have a quiet reading time when they are here, however there are no written signs indicating it's a quiet area.  

The Employees

The employers seemed to be a bit more outgoing than last week. The service is pretty fast so there really isn't much time for more conversation. However, I did notice a patron who got there behind me, and as soon as he got there he was greeted by one of the employees. After that, I noticed the employee took his food to his table, and asked him if those were the chips he wanted, if not he could go and exchange them. I'm not really sure if that's how all patrons are treated by employees, I will try to observe and contract in my following visits.

The customers
All of the patrons who were sitting in this space seemed to be students. From now on I will refer to them as students. Majority of them were wearing comfortable cloths, shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes - just like majority of college students dress to go to class at A&M. Only a few of the girls were wearing more dressy cloths, boots or dressy shoes. There was one girl that caught my attention she seemed to be very athletic - tall, slim, wearing athletic clothes and accessories including backpack, watch fluorescent green stripes tennis shoes, and even an athletic drink.

Students and Study Groups 
There were only four small groups (2) of students, and strangely enough, three of them sitting at sofas (contrary to what I thought) with some study materials out and they were all girls. Most of the time they were quietly studying or quietly discussing their studies. Again, this contributed to the quietness of the place... 

Studying alone

It seems like this space is heavily sought by students who decide to have some quiet time of reading or studying alone. Majority of the people that was there were by them selves. Four of which at some point were only reading. Two of them were studying with different study materials (other than computer) for example one girl got there and sat in one of the sofas and started reviewing flash cards. Another girl had her own mini white board where she seemed to be practicing some math related problems. The rest of the students, including me, had their computers out along with other study materials.

A Place of Meetings for the Education College

This week again, I saw the same lady I saw last week, but this time she was leading a meeting with maybe 15-20 girls in one of the smaller spaces (the one right across the counter, in the middle of the coffee shop). I asked my roommate, and in fact there was a schedule meeting for the student teaching girls.

Use of Electronic Devices while studying, an Aid or a Distraction?

As it is noted in the top quantitative data, this week I observed students who were using their electronic devices while at the shop. Even though I was in a very quiet area, almost every student that was there, took out their phone at least once, some of them more than once for sure. 

Only four people out of the nearly 22 that were present at some point, did not have a computer out while they were there. These students seemed to be doing readings or practicing problems (making reference to the girl with the mini white board). 

Surprisingly enough, not many students had their headphones on... maybe they did not need them since the place was quiet enough that allowed them to focus in their endeavors - I believe listening to the music you like can help you concentrate in whatever you are doing if you are in a crowded place. 

For the rest of them who did have a computer, only two of them I observed (besides me) did not have any other materials out, and to my surprise they both were girls, and they both sat at the exact same place (a sofa towards the back, of course one after the other one left). 

Only one girl was reading out of an electronic book, she did not have anything else out but the e-book device.

Ethnography Results, Week 2

Culture at Sweet Eugene's House of Java

Thursday February 11, 2011

5:30-7:30pm

Quantitative:

All quantitative information is only taken from the spaces that I was able to observe from where I was sitting.

Totals for the evening:

Order drink to go: 3

Purchased and stayed (at least an hour) 12

Reading: 2

On Computer: 9

Working with computer and book: 10

Headphones on: 8

Sitting alone: 14

Groups of 2 or more: 11

Visiting: 2

At the shop with no signs of consuming a product: 4

Qualitative

My location

Being this the first time I have ever been to Sweet Eugene’s I was a bit unsure where would be a good place to sit. I decided to go for the middle section. To my right I was able to observe the counter and the space that was between me and the counter space. To my left, I could the see two spaces, one that gave the impression of a big living room, and one towards the back with chairs and tables. In the space where I was sitting there were enough chairs for around 28 people and during the time that I was there, in that single space there were an average of 12 - 14 people.

The Employees

When I first came in, I dropped my backpack at a table and headed to buy some coffee… How could I be at a coffee shop and not buy something with caffeine! A Caramel Java Shake, LOW Fat! The interaction between me and the employers that were currently working the counter was minimum, however it seems like they were having an interesting conversation between them.. While I finished ordering and paying for my shake to the girl, the guy went ahead and started making it.  

I did not notice much interaction between the employees and the patrons when they came to deliver some food or pick up plates.

The customers

Students and Study Groups

To my right there were two girls with some mathematics books out, notes and a computer… they were sitting by the window and seemed really interested in what they were studying.

Another group of three students, two girls and a guy, were sitting by a window. They were studying something that to me sounded like anatomy or something along those lines… However, they were not as interested in their studying, since they had much conversation going, and not necessarily about they studies.

Two other guys called my attention. I think I’ve had a class with one of them. Both seem to be cadets. They both ate some sandwiches and chips; both with headphones on, and after eating they started studying, not much conversation going on.

Studying alone

Two more guys were sitting by a wall, each sitting individually with a computer and coffee by their sides. It seems that they enjoy being alone.

A girl came in after I got here, and left before I did… she was not here more than 45 minutes… She seemed to be reading an article while listening to something as well. A guy came in, bought some coffee and sat with here for about 10 min… finished his coffee and left. She started reading again, and then left. At first it gave me the impression they did not know each other but you never know!

Almost towards the end of my stay I saw two girls, who were also by themselves. Each one of them got there at different times, but they did sit close to each other. They were both reading with no computer out. I wonder if when someone comes in, and sees someone doing something similar to what they have in mind, would they try to sit close to that other person. I observed this behavior twice. One with these girls, and one when one of the two guys mentioned above left, another guy with a computer entered the shop and occupied the place of the guy that had just left.

A Place of Meetings for the Education College

To my left there was a student and an older lady. At first I thought it was her mom, but then I was able to over hear parts of their conversation. Apparently the student was an education major, maybe doing her student teaching semester. The lady was talking to her as a mentor, giving her advice of the better techniques to get the kids attention. How to better present/stand and talk in front of them; the younger girl seemed a bit worried… maybe she was having trouble with her class.

My guesses were pretty accurate. My roommate is an education major doing her student teaching semester, when I got back to my apartment I asked her if she had ever been to Sweet Eugene’s. To my surprise she says yes and explains that many of the meetings she has had for preparation for this semester have taken place there. 

A Place for a Korean Bible Study

To my great surprise, a friend of mine comes in to shop. I hadn’t seen him in while. He asks what I am doing here, so I said I was just doing some homework… If I would have said what I was really doing I would of being weird to explain… plus more than one would have heard me. Anyways, I ask him what is he doing there, and another surprise… He was here for a Korean bible study… Even though I did not observe many minorities at this place, it seems that it is a welcoming place for everyone. I mean, I’m a minority too… and I must say that I did not feel out of place or anything like that… sometimes I get that feeling from some places.

Thoughts for week #3

It was difficult to try to keep track of everything and write down observations. I have been thinking and maybe next week each one of us can concentrate in one aspect. For example, the interaction with employees, students with study groups, the use of technology while at the shop, etc.

Ethnography Proposal: Culture At Sweet Eugene's House of Java

Alyssa Nabors

Cynthia “Cindy” Skach
Paola Garza

For our Ethnography project we plan to study the “regular crowd” at the coffee shop called Sweet Eugene's.

Many cafes and coffee shops now offer free wireless internet to its patrons with the intention of enticing them to stay longer in the shop, and spend more money on drinks and food. By studying the regular patrons of this particular coffee shop, we hope to determine what other technological devices or services might be both helpful to the customer and profitable for the business as well as the culture of the coffee the shop.

For two hours every week, we will each visit the shop, noting the people we see, their interactions and how long they stay there. We also intend order coffee, or sandwiches, or other things students usually order at Eugene's. This will allow to better blend in and perhaps eventually be considered as “regulars.” 

Quantitatively, we plan to count how many customers make purchases and leave, how many make one purchase and stay for a considerable period of time (an hour or more), and how many make multiple purchases over the course of a considerable period of time (an hour or more). Depending on the patterns that emerge, we also plan to keep track of how many people do different things like reading, working on their laptops and visiting. We also plan to see how many people we begin to recognize, and how many seem to be recognized by the staff as frequent customers.

Qualitatively, we would like to see if we are eventually recognized by the staff or if they remember what we purchase on a regular basis. We would also like to observe and report on the different interactions we see between the employees and the regulars.

To get more accurate data, we plan to each visit the shop individually. This way we can collect data over a larger span of time. We each also plan to visit the shop at similar times every week to better ensure we see the same employees and regulars. However, depending on our results we may change those times if we notice a pattern that requires us to stay later than usual or go earlier than usual. We want to understand the culture that Sweet Eugene's House of Java provides for its patrons and why so many students choose this coffee shop as their studying or just hanging out place of preference.

Ethnography Results, Week 1

Use of Electronic Devices while Riding the Bus

Route# 26: Rudder

Times of observation:

     - 7:00am - 7:30am (Earliest Ride Available)

     - 8:45am - 9:15am

     - 4:06pm - 4:26pm

     - 3:45pm - 4:15pm

During this first week's trial, I tried to focus on two main points: the type of electronic devices used by the students, and to observe the impact that the time of the day has over the student's behavior.

Between the students' favorite devices figure all kinds of smart phones as well as iPods and other touch screen music players. The vast majority of students can be observed to use devices, either phones or music devices, with at least a 3'' touch screen, and with a set of earpiece headphones connected to their device. During the time I spent riding the bus, I was able to notice that only those students with this type of device description would keep their phones out, holding in their hands. Not that the rest of the students do not have such a device, but what I mean is that very seldom did I see a student using an electronic device that did not fit this description, and if there were, it was just a momentary usage (receiving/ sending a call or text message).

 7:15am (Monday) I catch the bus at The Trails At Wolf Pen Creek bus stop. This stop is in the middle of the route, if I'm lucky I will get an open seat, by the next stop, not more seats open. I suppose many of the students riding the bus at this time in the mornings is because they work morning shifts, at least I do! Maybe others just want to avoid the rush for their 8:00am 's, but still, this is a crowded time to ride the bus. It is early in the morning, I'm still a bit sleepy, I suppose many other students are as well. At this hour in the morning, I see at least half of the students in the bus with the headphones on. I wonder if music has an awakening effect that reduces the student's sleepiness? 

4:06pm (Monday)  At the Trigon stop, waiting for the bus. I can already see some students with their headphones out. At this time a day, when they are leaving campus, probably for the day, students are rarely seen studying or reading. However, there is always an exception, I just saw a girl with what seemed to be a lab book and reciting the bones (or muscles, maybe) of her hand. As I said, this is not very common to happen, since students just got out of classes and the least they want to do for a while is continue studying. During this time, I see a few students making or receiving phone calls, some longer than others. One or two students will be in the phone since they are waiting for the bus, until they get off at their destination. Also, this is the time where I can see more students playing games with their phones. Some of them are word games, some of them are blocks games, but some other, well some other are action games! I saw this one male student playing some kind of action game; he was so into the game that his was moving his hands like if he was playing in a gaming console with a remote in his hands...

9:00am (Tuesday) At the Trails at Wolf Pen Creek bus stop. Again, the route is crowded. Arrive to campus around 9:15, just in time for the 9:35am class. At this time, there are students doing a bit more then just listening to music, two or three might be reading a book, and another two or three studying or going over some notes. There are still those, that rather be listening to their own music than that the country station the bus driver has chosen.

An interesting fact I realized, is that students are encouraged to "Go Mobile," even by our own bus system. If students have internet in their phones, which means they must have a smart phone with a data plan activated, students can have access to knowing for example at what time is the next bus coming, or even to see the complete schedule. "m.tamu.edu" is the mobile website created by out university webmaster that gives students the benefit of not waiting anxiously for the bus, just check when the next bus is coming and you will be happy! (Picture courtesy of the 'm.tamu.edu' webmasters blog).

Even though I think this could be a viable observation project, it does not fit the definition of an ethnography. Along with my teammates, we will come up with the best choice for the project, and will create the final proposal for the ethnography.

Tentative Idea for Ethnography

For this project, I plan to work with Alyssa Nabors and Cindy Skach. For the first week, we want to try individually one of our ideas. Then, at the end of the week, we want to compare and discuss how the first week went and decide which of the ideas would be able to provide the best option for the ethnography project.

(Original Idea) Use of electronic devices, such as cellphones and music devices, v. reading or other activities while riding the bus. Since I moved offcampus and started riding the bus on my way to/from campus, it always amazes me that more than half of the students riding the bus will be using such electronic devices.

1) What type of group of people are you planning to study? 

     Students that use the bus as their way of transportation to and from school.

2) What do you want to or expect to learn from these people?

     Why do students rather keep to themselves and utilize electronic devices instead of socializing or engaging in other activities such as reading, writing, etch.

3) How you are going to study them two hours per week?

     I already spend around 30-40 min a day riding the bus. Since before this assignment was presented, I would already observe and think about the students' behavior.

4) What quantitative data would you record?

    - the number of students who are engaging in different types of activities (talking on the phone, listening to music, playing games on their cellphones or ipods, reading, talking to other students, etc)

    - how many female against how many males

    - apparent classification (maybe distinguished by how many are wearing their Aggie rings)

5) What qualitative data would you record?

    - maybe I can observe if there is any sign of interaction between the students using electronic devices with the rest of the students, or not at all. And the same for those students that are not using electronic devices, or engaging in any other activity.

6) How are you planning to interact with the people you are observing?

     - since we are all students and are able to spend at least 15 to 20 min sitting or standing right next to each it would be easy to start a conversation with any of them.

Ethnography Ideas

1. Use of electronic devices, such as cellphones and music devices, v. reading or other activities while riding the bus. Since I moved offcampus and started riding the bus on my way to/from campus, it always amazes me that more than half of the students riding the bus will be using such electronic devices.

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2. Observe who utilizes the self-checkout/service stands at different venues (the characteristics of the person). For example, grocery stores compared to department stores, as well as banks, and even the library.

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3. Women in Computer Science at Texas A&M. It is of no surprise to anyone that women are a minority in our field. But what brings women to this field, to this particular university? Is there a trend on the objectives or specialization goals among us? What is the impact we bring to the field?

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