An Anthropological Standpoint....

From an anthological viewpoint I made some interesting conclusions. It seems likes students, today, learn better in groups where the material is being presented orally rather than reading from a textbook. I also found that study habits can vary a lot from student to student. These specific study and learning habits could be a result of a changing culture. More focus is put on activities outside the classroom; also, many students feel they learn better outside the classroom. Teachers should be aware of these new trends and habits, and try to plan their lessons, accordingly. It would help the student get more out of the class and make them more prepared to enter the workforce. Students need to become more responsible when it comes to doing their reading and showing up for class. This will improve their own understanding of the material, and they will make the teacher’s job much easier. Overall, I feel this assignment was very beneficial from an ethnographic standpoint.

While going to class at UW Eau Claire I have noticed several different sculptures. The orange sculpture near the Haas Fine Arts Center caught my eye when I first walked past it. I was unable to find any information that clearly stated what it represented, but I believe that sculpture embodies many different things. I think that sculpture embodies the hopes and dreams of the person that stops to observe it. Therefore, the meaning behind the sculpture changes as the person does. I think this sculpture is on campus because it is a visual reminder that people all over the world have similar dreams and goals in life.

What's a Microfiche?

A microfiche is a 4 by 5 inch piece of photographic film that stores printed information in a size too small to be seen without the aid of a special reader. It allows one to store large amounts of material without taking up a lot of space. A microfiche could most likely be found in a library or any other institution that has to store a lot of data.

Got a Newspaper?

As I looked for a national newspaper, I realized that they were not very common on the campus. I noticed that the campus newspaper, The Spectator, was very common, but I managed to find The New York Times in the library. The article, “Before College, the Big Test: Filling Out the Financial Aid Form,” caught my eye. The article states how difficult it is to fill out the financial aid form provided by FASA. The financial aid form has roughly 100 questions that many critics think scares off people who need the aid most. When President Obama was campaigning he promised to eliminate the form; is secretary of education had this to say concerning the form: “You basically have to have a Ph.D. to figure that thing out.” Whether or not it will replaced is unclear at the moment. In the mean time, parents and students will have to keep filling out this long, and often times, ineffective form.

What's a Blugold?

At UW Eau Claire, many people have often wondered “What is a Blugold?” Not very many people know the history behind the term “Blugold.” The first debate over what a Blugold is took place on December 5th, 1945 in an article by The Spectator. In 1965 a mascot committee was created to come up with an appropriate mascot; yet nothing substantial ever came out of it. Today, there is no clear tangible picture of what a Blugold really is. Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich had this to say about what a Blugold really is: "It's a state of being rather than a thing." I believe a Blugold is the spirit of community, honor, and determination all students at UW Eau Claire possess.

Teacher's Response

When I spoke to my sociology teacher about changes in student behaviors, his had some interesting comments. He believes the behaviors of students are changing as a result of an ever-changing society. He acknowledges that more students are skipping class and not taking class seriously; he feels this is a result of more and more students engaging in potentially harmful activities such as drinking, drugs, and partying. When I talked to my English professor she had similar thoughts. She noticed many students took class less seriously and activities outside of class more seriously. She believes some students take the path of least resistance, and she feels there is an increased focus on “fun”. Still, she noticed many students that had a drive and desire to succeed.

What's an XF?

An XF is a high performance journaling file system created by Silicon Graphics that is able to handle large files and offers smooth data transfers. I think this system could affect me later in life if I ever decide to research of any kind. Researchers collect massive amounts of data that must be processed and deciphered. This system would make this process easier and much smoother.

Education System Differences

I went to the library and talked to an international student about a major difference between the educational system in his country and the one in America. He told me that one major difference between America’s education system and the system back in Japan is that he was given more homework in Japan, and, generally, he had less time to do it. He did tell me that he thought the professors here at UW Eau Claire were quite helpful and knowledgeable.

Study Habits

When asked I asked about the study habits of students, I found some similarities as well as some differences. The first student I talked to told me he liked to study alone in his dorm because it was quiet and peaceful; the library was another place he would go on occasion. He also told me that he that he had a habit of procrastinating and that he did most of his reading late at night. The second student I interviewed told me that she preferred to study in the library on the 4th or 5th floor. She enjoys sitting in the chairs by the windows because there is a nice view. She told me that tries to keep an orderly schedule with her planner. She sets aside a couple of hours in the afternoon for doing homework, studying, and reading. The third student I interviewed told me he preferred doing his homework in his dorm because there are fewer distractions; also, he told me that he often does some of his reading in the cafeteria during lunch. He told me he tries to get his work done a head of time, but, often times, things seem to pile up at the last minute. He told me that most of the work that piles up is from classes he does not have much interest in. The fourth student I talked to said he did most of his studying in the library because it is quiet, and he can concentrate better. He enjoys studying alone because it allows him to go at his own pace, and he can cover the material that he really needs to. The fifth student I interviewed told me she enjoys studying with her friends. They usually study together in their dorms, but occasionally they will use a study room in the library. She told me that she would rather stay up late doing homework than get up early the next day to do it.

Mini Essay #1 - Narration

While my teacher lectured, I stared out the window and began planning a vacation that I would like to go on. I would bring my mom, dad and brother along; we would leave in the first part of June. We talked it over and decided we would go to the Outer Banks of North Carolina; everyone was really excited. I scurried around getting everything I would need together. After my clothes were packed, I collected various others items such as sunscreen, hygiene products, and some snacks and stuffed them into my already bulging suitcase. We put all the luggage into the trunk of our car; and we set off on our adventure.
Since we lived in central Wisconsin, we figured it would take us about 18 hours to arrive at our destination. We settled in for the long drive; we played various games to pass the time, and before we knew it, we were crossing the North Carolina state line. A few hours later, we arrived at the Outer Banks Hotel. When I opened my car door, I was greeted by a warm sea breeze. I inhaled deeply; This is the life, I thought. We carried all of our luggage up the our room and took a few minutes to unpack. We had a beautiful view of the ocean from our third story room. Since it was only 2:00 in the afternoon, we all changed into our swimming attire and headed for the beach.
As I walked on to the beach, I noticed seagulls flying overhead, kites flying in the wind, and that the hot sand was scorching the bottoms of my feet. I ran towards the ocean and dove in. The cool water felt refreshing, and I waded out further into the surf. I observed the waves that came crashing in and though it would be a blast to ride one in. I soon found out body surfing is much harder than it seems. The wave sent me tumbling end over end until I reached the shore. After my head stopped spinning, I walked onto the beach to join the rest of my family who were sitting on some beach towels. We decided to go back to our room and change our clothes. Soon thereafter, I noticed my stomach was growling. That warm sea air and those churning waves really work up an appetite. The rest of my family shared my feelings, so we decided to go to a seafood buffet. We drove down the busy street until we came to Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet. We had heard that this was a great place to eat, so we drove into an open parking spot and walked to the entrance of the restaurant. A friendly waiter greeted us and escorted us to our table. The tantalizing aroma of fresh seafood drifted towards me as I arose to get a plate. Never in all my life had I seen so much food; there were several types of crab legs; not to mention all the varieties of fresh fish. I stood there wondering what I should try first; I decided take a little of everything. As soon as I got back to my table I took a bite of the stuffed flounder. It tasted delectable, and I proceeded to devour the rest of my food. It didn’t take long for me to start to feel full; once my family had finished eating, we paid the bill and drove back to our room. Everyone was thoroughly exhausted from our busy day; I lay in bed thinking about all the fun I had had until all of a sudden piercing voice brought me back to reality. It was my teacher, Mrs. Jenson. “It’s your turn to give your opinion on ethics in psychology,” she said. Reluctantly, I stood up and began to speak. My perfect vacation would have to wait.

Mini Essay #2 - Food Review

For my restaurant review I decided to eat at Cancun Mexican Grill. I chose this particular restaurant for a couple different reasons. I absolutely love Mexican food, and I knew from prior experience that the food was very good. Also, I knew the restaurant was authentic, so I would have plenty of things to comment on.
I went to Cancun’s during the evening; even though it was dark, I noticed the outward appearance of the building. It looked fairly modernized; it didn’t have a classic Mexican look to it. As I entered the building I was greeted by the sound of Mexican music and the tantalizing smell of the food. I was greeted by a man clearly of Mexican descent; he took me to a table where he handed me a menu and asked me what kind of drink I wanted. I ordered a Mountain Dew, and he brought me one along with a basket of chips and two types of dip. One was a traditional spicy salsa while the other was a cool ranch dip. After eating some of the chips, I proceeded to observe my surroundings. Most of the furniture looked like it was very authentic; many interesting designs could be found on the table and chairs. The artwork on the walls was very intriguing; for a moment I forgot about the chilly Wisconsin weather, and I imagined I was in beautiful, sunny Mexico. Before long my food arrived; it smelled and looked fantastic. I ordered the Quesadilla Fajita which was a large tortilla stuffed with beef, rice, onions, and green peppers. It was smothered in a warm cheese sauce; I added some additional hot sauce because I like my food spicy. The overall presentation was very aesthetically pleasing. I had high expectations for my meal, and after the first bite I was not disappointed. The food was cooked perfectly; it was not too hot or too cold. As I was eating, I looked around and noticed that a lot of people were there eating; the restaurant seemed very popular. In fact, there were only a couple empty tables. I noticed that there was a large group of people sitting together; I figured they must have been there for someone’s birthday. As it turns out, I was right; one person from the group told an employee about the birthday celebration. Soon several employees came out singing and holding a guitar. They put a giant sombrero on the person having a birthday and sang her a song; it was very amusing. After that, a few of the employees that were not busy stood near the entrance to the kitchen talking in Spanish; it made the experience even more authentic. For those who like to drink, there was a bar with several types of alcohol; many of the drinks were exotic. The bar also had a TV by it. As I began to finish my meal, I thought about ordering desert. I looked at the menu and decided to order the fried ice cream. A few minutes later they brought it out, and it looked amazing. It was ice cream smothered in cinnamon, chocolate syrup and honey encased by a fried tortilla shell. It tasted delectable, but now I really full. After I paid my bill, I walked out feeling glad I had come.
If anyone is considering going to Cancun Mexican Grill it can be located at 2713 N Clairemont Ave. Eau Claire, WI 54703. Their phone number is (715) 830-0211. The restaurant has a great atmosphere; the menu has a wide variety of authentic Mexican dishes. The waiters are very friendly and do a good job. The food is excellent, and the prices are very reasonable. If you are looking for a unique dining experience and you like Mexican food, Cancun’s is the place for you.

About Me

I am currently a freshman in college; I have not decided on a major yet. I am thinking about kinesiology or geology because I love sports and being active. Also, ever since I was little I have had a fascination with rocks and minerals. Other than school, I enjoy outdoor activities, spending time with my friends, and playing sports. My favorite sport is football; I played offensive and defensive tackle in high school. I grew up near the small town of Elk Mound. I live on a small hobby farm where we have several goats. I enjoy living in the country because of the simplicity, the peacefulness, and the activities it has to offer. Hunting and fishing has always been important to my family and relatives. Needless to say, November is one of my favorite months even though it gets a little chilly.