Tinsley Center

Once classes are done everyday, I make my way to the gym to work out. As a member of the Men's Soccer team at BSU, it's very important that I stay in shape all year round. My observation point earlier today was the Tinsley Center, the gym that almost all the students go to regularly. Observing this made me realize I had not seen much of what goes on here. The staff, people working out, visitors, all add to the atmosphere the gym has to offer. While I was observing, I recognized many of the people that came in and what they were there to do. Many of my friends that work out at this gym are looking to gain a bit of weight, while many of my soccer teammates do cardio and simple lifting. 

Other observations I made are what some people do while at the gym. Many people I saw went to the gym by themselves, possibly to concentrate on their workout. In fact, I often go to the gym by myself to focus and to relieve stress. Other people simply go to the gym to gossip and meet up with their friends. A lot goes on at the gym, and many people do not realize this unless they really sit and watch. I observed when the most people came to the gym, which is around 4:00 PM, right before dinner. This time is very convenient for most. The downside to this is it's very hard to find a machine to work out on, because of the wait. I can recall one instance where I was waiting for the bench to open up, however 3 people were waiting before me because of the time we all went at. Tinsley Center was very interesting to observe and I would definitely recommend " people watching " there. 

Lay of the land response

Right from the start of this passage, I can already tell detail and adjectives are a big part of making a good ethnography. She begins by saying she is the only female in site during the men's league, which must have been awkward at first, but she was soon welcomed in. Observing anything without many people knowing could also be a bit odd at first. The positive thing about my project site is many of the people know me from when I previously worked there. As she observes the team, the overall game play becomes much easier to see. She states, " Each player bowls three sets with three balls in each set.  In his first and second set he is unable to knock down all the pins, but he clears all the pins on his third set.  When he finishes he goes back to sitting at a table next to me, behind the rest of his team." This specific quote gives the reader a sense of what is really going on in the bowling alley. 


Another observation was how the men were, their actions, and descriptions of a few of them. One of them is wearing a blue t-shirt that says bowling stones on it, which is very comical in my opinion. I had a similar idea for a dodge ball team in high school. We were called the Gut Busters, mostly because we accidentally hit people in the stomach. The next observation she had that was very interesting was when she talked to the owner, Hank. He played with the team that were probably in their 50's. He's the eldest there, and has many memories from the game. When I become that age, I hope to do the exact same thing. Have so many stories that I do not know what to do with all of them. 


Overall, these observations and details could really help when it comes to writing my paper. Seeing people in the bowling alley, and how they were interacting was very interesting to read about and I plan on doing the same thing when I visit Goretti's. Watching people come through the lines, the courtesy booth, and interacting within the aisles is where I plan on spending some of my time. 


 

Project Goretti's

Goretti's Supermarket, located in Millbury, MA has been a family owned business for the last 30 years and has been extremely successful. I use to work there a little over a year ago until I got a new job. My sister currently works there as a cashier and she enjoys going to work part time. The people and atmosphere that this supermarket presents is so interesting that theirs always a new story coming from my sister. Many of the shoppers live in the Millbury/Sutton area so any shopper is bound to run into someone they know. The types of people that come to shop are from different backgrounds and each customer is different, which is why Goretti's has such a great reputation. It competes with local stores such as Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, and other local businesses.

When you first walk into Goretti's, the first thing you smell is the bakery, which is always a great first impression smell. The freshly baked muffins and pastries catch your attention right away and many customers have to stop and have one to shop with. The next stop is the Deli, where the aroma of chicken and freshly cooked meals swarms the area. This store is full of great aroma's from the fresh food that it never gets old.