Week 2 Blog 1

"Take something that's familiar to you -- an ordinary routine or ritual in your everyday life that would seem extraordinary to someone else in another culture or subculture -- and reexamine it as if you were seeing it for the first time. Try something simply -- like the way you fix your hair, listen to music, change a tire, take in the mail, or get ready for a sporting event. List the specific behaviors of your routine, and identify what might seem strange or extraordinary to others. Write a short paragraph that describes the process" (15).

What I do before I go out at night.

Usually, I will shower sometime that day. Sometimes its right before going out. Let's start from getting out of the shower. I put on music before I start anything. Then, my hair in a towel, I get dressed. After getting dressed, I brush my teeth, put on make-up, all while dancing and answering phone calls. By the end of this time, several friends will come over so that we all leave at the same time. There is usually a relaxing time now since everyone arrives early, excited about the night's activity. When everyone has calmed down a little, we head out the door. We walk in pairs. Usually, I am in the front, to lead this parade to our get together. Once we arrive, we find friends and mingle, sometimes going out for air and to meet up with the group. That is how I go out at night.

After rereading my post, I have decided that the most unique part of my night is when all my friends get together to relax before going out. European cultures maybe very used to the idea of us coming together before going out. I find that most Americans, however, will just plan to make their way to the party and meet them there. There are most likely other cultures who think we're weird and can't imagine this way of going out at night. That is a very interesting thing to think about, other cultures thinking that my most mundane daily task, is actually something unusual to them.