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My field site was little Italy marcato, I spent time at the farmers market in san diego, which is a cool, vibrant market that brings together vendors, families and visitors every Saturday. This marcato isn't just about food, it's about keeping culture alive in a neighborhood that has faced gentrification. I noticed how vendors and shoppers use the market as a space to celebrate Italian roots, but also to welcome diverse influences. Rituals like greeting familiar vendors, sampling food or listening to live music create a sense of belonging.

I was struck by how routine and ritual shape community life there. Even small acts like a vendor remembering a customer's name or a family returning to the same stall each week carry a meaning.

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My field site was the Linda Vista Library. While being there, it really helped me see that the Linda Vista community is diverse, welcoming, and makes everyone feel accepted. Another thing I notice is that they seem to value others, while the space has support for both connections and learning. I found it amazing how the library hosts different events throughout the year.

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My field site was Aldi in Mira Mesa. I was curious about unrecognized, unconscious shopping behavioral patterns and the motivations behind them. Due to the relatively small size of the market, Aldi was a good choice for taking detailed observations of shoppers. I found three main themes: time pressure, knowledge of the task environment, and shopping alone or with others. The first two were more about the influence of market strategies on our behavior, the ones that we do not usually even notice exist. It's about how the market tries to persuade shoppers to shift from their pre-existing plans and decide to purchase items they did not first expect to need, making an impulsive decision. The last one is about how shopping with others(maybe through conversations) might shape your shopping behavior differently than usual. Roughly, the friends group encourages you to buy impulsively, while the family group discourages. My conclusion was that as shoppers, we individuals should try to take control of our unconscious mind, since that's what makes us impulsive, not the plans that we make even before visiting the store.

Jiho Song

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My field site was the Linda Vista Library. Through research I found that a library is meant for more than just storing books but for building community and providing opportunity. The most interesting part about my time at the library was probably just seeing all of the diverse communities coming together to enjoy the library.

-Raul Ruiz

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In my ethnography, I studied the location and community of Miramar Lake. I learned about the demographic, interactions, and personality of the community as well as other general info like busy days and popular locations for community at the lake. I found it intriguing how the community impacts the wildlife. Not due to pollution, but due to habits and hobbies like feeding the birds. I was also surprised about the themes that emerged from my observations (herd mentality and validation). It is crazy that I previously had visited this location often, yet I did not get the true experience of the community until I really paid attention.

-Nicole Sieto

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My field site was Linda Vista, a historically and culturally diverse neighborhood in San Diego where I’ve lived most of my life. The neighborhood is multigenerational and culturally diverse, filled with residents deeply connected to its complex history. I learned that through daily routines, yearly traditions, and long-term relationships, they maintain their community's identity despite changes like gentrification. I was struck by how residents, including my family, preserve the neighborhood’s culture and history, and how small interactions, like greeting neighbors or walking kids to school, help keep its strong sense of community. - Kailah Mack

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My field site was The Whaley House. During my research I question that I kept in mind was "Is the Whaley House haunted?" I have experienced paranormal phenomena while in the house, and most of which match the description that other people have experienced mentioned by the guides.

-Vince Valdes

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Mine was about the Cars and Coffee in San Clemente, California. It is a weekend gathering where people bring their cars and motorcycles, get coffee, and spend time talking with others who share similar interests. I learned that this community is relaxed and made up of people from many different backgrounds and age groups. The event is not just about showing off vehicles, but about creativity and appreciation for craftsmanship. What interested me the most was how personal the vehicles were to their owners and how easily strangers connected over shared interests, making the event feel more like a community than just a car meet. - Todd Rose

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My field site was the Mira Mesa Public Library, and it's a place used by everyone in the community. I learned that the library has many functions and that its more than just a place to get books. It can be used in so many ways for example, families bring their children for tutoring, kids can participate in reading programs, and students can use the space to study quietly. It is also a place where people can hang out, learn, join groups or activities, or get access to materials in their own language. What I found most interesting about my experience was interviewing the library staff. I was able to see another side of the library and the important role staff play in keeping the library running. I found it interesting how library staff can help people by creating friendly relationships or by giving advice and support. Overall, I had a great experience observing and learning about how it supports its community. - Alissa Esteban Jose

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My field site was Coronado Fitness Club, and it's members that attend the gym on a daily or weekly basis. Throughout my several visits to the gym, I learned a lot about the community of the gym, as well as a good amount about Coronado as a larger community. My biggest take away from my observations was that many people use the gym as a social fix or relief rather than a workout necessarily. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people who came into the gym that were focused and had strong fitness goals. I noticed that a large population of it's members were more so focused on socializing, catching up and chatting, then they were sweating. I thought this was interesting and cool. To me, it points to the fact that so many people these days work or live in mostly isolation from others and are willing to pay a premium to have social interaction as an adult. I am happy I chose Coronado Fitness Club as my field site and I feel like it was a beneficial experience. - Matt Gaus

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My field site was Cargo Cafe UTC. This is located 2 minutes from the UTC mall. From the community, I learned that cafes aren't just about grabbing a coffee and leaving. A lot of people use them to work, debrief, and even connect with others. One interesting aspect of this cafe was its location. When researching the history and idea behind the cafe, I found that the whole point of the Cargo Cafe business in general was to convenience business areas all around San Diego.

- Charlene Smith

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San Diego Air & Space Museum Balboa Park. 

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San Diego Air & Space Museum Balboa Park. 

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My field site was the Air & Space Museum of San Diego at Balboa Park, and I had so much fun learning what kind of public tends to visit this kind of museum and what it has to offer them. I learned that even though it is not the most famous museum at Balboa Park I must say it has a lot of things that makes it one of the best museums there, investigating I learned they offer tons of different programs for those who are interested in the STEM area, and there is not an age range for that, no matter if you are young or a little bit older, it is a place for everyone to have fun and learn. They also offer the chance of getting a scholarship. Actually, I wasn't expecting something like that. Sadly, I didn't see a specific group more than families, like kids and their parents, and young students, but they were all alone by themselves exploring the place, and all of them seemed to follow an unspoken rule which is interesting, they were all quiet, not a single loud noise, people talked quietly, just like when you are doing a test at school. I found out a lot of different things, but I guess you all have to go and take a look for yourself!

- Sebastián Blanco S.

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My field site was the pickleball courts at Collier Park and its people. I learned a lot of things. I didn't know so many unspoken rules could be followed by a community that isn't even regulated. What interested me was the diversity in the players. People of all ages and ethnicities. No matter what type of person was there, they were always respecful and kind. -Jesus Hernandez

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Pacific Beach Recreational Center- Kaden Belt

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Pacific Beach Recreational Center- Kaden Belt

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My field site was the Pacific Beach Recreation Center pickleball courts. I learned that the courts are more than just a place to play; they are a community where people welcome beginners, follow unspoken rules, and enjoy spending time together. Players of all ages and skill levels play together, and age does not matter much. What I found most interesting was how social and friendly everyone was, even between games or when it started to rain. I was surprised by how close everyone was, and it definitely had an amazing, friendly vibe.

- Kaden Belt

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Shadworidge Assisted Living- Layla Garcia  

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Shadworidge Assisted Living- Layla Garcia  

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My field site was an assisted living facility located in Vista. One thing I learned about my community is that the facility has a rich history. Before becoming a facility, it was a mansion owned by a husband and wife. As they aged and the wife developed dementia, the home was converted into a care facility. After she passed away, the husband requested that their home remain a facility, and it has continued to serve the community ever since. He was a doctor, and it’s inspiring to know that his final act of service still has a positive impact on people’s lives.

I have been volunteering here for years and have truly fallen in love with both the facility and its residents. I believe that anyone who has the time should consider visiting an assisted living facility. Many residents live alone and just having someone spend time with them even something as simple as sharing a smile can make a meaningful difference in their lives.

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My field site is Saigon Coffee, a Vietnamese coffee shop where I work at. People come here to drink coffee, study, or just hang out. Some people stay for long time and don’t really rush to leave.What I learned from this place is that it feels like a small community. I see a lot of regular customers come in almost everyday and order the same drinks. The workers talk to customers in Vietnamese or English depends on who they are. This make people feel more like comfortable.Something interesting to me was how this coffee shop still feels very Vietnamese even though it is in the U.S. The drinks, the language, and how people talk to each other makes it feel familiar.

- Bao La

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A park dedicated to man's best friend. I spent a lot of time here before the ethnography, as it's a pretty nice area with friendly people. However, I never really took a close look at it. While it definitely is a friendly area, the dogs... vary. I wasn't sure what to look for going in to this, but when I read an ethnographers review of a dog park, I started to notice all the similarities between our parks. While I love dog parks, there are just too many issues that arise for them to be truly safe for you or your dogs.

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My field site was the Dorothea Laub Dance Place in Liberty station. The biggest thing I learned about my site was the patterns of dancers and the social exchange between them. I was interested in if these pattern I observed I also exhibited myself, as I am also in the dance world with these people. It was really cool to be able to observe my own demographic from an outside prospective !

Rylaigh Lord

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The field site I choose to observe was the middle school wrestling room at Kearny high school. Through my time at my field site I learnt more about the middle schoolers who wrestled there. I learnt how strong their will was and how dedicated to wrestling they were. I learnt this through observing them at the field site. This fact was really interesting to me because during my time on the high school team, when I was in high school I did not see as much strength and dedication as I saw in the middle schoolers. That really surprised me and made me curious to learn more about my field site.

Aiden Harvey

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My field site was the Libyan mothers in the United States. Most of their meetings were in the park. I learned how they talked to their kids and how they chose places where their kids could move freely, such as the park. Most mothers talking with their kids in Arabic, even if the child spoke in English, and the purpose of this is to ensure that the kid does not forget the Arabic language. I was interested in learning how Libyan mothers treat their kids in a different society and the challenges they faced with this society.

Ranna Turshani

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Observing SD Wushu Center  - Elena Filchukova

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Observing SD Wushu Center  - Elena Filchukova

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I chose to observe the San Diego Wushu Center at Kearny Mesa. It is a traditional Chinese martial arts training center for all ages. The community is diverse, but mostly represented by the Chinese members. The atmosphere is very welcoming. I found it interesting how kids learn discipline, patience, and respect along with physical skills.

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Having gone through many different venues for a research site, I landed on a hotel lobby. Often times due to my many visits, I've taken for granted the details and became dull to its intricacies and inner workings. Which was the foundation to my research project. Discovering the details of a well ventured area brought to light how much was going on behind the scenes of hospitality. Which lead to the topics, such as: the importance of guest experience, employee satisfaction and subtleties/grandeur of the presentation. Ultimately this project opened my eyes to the value of structured observation and how enjoyable that process can be.

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My field site was Sunday Night Karaoke at Full Circle in Santee. I learned that it seems to be an oasis for queerness, like a third place. What was really interesting to me is that, like you can see in the poster, this event isn't marketed as a queer event/space. But somehow, it's become a homing beacon for LGBTQ+ folx.

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My field site was Torrey Pines. I learned that the community there really values nature, health, and mindfulness. A lot of people were hiking, jogging, or just enjoying the view quietly. It felt like a peaceful and respectful environment. What stood out to me was how people, even strangers, seemed connected just by sharing the space. It was interesting to see how a natural setting can bring people together without needing to say much.

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My field site was the California soccer League. I learned various things about the community as I watched. The community was very diverse with people from all different parts of the world. Teams were not separated by who was on it, mainly everyone in the league knew each other. All teams usually get along but sometimes things can get a bit rough. This never stops the leagur from continuing and people still connect and chat and share experiences they've had with people they meet.

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My field site was Fanuel Park playground at Pacific Beach, Mission Bay. It is a playground dedicated to toddlers. As I observed kids playing I came up with a theme "free play". Throughout my research, I learned more about free play's benefits through observation, reading, and doing little interviews. Those benefits include creativity, social development, motor skills, and others.

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My chosen field site was the Writing Center found on Mesa's campus. I had the experience of sitting in around 10-11 am every other Tuesday and found that the basis of the methods practiced by tutors was fueled by making the students feel respected and safe. I learned that the community of tutors appeared to be close-knit and this made the environment feel very friendly and casual. The most interesting part of my note-taking was getting an inside-look at the process tutors are specifically encouraged to follow to successfully help students and how deeply the basis of respect and equitable treatment runs in this community.

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For my ethnographic research, I chose to examine For my ethnographic research, I chose to examine the 99-cent business and its customers. I was curious how the store's closure might affect its customers, who are mostly from low-income backgrounds and communities.  As I observed the community at the 99-cent store, I noticed that many individuals shop there for a variety of reasons. Some people simply enjoy shopping and buying stuff for 99 cents and have an addiction; others have an attachment and a sense of belonging; and still others are detained and it is one of their only options. 

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The 99- Cent Store                              Binti Muya  

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The 99- Cent Store                              Binti Muya  

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My field site was the Kabul Kabob House/ Meat Shop. 

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My field site was the Kabul Kabob House/ Meat Shop. I decided to explore another culture rather than my own. Through my site and further research, I saw how Afghan refugees settled in El Cajon. I witnessed dining events during Ramadan. This restaurant is important because it allows Afghan refugees to remain connected with their culture while adjusting to the new environment. I learned the history of Afghanistan prior to and post 9/11. Honestly, I am glad I choose this site for it open dialogue on the issues of identity, migration, and belonging.

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My field site was car shows mostly the concourse de elegance with my observation i noticed how some of the car community is toxic but i mostly found how we try and help one another by the millions of car forums we have in the community to help owners with there cars, social media so we can meet up and talk about cars or network or helping and branching out to different diverse communities that were once not included. Or just accomplishing childhood dreams to see specific cars.

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My field site was the Jazz Night at Future Is Color in Barrio Logan. These Jazz Nights were once referred to as Skate Jazz

The community is tight knit and easy to spot in a sea of newcomers. They are friendly and are always down to make a new connection. The evolution of the band itself was captivating, watching how the dichotomy of the band affects that of the crowd.

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My field site was about Pilates classes, I was paying attention mainly to gender roles, ages and how the instructor played a significant role in how the class was taken and the effort they would put.

I learned a lot about the community and how important was to feel safe in the environment because it would impact every action and movement.

No matter the age or gender Pilates can be really great for everyone and everyone should be able to enjoy it.

It was really interesting to see how a lot of them were acting according to other people. I find it interesting how working out can impact our lives and how we feel.

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My field site was the Little Italy Farmers' Market. I learned that this market is one of the largest in San Diego and observed that it was very diverse. I was once a vendor at Farmers' markets so I have a respect for those who work them. I enjoy the art of food and agriculture and how it brings people together. The people come here to support local and regional quality goods. I wish I would have interviewed more vendors. I am really interested in regenerative agriculture and how it can impact humanity. It seems to be more of a sustainable way of life.

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Little Italy adds a midweek farmers market - Pacific San Diego

www.pacificsandiego.com

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. Images Little Italy adds a midweek farmers market - Pacific San Diego www.pacificsandiego.com Images may be subject to copyright.

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my field site was Appleatchee Riding facility and Sun Dun ranch. The ranch was my first set of notes. I didnt think I could get enough information from there so i switched to the reining show. In the final paper i combined the two sites. I learned a lot more than I thought I would. The history behind the western saddle is something that i didn't know. I learned that the saddle originally came from a nomadic tribe in Mexico.

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My field site was at Kobey's Swap Meet, next to the Sports Arena. My initial perspective on swap meets was that the only people who go there are lower income families who want to either sell or buy things. Upon researching I've learned that it was more than just that alone. It was a place for different cultures to come together and network and just hang out with their families. People didn't need to go there to buy or sell anything but to just be outside. I encourage more people to go and enjoy the vibes of swap meets.

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My field site was Three Punk Ales, a brewery nested in the heart of Chula Vista. Through my observations and research, I learned that Chula Vista used to build B-24 bombers during WWII, as well as in the 1888's used to be the center of lemon growing in the world. Chula Vista is predominantly a hispanic community where people share more than a beer with friends, the comradery is palpable. Beer is more than a fermented hoppy or malty drink, beer brings people together!

This is Steve Garcia, one of the owner os Three Punk Ales and a good friend of mine.