Sociology

Creating observations within a social setting encourages better understanding of how individuals and groups respond to their environment. It opens up patterns of interaction and socialization that showcases both similarities and differences according to individuals and groups. By seeking to look into the interplay of actions among individuals, it can help provide better ideas on how people associate themselves and the impact that race provides to these dynamics.

The thing that I chose to serve as a venue for my observation is in PACE University Cafeteria. It is in here that numerous interactions take place between students and faculty. Since the primary objective of this endeavor is to determine racial interactions, this place serves as a good example where people can interact and talk about different ideas and issues. Seeing this, I pursued this location as a good spot to conduct my participant observation and record specific field notes in what I have seen.

One important element that I had observed that there are numerous trends that can be seen in PACE Universitys school cafeteria as far as interaction and social environment of the students are concerned. Here, it showcases multicultural surroundings that are comprised of racial groups such as Asians, Caucasians, Africans, and African Americans. Here their interaction and communication with their peers correspond to the value of (1) how they knew each other, (2) affiliations, and (3) individual sub-groups present within the school.

Observing in this place, one important aspect I came to find out was that different groups existed within the cafeteria. Though not all featured being associated with a single race inclusively, these illustrated that they are formed out of established relationships with one another. These can revolve around common partnerships, involved in same organizations or just simply get along with each other. These elements prevail regardless of the fact that there are differences in skin color and the way they talk and relate to other people.

In groups that have exclusively the same racial color, they often exhibit closeness and a bond with each other. Their conversations, mannerisms, and how they interact within are relatively similar. It is in here that I came to realize that the reason behind this comfort is the ability to convey a common meaning and share similar values, beliefs and principles with one another. This then becomes the reason why some groups in PACE cafeteria are gathered together in this way.

To showcase this example, I had observed a group of individuals (Asians) who have gathered together and seem to enjoy their eating lunch together and talking issues. I can overhear them talking about common jokes present in their country and include dialogues about their current educational standing in the University. The overall mood of people here are relatively relaxed and composed. Limited signs of forcefulness or intimidation can be seen amongst the members of the group accordingly.

Another thing that I had observed revolves around the presence of other groups that are not that exclusive about race. Here, they consider it only as an important associative process to enhance communication. Race as a component in communication refers to only as an option that can be used to gain information and willingness to become part of the group. An example of this would be a group of people sitting together in the caf table talking about politics. Though they are not really that connected, it is their ability to address a specific issue that then binds and allows the communication process to occur.

Likewise, the association of different races in the PACE University Cafeteria remains stimulated and rooted with connections with specific organizations. Here, multicultural interaction takes place and allows people to actively convey their ideas. Most of the time, membership to these group correspond to either a sport-related endeavor or a school organization. This then goes to show why I had observed other people meeting within the area and overhearing talking about plans and activities related to their endeavors.

One example that I can cite in here revolves around the basketball team eating together in the cafeteria during lunch. Their group comprises by both Caucasians and African Americans. Since they are relatively big in size, their presence caught my attention and highlighted their capacity to engage in communication between the group and other people within the cafeteria. Though the topic they conversed about is not really that important, their capacity to reach out and talk towards other group signifies their ability to become accepted in both in-group and out-group activities.

In the end, these different dynamics and communication happening between races seeks to establish that indeed communication patterns among diverse cultures are present. It seeks to develop a mixture of people seeking to interact with one another and those that have a corresponding purpose. Regardless of what their objectives might be, it has brought about the socialization process by providing inputs and interests among these parties accordingly.

Overall, the observation I had made in PACE University cafeteria developed the understanding of how different cultures interact and correlate with one another. It connotes that despite the differences in cultural values and perspectives, the English language serves as an important medium in bridging these differences together and communicating a particular idea or objective.