Participant observation (Race and Ethnicity - in & beyond US) Essay

Participant observation (Race and Ethnicity - in & beyond US) - Essay Example One will find hundreds of hard to find authentic ingredients, food, and groceries for Korean and all other Asian cuisines such as spicy Korean pepper bean paste, popular Japanese ramen noodles, Asian BBQ sauce, kim chi, other health enhancing herbal drinks, herbal cigarettes that help you kick the habit, Japanese miso, tempura, udon, many exotic condiments and canned goods to make preparing authentic Korean food and other Asian dishes easy. The owner is a man and wife of Korean descent. Most customers are Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and a few Americans. I had always surmised that this is a busy venue at this time of the day due to commuters rushing home from work. Majority of the people I observed were women making a hurried trip to this place to do some shopping for dinner. I see interspersed attendance from teenagers who just hang around, meet with friends, or were running errands. I do not see businessmen and professionals often except for some husbands accompanying their wives to do some marketing. At times, mothers come with their little children in tow. I sat on a chair beside the counter. I bought some snacks and opened a notebook. I saw people of different cultures and races coming in and out of the place. There were Asians (Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, Filipinos) and a few Americans who appear to recognize and acknowledge each others’ presence through a quick smile, a nod, and at times, for men – a hand shake. I observed that it is actually the women who initiate either verbal or non verbal interaction. Regular customers talk to cashiers and their favorite personnel from the market who were just so happy to be of service. This exemplifies reciprocity at work. I tried to do some non verbal interaction through smiling and acknowledging acquaintances and they responded favorably. I asked strangers what the time is and they responded cordially. I do not feel intimidated or compromised being alone in this