10. PERSONAL CARE AND ADORNMENT

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Note comments made concerning the appearance of various people. What are the criteria for being considered well-groomed?

How often do they bathe?

  • Wash their hands and face?
  • Brush their teeth?
  • What is used as the cleaning agent–soap, toothpaste, bark from trees, dental floss?
  • How is body waste cleaned off and disposed of?

How do they care for their skin?

  • What is considered beautiful skin and how is it attained?
  • Do people scarify, mutilate or tattoo parts of the body? At what age? Who does the procedure?
  • What body parts are affected?
  • Why is it done?

How are the teeth cared for?

  • What is thought to be attractive (stained teeth, filed teeth, white teeth)? By young people as well?
  • Is gold put on or in teeth? Why and how?
  • Is betel chewed?
  • Are there dentists? Are they patronized? When? Can someone with a toothache just walk into an office, or do appointments have to be made? How?
  • What is considered the reason for tooth decay and how can it be prevented?

What is the attitude toward body odors?

  • Which odors are unpleasant?
  • Which are pleasant?
  • How do foreigners or other outsiders smell?
  • What is used as a deodorant?
  • Are perfumes or other ointments used ordinarily, at festivities, or to enhance sexuality?

How do they care for their hair (shampooing, cutting, arranging, etc.)?

  • What is the traditional hair style? Is this changing with the young people
  • What is available for shampoo?
  • What other ointments, oils, etc. are used?
  • How do they care for their nails?
  • Must nail and hair clippings be disposed of carefully? How?
  • Are certain times more auspicious for clipping?

What types of ornaments do women wear on their bodies and clothing?

  • What type do men wear?
  • How does festive attire differ from ordinary clothing in terms of fabric, ornamentation or adornment?
  • What jewelry is worn and when?
  • Does this indicate relative status?
  • At what age are ears, noses, or other parts pierced? Who does this?
  • How are festive clothes and valuables cared for?

11. WHAT IS DONE TO STAY HEALTHY?

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What understanding and attitudes do people seem to have concerning the cause and prevention of illness?

  • What is their attitude toward the maimed, deformed, and mentally ill?
  • What is the relation between sickness and the spirit world?

What steps do people take to avoid sickness and disease?

  • What type of personal and household cleanliness do they observe?
  • Are these traditional, or learned from other sources?
  • What religious steps are taken to avert or cure sickness?

What are the local remedies for aches and pains, lice and skin conditions, intestinal upsets, major illness, etc.?

What local plants, herbs, teas, or other substances are used in treating health problems?

Where are prescription and non-prescription medications available?

Is there a fresh water supply, and what measures are taken to keep it uncontaminated?

  • Are there toilet facilities? Where are they located?
  • Are any measures taken to control pests and insects?

To what types of medical practitioners do they resort, how soon after the onset of the complaint, and what fees do they pay?

  • Are doctors or clinics accessible to the general public?
  • How is an appointment made and how are services paid for?
  • Do medical practitioners make home visits or does the patient have to go to their clinic/office?

Are some villagers considered to be healers, either through the compounding of local materials or through contact with the spirit world? If there are such people, they may be very reluctant to share their secrets.

12. GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE

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You have already noted what types of transportation are available in your neighborhood. Now it is time to investigate further!

Local transportation

Within the area where you live, what is the primary type of transportation used by the local people (private cars, buses, trains, motor scooters, bicycles, rickshaws, ox-cart, trams, etc.)?

How accessible are the motorized types of transport? Do you need to go to special taxi stands or bus and tram terminals, or can a person flag one down?

Do these run on a schedule? If so, where are schedules available? How close to schedule do they run?

How much does a ride cost? Do you need to buy a ticket or can you pay after boarding? Do you need exact change?

Private vehicles

How generous are owners of their own vehicle in sharing rides? How much payment is expected? How easy is it to borrow a vehicle for a time? What is the borrower’s responsibility if there is any damage?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using private rather than public transport? How accessible are repair and maintenance garages?

Where are petrol stations located? Are there other options other than petrol for running a car? Where do these filling stations exist? What is the cost of petrol? of alternate fuel?

Long-distance travel

Do people travel long distances often? Are there some people in your neighborhood that have never traveled outside of their immediate area? Why do people make long trips? Where are long-distance transport stations? How far is this from your neighborhood? How do people get there? Where are tickets available? Can you buy one in advance? How far can one travel without having to make a transfer? Plot your travel options in order to go from your house to a specific location in your capital city. Investigate everything, from buying your ticket to taking a taxi to your destination.

13. HOW CAN I TRANSPORT THAT?

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Carrying

What objects are carried rather than transported in another way? How are they carried (baskets, plastic bags, in the arms or hands, slung in a cloth, in a suitcase, on the head)?

What are the cultural expectations as to the type of receptacle that a child, a man, a woman, an elderly person might use or not?

  • What kinds of “stuff” would local people expect people to be carrying?
  • What kinds of things are unusual for them to carry?
  • What would be expected of you as a foreigner?

Does the length of time items need to be carried determine the way they are carried?

Get the terms for the different methods of carrying (on the head, by the handle, with a carrying pole, under the arm, slung between two people, etc.).

Other transport

What other methods are used to transport items from one place to another? Are these specific to different geographical areas? different ethnic groups? gender-specific?

How much cooperation is involved in their use?

  • Are these privately owned and used?
  • Can they be borrowed if needed?
  • Are some available for public use?
  • Who owns them?
  • What is the fee charged for their use?

Learn the names of the various contrivances. Are these ones you can use? If so, find out how you can access them.

Are there certain times during the day when particular things are likely to be carried? Is there a peak time when demand is high for transporting of goods?

Listen for the greetings or questions used when people or drivers pass each other on the way or as they enter or leave the village or building. Observe expressions and body language as well.

14. SHOPPING FOR EVERYDAY ITEMS IN THE MARKETPLACE

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Food

  • How far is the closest market or store where you can buy fruit and vegetables? meat? flour and sugar?
  • Find out how food items are sold—by the pound? by the dozen? by the kilo? by some other measure? Think of eggs, milk and other dairy products as well as meat, vegetables, and fruit. How are items packaged?
  • Are there supermarkets where everything is under one roof, or do you have to go to different stores for food items? Is there a farmers’ market with many vendors offering their produce or products? Is fresh produce sold in a different store than dry goods like flour and sugar?
  • Do you have to bring your own bags or are bags provided to carry your purchases home?
  • Are prices fixed or is there room to bargain? Does the type of shop determine this, as a kiosk on the street, an open shop, or a shop with an entry door? How is bargaining done?

For other items needed generally

Note: Going to a mall or to another central location for “fun” shopping will be covered in another assignment.

  • Do these same stores offer stationery items? textbooks? clothing? tablecloths? crockery? If not, where can you buy these types of things? How far are these stores? Are some of them locally run or are some run by a chain? Are the chain stores nationally run or from outside the country?
  • How are items packaged? Are some items sold separately and others packaged? Which ones?
  • Do stores selling the same thing tend to group together or are they scattered around the city? How many specialty stores, like department stores, hardware stores, or automotive stores are in your area? Do you have a choice or are your options limited?
  • Inquire as to what items can be bought at the hardware store in your area? the variety store? the department store? the medicine shop? the stationers? What are these shops called?

15. WHAT’S THERE TO EAT?

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  • What is the staple food which is found in nearly every meal (bread, rice, maniac, potato, etc.?)
  • How are meals cooked (open fire, gas or electric stove, oven, etc.)? Is there a way to preserve meat, vegetables, or fruit for future use? Describe hearths or stoves and how they are constructed and used.
  • How many meals a day do people ordinarily eat? What is considered the main meal of the day? When is it served? Is breakfast served in most homes? What kind of food is served?
  • Is the main meal served at noon or in the evening? Do men and women eat together? Who is served first? When do the children eat?
  • Is any kind of ritual observed before or after eating? Learn a simple table grace (prayer before the meal).
  • How is the food served (buffet-style, family-style, pre-served portions)? What utensils and dishes are used at meal times? for various types of food? How many dishes are served at a typical meal? for guests?
  • What is served for the main meal? How many times a week is meat eaten? Is the food spicy or bland? What seasonings are used for taste? How does the food taste to you?
  • How much of it is gathered, grown in family gardens, or bought at the market? Who does the gathering or buying?
  • How are people called to come to eat? Do people converse while they eat? Note the sounds which accompany eating (smacking of lips, belching, etc.). Do people drink during a meal or after?
  • Are there breaks in the day for drinking tea or coffee or snacking? What types of things are eaten for snacks? Are they salty or sweet? Should there be a mix of the two?

16. WHERE CAN WE GO TO EAT?

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Of course, one of the places you can go to eat is as an invited guest for a meal in someone’s home.

  • Try to get the polite phrases to use when invited to a meal, when urged to eat more, and when finishing a meal. Is it appropriate or necessary to finish everything offered or better to leave something on your plate?
  • When you are invited as a guest, is it appropriate to bring a thank-you gift? or send a thank- you note afterward? Find out what words or items would show your appreciation.
  • Is it good to praise the cook? Are there stock phrases that are used for this? Learn some of these and begin to use them!
  • When you are invited to a home for a meal, is it expected that you would return the invitation? How and when is this done?
  • Another option for eating out is the restaurants, tea stalls, and hotels in the area. Find out where your friends go to eat, and as you walk about your neighborhood, observe the small eating places the locals patronize. Is there special seating for families? for women eating alone?
  • What kinds of restaurants are there? Are they well patronized? Do they serve only local food or is Western cuisine or food from other countries also available? How expensive is it to eat out? Are there eating establishments that specialize in only one or two types of food, like noodle dishes, steak, etc.?
  • If there are restaurants from the West, like McDonalds or Kentucky Fried Chicken, is their menu similar to the original? Or have they added some ingredients or items that are more culturally enjoyed?

17. DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

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Do people plant gardens (or herbs in pots near their houses) in addition to their field crops? Are the gardens near home, near the fields (or in both places), or in a different location altogether? Are there public gardens near apartment buildings where people may plant? How are the gardens or herb pots protected from animals or people?

What types of things are planted in gardens? Note the relative amount of each. Is the garden produce grown only for family consumption and enjoyment or is some sold or traded? Are the same things planted each year, or does the mix vary from year to year?

What types of plants are gathered to supplement the diet? Where do people go to gather these plants? Note the time of year each can be gathered. Are there special tools used in the gathering process? How is the harvest prepared for consumption? Do the people find the gathered plants tasty or do they eat them from necessity?

What non-edible plants are gathered? What are they used for? How are they gathered and processed?

How much time is taken in gardening? in gathering?

What other substances are used as dietary supplements? Vitamin pills? Herbs? How often are these taken? Where are they available?

18. GETTING WORK DONE

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What things have you observed around the house and neighborhood that help the residents accomplish tasks? Find out what they are called and what they are used for (e.g., field or garden work, food preparation, weaving, hunting, home maintenance, car repairs)? Note especially tools which are new to you.

Who uses what tools when? Are there role expectations or restrictions on which sex uses which tools?

Try to use some which are appropriate to your sex and role. Are they easy to use? Mimic the instructions people give you while you are using the tools.

Are the tools bought commercially or home-made? Are some of them used for a quick job and thrown away? or are some of them permanent items? When they break, who fixes them?

Are there specialists available for certain jobs? What jobs do they do? Where are they located? How are they repaid for their labor? How is the price negotiated and by whom?

Do they only work in their store or shop, or will they come to the home to do work that is needed? How are they contracted? Who does the negotiations? What else needs to be negotiated besides the price?

Is there a period of time in the day when work is not usually done, as a “rest” time? What is the expectation of the local people? How graciously do they respond to an interruption? Would the request be acted on at that time, or put off to after the “rest period?”

19. ACTIVITIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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Take a walk down the street and take note of what you see people doing (children going to school or playing, women shopping, someone cleaning the street, people going to work or sitting in the sunshine, shopkeepers selling their wares, craftsmen doing their work, etc.) Other possibilities may be house building, rope making, car repair, blacksmithing, office work, beggars, or musicians. Take pictures if appropriate and use them as conversation triggers with your language helper.

Where are the activities taking place? in or by a home? in an office? in a store? on the street?

Are certain activities done by people generally (e.g., window shopping), by recognized craftsmen (e.g., blacksmith, shoemaker, silversmith), restricted by sex (e.g., embroidery, knitting), limited to a specific area (e.g., working with wool or with cotton, styles of caps), or to a certain season (grass cutting, tapping trees for resin, shoveling snow)?

Are any finished products for sale? For personal pleasure or for the benefit of others? Is the activity essentially individual or cooperative? If the latter, who does what? Is food or payment provided for workers or helpers? Try to join in one or another of the activities and tell about your experience. Note the people’s reaction and their instructions to you.