Not only is inequality present throughout the world, but it also is present in our own country. The United States is considered one of the wealthiest nations, but nonetheless there is drastic inequality among the people living here. As discussed in lecture, inequality can be studied by individual experience or by a social matrix in anthropology. We all contribute to inequality. Whether we realize it or not, the decisions made by us, people outside of Appalachia have direct impacts the inequality the people of Appalachia experience. Even though it may be unintentional, inequality exists on a large scale, which is a direct result of decisions we make.
For instance, on a basic level, some people in Appalachia are forced to live in geographically unsafe locations because we have chosen to occupy geographically safe locations. This is not meant to imply that you should put yourself at risk and occupy geographically unsafe locations so others do not have to, but the truth of the matter is, that all of our decisions impact those around us, often in unequal ways.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Not a cloud in the sky
It was in repairing a foundation that had completely decayed as a result of flooding, or repairing rotted walls, or a collapsing roof was when I came to understand the culture and values of Appalachia, in addition to my own culture. The bare minimum structure of a home revealed the complex truth of the situation many of the families were in. Before this point I simply did not understand or even notice how a collapsing home could be valued like it was to the people who owned it. They valued it because they had so many memories there and every morning they could see the sun rise over the mountains before they saw anything else. I came to understand that it is not what we have that is important at all, but the pleasure we are able to find in our surroundings. After a period of time I came to feel that the best parts of my day was the people around me and seeing the leaves of the trees swaying with the breeze. As long as you are getting through the day and finding how to make it fulfilling and satisfying to you, what else matters?
Now that I am no longer in Appalachia, I am distracted from a beautiful blue sky, but I find the same fulfillment and value in other ways. At the end of the day, we are looking for the same thing and we can find this fulfillment and purpose in more ways than one.
Now that I am no longer in Appalachia, I am distracted from a beautiful blue sky, but I find the same fulfillment and value in other ways. At the end of the day, we are looking for the same thing and we can find this fulfillment and purpose in more ways than one.
Description of Homes
In terms of a general description of the homes I came across while in Appalachia, they were all single storied, usually slightly raised from the ground, they all had front porches which contributes to the social life in Appalachia, and they were often situated at the base a steep, forested incline. One house we worked on, we were repairing the foundation and floor that had rotted due to extensive flooding. Before repair the floor was soft to the touch and even when walking carefully along the joists it you could very easily fall through to the ground. Once we removed the rotted floorboards, rotted joists made of logs were revealed. In the construction world, building a basic foundation is relatively simple, however in our situation the entire house, including the walls and the roof were supported by a foundation that could give way at anytime. Throughout this repair, we had to keep the house supported while replacing what it was supported on.
On another house I worked on, we were repairing a roof that was no longer safe because termites and carpenter ants had invaded. In this instance we always had to be aware of our surroundings and careful not to step where the wood had decayed. In the beginning this was very difficult and we essentially had to make repairs from a ladder because such small portion of the roof could hold our weight. As the project proceeded we could work from the portions we had repaired, however the angle at which we tackled each task was dictated by what part of the roof was strong enough to hold our weight.
On another house I worked on, we were repairing a roof that was no longer safe because termites and carpenter ants had invaded. In this instance we always had to be aware of our surroundings and careful not to step where the wood had decayed. In the beginning this was very difficult and we essentially had to make repairs from a ladder because such small portion of the roof could hold our weight. As the project proceeded we could work from the portions we had repaired, however the angle at which we tackled each task was dictated by what part of the roof was strong enough to hold our weight.
Time to let go
My initial encounter and interaction with the Appalachian culture did not leave me in complete shock. In fact, ignoring a few seemingly obvious differences like geographical location and accent variations in language, the culture seemed very much like my own. For example when meeting someone for the first time we smiled and shook hands, and even engaged in light conversation; all of which was familiar. Once we began work on the homes, I did begin to experience some form of culture shock. Aside from the occasional paint job, I have never done work on my home, let alone construction, which I know very little about. When working on the homes in Appalachia though, it was clear to me, someone who is essentially clueless when it comes to construction that these homes were in severe disrepair. Sometimes they were so damaged that it seemed time would be better spent and it would have made more sense to demolish and rebuild.
Just because I happen to think rebuilding would be a better strategy is a null point, not to mention the fact that the residents of these homes need a place to live before, during, and after the repairs. Despite damage or disrepair, these homes were not just homes; they belonged to someone and are valued just as much as anyone values a home. Who am I to determine what is valuable and worth fixing? At this point my understanding of my own culture was not allowing me to understand or relate to the Appalachian culture.
Just because I happen to think rebuilding would be a better strategy is a null point, not to mention the fact that the residents of these homes need a place to live before, during, and after the repairs. Despite damage or disrepair, these homes were not just homes; they belonged to someone and are valued just as much as anyone values a home. Who am I to determine what is valuable and worth fixing? At this point my understanding of my own culture was not allowing me to understand or relate to the Appalachian culture.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Inequality
My experience in Central Appalachia was with a group repairing the home for a family. The family whose home we were repairing interacted with us on this basis. On some occasions we had more interaction with the family than on others. Our interaction however was not necessarily one of total cultural engagement because the family obviously knew what we were there to do and other locals usually could extrapolate what we were there for as well. We were certainly in Appalachia because we wanted to be there, but at the same time we were there because some of the people needed help and we had the resources to help them. The unequal access to resources is a primary example of inequality.
Before traveling to Appalachia, as a group, we addressed the issue that we may come across encounters where inequality is very present. As a group, one of our most important goals was to be sensitive to inequality. Inequality was present in both the social matrix and our individual interactions partly due to the fact that we were directly providing them with resources that they did not have. The families living in the homes we repaired, had to reach out, admit they were in need, and ask for help. Realizing you are in need and then asking for help it is a difficult task. The presence of this inequality may have influenced the cultural encounter, but at the same time since the effects inequality are so prevalent in culture, depending how you look at it, it may also have strengthened the encounter.
Before traveling to Appalachia, as a group, we addressed the issue that we may come across encounters where inequality is very present. As a group, one of our most important goals was to be sensitive to inequality. Inequality was present in both the social matrix and our individual interactions partly due to the fact that we were directly providing them with resources that they did not have. The families living in the homes we repaired, had to reach out, admit they were in need, and ask for help. Realizing you are in need and then asking for help it is a difficult task. The presence of this inequality may have influenced the cultural encounter, but at the same time since the effects inequality are so prevalent in culture, depending how you look at it, it may also have strengthened the encounter.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Methodology
One of the most valuable parts of the experience was interacting with the people of Appalachia and encountering their culture. The methodology utilized was an ongoing cultural encounter with the region, but the encounter with the family was mostly limited to the time spent working on their home. In most instances the families would interact with us while we worked on their home and almost always eat lunch with us. On one occasion the father and some of his children helped us make repairs, which allowed for maximum interaction and teamwork. Spending time with the families was always fun. We had the opportunity to make new friends, learn about their values, and way of life.
One family we worked for played horseshoes together every day. As you can probably imagine they were very good. I have essentially no experience playing horseshoes and I had a great time learning how to play the game from experts. Each week the group we were with had a picnic for the volunteers to invite the families to. This family brought their horseshoe set to the picnic and I will never forget the exciting camaraderie we had. Another man’s whose home we repaired was very involved in the competitive cock fighting circuit. I had never heard of cock fighting before, and I learned that it is essentially 2 roosters fighting each other in attempt to kill the other. One afternoon, this man displayed his valued roosters some of which had one him a significant purse. It is unlikely that I would come across similar experiences in other contexts, but they were both mind opening and fulfilling.
One family we worked for played horseshoes together every day. As you can probably imagine they were very good. I have essentially no experience playing horseshoes and I had a great time learning how to play the game from experts. Each week the group we were with had a picnic for the volunteers to invite the families to. This family brought their horseshoe set to the picnic and I will never forget the exciting camaraderie we had. Another man’s whose home we repaired was very involved in the competitive cock fighting circuit. I had never heard of cock fighting before, and I learned that it is essentially 2 roosters fighting each other in attempt to kill the other. One afternoon, this man displayed his valued roosters some of which had one him a significant purse. It is unlikely that I would come across similar experiences in other contexts, but they were both mind opening and fulfilling.
Tour of a Holler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyah2tijAHE
This video was found on youtube.com, illustrating some cultural aspects of the region, such as language, dialect, and the natural surroundings of the homes. The word holler is generally used to refer to a home.
This video was found on youtube.com, illustrating some cultural aspects of the region, such as language, dialect, and the natural surroundings of the homes. The word holler is generally used to refer to a home.
Notes on Culture
As noted in the previous entry, about a quarter of the people inhabiting the Central Appalachian region are living in poverty and they do not have material items and luxuries that others, myself included, are used to. Just because they live in poverty, does not mean that they do not know what else is out there. They watch TV and they know they do not have what so many others do. Rather than focusing on what they do not have though, they focus on what they do have and they fully appreciate it. They feel blessed to have what they have.
Culture, which can be defined by the ways in which people make sense out of their lives. It is part of the culture in Central Appalachia to appreciate what they have. They find meaning and value in being able to wake up to the beautiful mountains that surround them every morning. Culture is also defined by economic realities. In the case of the people living in Central Appalachia who are restricted economically, they are forced to find meaning in their lives outside the realm of economics. They find meaning through their families, friends, nature, etc… They are able to value a rainbow in the sky after a storm flooded their home. In the culture I am most familiar with, we value are families and friends in much the same way the people in Central Appalachia do. We do not however value nature and our surroundings the same way as evidence by the damage force upon out environment on a daily basis.
Culture, which can be defined by the ways in which people make sense out of their lives. It is part of the culture in Central Appalachia to appreciate what they have. They find meaning and value in being able to wake up to the beautiful mountains that surround them every morning. Culture is also defined by economic realities. In the case of the people living in Central Appalachia who are restricted economically, they are forced to find meaning in their lives outside the realm of economics. They find meaning through their families, friends, nature, etc… They are able to value a rainbow in the sky after a storm flooded their home. In the culture I am most familiar with, we value are families and friends in much the same way the people in Central Appalachia do. We do not however value nature and our surroundings the same way as evidence by the damage force upon out environment on a daily basis.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Description of Culture Site
The sites of my cultural encounter are the towns that I visited for one week each during the summer and the families who lived in the homes I helped repair in the Central Appalachian region of the United States. This region regularly experiences extremely harsh weather conditions characterized by harsh winters and severe storms year around. Storms often get trapped in the mountains resulting in heavy precipitation, flooding, and damage. The communities where I repaired homes have poverty rates above the national average. In some cases, poverty rates are up to three times higher than the national average.
The people living in this region live in all kinds of homes varying from typical double floor homes to single floor homes, to trailers, all of which may be in good repair to those in need of much repair. In some cases families with three to four children may live in a single trailer in need of repair. Some homes lack adequate kitchens, foundations, roofs, electricity, plumbing, and other luxuries, which many people tend to take for granted. About 25% lives below the poverty level, including “…more than 50,000 children, 90,000 adults, and 15,000 elderly” (Appalachian Service Project.)
Despite the poverty and poor living conditions that some families lived with on a daily basis, they always expressed how blessed they felt for having what they had. I could not help but think of how easy and even likely it could be for someone in living with such extreme poverty might give up, but based on my experience and the people I interacted with they never gave up.
Appalachia Service Project. Electronic document, http://asphome.org/index.html, accessed October 27, 2007.
The people living in this region live in all kinds of homes varying from typical double floor homes to single floor homes, to trailers, all of which may be in good repair to those in need of much repair. In some cases families with three to four children may live in a single trailer in need of repair. Some homes lack adequate kitchens, foundations, roofs, electricity, plumbing, and other luxuries, which many people tend to take for granted. About 25% lives below the poverty level, including “…more than 50,000 children, 90,000 adults, and 15,000 elderly” (Appalachian Service Project.)
Despite the poverty and poor living conditions that some families lived with on a daily basis, they always expressed how blessed they felt for having what they had. I could not help but think of how easy and even likely it could be for someone in living with such extreme poverty might give up, but based on my experience and the people I interacted with they never gave up.
Appalachia Service Project. Electronic document, http://asphome.org/index.html, accessed October 27, 2007.
Introduction
In past summers, I have spent one week in the mountainous Central Appalachian region of the United States, where Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia join, repairing homes for people who cannot afford to make the necessary repairs to their homes. The weather in this region of the United States is so severe that homes are damaged. Some of the people inhabiting the region generally do not have the economic ability to make repairs to their homes, let alone properly equip them for the severe weather conditions they experience. I initially chose to engage in this culture because I figured that I was young, able, and would definitely learn something new and probably have fun as a result. I engaged in this mission with a group, so in a sense my cultural engagement was often, but not always, limited to the group, however my experiences were always new, illuminating, and valuable. Essentially, my cultural engagement is different than someone who engaged in this culture alone.
I have lived in the northeast of the United States my entire life. I have been fortunate enough and have had the opportunity to travel both in and outside the United States on a number of occasions and the culture I encountered in Appalachia is markedly different from my own culture. One of the most obvious differences between my culture and the culture of Appalachia is the economic means of each. I chose this cross-cultural encounter because I am interested in learning how something, which is seemingly arbitrary, like money, affects people and their culture.
Appalachia Service Project. Electronic document, http://asphome.org/index.html, accessed October 27, 2007.
I have lived in the northeast of the United States my entire life. I have been fortunate enough and have had the opportunity to travel both in and outside the United States on a number of occasions and the culture I encountered in Appalachia is markedly different from my own culture. One of the most obvious differences between my culture and the culture of Appalachia is the economic means of each. I chose this cross-cultural encounter because I am interested in learning how something, which is seemingly arbitrary, like money, affects people and their culture.
Appalachia Service Project. Electronic document, http://asphome.org/index.html, accessed October 27, 2007.
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