Semester at Sea Fall
2006 Voyage
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TABLE
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Engulfed in WakkikiBy Preston Price
I spent most of the day on Wakkiki beach in
Hawaii,
and it was an enormous amount of fun. The beach area was
beautiful with clear shallow waters, although it was cramped with the
masses of people. Being an amature surfer I was pleased with the
circumstances of having small steady waves, believing it was ideal
conditions for beginner surfers. My up close observation took
place in the water where I experienced the anthropological technique of
participant observation in becoming one with in the surfing
community. I rented out a surfing board for about an hour and
attempted to enter the surfing world. The competition was very
chaotic, with so many people trying to catch the same small wave.
It was a constant struggle trying to keep from getting hit by other
surfers as well as dodging others when I attempted to catch a
wave. Being in the mix of things gave me a true feeling for what
it is like to be in the inside world of surfing. Stereotypically,
one usually thinks surfers are a laid back and chilled out kind of
people. However, the unexpected chaos gave me a better idea of
what it really means to fight for a wave. |
Return to course home | Send me your comments: wpprice@edisto.cofc.edu |