Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

Discourse Observation Analysis (Wednesday, August 28, 2013- Wednesday, September 11, 2013)

Description of the Location: This Catholic Campus Ministry House(CCM House) is located at the corner of Suther St and Sandburg Rd. It takes about three minutes from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, if you walk, which is situated near UNC Charlotte. CCM House is one of the houses in a Charlotte residence community. It has one big living room, one kitchen, one bathroom and three extra rooms with clean gardens.

Those picture show the outside of Catholic Church Ministry House(CCM house) taken by me on Sep. 11.

Figured World: Figured worlds can be defined as a kind of social and cultural community made with specific purposes, actors, activities, and identities in practice.

This picture is one of the wall in living room and shows the purpose and reason of this community: Prayer, Service, Leadership, and Retreat. It is taken by me on Sep.11.

Catholic Campus Ministry House is a place for socializing with university students who have faith. Actually, most students are from UNCC but there are some people from different schools. Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm a regular meeting takes place at the CCM house. The leaders are five people, and every CCM Wednesday meeting is led under them. Everyone is required to check an attendance sheet and have their own name tag right after coming in

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

CCM house. Generally the people are expected to attend on time but everyone would not mind if someone is late for the meeting. CCM people regard it as more meaningful to participate in the meeting. The meeting starts with one of the leaders announcement in the living room. During that time everyone really concentrates on the leaders voice and talks about upcoming events. After the announcement, everyone makes a big circle, prays for food together and has dinner. Everyone can help themselves to the food, and after they are expected to clean their own dish. Then the people spend time socializing with others. Each meeting is prepared with different kinds of activities. For example, the movie night, the game night, the speech night, etc. This meeting is based on the same interest in faith so everyone tends to feel like a one big family and opens their own mind to others, especially to new members. This meeting would be under a comfortable atmosphere so actually there does not exist any dress code. Literacy Practices: It is kinds of ways to communicate with others and negotiate the meanings using their own literacy. People in CCM house are very interactive with others and open-minded to others. Everyone in CCM house feels like they are at a home so it makes them relaxed to talk about anything and share their ideas. The CCM is composed of nice people who have the same beliefs and it leads them to be closer. 1) Making a name tag: All members and leaders are encouraged to make a name tag right after entering into the CCM house. It makes everyone feel comfortable to call other s name without hesitation. It also encourages new members to feel relaxed with old members. 2) Grapes of Laugh-small group 2013: This is a facebook page about CCM's Monday night Small Group. This way, we can keep in touch outside of meetings as well as build community. People post updates regarding meetings and topics. In this page, we share news and other information. Also, a leader of the group announces the topic we will deal with in advance. In this page, lots of information exchanges each other. 3) Discussing a specific biblical text: Every Monday night we talk about the topic we compromised on the facebook page Grapes of Langh-small group 2013. One night we talked about Jesus walks on the water at Matthew 14:22-33. The leader of the group prepared special and creative questions about this biblical text. Those questions gave us a chance to think about this text differently and connect with my life in a different way. Also, it allowed us to share each ones belief, thinking and life. For example, we put ourselves into the middle of the text and consider what we would do if Jesus asked us to walk on the water. Actors: Actors are kinds of people who are able to form and perform in the figured worlds in practice. Actors have deep interaction with the figure worlds, artifacts, and other actors. 1) Meghan ODonnell: President of Catholic Campus Ministry. Meghan gets involved in this figured world, other members and Sisters. Every time she has played a leading role for arranging and progressing the meeting. She really puts emphasis on creating comfortable environment in the CCM house for everyone. In addition, she is considerate to others and listens carefully to their opinions. She would be regarded as

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

the friendly and responsible actor in the figured world. She also would be treated as an actor who has strong bond with the figured world. 2) Paulina Enrriquez: New member. Paulina is one of the new members in this semester. Although she has joined in the figured world for just a few weeks, she looks really involved in the CCM and with other members as well. She tries to participate in most upcoming events in the figured worlds. This CCM meeting would be attractive to her because she can grow faith and make a good friendship with people at the same time through this community. She is one of the people who is really trying to get more involved in this figured world and other actors. 3) Felipe Rivera: Last year president of CCM. He has joined in this figured world for three years. He is one of the old actors in this world and he is always helpful to others, especially new members. He gives advice to members and leaders because he had an experience as a president. He is not a remarkable and conspicuous member during a meeting time but he has played many supportive roles to everyone in the figured world. 4) Sister Pat: Sister of the Catholic Church. She sometimes comes to Wednesday meeting and gives a great talk to CCM. She has volunteered for several 3 rd World countries. She tries to share her own experience with CCM and give them room to think about new topics. Her role as an actor in this figured world is to open their eyes and make them go forward in a prosperous direction. 5) Jiae Kim: me as one of the CCM members. I started to attend CCM Wednesday night from this semester. Compared to other members, I am a new one but I have never felt like being isolated. Even the first meeting was really comfortable. The feeling we are pursuing the same belief makes me enjoyable and more connect with other members. Before being an actor in this community, I did not know this community is very organized and activated at all. After being an actor of this community, every single time I realized we care and love each other, even though we are not talking about the belief. It was really big strength for me to overcome the hard and lonely moment in the United States. Artifacts: If you choose artifacts in the figured world, those artifacts have to be meaningful in the figured world. In other words, an artifact is a thing to open up figured worlds. 1) Group games: It is significant to everyone in the figured world because it would encourage old and new members to get closer to each other. This artifact is meaningful to all of the members and it would be used as one of the methods to break the ice in the figured world. It helps members feel more connected with each other. 2) The white board on the door between the kitchen and living room: This artifact is significant to CCM leaders including Meghan, Lexi, Theresa, etc. It effectively shows brief announcements so it is beneficial to catch peoples attentions. Besides, even if some members were late, they would recognize the announcements by checking out the white board.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

This picture presents one of the artifacts; the white board hangs on the door between the kitchen and living room. It shows the upcoming events and remind students of them. This picture is taken by me on Sep.11.

3) Three big couches in the living room: It is important materials for CCM to be provided with a comfortable atmosphere. This artifact fosters better circumstances within the figured world. Thats why most activities take place in the living room.

This picture is one of the couches in the living room and it is a symbol of comfortable atmosphere of CCM house. It is taken by me on Sep. 11.

4) Name tags: It is significant for all of the members to memorize others name. Sometimes it could feel awkward about blanking on others name and it would distract the people hanging out together. Everyone enters in the CCM house, figured world and then they are always asked to attach their own name tag on shirts or jackets. Name tags are also one of the ways to make them feel involved with each other.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

This is my name tag I used on Sep.11 and every single time people are asked to attach a name tag on their clothes. It is taken by me on Sep.11.

5) Dinner time: During the dinner, everyone has a chance to have a good talk with the neighborhood. This time allows the CCM to have free talking out of the plan. It might make them more comfortable.

This picture shows dinner time and all of them on the picture are members of CCM house. This is in the kitchen and students can help themselves. It is taken by my on Sep.11.

Discourse Communities: Those can be considered as small groups of the figured world. They are composed with the similar purposes or interests. 1) People with group games: All members of each group desire to win the game. That feeling makes each group strengthen their solidarity to win. Consequently, regardless of who wins the game, everyone would be able to feel involved with the figured world. The same goal and cooperation would motivate them to be much closer.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

2) CCM Leaders: All of them try to be responsible for this meeting so they are very organize and careful about everything in the figured world. Maintaining the meeting toward better direction would be their main interest and they do their best to achieve this goal.

This is a board indicated leaders of CCM house and the pictures and names makes students match them. It is taken by me on Sep.11.

3) Paulina and Felipe: Two of them have the same interest in one of the upcoming events, Eucharistic Congress. It makes them feel connected to each other. Paulina is a new member and Felipe is an old one. Therefore, Paulina asks questions about this Congress to Felipe and Felipe tries to pick and tell his past experience as an example for her. They are communicating and sharing their ideas and experiences for a while. Paulina would be able to realize and learn something new from Felipes previous experience. Felipe is helpful to Paulina to get know better about the Congress. # Observations 1) The First Observation [08/28/13 19:40-20:20] :The game night with free dinner 19:40-19:50 CCM members are having a nice dinner and dessert. The main menu is Mexican tacos, and the dessert is home-made peanut butter cake. Some of them are eating in the backyard, in the terrace or in the dining room. The others are finishing their plate and cleaning in the kitchen. Sister Eileen and leaders of CCM are trying to help newcomers to feel comfortable and get along well with people. While having dinner, President Megan makes announcement of the next schedule, game time. 19:50-20:00 Everyone finishes dinner and cleans up. CCM leaders divide about 25 students into five groups. The number of each group members is four or five. Megan, one of the leaders, explains the game which is combinations of three different one. First, one person has to hold the spoon with a ping pong ball only by using their mouth until they turn around the fixed point and pass the baton. Next, two of members in one group have to do a three legged race. The last one has to run to the table which is far away from the start line. On the table there are mixtures with whipping cream and gum. The first one to make a bubble will win.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

This picture is taken on Aug. 28th. It show a game night and everyone enjoys the game. It is taken by me.

20:00-20:15 Everyone goes to start line. The game starts. All of them are cheering their own team. Some first players of each team drop the ping pong ball and they come back to the start line and restart. Some take pictures and others only focus on their turn to play the game. During three legged race, one team falls down to the ground and the other team comes from behind. Last part of game, making a bubble is hard for everyone. Everyone has whipping cream on their face and giggle at each other. Finally, one of them makes a bubble and his team wins. 20:15-20:20 Water balloon game starts. Making four big circles and throwing the water balloon to the others who are not right next each other. Someone misses the balloon and it bursts. They are wet but look so have fun. 2) The Second Observation [09/04/13 18:20-19:10] : The movie night with free dinner 18:20-18:45 As soon as everyone comes in to the CCM house, they check their name on the attendance sheet in front of the entrance. They also make a name tag and attach to their clothes. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm. Except Megan, everyone is sitting on the couches and floor in the living room. Megan proceeds with today meeting and she is explaining several upcoming events on the white board. Everyone focuses on Megans speaking and the white board. She talks about a project about small groups. It is the new project since this semester. Every Monday or Thursday there is going to be a small groups meeting. It is just for hanging out together and grabbing some food outside CCM house. Those who are interested in it are asked to sign up. Also, she makes an announcement that those who want to cook dinner for Wed night at CCM house write down their name on the sheet. 18:45-19:00 After praying for food, dinner time starts. This dinner is made from one of CCM members. Everyone expresses their appreciation to her. While eating food, members and leaders are talking about their week. Paulina who is a newcomer in this semester asks about one of the upcoming events, Eucharistic Congress to Felipe who has joined for about three years. Felipe tells her to their previous experience during the dinner. Paulina becomes to know this congress in detail. 19:00-19:10 Lexi introduces about the movie we will see today. It is call The 5th quarters. It is kind of football movie and a real story. To celebrating UNCC football

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

game season starts, CCM leaders have chosen this movie for today. Everyone is sitting around TV and the movie starts. 3) The Third Observation [09/11/13 18:50-19:40] The speech night with free dinner 18:50-19:00 After praying for food, dinner time starts. Sister Pat has prepared a delicious meal of chicken fajitas, rice & beans and sugar free dessert that Sister created. Some people are eating in the dining room and the others are in living room.

It is dinner we ate on Sep.11. It is taken by me. Every Wednesday volunteers cook the food for the rest of students.

19:00-19:20 Everyone really enjoys the dinner talking about how their days were going. Some people are talking about on campus housing. Another are talking about UNCC football stadium and others only concentrate on eating food. 19:20-19:40 After finishing dinner, everyone comes to sit on the living room. Most of them are sitting on the couches and the rest of them are sitting on the floor. First, Sister Pat asks to the people have a 3 minutes silence for Syria and 9.11 victims. Everyone sincerely pays the silence and then Sister talks about her life experience and what life is like for people living in 3rd world countries. Everyone listens carefully to her voice.

This is a scene of listening a story of Sister Pat. This takes place in the living room. Most of students are sitting on the couches and some of students sitting on the floor. Everyone concentrates on her speaking. This picture is taken by me on Sep.11.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

# Interviews Those interviews were achieved by two leaders and two members. I gave each group different kind of questions and all of them answered five questions by hand-writing.

1. CCM leaders Interviewee: Lexi Neitzay (UNCC/ Education/ Sophomore/ CCM Treasurer) Meghan ODonnell(UNCC/Psychology/Senior/ CCM President) 1) How do you know this CCM house? How long have you joined this meeting? Tell me why you decided to join this CCM meeting. Lexi: This is my second year. My roommate brought me to one meeting. Meghan: I became aware of the CCM house when I had a meeting with Sister Eileen and learned about the group here at UNCC. When I decided to transfer from my other school I naturally decided to get involved with the Catholic group here as a way to meet people and grow in my faith. This is actually only my second year as a member. 2) Could you explain what the CCM house is for? What is your position in the CCM and what is your main job? Lexi: The CCM house is used for weekly meetings. Im the treasurer of CCM and in charge of all finances of money Meghan: The CCM house is a place for people to come together with different students to grow in a faith community and have a home away from home. Currently, I am the president of CCM and my main job is to oversee each event as well as the leadership team.

3) How involved do you feel with other members? Please tell me what you would expect to the members. (Participation, etc..)

Lexi: I feel very involved with CCM. I expect other members to have my same excitement and involvement. Meghan: I feel very involved with other members especially since I am ALWAYS interacting with CCM members as part of my role. I do not really have expectations of members but I do hope and pray they choose to get involved and open themselves up to our community.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

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4) What kind of Wed meeting would you like the most?

Lexi: I love hearing talks, watching movies, plus of course eating! Meghan: My favorite Wed meetings are our social nights because as an organization. We tend to really establish bands on these nights. 5) What have you learned through this meeting? And what is your goal in this CCM meeting? Lexi: Ive learned a lot about myself and relationship with God. My goal is to continue growing in faith and to help other to do the same. Meghan: My goal in very CCM meeting is to make everyone feel welcomed, loved and at home. Through these meetings I have become a stranger Catholic leader and have gained an understanding of those around me.

2.

CCM Members Interviewee: Felipe Rivera (UNCC/ Exercise Science major/ Senior/ old member) Paulina Enrriquez(UNCC/Engineering/ Junior/ new member) 1) How do you know this CCM house? How long have you joined this meeting? Tell me why you decided to join this CCM meeting. Felipe: I found out about this house when I went to church freshman year. There was a table outside and I signed up. I have been a pair of this for three years. I joined to meet, know people and to grow in my faith. Paulina: I found out about CCM after I attended church on Sunday at the beginning of the semester this year. Therefore, this is only my 3rd CCM meeting. I decided to join since first I am Catholic and this group shares my beliefs and I wanted to meet new people and the group seemed very nice and outgoing.

2) What inspires you to continue attending this meeting? Felipe: The people and the environment is just so inviting that I enjoy myself each time I come.

Paulina: The group is formed my great people who are very outgoing, nice and welcoming. They also have exciting events and I like being part of a group where people share the same beliefs and values that I have.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

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3) How involved do you feel with other members or the council? Please tell me what you would expect from them. (Participation, etc.)

Felipe: I was a leader last year and actually know the people very well. Paulina: I feel like they care about our opinions and ideas. They are constantly asking us for ideas, preferences and opinions. These actions make me feel part of the group. I would expect that they keep these actions up and that they look for the groups interests.

4) What have you learned through this meeting? What sorts of things do you expect through this CCM meeting? Felipe: Each week we learn sometimes different. But overall Ive learned to be a better person and how to grow better in my faith. Paulina: I have learned to live more spiritually and to interact with a group of people that share my beliefs. Also, working in a team and organizing attitudes. I expect to collaborate and meet more people.

5) What kind of Wed meeting would you like most? (Ex. Movie night, game, etc.)

Felipe: I like game nights a lot because you set to interact with everyone and get to know everyone a little better. Paulina: I would like to movie night and game night.