What is ethnographical writing at all? This was the question which was answered at the beginning of the lesson. Our prof told us about its history but we didnt have to make notes, so I didnt. Maybe it is not so important to know about its history but instead it is worthy to know what it is about. As far as I remember it is used by ethnologists or anthropologists to describe foreign cultures / environments out of a subjective perspective. This shall include both personal descriptions and personal feelings: emotions and reactions on experiences. After some time (weeks / months...) those diary entries shall be evaluated from a later standpoint and hence a progress of intercultural competence be seen. For further consolidation a text was handed out dealing with the issue of ethnological writing. It is not long, maybe one page; a reference where it was taken from is missing. Well okay, what do I need a reference while I have not even read the text extract? (Of course I will read it later!) If one day - which surely never will happen - but IF one day I should research on ethnological writing I would like to use those notes as a starting point. And so it would be good to know where the text fragment was taken from to continue reading. Well anyway, if I look up the OPAC of our library I would probably get a list with plenty of books about ethnological writing... But so far I only regard ethnological writing as something practical where I do not want to spend too many thoughts about theories.

And maybe this is also the problem I had with the other part of the lesson. The "homework" was to bring all the notes on the previous classes with us, so to say our course-diaries. Beforehand I wondered why but I never had expected that course members should read an entry out of it. The intention wasthat course members who think they have difficulties in writing their diaries canask questions about their style and eventually improve their writing.

BUT from the first lesson on it was said that the diary is something PERSONAL in which we ought to reflectabout the previous lessons, write about the content as well as what we think about it. And thats what I do since the first lesson with a clear conscience. Again in the last lesson it was told that "there is no performance aspect" and again it was emphasised that the diaries are always something personal. I would not have had the idea to read something out of my diary in front of the others and to hear how they judge it. It is not that I don't care, of course I want to "perform" well but on the other hand I am too convinced about that I do everything right in this diary and that I just dont need the others opinion. (Am I too arrogant?)

But think about it: Can you make something wrong when the diary is said to be personal?! For me the sense of writing this down is to preserve something of the seminars content for the future and maybe to get some things clearer (later?). Of course I have asked others in front of the lesson about their diaries, how they write it, if they have problems with it. I mean, I dont want to make something completely different and thus risking that it may not be accepted. Some assurance is good. But still everything - and I say it again - is personal. Thus, I didn't understand some questions from the other course members if they are allowed to write about this and that. Oh my gosh! Why asking?! Why make rules where there are none?! Just write what you think is important for you personally!!!

Fortunately the answers to those strange questions were "yes, you can do it like that..." or "Just do it if you are able to do so..." and therefore they were no limitation (thank you!).

Nevertheless the conception of the course planned to hear three readers. No volunteers. After a minute of silence a girl (Janine) raised her hand but to me it seemed more out of pity. Her entry was good what to say? Melf was the second one who had mercy. I liked his writing style very much and encouraged him to continue (after class) although others had some (slight) criticism. Two good examples, but still a third reader was missing. Gerolf was asked but he was merciless. I did not feel like reading in front of the others and did not see the sense of it. My thought was although not meant seriously: "Now after two good examples I shall be the bad one?!" I had given the address for my blog to Mrs. Müller, our prof. She knew what is written in my entries. After class she told me that she thought I would read because I even publish it on the internet, free to read for everybody. Well... with internet its a bit tricky. In theory everybody would have access to my page but practically nobody knows that it exists. And I will not make a note on the board "Go to my page!" (So... I must have disappointed her.) (But I know she wouldnt take it to heart. I will volunteer other times again.J) Once more after some minutes of silence ("If nobody wants to read, I have to force someone!" an act of desperation!), a second girl volunteered. Everything was okay, too. For me it sounded like when you rate on eBay somebodys deal: "Everything fine, looking forward for next time", "Everythings there. Good show!"

Well, (for me) the sense of the course was rather questionable. At the moment I dont know what I could take from it. I am still writing how I always would be writing especially since from the first lesson on the freedom of writing was granted. Nevertheless it is good to have heard about how ethnological writing should be. The only problem I see is that when being confronted with a completely new surrounding and culture it might be impossible to write down every single difference from the own culture. Especially at the beginning the writer might be overcharged with recording what he or she regards as noteworthy. However it is a good way to note at least some things which were especially striking. At a later point it helps to reflect them, to see personal progress and finally maybe to laugh about what was at first ridiculous or embarrassing. Yes, I would say it is worth writing those diaries on a personal basis because later they even might become the origin for funny anecdotes.