A school project that requires students to go to a foreign location and to people watch may sound strange, and maybe it is, but it is also a learning and growing opportunity.

North CIS College Composition students step out of their comfort zones and into a new subculture. A subculture is a cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture. So in more plain words, a subculture is a group you are not familiar with. The project is to observe a group you are unfamiliar with for at least ten hours and write a 9-15 page paper about them.

While at first glance being in a a place that is foreign to you and talking to strangers may seem daunting and awkward, over time students develop a real interest about their subculture and sometimes even join the group.

CIS Composition student Josie Borchert, who is observing Tattoo on Frost Avenue, says, “Before going into it I thought that they would be really scary, tough people. But they aren’t intimidating. They are some of the nicest people with normal insecurities. They are very approachable.”

There seems to be this reputation that tattoo artists are mean, scary people, but they really are just normal people with a unique job. They are passionate about their work and really are good people.

When asked why she choose to write about Tattoo, Josie said, “I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo. Just one little one. But I’m more eager now to get one now that I’ve learned about them.” Josie has taken a real interest in her subculture that once was a place she would never dare to go.

Teddy Drake, a CIS Composition student, is observing Caydence Record and Coffee Shop. A seemingly normal scene for a high school student. But as Teddy spent more time there he realized that, “they are weirder than I thought.”

When you spend ten hours people watching for a school project, you hear and see some strange things. Teddy says, “They are some weird conversations I overhear such as how a guy goes through a months worth of vape in a day.” Also “There’s a moose head on the wall.” Why does a coffee shop that hipsters flock to have a moose on the wall? We may never know, but it does add to the character and vibe of the shop.

Students have thoroughly enjoyed and learned from their experiences. It can be scary, “getting out of your comfort zone, asking people what things are, entering this not knowing anything surrounded by experts.” Josie said. I can’t imagine a better way to learn about an interest than in a new environment surrounded by expert teachers.