Alien Social Scientist - Essay Example

Alien Social Scientist When I first landed in Miami, US, I was eager to know what motivates people in this part of the planet. Miami is quiet prosperous. I wanted to investigate how people spend their time in such western cities and everything about their lifestyle. I wanted to understand why westerners spend so much time and energy on their physical grooming. What is the reason how they appear to their peers is so important for them? Therefore, in western cities like Miami which is flooded with people from a wide range of ethnicities, the residents mostly have no scarcity of basic necessities (like food) and hence have ample leisure time and money to spend towards other activities involving glamour and beauty.

People in western cities like Miami try vigorously to maintain their status which often is a combination of physical appearance (even if they are obtained artificially through surgeries and waxing) and financial resources. The citizens here are motivated to keep the momentum going by looking great and acting decent. From small kids to adults, each person was willing to walk the extra mile to ensure that they attract recognition and prestige as per their respective plans (University of Alberta).

I was surprised to see young people in Greater Miami so obsessed with beauty that they could spend hours in one still position without moving while applying makeup with the sole aim of the colleagues adoring their appearance. This patience is mostly observed while tattooing. Even men invest in shaving, grooming, expensive fashionable clothes, creams and cosmetic products and shoes. It appeared to me that people in Miami have great patience when it comes to their social interaction. While primary aim of visiting restaurant is to eat, visitors realize their primary purpose in different ways.

Some interact with their colleagues while having a cup of coffee. I was told that one should eat to live and not live to eat. I was intrigued why despite people who give secondary importance to food or have normal eating habits are also mostly obese. I was told that part of their obesity was because of their so-called Mediterranean diet (Ozner). This is also one of the reasons why they spent large amounts on gym memberships and diet pills. Some even go for the painful lipid suction process. I found that most people are not inclined towards any religious institutions.

I noticed people quickly changing their reading itinerary. Most people in Miami are foreign born and English is the most common language spoken. The culture comprises of Latin influence and people from Cuba, Haiti and Puerto Rico are also present in the mainstream society. Hence a wide variety of cultural celebrations occupy the months. However owing to this diversity and lack of a ‘social contract’ there is the absence of a consolidated civic structure, thus leading to high crime rates too (Deben and Heinemeijer, 39; Miami Culture).

I found people trying to find meaning for their lives by associating with physical and glamour activities like exercising, and participating in beauty competition. However in many cases they exercised till they are totally fatigued. This gives them satisfaction that they are working to shape their bodies and hence doing something constructive despite the pain associated with it. Appreciation from others is an important driving force for westerners while reaping benefits of easily-availed amenities in their cities (University of Alberta).

References 1. Deben, Leon, Heinemeijer, Willem and D. van der Vaart. Understanding Amsterdam. Het Spinhuis, 2001 2. Miami Culture, International Circuit, n.d. June 30, 2011 from: http://www.internationalcircuit.com/miami/culture.php 3. Ozner, Michael. The Miami Mediterranean Diet: Lose Weight and Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease. BenBella Books, 2009. 4. University of Alberta. Alberta journal of educational research, Faculty of Education, Volume 48, 2002. 30 June 2011. Web. < http://books.google.co.in/books?

id=yO4kAQAAIAAJ&q=appreciation,+western+society,+motivation&dq=appreciation,+western+society,+motivation&hl=en >. 5. US Census Bureau. Web. 30 June 2011. .