Final Farewell

As I sit here on the foldout chair for the last time I think about all that I have seen over roughly the last three months. Nobody is in the compound yet so it gives me time to think about the similarities and differences that I have come across. Every week it seems that the population is usually young, apart from one observation all that I have seen is college aged people roughly in the early to mid-20. Also, these people are almost always accompanied by alcohol. It seems to be a refuge to drink and with no patrol underage drinking is basically unavoidable.

There are many rules which I have seen be broken throughout the weeks. Diving when it says no diving, underage drinking, fighting and jumping the fence yet I haven’t seen anyone is any real danger, this place doesn't present any real dangers as long as everyone can swim. I have only seen maybe 1 or 2 children throughout the whole time as these apartment blocks are not usually inhabited by children but mostly by university students.

Where the majority of people go within the compound has also been interesting and consistent. Apart from the first few weeks where it was extremely hot outside not many people go into the main pool. It seems too cold. Not only that but the grass seems greener on the other side, that side being the spa area. Why be in the cold water when you can feel pampered and totally relaxed I the warm water with bubbles. This is why a large majority go straight to the spa and don’t even consider the main unheated pool an option. Moving from the water altogether there have been a surprising amount of people who just come in for the sun. Even though they could lie in the sun almost anywhere outside they have chosen to come down here and do it. It might be because the chairs are more comfortable or that they feel more comfortable showing a bit more skin in this area where it’s likely other people are dressed the same way. I have even sometimes seen people sun-bake the entire hour I was here observing. It seems a little strange to me but it’s clearly something people on a pretty regular basis.

I have been sitting here for 45 minutes now and nobody has showed up. It only seems fitting that during my last ethnography report nobody has showed up. I don’t think it helps that it is during the thanksgiving week break so a lot of people are back home with their families outside of cruces. I just sit here looking at the calm water. It’s a nice sunny day, not too hot and not too cold but all this was not enough to sell the idea of the pool today. Today, the water stands alone with just me beside it. I have been here observing for 12 weeks and I have enjoyed the experience as it was something totally different to what I have ever done before. I say farewell to this place and all the best with its future guests.