I spent approximately thirty hours volunteering at the Martin Luther Campus, during which I was able to participate in many experiences that were foreign to me. Through participant observation, I was able to interview residents and extract information that I would not otherwise be able to obtain if I used a “fly on the wall” approach. There are many things that I have witnessed and experienced personally that have made me very uncomfortable. Whether they were "bad" or "good" didn't matter, because I found that the things that made me most uncomfortable tended to be the most relevant to this course. By keeping track of my experiences in my journals, I was able to look back on my experiences once I gained a more objective view. It helped me interpret my experiences as an anthropologist, rather than as an anxious nineteen-year-old. There were some isolated experiences that had an impact on me, but there were also subtle trends that I began to notice over time. For example, I noticed trends in the way caregivers treated residents. The conclusions and questions I formulated regarding the topic were as important, if not more so, than the memorable interactions with the residents. A common theme I observed at the Martin Luther Campus was loneliness. Often it was extremely lonely. I remember one particular moment when I was bringing an elderly woman named Agnes back to her room after the ice cream party they have every Thursday. Once in her room, I asked her if she was okay and if she needed anything. She replied, “How can I be okay?” All I do is sit in this room all day. No one comes to visit me. All that’s left to do is sleep and watch TV.” Then, some time later, she asked me to open the window blinds because she liked to watch birds...... middle of paper...... the type of care given to the residents was appropriate , and I started to rethink that this must be bad for the residents. Although there is no set answer to these topics and questions, I personally believe that every human being should be treated with the respect they deserve, and in the case of the elderly, I imagine that it strengthens their self-esteem, and would perhaps make their life happier. As Americans, we must look at other cultures to evaluate our own treatment of older adults. Vedic culture teaches us to revere the elderly, and many other cultures, past and present, have given appropriate respect to the older parts of their populations (Gormally, Human Dignity, and Respect for the Elderly). I believe it is time for modern Western cultures to examine their views on older people and explore whether they are truly beneficial to their society..