Blog post #4

As I'm learning more about myself through writing, travel, and my college experience, I have come to a realization. I belong to, and have gained much knowledge, from different discourse communities. Discourse communities are groups of people who share common goals, language, practices and values. In this post, I will talk about three discourse communities that have influenced me lately. These include the backpacking travel community, the dance community, and the dorm life community. Each one has contributed to my development as a person, a college student, and a traveler.

This community, as it relates to my blog’s topic of travel, in particular backpacking, is something I talked about in my last blog post about travel. Backpackers travelers who are typically younger in their 20s or 30s. They are typically adventurous, curious, and budget-friendly. The participants in this discourse community seek for authentic, immersive experiences and not luxury vacations. The average budget traveler is staying in hostels, carrying only one bag, and using websites to plan inexpensive trips. This community values minimalism, learning about new cultures, and sustainability. The backpacking travel community communicates with each other through travel blogs, like Reddit, Facebook groups, Youtube vlogs and face to face in hostels all around the world. These methods of communication allow community members to share tips, set up meet-ups and warn each other of any dangers or scams. Backpacking is more than just traveling, it is a way of life. It values connection, flexibility and getting involved with other cultures, and I look forward to getting much deeper into this community as I continue my research. I was in a community of my own before college, which was my high school dance team. It was a great community of discourse when we came together, young women, different backgrounds, different personalities,  but we were all there for the same purpose and practice. Our goal was to perfect our routine, be there for each other and perform at the highest level. We communicated with body language, counts, and words. The values we shared were discipline, timing, teamwork, and self-expression. Once I left for college, I found myself in a very different discourse community, a dorm community. Living in the dorms at SDSU has made me realize how shared space creates shared experience. We all come from different backgrounds and are experiencing this big life transition together.

Communication occurs in hallways, group chats, and usually late at night while either getting some laundry done or brushing our teeth at once. It creates a type of close social community, as you constantly find ways to learn to live together, respect space, and make friendships. In each of these discourse communities, travelers, dancers, and dormmates, I learned something different about how a community comes together - shared ambition and values. Whether it’s seeking adventure with a backpack, dancing in time with your team, or experiencing the ups and downs of college, I learned what transforms groups into communities. Being part of these communities has influenced the way I engage with the world, how I write, and how I tell stories, including in this blog. As I continue to travel and grow, I hope to carry these forward.

Photo from Wix

Photo from Wix

Photo from Wix