Ethnography Story

Back in 2103, I got into ethnography. I had gone on a couple trips to study other cultures, but I was always with a partner. This was my first solo trip. I was going to visit a large group of AI human replicas - robot type things, if you will. They’d become so advanced, they were capable of living independently and over time they’d even expanded and created a culture of their own. I found this all fascinating.

I landed in their home city of Guella at 7:00am that thursday. As I stepped outside, the view was like nothing I’d ever seen before. The domed houses seemed to be made of some kind of clay, but they somehow glistened in the morning sun, as if they’d been glazed. 

I was greeted by a friendly bot named Clo. He looked and moved just like a human, but his hair was brilliant blue, and his eyes dark purple. He explained that in Guella, most bots believed that coloring your hair was good luck. A coming of age kind of thing. He wore an iridescent piece of fabric around his body. It reminded me somewhat of a toga, but simpler.

That day, as well as the many others I would later spend there, was packed with events. All the bots were quite welcoming and enjoyed showing me their traditions and practices. Some included the Guella Fair that was held every full moon, and how they only ever ate outside, never with a roof over their heads. I got to witness the hair ceremony of several young bots - the thing Clo had mentioned earlier. 

The bot’s friends and family would come and watch as the bot got their hair permanently dyed the color of choice. It ranged from blue, to pink, to yellow. A large feast was always held afterwards, the likes of which I’d never seen. The food, music, and clothing were all new to me. All the food was cooked in some form because for a lot of them, serving or eating raw food was considered rude. 

I’ll always be grateful to have been immersed in this wonderful culture. It was colorful and festive, similar to a lot of others I was familiar with, but different in countless ways. My mind still whirls today, years later, contemplating the fantastic complexity of that experience. It’s a trip I’ll neve forget.