AMANDA STANLEY4472216

ANT 3140 A

HI Ottawa Jail Hostel

“The Carleton County Gaol”

75 Nicholas St., Ottawa, Ontario

Home Away From Home?

What I Do

Since March 2008Receptionist:

Check people in and out of the hostel Help people find things around the city Go to new museum exhibits and gallery shows

Night watch Security check!! Late night visitors Scared hostellers Laundry in solitary confinement!

Getting Started

Main Idea I am observing cultural interactions and responses

that take place within an international hostel.

Methods Observing social and cultural activity within the hostel Talking and interacting with hostellers and staff

Hostelling

What is hostelling? Also known as “backpacking” Low cost, independent, international travel Public transportation, making your own meals, mixing

with the locals

How did hostelling start? The Hippie Trail (60s & 70s) From Europe to Eastern Asia Wanted cheap travel to extend trip as long as possible. Wanted to “find themselves” or “find God” usually.

Old Timey Picture

History

Opened in 1862 (originally located next door under courthouse in 1842)

Closed in 1972 for inhumane conditions and reopened as a hostel in 1973

Patrick James Whelan: hanged in the jail for the assassination of Thomas D’Arcy McGee

Only 2 other official hangings- though many unofficial hangings at the hands of the guards are suspected

Many other inmates died to the inhumane conditions of the jail.

James Patrick Whelan

History

More evidence of this was discovered during the building of the McKenzie King bridge when many bodies were uncovered in unmarked graves

Many bodies are still suspected of being buried under the parking lot.

Men, women, and children all incarceratedEvery kind of “crime”- murders, thieves,

drunks, and the mentally ill were all incarcerated here

Thomas D’arcy McGee

Our Famous Ghosts

Whelan is our most famous ghostHe is blamed for phenomena observed by both

guests and hostel staff Voices, slamming doors, apparitions, moving

furniture, and even the occasional physical contact (hand on shoulder, holding hand, - slap!)

Many hostellers travelling internationally are unaware of the jail’s past and they all interact differently

Depending on their culture or origin and their religious views on death and the afterlife.

The Gallows

Why I Chose to Study the Hostel

The hostel brings together people from many countries, races, religions, walks of life, etc to live and cooperate under the same roof.

They must share bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, etc

Each sphere of the hostel environment brings a different kind of cultural interaction.

If there isn’t mutual respect for your neighbour’s culture, you’re stay could be an uncomfortable one.

Currency

“Why won’t you take MY money?”

One of the first things I notice as a receptionist is that many international travellers expect us to take “their” money.

They will often bring American money and expect us to take it in a Canadian institution.

Many international travellers confuse American and Canadian culture and life..

Football

A Unifying ForceI haven’t met a single person at the hostel

who doesn’t know how to play football.No matter what the differences between

people are, everyone knows the basic rules and will play with one another.

Rolling out a soccer ball seems to calm most tensions between guests.

You Can’t Resist It’s Power

The Warden

Attitudes Towards Female AuthorityA surprising amount of hostellers seem to

disregard female authority.Many ask to speak to a “male” colleague or

supervisor. If I approach them in the hostel to tell them a

rule (even one as basic as “no smoking”) they occasionally laugh and brush me off.

My response: “If you don’t like my rules or my gender, you can leave- now.”

American Drinking Culture

Frats in the HostelAmerican drinking age = 21Canadian drinking age = 18/19This math doesn’t bode well for Canadian

hospitality employees.Blatant disregard to any rulesBinge drinking (call a paramedic!)Huge mess (trash, barf, etc)Disrespect of staff and other hostellers.Don’t realize that backpacking culture has a long

tradition of respect and trust.

Mmm! What’s That Smell?

The Communal Kitchen1 giant walk in fridge2 stoves1 ovenLocal fresh meat and produce nearbyThe kitchen is often a busy place full of cultural

interactionEvery kind of food imaginable being cooked side

by sideMany hostellers meet in the kitchen and share

their recipes and cultural tradition surrounding food preparation and dining etiquette?

“Pass the fork?”

The Kitchen

Hostel “Family”

Holidays Away From HomeI was unable to go home for Thanksgiving- I was working

in the hostel.A group of other hostellers with Moose Travel decided we

should cook a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner togetherEvery person was responsible for an element of our

dinner.I cooked the Turkey all day at workGravy, veggies, wine, dessert, stuffing, Yorkshire pudding,

cranberry sauce, etcWe all sat and ate together and despite our vast cultural

differences, talked, enjoyed each other’s company, and talked about our homes and families that we were far away from.

Hostel Family

Impromptu Pictionary

Language BarriersIt is ideal for hostel employees to speak both

English and French.It is exceptional for one of us to speak more

than 2 languages.It is rare that one of us will never have to resort

to charades to explain a concept to a hosteller.Popular charades are “fingers walking”, “eating

with a fork”, “walking up/down stairs”It is impossible to mime “beaver tail”

Beaver Tails!

Children and Families in the Youth Hostel

We have rooms which accommodate families travelling.

With the increase in quality of hostels, it is becoming a low-budget alternative for family accommodation.

Hostelling has been an independent tradition for so long, it is still strange to see a family sitting down in the dining room for a meal.

A 6’5 Russian biker opening a juice box for a 4’5 German child is the strangest thing you will ever see.

Hotel or Hostel?

Changing Hostel IdealsHostelling has changed a great deal.I’ve stayed in private rooms in hostels that are

just as nice as hotel rooms, but cheaper!Hostels often provide: linens, towels, continental

breakfast, TV, internet, etcMany young hostellers come to expect these

luxuries and take them for granted when they are really an added bonus.

Older hostellers are very grateful and shocked when we provide towels, internet, and other extras.

Dorms

The End

Working at the hostel has let me interact with cultures in a way I never would have a chance to otherwise. Every scenario involves more than one culture interacting casually. Working, playing, eating, - just lounging around watching TV- allows for a degree of cultural experience.

Plus, I’ve gained a lot of good ghost stories....Here are some more pictures!!

8th Floor Layout

The Jail Today

Incarcerated Women

Drum Cell

The Real End