Observation of strangers
I'm sitting in Starbucks at 11:00am on a Saturday. I've positioned myself with my back to the wall and I'm facing the counter. This way I can see both the patrons and people around me, and the baristas as they go about their work. I notice that there is a chip on my small circular table and it wobbles slightly to the right so my papers keep slipping to the right side. I make a mental note how this wobble affects my attention span and place my foot on the corner to hold it down.
Looking around I notice a group of 3 girls sitting to my right at a large square triangle. I infer that they are students based on the work they have in front of them. A textbook that I can only partially read is laid out in front of each and they each have a laptop open- 2 Macbooks and a PC. I notice this because of the sleekness of the Macbooks and wonder if I should look into getting one. They are all hunched over their notes and computers and sip their Venti drinks. I acknowledge that, being a student myself, I have a different perception of why they may be gathered at this particular coffee shop and seemingly isolated by their own work and computers, yet still be connected through the common goal or task they are focused on. The proximity of the Starbucks to Simon Fraser University leads me to believe that they are university students.
I also recognize the barista working behind the counter. He is an older gentleman, bald with a few tufts of white hair around the sides of his head. I know his name is Wayne from an encounter last year when I went in and a sign announced that it was "Wayne's Birthday" and he had a birthday pin on. Today he is humming, smiling and joking with customers as I've seen him do many times before.
The coffee shop is packed with people and I find myself unable to observe each group of people in depth. Instead, I look for "big picture" and try to create stories for each person in order to help me remember details-- a mother with two children, one baby. I create the story that they are on their way to a soccer practice, which helps me remember that the taller child is wearing cleats and black sports pants.
Looking around I notice a group of 3 girls sitting to my right at a large square triangle. I infer that they are students based on the work they have in front of them. A textbook that I can only partially read is laid out in front of each and they each have a laptop open- 2 Macbooks and a PC. I notice this because of the sleekness of the Macbooks and wonder if I should look into getting one. They are all hunched over their notes and computers and sip their Venti drinks. I acknowledge that, being a student myself, I have a different perception of why they may be gathered at this particular coffee shop and seemingly isolated by their own work and computers, yet still be connected through the common goal or task they are focused on. The proximity of the Starbucks to Simon Fraser University leads me to believe that they are university students.
I also recognize the barista working behind the counter. He is an older gentleman, bald with a few tufts of white hair around the sides of his head. I know his name is Wayne from an encounter last year when I went in and a sign announced that it was "Wayne's Birthday" and he had a birthday pin on. Today he is humming, smiling and joking with customers as I've seen him do many times before.
The coffee shop is packed with people and I find myself unable to observe each group of people in depth. Instead, I look for "big picture" and try to create stories for each person in order to help me remember details-- a mother with two children, one baby. I create the story that they are on their way to a soccer practice, which helps me remember that the taller child is wearing cleats and black sports pants.
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