Ethnography

Ethnography

September 14, 2014

Take 2: Busy Friday Afternoon


I get the same feeling as last time once I entered the building. Classical music playing in the background. Except this time it seems to be fuller and busier, maybe because it’s a Friday and everyone s coming out to become social and it's payday of course. I get in line to order a drink and the line is quite long, I would say about 3 people in front of me. As I am waiting in line I notice now that there is 3 workers instead of 1, Jimmy, Jenna, and Ida.

They are all wearing of course the well known green apron, and black short sleeves and black pants. My guess is that since they are matching that this is the dress code to work here at Starbucks. Before I even notice anything else it’s my turn to give my order to Jimmy who is at the cash register. Jimmy has dark black hair and he is about 5’6” tall. Jimmy greets me with a hello and says “how can I help you?”. I decide to change it up this time from my normal Frappuccino and get a passion fruit lemonade. I grab a seat at the same spot.

Next door to me is an elderly couple Ellen and Bob. They too are with drinks, from what I can see they are Frappuccino's. Bob is wearing a plaid shirt tucked into a pair of cacky shorts. He has long hair and is back into a ponytail. He has his reading glasses on and is reading a magazine. On the other hand Ellen is wearing a colorful melon shirt with a pair of cacky shorts as well. She has her reading glasses on and is reading a magazine as well. There is silence between both of them no exchange of words has happened because they seem to be really into their own magazine. They take a sip of their drink and continue reading their magazine. Not much action going on between Ellen and Bob.

Sitting in the middle aisle is another elderly man, Gene. He is wearing a dark blue plaid shirt with red stripes going vertical. He seems to be drinking coffee and there is a cup of water next to the coffee, incase he gets thirsty. He is reading a magazine as well. He is alone and seems to be really concentrated into his magazine as well. Not much action going on with Gene either. While there is quiet around my area further ahead are two elderly women, Mary and Bethany. Mary is wearing a brown mid elbow shirt with black pants. She wears glasses as well. Bethany is wearing a bright flower patterned shirt and has dark brown hair. I cant seen to get her face because her back is facing me.

Mary and Bethany are carrying a quite loud conversation expressing they don’t mind everyone else here hearing their conversation. I hear forks and spoons hitting the ceramic plates, which means that they are maybe eating some kind of snack. I cant seem to hear their conversation but its seems like Mary is the one that is carrying the conversation more and Bethany is just listening. Mary and Bethany keep carrying on their conversation, which I cant hear. At the same time it seems that Jimmy, Jenna, and Ida have gotten busier, maybe more than they could chew. Ida is now the cashier and is taking orders while Jimmy and Jenna make the drinks and give the snacks out.

The line keeps getting longer and longer and they continue to work hard. Surprisingly there has not been an exchange or works between Ellen and Bob. Ellen mentioned how beautiful Illinois is and that it would make a great vacation. Gene has gotten some action too as he greets another elderly woman who has just came and there is a short exchange of words and then she walks away. Today is definitely busier than last time, not much action in the bookstore but a lot in Starbucks. There is more to see but now I pack up my stuff and head out as everyone else continues to interact and do their own thing. Until next time I quietly tell my self.

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