It is a chilly Wednesday morning when I am walking to my field cite. The mornings are getting chilly, a sign that summer is over, and winter is upon us. Today I went earlier than usual because I found that extra time in which I could do some work, and that way I do not have to worry about finding another time to do my field work. I am calm and without a worry in mind; the mindset perfect for observing.
As I am approaching the place I notice that there are six groups of people sitting on the tables outside. The weather is nice and enjoyable, it is chilly enough that you can enjoy sitting outside without getting burned in heat. Two of the groups of people consists of a gentleman and a woman, they are probably talking about business or doing an interview, I am to far away to hear. They are very engaged in their conversation, there is a lot of eye contact and hand movements going around, which means that they are getting communicating very well, and that all their attention is on the other person. Since they are older people their cellphones are out sight as a sign of respect and focus.
Another group of people that are sitting outside consists of two girls. They are "talking", but they do not seem very engaged and into the conversation. Both of them are texting, not paying attention to their companion. They have their backpacks on top of the table, and no textbooks or notes in sight. One of them is applying her makeup on, which makes me wonder why does she think she needs it for school. Obviously, it has everything to do with the media. The media has gotten stuck in our heads this image of what beauty should look like, and girls including myself do everything that is in our hands to try to achieve that image. Some of us do accept the way we look, and we think it is okey to get plastic surgery done in order to achieve an image that is, in some ways, false.
There is another group of two girls talking not far from the other girls. Unlike the others, they are very engaged in their talk. They have a very animated way of talking, using hand movements, leaning on the table, and pulling their heads back when they laugh. They are having lots of fun.
After I watched what was going on outside, I decided to enter the building and the now familiar smell of coffee, sandwiches, tacos and burritos greats me. I make my way to the back of the cafeteria where I have a broader view of the place, I sit in a table, and I get out my notepad and pencil to take notes; I also get out a textbook so that it will not seem obvious that I am observing the people there.
Many people just order their food and leave probably eating it on their way to someplace and others looking for another place to go with their friends. There are many groups of people eating inside. I noticed that 3 boys that I saw on another visit where there eating burritos. They were seated on a table, and this time they where just the boys, the girls where not in sight. It is weird how different they act when they are just boys and the girls are not there. They seem to be having a serious talk, when last time they were cracking up at whatever the girls were saying to them.
Towards the back of the place there are six people sitting alone doing homework. Three of them are working math problems, probably calculus, it seems that they are in either their junior or senior year of college. One of the men has his headphones on listening to music while working math problems; I do not know how he can concentrate. All of them have their phones out, and are constantly checking and answering texts. Four tables from is a boy and a girl also doing math homework, but they are talking more than working.
The time has come for me to leave. I leave thinking about how the media and technology have a strong influence in our lives. Many girls try to achieve Hollywood's definition of beauty not realizing that they have their own beauty. Also, as the time passes and the technology progresses, we find ourselves depending more on it everyday. We cannot live without our cellphones, and we find entertainment in them.
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