Ethnography

Ethnography

October 5, 2015

Early Morning Rush at the Revolutionary Cafe



After a serious of cold and cloudy days it is mild outside and many people are at the cafe in the morning hours. I have not seen this many people sitting outside yet. There are about 6 tables occupied with more than one person at each. Inside the atmosphere is a little louder than normal. There are more people to fill the collective chatter of noise and the coffee machines are working overtime as they make loud noises every 30 seconds. The phone is also ringing frequently. It seems they do not have enough staff even though 3 employees are working. All of them are busy with something whether its making a drink or taking the next order. I assume that the pay is minimum wage or close to it. But it seems the employees are working harder than usual and perhaps may deserve better pay. From their age I assume they might be students or at least struggling young workers.
Many keep coming into the door but people are going out the door at a slower rate. The line is starting to build up and its almost back against the wall. The next customers who walk in will have to awkwardly find a position to stand which will be in front of a table with two older females with gray hair sitting at it. I doubt they would enjoy staring at a butt.
A couple weeks ago a short blonde female was working and her husband came into see her with their child. He was there when I sat down but was leaving because the cafe was so crowded and his partner certainly had to get back to work.
In front of me is a middle aged couple that are holding hands. They both have backpacks at their feet. The man wears glasses, has a crew cut, and wears dress shoes. The female is moderately dressed with her hair in ponytail. She laughs occasionally after the male talks but I cannot make out what they are saying. I assume they are on one of their first dates since there still seems to be some nervous expressions on their face.
The gift shop is not as busy as the beverage counter. A couple of people are walking around looking at items. An older woman with short gray hair and glasses is at the counter purchasing something. The cashier has a modern hairstyle and piercings. The customer wears sandals and a gray blouse. Both are certainly from two separate eras.
The waiting line next to me is beginning to became quite large as well. Now there are  people with their butts facing me next to my table. The ones who are waiting either stand still or pace slowly back and forth looking around the cafe and awaiting the que to grab their order  and leave.
The mornings are surely more busy as evident by the first few minutes I was in here but the crowd has drawn down and the noise has decreased. Many young people are still coming in frequently. They are probably about to go to class and need some coffee to wake themselves up. This has become the routine of so many humans around the world. Coffee is one of the widest used drugs for good reason.
Being here listening to the music and seeing couples flirt makes me nostalgic. It reminds me of when I used to come here before with my lover. On that note while a slow deep song plays over head, I am sad.

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