Monday Morning Grind

Getting back at this homework life here at Corner Café. Its ten o’clock on this lovely Monday morning. There are actually quite a few people in here today. The work tables are full of study groups everywhere and the comfy chairs are almost all full also. The music is very upbeat and fairly loud. The noise level in general is high because people are trying to talk over the music. Everyone that is in here is dressed for the chilly fall weather with scarfs and boots and jackets.         

The drinks that are being ordered are about half cold drinks and half hot drinks. A lot of the people studying only have medium or small sized drinks, like observed earlier in the semester. There aren’t a lot of older people here today, but there are a lot of people who are just here to relax. There are a few people in the comfy chairs that do not even have drinks. I think they just come here for the free wi-fi because they are on their computers. Or maybe they are in between classes or don’t want to be home. I know form me, I come here to do homework because I get nothing done at my apartment. There is one elderly man who is sitting right by the door and reading a book. He looks so peaceful and happy. Every once in a while he will look up at everyone in front of him and then look down. Sometimes he even smirks. That smirk can be taken in many ways; I take it as “Awh. Look at these young kids who have homework to do. Glad I’m done with that stage of my life” type of smirk.

The four main tables are full with study partners. The smaller tables are just people working on homework, but the people at the other tables look like they are having a group study session. Everyone has their laptops out and something to write on in front of them. Some people are just staring hardcore at their screens like they are trying to retain as much information as they possibly can. There is one girl who is sitting in the middle of the group but she has ear phones in and is very focused on what she is reading. Its surprising to me how she is not getting distracted and how much she can really focus. Everyone else around her is talking to each other and getting help from one another but she is in her own little world and keeping to herself. At another table, there is a group of two or three people who are talking in sign language. There is one man who is learning and I think the rest of them are deaf. It’s really interesting to see him try to interact with them and attempt to do simple signs. There is one more person who was teaching him the correct way to sign, but by the way she was talking I think she is also a slightly hearing impaired also. They look like they are having such a great time and they are all laughing and look so happy.

I have to leave for a meeting now, but the Corner Café is still ridiculously packed. There aren’t any sales or anything like that. I think that Monday mornings are just the perfect time for coffee. Maybe everyone just needs a Monday pick-me-up and they are drowning their school sorrows in a strong cup of espresso.