Weekend Reporting Assignment 1: Observational Reading

By Winrich Sy for Reporting and Writing 1

I chose to spend my hour observing at a local Starbucks in my neighborhood. Here I focused on one of the baristas who was making drinks at the bar. It was a young women who looked to be in her early twenties, from where I was sitting she seemed about 5’2 with dark curly hair which rested slightly above her shoulders. I’m guessing she could be of hispanic descent since due to her hair, but she was definitely not caucasian. She was wearing a black short sleeve with khaki brown skinny pants with a black cap to complete her work “uniform”. During my hour she never left the bar, so I wasn’t able to see her footwear; this is usually one of the first things I’ll notice when looking at an outfit. Also I was studying/observing around 10 am on a Friday so there was the early morning rush. From her body language, I can tell she was busy yet in control of the situation. The young woman seemed like she's experienced with her work, and while she was moving fast she looked in control. She would pace back and forth from the bar and occasionally dip down to gather dairy for the drinks. As I used to be a barista, I felt the aroma of coffee and the air of a morning rush as people are constantly entering in and out of the store. This was my weekly observation at my local Starbucks.