Be Interested Blog #3

Chris Rees

9/5/2019

MC 3036

3. Sit in a coffee-shop or cafe for an hour and listen to other people’s conversations. Take notes. Blog about it. (Carefully)

I didn’t sit in a coffee shop for an hour, however, I did sit in the Holiday Forum for an hour in between classes. I jotted down the things I heard and highlighted the craziest, funniest, and most relevant material to blog about here.

First, two girls were having a very in depth conversation about clothes. One of them seemed to be shopping online and the other looking over her shoulder looking at the screen with her. A few quips were said through their shopping endeavor. Such as, “my ass could never fit in a 6” and, “That color would look good on me if I wasn’t white as light.” As self-degrading as that is, I couldn’t help but chuckle. That’s just how people talk with their close friends.

Another conversation I overheard was a student and a professor whom I had never had or met before. They were just talking about upcoming projects and assignments and how to handle what was ahead. Just your classic case of “Will I pass?” We’ve all been there before. The professor assured her that if she stayed on course and focused, everything would be fine. Just like in most classes, as long as you put forth the effort, everything will be okay most of the time.

The last notable conversation I noted was taking place above me on the second floor. Two women, seemingly faculty, talking about their mornings. It was very tame. One said, “My cat just wouldn’t let me go in peace this morning, I tried everything and he wouldn’t do what I needed him to do so I could leave. The other was ranting about the construction taking place on I-10 and Highland Road and all up Highland Road as well. Which I can vouch for her, it’s ridiculous. She was talking about how they have been letting one lane go at a time and it builds everything up when they do. Once again, I’ve been a victim of that and it’s a real pain. But they just said their pieces and went back into their offices and went about their day.

What I gathered is that everyone, even in a public place like that, has a little story just in that one moment. Whether it be a funny joke, a troubled morning, or a worried feeling for a class. Many conversations tale place all around us all the time and each reality that one lives is different. Which I would confirm as a “Interpretativism” standpoint.