Five Senses for Fall Break

In this Issue: the Five Senses of North Dining Hall

Happy Fall Break to all who are celebrating this weekend! Today I bring you the Five Senses of North Dining Hall, as I was there late morning on Wednesday for a meeting with a student and had the chance to do some observing/reflecting.

For those not familiar, North Dining Hall is (as the name suggests) on the north side of campus, past Wait Chapel, and includes North Pit (aka Nit as some students say) on the top level (kind of like a small version of the Pit cafeteria, and Peet’s Coffee on the lower level. I was embedded near Peet’s. Here goes.

I see…

• Students sitting at tables or individual chairs opposite Peets coffee, most of them with headphones or earbuds in (more earbuds than over-the-ear headphones is the trend)
• Both shorts and jeans on students – the weather is right on the cusp where either would work
• Lots of ponytails or hair up in clips for female students with long hair
• A male student sporting what looks to be 2-3 day stubble growth: not exactly a beard, but if they keep going it might get there
• Most of the tables are occupied by only one student, laptop and phone out
• A student with a very interesting, large tattoo (but I can’t describe it beyond that because it would likely out this person)
• Nearly all the drinks I see at students tables are iced, not hot, which surprises me (do only Boomers – as the kids might call me – drink hot coffee??)
• Almost every student has a large water bottle, even if they are drinking a Peet’s beverage too
• I student who spilled coffee on their white t-shirt trying to clean it off; I suspect they are going to go back to their room and change
• A wide range of women’s jeans: everything from low riders/belly button showing to high waisted to even a pair of painter’s pants (but in denim); there seems to be no universal jeans style, save there are no ‘skinny jeans’ these days
• A very expensive designer tote being used as a laptop bag
• A student sitting in an armchair sideways, legs draped over the arm, reading what looks like a novel with a highlighter in their hand; I assume this might be either an English major or someone who just has an English class
• A student in line in a short dress and long cardigan, which makes me start singing this song in my head

I hear…

• Milk being steamed for hot drinks
• Coughing – mostly occasional dry coughs (at first)
• The squeaky hinge of the outer door as it opens
• The thwack thwack of a student’s flip flops moving across the floor
• People ordering coffee at the register; the baristas ask students their name, and one time I heard “I love your name!” (wish I had heard what the name was)
• A sharp metallic clang! as the door latch clicks into place as students come and go
• Laughter of students talking
• “How are you paying, baby?” asks the barista to a student
• Crinkly plastic as students unwrap their food items
• A rhythmic electronic beep…beep…beep of the oven that is heating students’ food
• Ice being scooped into cups for cold coffee/tea drinks
• “Hello” or “how you doin'” or “hey – I didn’t see you!” as students realize they see friends in line or in the seating area
• A student ask another student (who was gathering their belongings) “Is this one open?” to claim the table
• The baristas’ conversation during lulls when they aren’t making drinks (which is not often, this place is busy!); one has a loud, strong voice
• Student 1: “When are you leaving?” [presumably for Fall Break]; Student 2: “tomorrow night”
• A student greeting the barista by name – WHICH I LOVE! – and the barista returns by greeting the student by their name too (also love!) – clearly this person is a regular. As this student takes leaves after paying/getting their drink, the barista says “Always a pleasure, [student name].” It is a joy to see their interaction.
• Students discussing a faculty member’s grade breakdown – I am so curious but I cannot hear but every fourth or fifth word
• One student telling another in line “try something new!“
• A very croupy sounding cough, but thankfully it is not constant
• “Croissants!” being called out by the barista; “thank you, have a good day” from the student

I feel…

• Nubby fabric on the arm of the chair I am sitting on, and a soft seat; this is comfortable seating
• A pang of envy when I see a student with absolutely gorgeous, thick, curly long hair; I want to compliment her but that would probably be incredibly creepy coming from a total stranger, so I suppress the urge
• The urge to tell this one student I love their pants – a wild, crazy, bold print; again, I push back that urge per the above
• Really happy to see the student I am meeting with; this was our first chance to catch up this fall (I had this student in class in the spring, and they were a favorite)
• Proud of said student as they described their summer internship and some of the things they are working on right now; it is such a joy to watch students blossom and grow

I smell…

• Coffee, of course
• The smell of warming bread – not sure what is being warmed up in the oven but it smells bready and cheesy and wonderful, honestly
• Fresh air as the outer door opens and closes; it is a clear, crisp morning and the air smells good

I taste…

• A Peet’s Coffee cappuccino, which hit the spot

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That’s the Five Senses of North Dining Hall. Hope you felt like you were there with me.

My ’27 also has Fall Break on Monday and Tuesday and I will be out on PTO to spend some time with them, so the Daily Deac will be dark then.

Wishing your Deacs a restful Fall Break wherever they are!