Five Senses of Smith’s

In this Issue:

This morning I had a meeting in Smith’s, the cafe in ZSR. I arrived early and had some time to peoplewatch, so thought I would share some observations from Smiths in the style of the Five Senses. Here goes…

I see…

• Several female students in white button down shirts and jeans. The jeans in fashion right now seem to be loose and baggy, with very wide openings at the ankles. (Something it is hard for my Gen X brain to get around, as we had Guess jeans with ankle zippers and we’d peg roll jeans to make them tight. My guess is many of you remember doing that too.)
• A person pushing a jogging stroller into the line to order, which is not something you see every day.
• Most of the loft area (that I can see from my seat) seems to be occupied mostly by students sitting on their own, studying or working.
• Lots of students in shorts and short sleeved shirts. It is going to be in the 70s today after all.
• Many many backpacks. Several of the North Face variety, a few WFU-branded ones.
• Bedazzled jeans.
• A student in a walking cast making their way through Smith’s.
• Students waiting for their drinks at the end of the counter waving to other students as they walk in.
• A student with an absolutely gorgeous shade of red hair.
• A former student from my class last spring.
• A barista rearranging a series of drinks that has been sitting on the bar waiting for pick up (I assume these were somehow pre-ordered?)
• A student wearing what looks like pajama bottoms to me. Good for them.
• A student’s ankle tattoo.
• A New York Yankees ballcap that looks well worn.

I hear…

• The crinkling of brown paper pastry bags being opened.
• Soft jazz playing in the background.
• The baristas cooing at the baby in the stroller. Very sweet.
• Various greetings: hi, good morning, hey!
• Baristas calling out people’s names as their drinks are ready.
• Chuckles and laughter from students on the ground floor. Students in the loft area all seem to be studying quietly.
• The sound of coffee beans dropping into the grinder, and then ground.
• Ice being shoveled from the ice machine into cups.
• A high-pitched voice saying “Really??” to their friends.
• The sound of the milk frothing tube releasing steam (I guess that is cleaning it out between drinks?)
• Laughter.
• The occasional cough.
• What sounds like a mentoring or coaching-type conversation between a student and another student (who I assume is younger). I can’t make out the words but the tone sounds like coaching and guidance.
• The clank of the door latch as it opens and closes over and over as students arrive or leave.

I smell…

• Coffee, of course – but not as strongly as I thought I might.
• A fleeting sour smell for just a second and then it was gone.
• What smells like toasting bread, but I did not think there was a toaster in Smith’s.

I feel…

• Happy. Smith’s is booming even at 9 a.m. I see student after student greeting each other happily.
• Decidedly out of touch with the fashions of today’s 18-24 year old set. So. Many. Wide. Pants. And there are a ton of students in sneakers, but they are nearly all white sneakers. I only see two students with other colors, which I find interesting.
• Excited to start my meeting, which is with a student I know.

I taste…

• A delicious flat white coffee. So tasty.
• A sparkling water.

---

That’s all I had time to observe this morning, Daily Deacdom. Hope you felt like you were there right alongside me!