A message from the coffee-aholic.

To the Sojourners Abroad,

My life right now consists of two things mostly and the one that makes me laugh the most is just this: COFFEE. This quote from You've Got Mail makes me laugh:
"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino."

I like to think of coffee as a hobby these days. Its not just my job, its a little bit more than that. Coffee gives me something to laugh about. People come in spending more money on something they think they know when essentially they could get it cheaper if they would just change their order. For example, a regular lady comes in wanting a 3 shot machiatto. To her, machiatto means fill the whole cup up with foam and pour my shots. Shes a wee bit of a nut case too, and I cant say that I would say that about a lot of people either.

Secondly, working at a coffee shop allows you to meet the teenagers who are in that "cool" stage but really...they are just teenagers thinking a cup of joe is so awesome. These two girls the other day were sitting out on the tables and were talking and laughing. Basically having a grand ole time, while i was doing a Trash run (AKA: cleaning every garbage can in the area, thats like 6 cans). I hear from them "hey you should ask her, she looks like shes done it before".

Im no dumby but I have to admit I was extremely curious, and were they even talking about me. 2 seconds later: "Hey can I ask you a question"? More giggles. I lean up. "Sure. Whats up"? They look at each other hesitantly. One of them is slightly more pressing than the other. "Umm have you ever eaten jello with your hands tied behind your back and whip cream on top?" What do you even say to that? Yeah all the time cuz I have so much free time? "No. I cant say that I ever have. Why do you ask?" More giggles...great.

"Well we just did it". umm what a way to leave me hanging there. "As in just for kicks and giggles or was this for some dare?" smiles. no giggles this time. Just flat out smiles. "No. we were really bored and we needed something to do." I couldnt help but laugh, ok, maybe more like chuckle. I cant be rude. "Maybe you guys should stick to reading some books or watching movies". They look at me like I was from the stone age. Really? Am I that old already? Im pretty sure Im still young..."Well the reading books thing not so much but we should do movies".

I finished up doing my trash run thinking this shift could not get any more bizarre. Only later do I realize that I stuck chai in someones mocha frap...for the second time. Im thinking of labeling the chai pump in big bold letters. Yeah...that sounds good.

The second thing my life consists of right now is school. School and music. Its a simultaneous thing basically. I cant study without music and well actually I can listen to music while studying. Summer vacation has been non-existant and I cant wait for the two week break to start before I head into another semester of school. Theres not much I can say about school except for the fact that I am horrible at it, despite whatever smartness I may have acquired. seriously? me and smart. Its more of a joke. I like to think that I am just...well blessed. I am a total clutz and sometimes not the brightest light in the room. I cannot debate or communicate to persuade thousands of people to take my lead. The one thing I think I do well is write, ok and read, but even those subjects are up for major debates. :]

So the summer has been eventful...extremely. but memorable? mmmm...who knows.

Corrine Pilar