Morning Necessity

PART 1:

The act of drinking coffee in the morning is more then just a jolt before class; it’s an experience in itself. Watching professors, students, and staff sitting at the tables and in the cozy chairs is an entirely different scene then those people who have not yet got their coffee. In line, students look tired, haggard, and stressed - despite only the second week of classes, while those with their coffee look as if life has completely slowed down and they can finally take a deep breath. It's not just the taste, but holding the warm cup in hand, smelling the bittersweet aroma, and letting it consume all their senses. They might even have time to read a chapter or look at a magazine before the caffeine buzz allows them to get up and make it to class. In Europe, I've been told that people live their lives at a much slower pace then in the United States. The act of having Tea Time one or two times a day is a similar version of the morning coffee that American's need to make it through their day. It's a time to socialize quietly with new and old friends, lovers, and relatives. It's a moment to relax and reflect only on the now and not what today's to-do-list tasks are. Each person seems to take as long as possible to drink their preferred brew, not wanting to return to the hustle and bustle of the day that lies ahead. Once the last drop is gone those people sitting comfortably, relentlessly pick up their things and head out the door. From warmth on their faces, I can only assume how much more awake and alive they feel then those people still hunched over waiting in line.

PART 2:

Baron, Cynthia "Food and Gender in Bagdad Cafe"
Charles, Nicki "Women, Food, and Families"
Conner, Mark "The Social Psychology of Food"
Goody, Jack "Cooking, Cuisine, and Class: A Study in Comparative Sociology"

Although there were many sources to choose from, these four stood out to me. A clear pattern between each source is not easily defined, but each source gets me thinking about food more then just something to eat. The first two sources imply that women have a different relationship with food, which can be seen even in magazines at the grocery store. With so many eating disorders that are going on today, it is imparative to look at people's relationships with food, which the second two sources I found seem to do. It is importat to recognize that our relationship with food is a lot more compicated then what most people think, it reflects how we think of ourselves and how we live our daily lives.