My group was assigned to observe the cafeteria and the cafe, both of which are in the same building. The cafeteria is a large space with high, vaulted ceilings and bright lights. Within this large space, there are two different sitting areas split up by the food lines. Although they are in the same room, each area has an entire different atmosphere that goes along with it.
Now, my older sister goes to Olivet as well and last year when I was coming in as a freshman she told me, "Tess, whatever you do, ALWAYS sit on the left side of Ludwig. That's where all the 'cool kids' sit." And even when I got here, there was always an unwelcoming air that comes from the right side of the cafeteria.
As part of our observation, we asked people sitting on either side of the cafeteria why they chose the side they were sitting on. The people sitting on the right side of Ludwig were either there to sit by themselves and have some alone time, or to have a scholarly meeting with just one other person. This explains the quiet and more reserved atmosphere this side of Ludwig emits. But as soon as you walk over to the left side, it all changes. The sound of people talking, laughing, yelling, and the occasional round of applause is much more welcoming. The stress of classes, homework, and exams seemed to be nonexistent for the time being. The guys we sat down with and talked to on this side told us that they came there with a group of friends just to simply eat together. There was no agenda for them, just a time to come together as friends to enjoy a meal.
It blows my mind that there are two very different atmospheres in the same room. But what is even more crazy is that there is another room, ten yards away, that has a whole new demeanor.
Common Grounds has much lower ceiling, dimmer lighting, and to be quite honest, a much better smell. The seating is more comfortable, including different heights of tables and chairs, and even sofas are placed strategically around the fireplace. Just the furniture choices and placements give off a "homier" vibe. The dimmed lighting, warm colors, and the coffee smells are welcoming and relaxing, making it a prime spot to study or have a date.
After class I looked at how I approached the places I go to. For instance, when I go back to my apartment, I am there to dance wildly to One Direction or to sleep, whereas if I am in Reed Hall of Science, I wouldn't dare sing and dance. I go to buildings on campus with a purpose, to get something done. Back at my apartment I normally don't have a purpose or a schedule to withhold. It is simply a place to relax; my home for the time being.
The point of this whole blog post is just to show you how incredible every place we go to is. There is a reason why people choose Common Grounds as opposed to the left side of Ludwig to have a first date. Each place we go to has an atmosphere about it that shapes the reasoning as to why we choose to visit it.
It is fun to think about how differently we treat the physical spaces in our lives. Even on campus, the contrast between the three coffee shops is stark (and a little strange- why do these seemingly arbitrary differences exist?). And no one has to say these things, we just know. No one is going to the Jazzman's in Perry for a coffee date. We know what the different sides of Ludwig mean within a week of arriving on campus. And sometimes, different places have different meaning for different people. For me personally, the small side of Ludwig feels more welcoming. There's less going on, so I have more of a chance to relax with some friends without thinking about what's going on around me. If I'm going to dinner with a group, I prefer to sit on the small side. We take all this for granted, but when we take a steo back and look at it all, its pretty incredible how much places infulence our lives.
ReplyDeleteI was fascinated by the observations your group made regarding Ludwig and Common Ground. You are correct; the atmosphere of a place completely influences why we go there. What do you think would happen if a group decided to sit on the left instead of the right? How many groups would it take to change the dynamic? Or, a better question may be whether the actual location dictates the atmosphere more than the people. Will students act according to their location? You mentioned this a little in how you are in your apartment as opposed to Reed. Using locations as text really IS interesting, especially in context of Ludwig.
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