Amidst the consumer-driven culture
Here I sit amidst the consumer culture; Starbucks.
Im not sure what possessed me to go here, its been over a year since ive set foot in one.
I purchase a venti - iced passion tea, shaken. Its repeated a haute-voix, and then I charge $2.65 to my Debit.
I've been here a thousand times before it seems, then I stoped. I stoped when I stopped supporting a consumption driven culture. Now I sit here, and watch, sip on a venti-iced passion tea, shaken, and observe all that surrounds me.
Two older spanish ladies have a conversation about the reinvention of life, and love.
Two older french couple sipping moccha lattes, talking english to their grandson who wants a gym membership for his birthday, his grandfather tries explaining that they bought an extra big present for him for chirstmas, so as to not get him anything for his Bday. The boy wants half a membership anyway...
An elderly chinese lady enters covered from head to toe in white animal fur. And teen style platform highheel shoes.
Barbie and Ken enter, well, i dont know their real names, but I can bet it was a big name brand company that dressed them this morning. I hope they're are getting paid for being so fashion coordinated together.
Roxy, roxy, quicksilver, roxy... maybe I am out of fade but it seems like this is the only brand worn by our generation these days!
It is a giddy environment, everyone touting their new books they just purchased. Re-uniting with families for a quick grande machiato mocha latte...
Shouts of 'ole' randomly coming from the bar.
This is the part of the blog when I go off about 3rd world poverty and injustice.
But I wont, instead I will just appretiate the jungle I find myself in.
Starbucks is a place of re-kindling spirits, in an environment that make people feel good about themselves. For friends and family to catch up, girlfriends to gossip about their weeks, grandparents and grandchildren to reunite in converging worlds; and for a reflective student of the world to regain root in a land he now feels more than ever removed from.
Im not sure what possessed me to go here, its been over a year since ive set foot in one.
I purchase a venti - iced passion tea, shaken. Its repeated a haute-voix, and then I charge $2.65 to my Debit.
I've been here a thousand times before it seems, then I stoped. I stoped when I stopped supporting a consumption driven culture. Now I sit here, and watch, sip on a venti-iced passion tea, shaken, and observe all that surrounds me.
Two older spanish ladies have a conversation about the reinvention of life, and love.
Two older french couple sipping moccha lattes, talking english to their grandson who wants a gym membership for his birthday, his grandfather tries explaining that they bought an extra big present for him for chirstmas, so as to not get him anything for his Bday. The boy wants half a membership anyway...
An elderly chinese lady enters covered from head to toe in white animal fur. And teen style platform highheel shoes.
Barbie and Ken enter, well, i dont know their real names, but I can bet it was a big name brand company that dressed them this morning. I hope they're are getting paid for being so fashion coordinated together.
Roxy, roxy, quicksilver, roxy... maybe I am out of fade but it seems like this is the only brand worn by our generation these days!
It is a giddy environment, everyone touting their new books they just purchased. Re-uniting with families for a quick grande machiato mocha latte...
Shouts of 'ole' randomly coming from the bar.
This is the part of the blog when I go off about 3rd world poverty and injustice.
But I wont, instead I will just appretiate the jungle I find myself in.
Starbucks is a place of re-kindling spirits, in an environment that make people feel good about themselves. For friends and family to catch up, girlfriends to gossip about their weeks, grandparents and grandchildren to reunite in converging worlds; and for a reflective student of the world to regain root in a land he now feels more than ever removed from.
posted by Kurt | 3/11/2006 04:30:00 PM
5 Comments:
Good post.
Hmmm, post on Starbucks, comments on Tim Hortons, someone has an addiction...
Kurt,
I am PROUD of you for this post. seriously I am.
As you know, I am one of those people who LOVE catching up with friends and family for coffee, lunches, dinners, or even cook for them. To me these activities bond us together, understand each other better in a relaxed environment, and basically keep the familiar and close feeling between one and another.
To me, these places doesnt scream consumerism, to me they are places where I can meet those I care for while having coffee, chat over cinnabons, and maybe even welcome them to my home for a meal the closer they are to me.
So thank you. As I started reading the post I was afraid you're going to make me feel...well make me feel "below" you. But thank you for seeing it from a different point of view.
And next time you go to starbucks, try their chocolate croissants, they're really yummy...hehehe....
Asti
p.s. in girl speak (well not that I can generalise) inviting a guy for coffee after sometime in a relationship is BAD. oh and quicksilver isnt that popular a brand over here so you dont see much in aussie. And for some reason its the "business suits" that enter starbucks...them and the overseas students...hmmm..wonder why....luv you kurt :)
Nice piece of writing.
Tired of bubble-tea, are you, Kurt?
And, of course, I wouldn't be me without this: it's "amidst", Kurt, not "admist"! Argh...
i knew that looked funny.
good eye!
You know Max, you and I will get along VERY WELL. I read your "critique" on Juani's writing and now Kurt's...and I'm one of those people who would correct people without even realising it, when they say "me and someone". its "someone and I" people, "someone and I"!! Aaarrrghhh.....
Post a Comment
<< Home