Analysis of First Field Notes

What surprised me?

I was surprised that the manager hadn’t told the waitresses I was coming for a school project, not some gossip expose, I guess he wanted them on their toes. It also surprised me that the jukeboxes were working again, I thought they would be off for weeks; something had gone wrong in the wiring a few weeks ago. It also surprised me that none of the little kids I saw didn’t come running up to me and ask what I was doing, stranger danger I guess.

What intrigued me?

I was intrigued by the older man at the counter. He seemed so laid back, most regulars know the waitresses but don’t talk back like he did. The older couple also interested me. They were so cute and clearly still in love. It also intrigued me that not a lot of tips were left the night I was there, I don’t know if that speaks to how much money the families had or how rude they were, because none of the waitresses had a bad attitude, they are some of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet.

What disturbed me?

The whiny kid with the iPhone disturbed me. When I was his age my parents had Nokia cell phones and I got “spoken to” if I got that bratty and rude in public. When we went out to dinner we were one hundred percent there, we weren’t sitting at a table together not paying attention to each other. I really hate that that’s what passes for family time and general socialization nowadays. I feel old! The only things about the physical environment that disturbed me were the fly that kept buzzing me and the tear in the red “pleather” that the booth is made out of, the foam was kind of gross looking and should probably be replaced.