Meet my friend/ Lessons learned from a month in Atlanta’s coffeshops

So, sorry that I have been bad about blogging.  But - don't worry - I have a ton good blog topics coming up. So, I have a special treat for you today - a guest blogger. So, meet Missy.  Missy is a person, she has brown curly hair, she was a dancer for a big chunck of her life, and she is in med school in Isreal.  She came down to Atlanta to spend time with her sister and to study.  Here are here lessons learned from a month in Atlanta’s coffeshops

"I spent a little over a month living with my sister in Atlanta and studying for Step 1 of the US Medical Licensing Exam; most of my studying was done at various cafes throughout the city.  What I first thought was reverse culture shock since I go to medical school abroad, became a working list of lessons learned through encounters observed.

1.      Apart from the occasional patio, cafes are indoor spaces, which means indoor voices.  Apart from the occasional voyeur, people in cafes are usually there for their own reasons and don’t need to be party to the conversations around them.

2.      Nobody likes bananas poked, poked in their faces.

3.      When productivity is drawing to a lull, there are two options for continuing in a café: the blended coffee beverage or, if already shaky from caffeine, the 2 for 1 cookie special.

4.      Running lines for a production in a cafe is only acceptable when done in a language other than English.

5.      HR confrontations should probably occur in confidential locations—a cafe is not one of those.

6.      When it is over 85 degrees outside, wearing a wool scarf as a fashion statement might be met with: ‘oh, hell to the no!’

7.      If things are going wrong in life, it is probably a direct result of ignoring God’s very clear message to go do development work in South Africa.

8.      The decision to take a 2 hour work call on a cell phone at a cafe should be followed by treating tablemates with to a delicious beverage.  While teleworking is an important alternative to being in an office, there are more stringent rules of decorum; it is highly inappropriate to assume that it is socially acceptable to subject other patrons to business meetings.  Although, in all fairness, who ever really wants to listen to any one-sided cell phone conversations.

9.      Internet variability within a cafe offering free wi-fi is unacceptable, but the staff still has a moral obligation to report that to the clientele.

10.  White male privilege can be described as many things, but ‘oh, you know’ is not one of them.

"

My two favorite were the HR confrontations and the wool scarf!  My other friend here in Atlanta has a rule that for each hour or so you are there, you should buy 1 item. What coffee shop rules do you have?

Also - I want to start a blog feature called "what is in your purse/ wallet/ bag" - you know what I am talking about they are always asking famous people to look in their bag and see their fancy beauty products etc.  So I asked Missy - what is in your purse?

"I don't carry a purse, but I'm happy to tell you what's currently in the bag I carry most days:

Nalgene
Peruvian small shopping bag holding the tupperware from my lunch
Bills that I need to pay
White coat
Stethescope
Packet for history and physical in Hebrew
"Rapid Interpretation of EKGs"
Small notebook for writing down all of the things I have no clue about in the day

White cardigan
Mint mojito gum from the States
iPod
Hand sanitizer from Trader Joe's
Pens
A shell from my mom (probably from Cape Cod)
My wallet
A giant bobby pin

That's probably more than you needed/wanted to know.  And it sort of looks like I'm more studious and medical than I really am."

My favorites of these were the giant bobby pin and a random shell!!

Better be careful, I might pick on your next - what is in your bag?

Professional sports

Some memories from growing up:

- Being dressed as a toddler in a cheerleading outfit of my parents favorite college football team
- Fun tailgates outside of a football game of my parents alma mater
- Hotdogs with lots of toppings on it at a professional baseball game
- My parents always in the stands at my soccer games, cheering me on

Oh wait….those things did not happen….reminder – I was a child of hippies. I have tons of fabulous memories from growing up, but none of them involved sports. I did actually play soccer my freshmen year in HS in Oklahoma, and my parents showed up to a few games, but definitely brought a book to read!
Because I did not grow up with any of this, you can imagine, I am slightly overwhelmed at these types of events as an adult. Here are some of my recent experiences:

1) Went to my first professional football game (it was just a pre-season game though, but I still count it). It was the Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins. I might rather be at Callaway Gardens watching the “birds of prey” show with a real falcon swishing over our heads, or at the Atlanta Aquarium watching the dolphin show. Elliot and I took MARTA in and it surprisingly easy. We had great seats that Elliot got super discounted from some girl on craigslist.

{Pics from the game}

Here is what I enjoyed:
Half time- they had tiny children playing football – this was wayyyy more entertaining than watching the professionals. Although I was concerned about the risk of concussion and traumatic brain injury. People were falling all over the place, and some of the kids were really good and fast, and could skirt around the other kids and make touch-downs. I loved this part! The tiny baby cheerleaders were also entertaining. I wonder if Elliot and I have kids if we would ever allow them to do something like this, or if we would pay them to play Oregon trail at home instead (read previous posts)

Here is what I spent the majority of my time doing:
Staring at 2 guys in their 30’s who came to the game with 3 dads in their 30’s, and their 3 sons. The dad’s were fully enjoying themselves, drinking a brewsky and watching the game, they would occasionally tell their 3 boys to stop climbing the railing and stop hitting each other. The 2 guys who did not have kids (at least with them), seemed slightly annoyed, and the 3 kids who were having a great time. I also enjoyed watching the couple sitting in front of the kids and turning around and giving evil looks to the kids (but not the dads). I guess some might consider this father son bonding time?

What I did not enjoy:
People making fun of me as we walked to MARTA after the game because I walk faster than them. ANDDD that lack of vegetarian options at the game.


I also went to a Braves game – I used to go a lot when I first moved to Atlanta, but have not been in 2 or 3 years (wow-zer). It was a fun game, school was back in session and it was a week night, so it was not too crowded (which I liked). I also got a free tumbler – plastic glass with a plastic straw from Publix.

Ohhhh – and big announcement – Gaya joined a fantasy football league – so more to come on that in the near future.

What is your favorite memory from a sports game?

Ps – I would love to know who my readers are. Leave me a comment sometime and or click the link “join this site” – gracias!