Textbooks & Coffee
07. Sep, 2010 - Campus Charm
Photo by Sarah Jung
I’ll keep my introduction to DLM short and sweet: I am in love with Davis (especially the University) and its slew of charms. This blog’s lifespan will be dedicated to converting those of you who don’t share my feelings. Just sayin’.
So, without further ado, here is conversion attempt #1…
It’s summertime and I’m sitting in a coffee shop near my parents’ home up north, where I’ll be spending my time until fall quarter begins. Being an English major, I’ve got my usual collection of novels, notebooks, and a laptop accompanying my cappuccino–but something’s different. You see, in Davis a spread like mine is typical and familiar; I like to think of it as a different and more detailed form of UC Davis student identification. Sort of like, the more unkempt the hair is, in addition to the aforementioned table clutter, the further along that person is in writing their master’s thesis.
But in this coffee shop, where to my left I see The Cheesecake Factory and a tall corporate law office to my right, my pile of books and I aren’t nearly as acceptable. The barista nearest me is eyeing my nearly empty cup and me; I feel like he’s passively willing me to either buy another drink or split. I’ll buy another drink.
Photo by Sarah Jung
I’m not sure how well Mishka’s Café, Common Grounds, and other cafes in Davis like the lingering students with their single and cheap coffee orders, but I can’t help but love it. I’m a broke student looking for a place to study, what else can I say?
No, I take it back. There’s so much more I can say about that. I had become so used to Starbucks’ rush-and-go treatment to coffee, where drive through windows are more common than ceramic mugs. Moving to Davis for school and stepping into a local coffee shop where undergrads, grad students, and professors alike convene to converse and study for hours is an experience so extraordinary and valuable to the little town and myself. I miss it. Until fall quarter, I’ll make believe that this coffee shop doesn’t mind me sitting here with my long-gone cappuccino.
Well said. And, I wish our downtown coffee shops had more outdoor seating to be able to connect with the outdoors and community in addition to one’s books and colleagues. Just a thought.
I’m so thrilled to have stumbled onto this magazine! This endearing story helped me get a better idea of life in Davis. I can really get a sense of the community there. I would love to visit someday!
hooray for davis! it seems like a nice place
Good read. Looks like a nice place to chill during the winter.
I love Mishka’s… and I love this post.
“Sort of like, the more unkempt the hair is, in addition to the aforementioned table clutter, the further along that person is in writing their master’s thesis.”
Hahaha. So true.
Sounds like an amazing atmosphere! It was described so detailed the imagery made me think I was there! Now I am just jealous I don’t have the same!