Distracting Myself with Latte Art

At the moment, the only reasons I leave the house is to shop for essentials and for work. As a barista, my job can get fairly uncomfortable, as there is often a struggle between me and the customer, as they immediately want to remove their mask and take a sip of their drink instead of waiting until they are at a table or outside, or they don't want to wear one at all and refuse to comply when we ask. We also have pushback against limiting indoor seating and maximum capacity of the store, as we do have a small shop that makes it difficult to distance. It has led to tense interactions and anxiety leading up to shifts, and I have been struggling to find reasons to enjoy work. Because of this struggle, I turned towards improving my latte art as a way to both improve my craft and distract myself from the complications and uncomfortable interactions that have disrupted my workplace. It has brought me a sense of productivity and calm, despite the issues pervading the shop. This is my progress so far.

January 31, 2021

Julia Jensen

Julia Jensen

HST580

Arizona State University

photograph

text story

English Art & Design

English Business & Industry

English Conflict

English Emotion

English Food & Drink

social distance

mental health

coffee

latte

barista

mask

anxiety

Mental Health

Foodways

Service Industry

01/31/21

02/06/21

03/28/2021

08/02/2022

09/15/2024