Sociology

Worker A(Salmon grill);

Worker A is the main women who serve Grilled salmon. In the salmon area, there were 4 people for preparing to provide it to the students. At first, there were two women (Worker A and B) and she was one of them. She looked like a Mexican and she was concentrating on the serving. When the restaurant was open, it looked a sort of busy and students gathered to the Salmon bar and the students who looked the other students. She did not get panicked on it and just serve it as usual. She keeps making the maximum of 6 plates so that students do not need to wait for the salmon, working with worker B. She sometimes talks to co-workers like simple talk but normally does not show the smiling face. It seemed really busy from 6 to 6:30 since there were so many students who are so hungry and could not be patient for the salmon. The worker B was helping to give worker A the plate and worker A took the salmon from the box put it on the plate which is from worker B.

Worker B

She was also Mexican and her role is helping for Worker A. There were a bunch of plates next to the workers and she was moving the plate to the worker B. It seemed that worker B was moving 4-6 plates so that worker A can put the salmon easily.

At 6:30, the line of the students stop coming to the grilled area and worker B stopped working and went to eat the Salmon. Maybe she became to feel like easting since she kept looking at it. This is a joke but that time, the line was not busy, so the worker B was checking the line and went to eat as a break during the working time.

Worker A was working alone during the time Worker B  was taking a break. Because of not working busily this time, she checked the phone 2 times(Which is not allowed to do that in Japan during the working time/ the culture is different and interesting.) I do not know what did she check that but she only checks a few seconds without cooking gloves.

She brings the salmon box and she did bring 4 plates as the worker B did. So she just did the twice work for the breaking time of worker B. She came back in 10 minutes and start helping again.

At 7 pm

I was surprised because these two workers were changed.

New Worker A

She is a black woman and came from somewhere so that they do not get bored with the one simple jobs. I heard the rumor that the people who work later are a manager or higher class people since they do not need to have to work hard and have a right to decide about the kitchen but it is not sure. Also, the thing I can imagine is that they just have a rotation for that.

Anyway, she was working alone for salmon for a while. she was not that nervous as Worker A and B, so she speaks more to the cooker than other workers. The one set of the time for her to prepare the 4 salmons was about 15 seconds.

New worker B came too. She is a Mexican and did the same as Worker B but she helped sometimes but goes to the background sometimes for helping others since the number of students was not so many.

At 7:20

A lot of students came to eat in the Restaurant. I guess the reason why they came at the last minutes was that they were busy with the student's life but do not want to go to the covel and the Restaurant is healthier.

So, worker A and B both had the salmon box and distributed to the students. Sometimes students waited but they did not need to wait a long maybe because its different from the Asian kitchen which has many processes. The walking distance between the serving place and the salmon box was 5 steps. Sometimes students want two salmon and she did not even say anything and gave to the students.

At8pm

They stopped working and went to the helping for others to clean up the whole Restaurant.

PersonC

Subjects:

Server one (S1): Female, African American

Server two (S2): Female, African American

Cook one (C1): Female, (possibly) Latina

Cook two (C2): Female, (possibly) Latina

Cook three (C3): Male, African American

Setting:

The two servers are each positioned at one of the two stations that comprise the “Simply Grilled”  section of the Restaurant dining hall. S1 is serving plates of salmon, while S2 is serving plates of salad and tofu. The cooks are working the grills behind the serving stations and do not appear to have definitive positions in the kitchen.

Observations:

S1 is taking pieces of salmon from a large pan and placing them on plates which are then positioned on a heated counter; students line up and grab the plates from the opposite end of the counter. S2 is making plates of salad and tofu and positioning them in a similar manner to S1, however, there is less room for students to line up; the “Simply Grilled” section of the dining hall is presumably designed so that students one station (S1) before the other (S2).

When the dining hall initially opened, there were very few students present and S1 was conversing with one of the cooks (C1). S1 was not socializing with her coworkers and seemed very focused on plating her food in preparation for the influx of students.

Soon after opening, a line of students formed in front of S1’s station; once a line formed S2 ceased her conversation with C1 and began to make sure her plates of salad and tofu were arranged properly.

It was readily apparent that S1’s station was the more popular of the two; most students grabbed a plate of salmon and bypassed S2’s station entirely.

The plates of salmon that S1 had initially prepared were quickly depleted and she began continuously preparing food while a seemingly perpetual line of students walked by and grabbed their plates.

While plating the salmon, S1 maintained an emotionless expression and did not make eye contact or acknowledge the students as they approached the counter.

The plates that S2 had initially prepared were depleted at a much slower rate and she was able to keep two to three plates of salad and tofu on the counter at any given time. When students did approach her station, S2 made eye contact and engaged in short verbal interactions (i.e. saying “you’re welcome” when students thanked her), however, she spoke at a low volume and her response to the students’ gratitude seemed like an insincere formality.  

When other uniformed dining hall employees approached the counter S1’s demeanor/behavior remained largely the same, although she did appear to acknowledge them with a head nod. S2, on the other hand, greeted the employees with a smile and said “your welcome” in a louder and more sincere tone — there was also one instance in which she engaged in a short conversation while serving one of the other employees.

Thus far, the line at S1 station has not ended and it would not be unreasonable to infer that her station is the more popular of the two, especially given the fact that S2’s station has hardly seen any traffic at all.

S2 engages in short verbal exchanges with the cooks, who have been talking amongst themselves throughout the observation period.

S1 seems overwhelmed by the volume of the students and is not making eye contact or acknowledging them as they approach the counter. S2 seems much more inclined to engage with students (although she is not instigating any interactions) and is making eye contact and acknowledging students when they walk up (either with a head nod or a subtle “you’re welcome” in response to a “thank you”).

S2, who still does not have a line, notices that S1 is looking particularly overwhelmed and decides to leave her station and help S1 plate her food. After they plated enough salmon to give S1 some breathing room, S2 returned to her station.

As the dining hall becomes more crowded, S2 is continuously watching S1, looking for an opportunity to provide her with assistance.

S2 again helps S1 with plating. S1’s line still has not ended and S2’s station still hasn’t developed a line.

S1 and S2 converse for the first time, albeit very briefly » S2: “how are you doing?” S1: “I’m good, thank you” -- S1 makes eye contact and smiles during the exchange with S2

Again, S2 leaves her station to assist S1, however, this time she goes around to the front of S1’s counter and wipes it down, giving S1 time to catch up on plating.

S2’s station is still not very active — the cooks have not replaced her supply of tofu or lettuce once during the entire observation period, while they have been continuously replenishing S1’s supply of salmon.

The students seem to be picking up on the fact that S1 is so busy. They do not attempt to speak or make eye contact with her and they pick up their plates in a quick, orderly fashion.

S2’s station still does not have a line. She will have brief verbal interactions with the cook closest to her (C1).

S2 again leaves her station to assist S1 with plating.

Immediately after returning to her station, S2 is hit with a rush for the first time in the observation period. A group of six students walk up to her station at once. The first three take all of the plate she had prepared and she had to personally hand the remaining three students their plates (2 each). While doing this, she did not make eye contact with the students and did not respond when they thanked her. After the small rush, she plated three servings of tofu and three servings of salad and placed them onto the heated counter.

The line at S1’s station still hasn’t ceased, and S2 continues to stay vigilant, looking for opportunities to help. The students at S1’s station pick up their food much more quickly than at S2’s station. When students approach S2’s station, many of them examine the different plates of food (presumably looking for variations in portion size and quality) and select the plates that look most appealing — some students will take more than one serving. Moreover, on at least one occasion, a student requested that S1 place another piece of tofu on their plate directly out of the dish. Conversely, when students approach S2’s station, they quickly grab whichever plate is closest to them and do not take time to consider the portion sizes and quality of food on each individual plate. Additionally, I did not observe any students taking more than one portion from S1’s station.

S2 leaves her station to help S1, but this time she wipes down her entire station area and blocks S1 from the line. While S2 is wiping down S1’s station, S1 starts talking to her (I can’t hear what they are talking about) and the two start laughing about something. This is the first time I’ve observed S1 smiling. When S2 finishes wiping down S1’s station and returns to her station, S1 goes back to plating the salmon and distributing them to the students — she does this with the same demeanor that had been previously observed (emotionless facial expression, no eye contact, no acknowledgement of students). She seems discouraged by the fact that the line (which, again, has not ceased since they opened) had built up during the very brief space of time where S2 was wiping down her station.

A man walks up in between the two stations and shouts something in Spanish to the cooks. Both cooks laugh and one of them C1 shouts something back (also in Spanish). S1 and S2 seem unfazed by the interaction between the man and the cooks.

One of the cooks takes her break and is replaced by an African American man (he will be referred to hereafter as C3). C3 engages in a lively conversation with S2 as he gloves up and prepares to work the grill. He directs a comment at S1 and she smiles and nods but remains focused on the task at hand (i.e. plating salmon). C3 and S2 more or less continue to hold a conversation while working at their respective stations.

C2 checks S2 tofu supply and the dish is still very full — she appears to make some kind of humorous comment about the fact that she still hasn’t run out of tofu.

An adult man with two young children gets in line for the salmon. He is wearing a white dress shirt and khaki slacks. This is the first grown adult (i.e. someone who appears to be a non-student), other than staff members, I have observed since the dining hall opened.

S1 did not make eye contact with the man and treated him the way she treated the students, however she smiled at the children (who grabbed their plates after the man) — perhaps she didn’t notice the man because she was so involved in her work.

S2 greeted the man (“Hello, how are you?”) with a smile and direct eye contact. He smiled back and said “I’m good” — this is the first time I observed either server greeting an individual. S2 also smiled and made direct eye contact with the children.

(At this point it should be noted that S1 appears to be much older than S2, who looks she may be a student. Perhaps this age difference affected the way in which the two servers treated the older man and his children)

Another much older man is several spaces behind the man and his children in line (i believe they are together). S1 treated this man the same way she treated the students (i.e. expressionless face, no eye contact, no acknowledgement). S2 did not greet this man the way she greeted the other, however she did maintain a smile and direct eye contact while he passed through her station. S2 also said “you’re welcome” quite loudly when the older man thanked her.

S1 takes a short break while she waits for the cook to finish cooking the latest batch of salmon. She jokingly tells him to hurry up and both the cook (C3) and S2 laugh. S1 then engages in light conversation with S2, although I could not hear what they were saying.

END OBSERVATION PERIOD

PersonD

Observation:

4 workers: Workers positioned with two cooks by the glass and two people in the back putting the food in bowls.

Cooks concentrated on their own tasks, consistently looking down as they cook

Servers walk back and forth retrieving food and placing food out for students. First server is a woman who continues to walk back and forth from end of table to where the plates of food are given. Server two is next to her looking down at food as she pours it in bowl.

Servers do not talk to one another, they just hand plates from one to the other in an assembly line fashion. Second server looks up quickly to look at line of students then goes back to concentrate on serving food.

Server one places four plates of food for students in line, little interaction between students and server. Server one walks back and gets three more plates. Server one places plates down and one student smiles at server. Server does not make eye contact and seems to not catch the smile. (I giggled)

Server one continues to get more plates set and server two gets more food from the cooks. Server two and cook one interact briefly in regards to the food. Interaction is brief and involves a light nod from the cook. Server two gets food and takes it to the long table with the other server.

Server one and two begin to work a bit faster and have a brief spoken conversation as they are getting the food together. Server one looks up and at students as they put the food down for them. First two students say thank you and the first server smiles.

In moments where both servers interacted with one another, there was more of a social interaction between the server and students where the server payed more attention or actually acknowledged the students in line.

The person who appears to be in charge of the servers comes out and does quick glances at how they’re doing and speaks to both at the same time. Server two looks up and nods their head as the first server continues at the pace they’ve been working at. The person in charge begins to take the food to the students rather than the servers. The line picked up a bit and the servers appear more concentrated with the food. Their dynamic becomes a bit more intense where the workers are moving a bit more robatically in the sense that they aren’t fazed too much about their surroundings. When pouring food they just do one scoop and continue to move on to the next item. The line progresses faster and the students take their plates and leave. Server one takes the food again instead of the person in charge who is now off working on another task. One student says thank you and server one responds with a you’re welcome as they walk back to the table with the food.

The line is still long and everyone continues to be working within their stations. The second server makes a quick comment to which the first server laughs at and nods their head. They begin to have a quick conversation as they’re working with the food.

The more often that the servers interact with one another, the more often they look up and pay more attention to the students.

The line becomes smaller and the first server leaves extra plates of food out for the students to pick up. The second server begins to cover up the food a bit so it does not get cold and the first server cleans the table for a bit. The cooks continue to make food, but appear to be a bit less tense when making the food. By less tense, their shoulders are a bit more loosened and their posture appears to be more relaxed.

Small number of students form a line again, workers notice, but continue at a pace that isn’t too fast. Server one continues to place food and minds their business with little regard to the students again. A few students say thank you as they grab their food.

Student waits until server one of the servers looks up. Server two and motions to server one towards the student. Server one approaches the student casually and smiles asks the student what they needed. Student points at bowl and asks something that I cannot hear. The server nods their head and goes back to the long table. Server one serves plate without meat and gives it to the student. The server points the student to the vegetarian option, student laughs and shakes head. Server smiles awkwardly and nods their head as a thank you then heads back to the long table with server two.

The pace is what could be considered as normal with less concentrated than when there was a longer line and with the servers in their own world. The person in charge comes back in from the back and begins to look around and scans the food quickly. The person in charge tells the workers something to which both the servers look up, smile and nod quickly as they continue their work.

The servers seem to pour a bit more food in the bowls right now that there is not much of a rush of people getting in line. Proportions do not appear to be out of what it is considered normal, but the bowls appear to have a more generous offering.

The line picks up once again and the physical annoyance creeps over server number two. Another worker comes in from the back and joins the other two servers to give food. The third server gets in the middle of both of the servers and the create another assembly line. Group of students tell the cooks and servers thank you. Cooks look up and have a genuine giant smile on their face. They nod their heads and say you’re welcome. The first server smiles and the other two servers stay in their own zone as they work.

This a continuation in which everyone is in their own zone as they begin to pick up the pace. Server three and two seem to make small comments to each other as they continue the assembly line. Both of the workers seem to have their own dynamic.

The food seems to have less proportions as more students begin to wait for food.

One student tries to take two plates and the person in charge comes out and tells them to get to the end of the line. (I giggled) The first server looks up at this interaction briefly and shakes their head briefly. The person in charge walks over to the servers and appears to tell them to keep an eye out for people who might continue to do that. The servers nod their head as they now briefly look up every once and awhile as they put food in bowls.

Server one continues the routine where the most plates they put out is 7 plates.

Server two and three pour into bowls first their portions of food. Server one holds off on three bowls and pours meat in them quickly and then walks it to the students. The bowls are placed one at a time and then the server looks back at their station before walking placing the last plate.

PersonE

3/25:30 - 8pm

· Obs the “Freshly Bowled” station serving Roasted pork with mixed grain and kabocha sauce or vegetarian seitan (curry) brown rice bowl close to the salad bar, is one of most popular/busy stations

· Worker station set up open with window to students in line or open on the side, main prep table like an assembly line with 2 serving dishes positions and sauce station, grill on other side not always maned

· Some

· Long line w/ ppl waiting => joking between young girls on same side

. Second server notices long line- changes smile and doesn’t talk again

· Positive vs negative affect vs neutral

. Neutral taken as negative since other 2 are positive

· Main chef man comes in joking and smiling with all, starts talking to older woman next to grill

· Stress of being new vs veteran shown in times when the line comes

. Grown woman has her job done and waits on younger girls to finish preparing, doesn’t joke with them looks off into the distance

· Yt guy waiting for curry so more invested => he says thank you(initiates) 1st server gives no response or acknowledgment

· Generally, a less socially interactive position bc no ordering and food placed on counter space yet work in a group setting

· 1st young worker stares off into distance with low affect, 2nd slightly smiling as she looks down and around at plates  

· Line forms, waiting for the chicken to come in silence, makes 3 dishes before serving

· 2nd girl starts serving main line=> smiles, initiates eye contact, turns back for “welcome”, did a mini gallop that made me laugh

· 1st asked clarifying question =>  gives thumbs, small smile but avoids eye contact

. Much more non-verbal than 2nd

· 2nd server talking/singing to self

· 3rd young girl server added to take dishes to main line => slight smile, short eye contact initiated

. Mix between 1 and 2 in terms of affect and projection

· 1 smiles at chef boss when he addresses her

· Chef checks phone

· Pace slows down even more

· Grown woman starts talking to male asian chef

. Seems to talk easily between similar ages

· Talks most when line grows and stalled to prepare lots of dishes, 2nd young server initiates with same side G.W.

· Manager walks in 2 and grown woman smile as welcome

· Pick up pace and interact less, demeanor seems more serious

· Slight smile between 2nd and 3rd when making eye contact across preparation table after 3rd serves round of plates

· 1 to serve long line => no initiation of eye contact or smile

· Grown woman talks to 2nd as making dishes on same side,

. G.W. looks to include 1st who was behind 2nd on same side after she leaves as 2nd serves so she moves to talk

. 1’s interaction is extra nice, smiles and nods

. 1 leaves to do task G.W. asked for

. When 1st leaves, G.W. continues to interact with 3rd for a while, longer than usual when just them two around and no line forming

. Possibly shows comfortableness within race or just two alone

· 1 comes back, talking pretty much ceases

· Makes 5 dishes before serving

· 1 serves 1 dish to curry line formed => asserts “5 min” grandly with a gesture

· Line forms with only G.W. and 3rd working station => 3rd initiates joking contact but G.W. looks at the line and doesn’t really respond

· Shows how G.W. vs young takes responsibility of job and discerns when and when not to talk

· 3rd server to line => looks to initiate eye contact with yt girls but they don’t so she doesn’t smile

· G.W. and 2nd slightly interact, 2 smiles and nods, initiates another sequence

· 2nd and 3rd young are alone- no interaction both look like they might want to but think better to not

· Both male chefs come in joking and smiling slight friendly nod/ smile

· Manager walks in, everyone acknowledges

· White male chef talks loudly to other man chef and jokes

· Yt male chef talks to younger girls => slightly smile look down and nod, continue working no returning response

· Yt male chef to serve line => loudly greets with words and eye contact to young males in line

· 3rd to serve line => initiates with girls leading the line, less interaction/ smile to guys next in line

· Possibly different responses by gender

· Male chef talks to 2nd

· 2nd and 3rd talk when alone when the chef is there

· Look to ask G.W. a question

· Smile and nod good bye 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to G.W.

PersonF

When and Where: Wednesday night at Restaurant

Who: Workers at BP serving students in a station dynamic

Situation: From 5:30pm to 8pm - started off in a relatively easy pace and it approached peak hours. Observed workers dynamic.

Started the observation trying to observe worker by worker, but quickly noticed that by doing so I wasn’t observing general patterns of interaction in the entire environment. Also, there were numerous workers at the same time (around 7 or 8) which made it difficult to analyze them individually.

Observation:

Workers all aligned in station, for the sake of clarity I will analyze the situation as an entire ecosystem of interactions, as for individually.

One of the employees is refilling the food and substituting empty bowls with full ones. No one said thank you or did she say something. Continues at her station cleaning it thoroughly. She then cleans the station where the food is present, no interaction or exchange between her and the students.

Two workers interacting around the fridge, can't listen to interaction but it seems to be dynamic/work related due to pointing at utensils and nodding.

A worker serves the food, no one says thank you and neither do students interact with them.

On the station dynamic: Workers moving plates down the line of the station but not communicating with each other. A employee brings the plates for the students and no interaction between them

Workers moving plates on the back communicate and say something to each other, can’t know if it is work dynamic or not but I would guess it is work dynamic and there was head movement suggesting indication of direction.

Worker brings food to front and smiles to student, they say nothing in return. Worker moving plates down the station, very methodical, barely no interaction. Food in one of the stations has ended, there is communication whether where and who is going to get the next round of lamb. Each worker continues doing there own methodical task, no interaction between student and worker.

When there is no demand for food there was some more interaction between the workers, they do other tasks such as cleaning station, talking to one another, interacting one that seems as non-work related tasks. As soon as line picks up, worker on the other station moves to help each other. The station gradually picks up the speed and dynamic. FIrst, a single worker on station. A second worker quickly looks at line and already helps the first worker. Without no interaction between them, a third worker approaches that station to help pass the food down. Finally, a fourth worker appears to deliver the food to the students. No interaction between the workers themselves.

Very clear how line pressure, also seen as food demand, changes the workers dynamic, interaction, and stress level.

From time to time a worker walks at the back of the station and seems to be checking if everything is running smoothly, however this is an assumption as I can’t hear or know what she is looking/observing.

Plates have finished. Playes have arrived in a trolly by a worker which apparently works in the “behind-the-scenes” of the station - bringing plates, utensils, and cooking. When more plates came, more interaction between the workers - agglomerated in a group of four in a corner and talked, there was a bit of laughing and of smiling the line was relatively short at this interaction between them, only one person waiting for food.

No one on the line, workers are wondering around - I’m not sure if they have altered their behavior because they know I am observing. Two workers appear walking in a line bringing food into the counters, and exchanging the empty bowls for the full bowls in the station.

As the tasks are very methodical and require little assumption/interpretation, as soon as one of them starts one task the other notices and picks up the following task, creating a seamless dynamic. For example, when one changes the chicken, the other puts the sauce in the new chicken, however they do not verbally communicate this interaction, they simply do it. Most likely due to the familiarity and sync with the process and their co-workers.

Continues to be barely no verbal exchange between workers and students. A student just asked some special request for the worker, first direct interaction observed between student and employee.  

No one on the station. Workers are grouped together and interact, smiling more often, they noticed I am observing. Workers point at me and look at each other. Now they whisper something and one of them flashes a quick look at me. They continue talking to each other, nodding, looking. Another worker, not involved in this interaction, is looking at them with a face of someone who is trying to understand what is happening. No one waiting in line, workers are talking much more often.

A man walks into the station, speaking loudly and greeting everyone, handshakes, smiles, and orders were given by him. He is wearing a different vestment than the rest of the workers. “Very good” and other compliments were given to the workers, his attitude and posture seems to be of some supervisor or of someone responsible for this team of employees.  

Some job/function happening on the backstage, transferring some sort of food to another container, two workers do it together but there was no verbal exchange but definitely a subliminal non-verbal conversation was taking place through eye looks and nodding.

Line starts to form and workers pick up the work on their station, each one focused on their task, and performing their own duties, no verbal interaction between them.

Workers are looking at me and observing me, they try to mask it by pretending to be doing some other task, talk to each other and interact after doing so. For a couple of minutes now most of the time a worker comes to the front to serve food or refill plates they look at me.

A worker with a headphone and a radio comes into the scene and a group organizes around her, I’m not sure what the reunion is about but she seems to be giving some sort of instruction or wanting information. She writes down some information in a piece of paper and points at some parts of the environment, such as to the fridge and the pans.

As line picks up workers are more fast-paced and serving the food faster, they bring more plates at a time to the front and there are more people on the station. When line is very long 4 people at station vs. shorter line there are only 2.

Plates come in again, some physical body movement so that the trolly can pass by, minimal interaction. Few people on the line (<5) only one person is working on the station.

Two people talking on the side sink, one points to me and the other one looks. They have a worrisome face. Line picks up, the two employees break apart. Only one person at the station, another one comes and joins them without even asking/no interaction between the employees.

Very little interaction between employees and students, minimal exchange not even please and thank you.

There is one particular worker which is smiling most of the time to the students and every time she delivers a plate she goes towards students smiling. I now observe one adult getting food, smiling and nodding back at her. Most of the time someone opens the fridge or is around the fridge I observe more interactions that in other places in the kitchen.

There is a clear and very well-defined dynamic in the station. One side there is a station where there are employees, ranging from 1 - 4 workers depending on the line size, on the other side of the counter there is someone who is constantly cleaning their side of the kitchen and is the one responsible for changing the empty pots of food in the front stage.

Around 7pm: Peak hour at the dining hall, the line is starting to get longer more often. Three workers at the station, doing the tasks, no verbal interaction between the worker who is delivering the food and the student. However, I noticed a pattern that every time the employee approaches the student smiling it is more likely that the student will smile or nod or do some reaffirming language back to the employee.

Worker shift. One worker comes in and another one left, might be a temporary action because the line did get significantly longer at this point. Worker looking at me. Some interaction around the fridge is happening, their sync is so seamless that when one opens the fridge door the other one closes, they have clearly been working with each other and know the work dynamic very well.

Whilst cleaning the front stage counters, two employees are laughing and talking, there is a significant line.

The worker which kept walking around in the back is now in the front stage of the kitchen, pointing at things and brining ingredients/food to the station.

Worker is looking straight at me for a while. Then, turns and starts talking to the one next to her. Both of them nod and look at me at the same time, I look away.

Big line two of the workers continue to chat and laugh together, does not seem to be work oriented or task-focused. Station is being refilled/prepared for the line, bowls are being refilled, plates are coming in, and the workers are going back to their position. Very rapidly the methodical order started again. Workers continue in their own station doing their task and delivering food, minimal interaction between the students.

As one employee tried to arrange the bowls of food and clean the borders, a student is trying to pick their food even though the worker is clearly being interrupted by the student’s action. Worker looks at student, student continues to interrupt the worker, then exits. Worker finishes cleaning and then returns to their physical location/space within the station.

Same work dynamic remains, with little interaction. The women which passes behind appears once again and seems to give an order to one of the employees. I imply it is an order because she pointed in a particular direction and the worker replied with an “OK”.

One of the employee seem to be responsible for the cleanliness of the environment, constantly with a cloth wiping surfaces and cleaning the surroundings, however she occasionally helps the stations when the demand is high with no request by the workers at the station, very seamless and natural.

No one at station, employees interacting at the back, laughing for a couple of seconds and then resuming task.

Two workers talking whilst doing their task, don’t seem to be talking about some task-related topic because is was a relatively extensive exchange of around 2 minutes, one was more of an active listener and asking short questions, and the other one explaining something. They seemed to be talking quietly so I may assume they don’t want the other employees to hear or know what they are talking about. As I observed them one of them gazed at me and then focused back on her task. Both of them continue chatting as they are doing their job, and chatting very close to each other. Now they set a distance because each is doing one thing - one is cleaning the other one is filling the bowls - but the conversation continues, now they are back together at the station and the interaction continues. Although they have changed tasks and are going a different set of activity, their interaction continues for a long time. It has been about 10 minutes of continuous conversation, eye-contact, hand gestures, acknowledgement/active listening (nodding, “ahhh”, eye exchange) whilst multitasking (chatting and talking). After they stop talking one of them looks at me. Both workers continue talking it has been about 15 minutes which they have been actively engaging in conversation whilst working. Now, the other employee looks at me, talks to her fellow worker, and resumes her task.

Someone walks into the kitchen with a paper and a pen, asks several of questions regarding food type and shouts some names, followed by an OK. Seems she is doing a role check and food check to see if everything is running smoothly or there needs some assistance of any sort. Very friendly and informal exchange - leans on counter, speaks loudly so that all can hear - between her and the workers. Employee walks to the back of the kitchen, reads over her notes, call one of them over, gives a set of order or indications, worker responds with an “ok”, and they resume tasks. Worker with paper exits the station.

Line picks up, one worker makes his way to the station and starts putting the potatoes in, a second worker appears and takes control over the second part of the station, before it got too messy a third worker appeared and started taking the food to the students. Seamless, no verbal exchange.

This was the last long line, workers start to clean up the station and put the bowls of food at the back. As it reaches closing time, the workers seamlessly put things back in order and take it to the backstage of the station, where the kitchen is located. Each individual is responsible for a set of things to put back in place, and they do so. One worker asks for help when carrying a hot dish, another worker quickly comes to help and they carry it together. More chattering between them as they cleanup the station.