First Experience as a Researcher

Before walking into Venda Ravioli for the first time as a researcher, I had to go through a maze of  Italian dressed people.  I picked a good day to do my research because there was a parade on Atwells Avenue where Venda is located.  All along the street there was restaurants, stores, and businesses set up at booths along almost the entire strip of Federal Hill.  It made me excited to know that there was going to be a lot of action inside Venda.  I had never been to Venda when they had this parade, so I was curious about what I was about to observe.  As I settled into a seat near the door, I was prepared for the typical Italian guidos and guidettes to fill up the room.  I also expected it to be loud and smell like I had entered an Italian grocery in Italy.  I was ready for my first observation as a researcher at Venda Ravioli and could not wait to start writing.

What surprised me? I saw a large amount of people that were just standing around and not really doing anything.  There was less customers than I expected that were actually buying something from the grocery.  I found that most people were just waiting and talking with their group before the parade started.  Also, the workers were standing around because they looked like they were full staff for no reason, considering the lack of customers buying their food.  Out of these employees I encountered the six younger ladies at the register who seemed to be completely miserable.  I was surprised because they were not busy, all the customers appeared happy, and they were getting paid to stand around.  I was shocked at how the people were not doing too many interesting actions.
What intrigued me? As I looked around the room, I realized I had not seen a quarter of the amount of decoration in the room as I usually did.  I was curious if the design of the market kept building over the years or if they always had so much stuff everywhere.  It was interesting to find “hidden” decorations that a regular customer would not see, but as an observing research I noticed immediately.  I was intrigued at how many times I went to Venda and it was only this past Sunday that I acknowledged how many trinkets and art was displayed to give a real Italian feel.
What disturbed me? One of the workers standing directly in front of me in the inside of the huge connected rectangular windowed fridge in the center of Venda, that showcases fresh foods, was texting.  He was working near the deli meats section and had gloves on.  I thought it was wrong that he was not only texting while getting paid, but the fact that he had the same latex gloves on that he used to cut meat and give it to customers.  It must have not been a big deal to anyone else because no one said anything to him, and I wondered if this happens a lot.  Another observation that disturbed me was how there was only one person I saw with a gold chain around their neck.  He was a middle-aged man and had a white muscle shirt on and walked with a lot of confidence, but it was disappointing to only see him wearing the typical Italian gold chain.  Although small disturbances, those are the two that stuck out to me.