Observations 1 revisited

Observations 1

Subject A is eating with, and talking to, subject B. Both male subjects are speaking Korean. Sitting in high, bar-style, chairs at the tall tables in the University of Utah's Union building cafeteria, neither subject’s feet reach the floor. Both are using their right hands for utensils. Both are wearing black-rimmed, wire-framed glasses.

Subject A.
Sitting cross-legged; ball of left foot placed on the crossbar of the chair, toe pointed down. Right leg, approximately one half-way down the calf, is placed on the left thigh, just behind the left knee. Occasionally, the right foot shakes. His back is straight, pivoting from the hips, he leans slightly forward with both elbows on the table.

Eating from a Tupperware-style container, he grips his plastic fork at the farthest end of the handle, so the end disappears within his grasp. His head drops, to almost parallel with the floor, each time he goes to load his fork for another bite.

A quiet voice, barely audible from 7 feet away. Hand gestures are subtle and smooth while talking and eating. Smile fades in and out with changing conversation.


Subject B.

Sitting with both feet on the table’s crossbar, periodically shaking both feet. Both legs are flat on the chair in relatively similar positions. Back straight, vertical or against the back of the chair.

Eating from Styrofoam container, he grips his chopsticks approximately 4/5 the up toward the end, leaving about 1” visible behind his hand. Head drops slightly, mostly eye movement, to load his chopsticks for another bite.

A bit more audible than Subject A, but still too quiet to hear tone and voice inflection. He has a permanent half-smile the entire conversation and most remarks are in response to Subject A’s lead remarks. Very few hand gestures, occasionally sitting on his hands.

Observation lasted approximately 35 minutes. A third man came and joined them (his back to observer) briefly. Subjects A and B promptly gathered their belongings and they left together. Soft, inaudible conversation continued as they left the building.