Gallery Espresso

Photo Credit: savannahnow.com
7/17/2013

            I seat myself in an antique wooden chair in front of a small, round, marble topped table, with the soft melody of a song from the Glenn Miller Band playing in the background. With both hands, I’m holding a large round mug, full of “Savannah Fog,” a warm concoction made with Earl Grey Tea. I am happily ensconced in my favorite corner of Gallery Espresso, and from this vantage point, I can see the entire room, and readily sink into the background to enjoy its character.

            Gallery Espresso is a small, locally owned coffee shop in the heart of downtown Savannah. Its central location makes it a hub for college students and business people alike, all stopping to grab one of their handcrafted drinks. The shop is divided into two sections, with a center aisle leading to the bar where drinks and snacks are made. On the floor, there is an odd mix of hard concrete and old black and white tile—presumably, what is left of the original flooring. While one side of the room is filled exclusively with beautiful wooden chairs and tables, the other, larger side has an eclectic mix worn couches and armchairs. All are antique, and all are upholstered in faded, but still vibrant colors. Several chairs are placed beside a gas-log fireplace, which spreads an air of warmth around the room. One feels warm and secure inside, while the large windows that make two of the outer walls give you a glimpse of the cold, dreary drizzle dampening the oak trees outside. The room is dim, as Gallery relies mostly on natural light from the windows, and gray clouds are obscuring the sun. This drizzly, chilly weather is the perfect time to come to Gallery Espresso—it loses some of its charm in a sweltering Savannah summer.

Photo Credit: eweck1.wordpress.com
4/11/2015

Across from me, seated on perpendicular armchairs, are two middle-aged men, deep in conversation. Their topics range from a comparison of the aesthetics of Charleston and Savannah, to their desire that languages be taught to a greater level of fluency in colleges. Adding to the intellectual air is the gallery aspect of the room. The walls are hung with drawings and paintings—usually the work of a single artist—and it is all for sale. The art generally remains on the wall for one month, and then another artist is given the opportunity to showcase their work.  However, not everyone here is an artist or an intellectual; many heads are bent over laptops, and two young women laugh softly over their brimming mugs of coffee. Here, we have a gathering of a community, a representation of all stages of life, in a coffee shop.

As I finish my tea, and return my mug to the counter, I take one last look around. The swing music is still playing quietly, and the clouds are still dimming the room. I take the sense of warmth and peace with me as exit the double doors, out into the adjoining square. I have been to Gallery Espresso many times before, and I will continue to come, lured by the sense of tranquility it exudes.  

A Major Decision

            My senior year of high school, I was pretty sure I wanted to teach first grade. I loved being around little kids, and teaching children to read seemed like a magical job. I had mentioned this to the principal of my tiny private school, and she found ways for me to assist lower-school teachers during my free periods. I monitored Pre-K lunch, recess for first, second, fifth, and sixth grades, and substituted for our drama teacher for a quarter. I realized that I do like children, but I do not like being responsible for their education. I was frustrated by having to spend most of my efforts controlling the classroom, and not in teaching. Truly, my favorite tasks were assisting the office staff. I decided to abandon the teaching idea, and chose another practical vocation.

        
            I began my career at Armstrong State University as a nursing major. My “first-year-experience” instructor was also my Biology 1107 professor, and I really enjoyed her teaching. She had an infectious enthusiasm for what she was teaching, and it spread throughout the class. Our lab assignment was interesting and very hands on, so I was able to mask my distaste for the subject with the fun of the lab assignments and enjoying a great professor. The next semester was less enjoyable, but I was sure I would grow to like what I was learning, especially when I moved into Anatomy and Physiology.

            The first day of my Anatomy and Physiology I summer course, I passed out in the hallway. From a physiological standpoint, I hadn’t had enough to drink that morning, but from a mental standpoint, I was utterly overwhelmed with the two hour lecture I had not understood at all. I got back up, and made it through that class with a B, because of a dear friend who pulled me through those four weeks. My friend’s passion for the course inspired me, and I gave my heart and soul to what I was learning. The following semester, I began to have doubts about my major choice. No longer in the same class with my friend, I had no borrowed joy in what I was studying. I was also struggling to give my heart and soul to Anatomy and Physiology II, when I wanted to give it to my Literature and Humanities course. That was the semester I walked into Gamble Hall to find out what I could do with an English Degree. This was the first I had heard of the English Communications degree, where I would get to combine the literature I loved with the writing classes that would teach me valuable, marketable skills. I changed my major that same day.

            With my last semester fast approaching, I am excited to graduate with a degree in English Communications. To my own surprise, I have truly enjoyed the technical writing courses I have taken. This summer, I will intern at the prep school I graduated from, and I am excited to use the skills I have learned to accomplish work I am passionate about.