My second observation took place in a church. I found it
interesting to observe the behavior of others in a church. I usually sit at the back of the chapel, but
this past Sunday I sat down a little closer to the front. The first thing I
observed were several people yawning and looking very tired. This is usually
the case though. There was the usual child who put his feet on the top of the
pew, then on his mother, and then the kicking of sister began. The look on his
face was one of boredom. I observed an entire family with their eyes down
looking at their phones/tablets. The father looked concerned, the mother seemed
to be reading something, while the three kids smiled and played games. This
family was interesting to watch because I was able to observe several different
facial expressions on each of their faces. It made me laugh a little. The woman
across from me seemed to be very uncomfortable as she kept crossing and
uncrossing her legs. It was as if she needed to use the restroom but didn’t
want to walk out. Many others had a look of content on their faces as they listened to the person speaking from the pulpit. Of course there was the older
gentleman whose head bobbed up and down as he tried to stay awake. They always make
me smile. As I left the chapel and entered the hallway, I noticed two men
standing there, one leaning against the wall with his legs crossed, just like it talks about in the book. He did seem very at ease and comfortable with the
conversation. My favorite observation on Sundays, however, is the man who puts
his arm around his wife’s shoulders and pulls her close with his hand. It
brings a smile to my face, but it also tugs at my heart a little. Overall I
found myself able to interpret more of the non-verbal communication that was
happening in the building. Having read the first three chapters of the book, I
have learned new things to watch for. It’s very interesting to me to just sit
back, watch and observe the interactions of others.
Observation Log: Church
Content
Boredom
Discomfort
Confusion
Concern
Happiness
Love
I know exactly what you are talking about with the yawning and bobbing of heads. Some older people you might expect it from, but I have to laugh because my Bishop fell asleep when the Stake President was there, and he was snoring... it was hard not to laugh and be reverent and respectful. Watching the stake president was hilarious. Wasn't sure if it was anger or embarrassment that caused the reddening of the face, that one I am still trying to figure out. The look of contentment is a peaceful one. I so enjoying watching people who are content, happy, and love being where they are. It makes my heart sing. I love watching the happiness and love shared between couples, I believe I see more of it in a church setting than I do otherwise.
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