Three Sikhs walk into a coffee bar and order a macchiato . . . No this is not the beginning of a joke, this is what I saw today at the University Zoka coffee shop (Seattle).  I don’t know for sure if the man and two women were Sikh, but judging by the man’s uncut beard, turban, and robe, I’d say it’s highly likely.  One of the women was wearing a burqa that covered her head.  The other was wearing a burqa that included a face covering.

From what I could gather, the man and the woman, with the uncovered face, were introducing the other woman to some sort of “first coffee experience.”  When the man ordered for her, he asked for a macchiato.  After the barrista informed him that Zoka makes traditional macchiatos (i.e. a double shot with a small amount of milk, often foamed), he said, “Oh, well we better not start with something that strong.”  He  changed the order to a latte.

So here’s what this scene sparked for me:

• It is super cool that in a climate where beards and head coverings often appear in association with violence, this type of interaction can happen in a chill and friendly way.  Props to Zoka!

• A half-Swiss half-Californian (me) is in Seattle watching two Sikhs introduce a third (perhaps visiting from another country) to coffee which was made from beans imported from the likes of Kenya, Venezuela, and Guatemala.  It was just one of those moments where the convergences created by globalism thwap you in the kisser.  Also, I am somehow thrilled that this little scene did not involve Starbucks, and their impostor macchiato.

• In this situation it was more important for me to have a sense for what was gracious and respectful towards all parties, rather than a mental condemnation or defense of the burqa.

Related stuff:

Rekon’s discussion of crazy ants, Marx, and globalism (scintillating!)

My synopsis of Appadurai thinking anthropology in terms of flow (titillating!)

A blog dedicated to fashion of Muslim Women (fashionating!)

A thought-provoking post from Reality Check which suggests we use the burqa controversy in France to question gender norms in a variety of cultures (invigorating!)