"I'm a Starbucks Barista"

This concept of "mushfake" is very familiar to me as of a recent job change. During my sophomore year and last semester, I served as an RA in the freshman Residence Halls. I know this identity kit inside and out and had certainly mastered its discourse. I understood my role as a disciplinarian, party planner, fellow staff member, housing employee, desk assistant, friend, mother, and role model. I knew how to be an RA even on the days when I didn’t feel like it. From lock outs, to alcohol transports, angry parents, failing classes, roommate conflicts, meningitis outbreaks, and unbearable homesickness. I had seen it all and I knew I could handle anything RA related, all while smiling in my red polo. There were many facets what went into being an RA and I knew them very well. I was confident in how I spoke, the decisions I made and other daily job tasks I performed.

Then, I decided I needed a change of pace (and a break from the crazy freshman) so I quit my job and started commuting from home. I still needed to make money, so I applied to be a Barista at Starbucks. I knew learning all of these intricate Starbucks orders would be hard (here is some examples for you), but I had no idea how hard. I was quickly overwhelmed by remembering number of shots, number of pumps, which machines made what, how many scoops for a grande versus a venti, how not to burn someone's bacon, egg and gouda breakfast sandwich, all while doing it with a smile and in a timely manner. I found myself quickly "mushfaking" this discourse as Starbuck's Barista that I supposedly was a part of. Someone would order a drink with 15 adjustments, something like: One tall, extra hot, no foam, no whip, dopio espresso, with a add shot, in a venti cup, two pumps white mocha, 5 pumps sugar free toffee nut, upside down with soy milk. I would smile, frantically look for the buttons on the register to input such a wild drink, and the smile again and assure them it would be out in just a "second." Then, the panic sets in. I don't even know what half of those words mean or where most of those things are. But I take a deep breath, and fumble my way through the order to eventually make them what is hopefully what they wanted. This is my epitome of "mushfaking."

However, I think it is interesting that Gee mentions as his first theorem that you can't fake discourse. I think I would have to disagree, and so would the many Starbucks customers I have now served despite my lack of confidence. Then again, Gee goes on to describe discourses as, ". . . not just ways of talking, but acting, thinking, valuing, etc" (Gee 10). I certainly was acting and talking like a Starbucks Barista, but I was not thinking like one. Hopefully one of these days, I will truly be able to identify as a Barista, but until then, back to panicked-coffee-making for me.