First day of working on the profile
I had taken my usual route into the Inner Richmond after 4:30 p.m. Like always, I expected to find Pete Dumville at the corner of 9th and Clement. However, this time I didn't mind that he wasn't present at this time. I had better things to do, like getting started on my profile, which I was looking forward to commencing.
After noticing there wasn't anyone sitting at the entrance of the parking lot on 9th Avenue I headed to Green Apple Books for a few minutes. Looking at books always makes me forget my troubles- a good distraction. Some people watch movies. Others listen to music. I look at books. Why? It's a good distraction.
Inside the bookstore, I looked at the covers of certain books, glimpsing at the time on my cell phone every few minutes. Once I noticed it was 6:55 p.m. I headed out the door, and westward on Clement Street. The time was approaching for me to being interviewing the owner of Casa Hookah for my assignment.
Before today I had only seen Casa Hookah from the outside, never wondering what it was like inside. Plus, it used to be Cable Car Pizza before changing to a Middle Eastern eatery. 298
I remember looking into the pizzeria on a Saturday night when I was looking for dinner. It was so quiet that there were hardly any customers inside.
I remember looking into the pizzeria on a Saturday night when I was looking for dinner. It was so quiet that there were hardly any customers inside.
Two tall, young men were outside Casa Hookah talking amongst themselves. I think they were Brazilian because they I asked me I was from Brazil. This was something new. In my experience I have been asked if I'm Indian, to which I have always answered "No."
I introduced myself to the men and told them why I was here.
"My name is Julio. I am a journalist from SFSU. I am here to do interview Saied Amin," I said. "He told me he would be here at six."
"If he told you he'd be here at six then he'll be here at seven," one of the men said, laughing.
I talked to the two men for a while, and ended up finding out that they were drivers that delivered the food from Casa Hookah to customers that had phoned in their orders.
I walked into the restaurant, where the bartender was coming and going from the bar to the back.
I asked a Latino that was working where the manager was. He told me that Saied was on his way and to sit down.
From the moment I sat down, I forgot about interviewing Saied. My mind was at ease. The bad part about doing this was the longer I did it, the more thoughts would run through my head.
The lounge was as big as my bedroom, where as many as 25 people could sit on the red couch. The two drivers I met earlier came inside and sat down, awaiting orders from the boss.
Finally a tall man walked in and stood in the center of the lounge, where he told the workers what had to be done. He wore a black suede jacket. This was Saied Amin, the person I would be interviewing for my profile.
Five minutes later, I was sitting with Mr. Amin on a red couch near the back part of the lounge. The interview was about to begin. I had written down 13 questions in my notebooks that I would be asking Amin. From looking at him at the start of the interview I could tell that he was very responsible. I started off with the basic questions; age, where he was born, and education. Interestingly enough, I found out that he attended SF State, where he graduated in 1990. I spent 45 minutes interviewing him.
Now that I had finished asking him all the questions I had. I shook his hand and told him that I would call him if I needed to ask him more questions.
I introduced myself to the men and told them why I was here.
"My name is Julio. I am a journalist from SFSU. I am here to do interview Saied Amin," I said. "He told me he would be here at six."
"If he told you he'd be here at six then he'll be here at seven," one of the men said, laughing.
I talked to the two men for a while, and ended up finding out that they were drivers that delivered the food from Casa Hookah to customers that had phoned in their orders.
I walked into the restaurant, where the bartender was coming and going from the bar to the back.
I asked a Latino that was working where the manager was. He told me that Saied was on his way and to sit down.
From the moment I sat down, I forgot about interviewing Saied. My mind was at ease. The bad part about doing this was the longer I did it, the more thoughts would run through my head.
The lounge was as big as my bedroom, where as many as 25 people could sit on the red couch. The two drivers I met earlier came inside and sat down, awaiting orders from the boss.
Finally a tall man walked in and stood in the center of the lounge, where he told the workers what had to be done. He wore a black suede jacket. This was Saied Amin, the person I would be interviewing for my profile.
Five minutes later, I was sitting with Mr. Amin on a red couch near the back part of the lounge. The interview was about to begin. I had written down 13 questions in my notebooks that I would be asking Amin. From looking at him at the start of the interview I could tell that he was very responsible. I started off with the basic questions; age, where he was born, and education. Interestingly enough, I found out that he attended SF State, where he graduated in 1990. I spent 45 minutes interviewing him.
Now that I had finished asking him all the questions I had. I shook his hand and told him that I would call him if I needed to ask him more questions.
Thanks for this, Julio. I look forward to reading your story.
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