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The Art of the Third Space
By Olivia Shehadi
Somewhere between class and home, class and home, and, class and home, I begin to forget what else is out there.
Trying to juggle homework, extracurriculars and a social life makes college undoubtedly challenging. That’s where the idea of the third space comes in, to save me from drowning in the Orange and Blue of UF.
First coined in 1989 by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, it’s a place people can go separate from home, the first place, and work or school, the second place. It’s an environment that can foster a sense of belonging, community and a way to distract yourself from all the other things going on.
A Good Coffee Shop
While this is technically school and work related, something about the natural light of Innovation Opus or the outdoor breeze of Curia on the Drag makes it feel more than that. I use coffee shops around Gainesville to channel a more adult version of myself as I try to get the hang of it after nearly four years. Cafes act as places that fosters productivity while fulfilling the need to leave my apartment. A good hot latte on a crisp November day, 80 degrees or not, can almost bring me back to reality.
Boca Fiesta
I absolutely love Boca Fiesta. I’ve loved going there ever since I first went during Preview with my mom, and now, going on year five, it has only gotten better. If Mexican food isn’t your favorite cuisine, any restaurant with a good vibe will do. It’s a place to sit around a table with friends and reconnect. You don’t realize how much you’ve missed in each other's lives until you’ve gone through four orders of chips and queso.
Depot Park
After eating my way through Gainesville, I usually need a walk or two. The Gainesville sunsets are really something else, and there’s something about the sun setting over the Depot pond that always draws me in. Roughly a mile from where I live, walking to Depot Park and through the Hawthorne Trail offer another place to go to clear your mind and maybe even see a baby gator.
Sometimes, all it takes is a change of scenery, a good meal or a walk at sunset to feel a little more grounded. Finding your third space might be as simple as that.
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