MEREDITH RODRIGUEZ
Assistant Living Editor
Where does a people-person turn to escape the infamous Malibu bubble? Here’s a start: how about working at a coffee shop, frequenting the beach, taking advantage of overseas opportunities and driving into Los Angeles to explore the city’s offerings? Junior Lindsay Joiner, 21, gets her people-fix weekly at her Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf job. Even while pursuing a double major in Spanish and International studies, Joiner, a self-proclaimed beach-enthusiast, said she does not let study time interfere with beach time. Life is not just about fun beach bumming for this San Diego native, however. She pairs her zest for people, nature and foreign places with a heart for Christian humanitarian work around the world.
Do you like your job?
It’s fun. You get to talk to people, take their orders and make their drinks and mostly joke around. I’m a people-person, hence why I work at a coffee shop.
How long have you worked here?
I started at Coffee Bean after coming home from San Diego after working in a little, hole-in-the-wall shop. I loved it. I loved the interaction with people.
What kind of Pepperdine students do you see?
A lot of sorority girls come in like after their chapter meetings. Also, a lot of international kids come in. You can really see Pepperdine’s diversity.
What types of Malibu people come in?
It’s really fun because a lot of people who live in Malibu are from all over like Argentina, Australia, Europe and Scotland.
What are people’s favorite drinks?
International students usually get lattes, but the most popular drink is the Chai tea latte in cold weather and the iced mocha in hot weather.
What do you like to do aside from work?
I love doing anything on the beach, from running on the beach, sunbathing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and volleyball. I even study on the beach because I hate libraries.
Did you always live by the beach?
I grew up in Iowa actually, but I was born in San Diego, visited during vacations and spent my high school years there.
What else do you love in Malibu?
I love eating at Cholada. Indian food is really my favorite, but I love Thai food.
You went to Buenos Aires for a year. How did you like it?
It was good, but Brazil is my favorite country ever.
Why?
I went to Rio de Janeiro for New Years Eve, which was insane and really fun with my sister. We went to northern Brazil into an amazing little town with no paved streets. Everything is sand, and all the people watch the sunset everyday. That’s one of my favorite things, watching the sunset over the ocean.
What was New Year’s Eve like?
Everyone goes down to Copacabana Beach — you know like the song, “Copacabana.” And they have like stages set up. The beach goes on for miles and miles. It’s really wide. Thousands of people go there from all over the world. It’s a tradition that you throw flowers in the ocean for good luck and a New Year.
What are you involved in on-campus?
I am active in YIFTU, a new club partnering with World Vision to promote AIDS awareness. March 27 to 31 is AIDS awareness week. I’m also involved in International Justice Mission, an international Christian organization that focuses on human rights around the world. The group prays, combats human trafficking, raises funds and gets people involved.
What is your pet peeve?
The Pepperdine bubble. Malibu is like an island. People don’t get out as much. It’s hard to get out and meet new people, so I love to go into the city and meet new people and do different things. I get bored easily, so I go outdoors, do intramural basketball for entertainment and volleyball for fun.
Where do you go in the city?
I love museums.
Which is your favorite?
My favorite is the Museum of Tolerance because it promotes awareness and prevents history from repeating itself.
03-23-2006
