Evening Snacks at the Mess
MIT stands firmly by the moral edict that A long day's toil must be well-rewarded. (In some cases, even if the long day's toil was just sleeping inside the hostel room or copying readings from the next group in the laboratory.) In MIT, the reward was snacks provided in the mess every evening along with coffee and tea. Even though we have to pay for the snacks, (coffee/tea was free) it was a very useful service that the mess provided to us at nominal rates. In the initial days, it was a coupon based system. We had to buy coupon books from the mess office and buy the snacks against coupons. Later they changed it into a system where we give our name or number to the mess incharge and pick up the snacks while we were charged at the end of the month in the mess bill. Then in the last year they went back to coupons.
The confusion was only in the process. The snacks usually used to be of high quality. This was courtesy M/s Joy Bakery, in Radha Nagar main road, a favourite haunt of many students. Many of the treats that come under the "suddenly decided" or "forced" category used to happen here. Snacks in the mess used to be different on different days. We had Samoosa, Cream cake, Puffs, Coconut Bun, and few others which I do not remember because the named ones were my favourites. In the first year when our batch lived in the Junior Hostel, we used to have the snacks at the NV-mess, while in the other three years, we used to have it from the V-mess.
Like many south indians I share a fanatic attraction to coffee. The coffee provided in the mess was of decent quality and I normally used to have two or three rounds without any shame. Picking up the tumbler full of coffee, I used to linger outside near the xerox shop with my classmates. We used to reflect upon the day's events and ensure that we have all details regarding homework, assignments, etc. to be completed for the next day. The previous line applies only to the first two years. Later, we would sit in the bunds and just discuss anything unconnected to studies and academics.
Some days, we would be held up at the laboratory doing a particularly time-consuming experiment and we would not be able to come in time for the snacks. When we arrive late at the mess, all that we would have was some leftover crumbs and some coffee from the bottom of the cans. In those situations I used to go to a "bajji" shop outside the campus in Radha Nagar. Onion Bajji and Chilly Bajji were my favourites. After a satisfied fill at this shop we would have some fresh juice on the way back.
In the month-ends, when our coupon books looked leaner, we would catch someone who has many coupons and attach ourselves to them. Embarrassed to say no, he would be forced to buy us some snacks.
The snacks time was one of the essential activities on all days, not only for me, but for everybody. It provided a ready time slot for exchanging news and happenings across years and departments. Needless to add, this was also good time for carrying out some "sight-seeing" activity. ;-))
(Posted on 20-Oct-2003)
The confusion was only in the process. The snacks usually used to be of high quality. This was courtesy M/s Joy Bakery, in Radha Nagar main road, a favourite haunt of many students. Many of the treats that come under the "suddenly decided" or "forced" category used to happen here. Snacks in the mess used to be different on different days. We had Samoosa, Cream cake, Puffs, Coconut Bun, and few others which I do not remember because the named ones were my favourites. In the first year when our batch lived in the Junior Hostel, we used to have the snacks at the NV-mess, while in the other three years, we used to have it from the V-mess.
Like many south indians I share a fanatic attraction to coffee. The coffee provided in the mess was of decent quality and I normally used to have two or three rounds without any shame. Picking up the tumbler full of coffee, I used to linger outside near the xerox shop with my classmates. We used to reflect upon the day's events and ensure that we have all details regarding homework, assignments, etc. to be completed for the next day. The previous line applies only to the first two years. Later, we would sit in the bunds and just discuss anything unconnected to studies and academics.
Some days, we would be held up at the laboratory doing a particularly time-consuming experiment and we would not be able to come in time for the snacks. When we arrive late at the mess, all that we would have was some leftover crumbs and some coffee from the bottom of the cans. In those situations I used to go to a "bajji" shop outside the campus in Radha Nagar. Onion Bajji and Chilly Bajji were my favourites. After a satisfied fill at this shop we would have some fresh juice on the way back.
In the month-ends, when our coupon books looked leaner, we would catch someone who has many coupons and attach ourselves to them. Embarrassed to say no, he would be forced to buy us some snacks.
The snacks time was one of the essential activities on all days, not only for me, but for everybody. It provided a ready time slot for exchanging news and happenings across years and departments. Needless to add, this was also good time for carrying out some "sight-seeing" activity. ;-))
(Posted on 20-Oct-2003)
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