The Greatest Endurance Teacher..

Endurance.. courage.. hardship.. ability to survive in adversity, these are just a few qualities required to sustain ones existence in this world. One has to go thorough different and difficult situations before acquiring these acquires these qualities. But for people living in hostels, away from home, face these grueling situation almost everyday. The play ground-- Mess.( for the ignorant class.. its the place where food is served)

The wikipedia defines the mess as: A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat and (in some cases) live.

military personnel!!! people who are ready to face anything...! Hey thats not us. we are students..s.t.u.d.e.n.t.s! It would be total insanity to call what they serve as food. The kitchen, is a scientific research area, and the cooks are last of the scientists from planet Zok. They try new recipes (or chemical formulas) and test the effects on behavioral pattern of young human race representatives.

Once you enter a mess area, look around the faces.. you surely know you are in for trouble. The fun starts with the mess workers themselves (at least in my hostel). They are the most hostile creatures i have ever met. You ask them anything, first you get a frowning look, and as if that was not less they guy would answer in such a manner that you won't dare to ask anything again. Then you look at the vessels in which the food is kept. If its your lucky day.. the food is recognizable, at least one has the satisfaction of knowing the stuff that the food is made of. But sometimes you keep on speculating the ingredients that went in making of the food , till you are at your wit's end. Sightings a worm, fly, new species of insect in the food are not uncommon here. So.. how does one manage to eat????

The trick is to eat in a company of atleast 3-4 people around you. This takes of your mind from the objects in your dish while you talk all the nonsense in the world. Chat about the day, the classes, the profs, the girls, the stupid fat guy sitting on the opposite table.. anything, just anything that takes of your mind from the food. Before you realize, your stomach is filled without even realizing the trouble you went through.

The mess (befittingly called so) has managed to reduce eating from a pleasure to a bare necessisty, and also building your character.!