Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
CAMPUS HANGOUT
Rain tree café
DIVYA KUMAR
Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
HOTSPOT Stella Marians lounge under the rain tree
STELLA MARIS COLLEGE
The Hangout: Canteen area
Rush Hour: During break (10.50 a.m. to 11.10 a.m.), after 1 p.m. and during free or boring classes.
Where it’s at: Outside the main canteen, by the snack and chaat counter, under a sprawling old rain tree and facing an open grassy field.
What’s to love:
The Food:Hot-hot channa samosa from the chaatwala, cool Maa Apple drinks from the snack counter and definitely more breathing room than inside the canteen. “You need to develop a strategy just to fight your way to the front in the canteen during the break,” says Bhargavi. Need we say more?
The Tree: It’s the cardinal rule of college hangouts—where there is a huge old tree, there will be students basking in its shade. “This is the tree under which all enlightenment happens,” quips Bhargavi about the rain tree. “We ponder on life and how stupid classes are.” The Tree of Deep Thought is also the nerve centre of election campaigns and is the most hotly contested banner spot. “Whoever can climb the tree fastest bags the best spot for their banner,” says Krishna Priya. Gyan and gymnastics—that’s one inspiring tree.
The Dais: The little raised platform right under the tree provides the third essential ‘hangout’ ingredient—seating. It’s the perfect place to perch as you eat chaat and introspect, but it also morphs into a dance floor during the extended break on festival days and a stage for special speakers such as Jane Goodall. Can you say ‘multipurpose’?
The Ramp: Need a central location from which to discuss the fashion hits and misses of the day? This is your spot. Far enough from classes that professors aren’t part of the parade, right in the middle of everything else—the canteen area has the best seats in the house for the daily Stella Maris Fashion Show. “You get to see what everyone’s wearing and comment on the fashions,” says Roshini.
What’s not to:
Food and fashion, enlightenment and entertainment… this hangout seems to have everything. Including, unfortunately, a little too much animal life. “Dodging crows that chase after you for the food on your plate is a major activity,” says Roshini. And then there’s the resident Stella tabby cat that’s wont to come rub itself against your legs when you least expect it. But on the whole, the girls are quite philosophical about the menagerie: the crows provide exercise and the tabby provides cosy company, they say. Aw, talk about co-existing in harmony.
Alternatives:
Two words: the canteen. Enough said.
divyak@thehindu.co.in
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
|
