Back Metro Plus Bangalore Chennai Coimbatore Delhi Hyderabad Kochi Madurai Mangalore Pondicherry Tiruchirapalli Thiruvananthapuram Vijayawada Visakhapatnam
CAMPUS HANGOUT
Camaraderie at the courtyard
OLYMPIA SHILPA GERALD
Chit chat Cool respite
MAM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
The Hangout: Courtyard facing the mini canteen
Where's it at: At a convenient distance from the classrooms and the main canteen.
Rush Hour: Lunch and tea breaks and whenever they ‘are chased out of class' as one student puts it!
What's to love: A spacious yard dotted with trees. Plenty of cool breeze and enviable shade. Food and drink at arm's length. And, regular supply of milky hot chocolate.
No wonder, this hotspot facing the mini canteen is favoured by students who drop in for chit chat over steaming cups of tea after lunch, the only time they get respite from crammed time tables.
No prizes for guessing the hottest topic here then - world cup football, of course. Post match analysis happens here every day and makes for interesting eavesdropping! While Jeeva is upset over the early exit of Italy and France, Valentina is disappointed with the performances of Brazil and Argentina.
The discussion takes an interesting turn- stars vesus teams. “We brand teams as great teams only because they have star players,” says Jeeva. But Valentina does not agree easily. “Brazil and Argentina have been among the best teams for ages. It is the team not individuals that contribute to the ‘greatness quotient'.”
“Aha! Pele was the chief reason for Brazils' fame and Argentina basked in Maradona's glory,” Jeeva chimes in triumphantly.
Before Valentina can come up with a repartee, Heena pitches in, “But it is not so in cricket. Sachin is hailed by many as the best player, but no one says India is the best team because of that.” As they nod in agreement, the conversation flows on to other subjects- new projects, quirky experiments, higher study options and even job prospects. The hostellers in the group are already making plans for the evening- movie or match, the debate goes on.
What's not to: This hangout is favoured not just by students. Monkeys are a menace here. If you are not too careful, you might find your packet of chips whisked away by one of these chattering creatures! “Last evening, one monkey ran off with my friend's toothpaste. Guess it has decided to start brushing. ” grins Basheer.
Alternatives: The main canteen during lunch breaks; the college portico and the corridors adjacent to the classrooms for catching up with friends between classes.
© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu