On this rainy November afternoon I am finding it a little challenging to decide what to write about. The campus is still beautiful, but that’s hard to reflect on when it’s so gray outside. My weekend, while extremely enjoyable, does not lend itself to a play by play, (I really don’t think you would care about how many hours I spent in conversation with which friends, and in whose dorm room.) In fact, as I sit here, my most pressing thought is that I’m feeling a little hungry. Hmm… food… Bingo! I have a topic.
Any social gathering tends to involve food in some form. It’s no coincidence that a common phrase in the business world is “Let’s do lunch” or that pot-lucks are such a beloved tradition in churches. So how does food play into my life at EMU?
First and foremost, eating in the cafeteria is made enjoyable not by the dishes, (which will never replicate mom’s cooking, however hard they try) but by the friends who congregate around the tables. Crowd around is probably the better phrase; the philosophy of EMU students is that one more chair, one more tray, one more friend, can always be added.
Downtown Options
Of course, there are times when you just long for a change of pace. You then find vehicles, pile in, and head to downtown Harrisonburg. Dave’s is a popular option; who can resist a good gyro? Their willingness to split the check is also an important consideration.
Going out for pizza at Luigi’s is also delicious, but getting seven women to decide what kind of pizzas to order can be problematic (olives? pepperoni? There’s sure to be someone who dislikes any given option). The other challenge is sorting out who owes money to who when it comes time to pay. By the time all’s said and done, getting pizza can become an exercise in both group mediation and mathematics!
Although Dave's and Luigi's are the more typical destinations for my groups of friends, downtown boasts other excellent options. If I'm feeling in need of spice, the Indian American Cafe can satisfy. If my budget is a little strained, Sunday means half-price appetizers at Calhoun's. A three dollar quesadilla makes an excellent main meal, I dare to suggest!
And Late Night...
Some of my best college memories involve fellowship at times that are far from typical meal hours. I have spent many a pleasant evening in Common Grounds, EMU’s student-run coffee shop, with fingers wrapped around a mug, sipping hot tea and getting to know a friend at a deeper level.
Late night cravings are yet another staple of food, fun, and fellowship. I am currently very well supplied with junk food. My mom gave me quite a bit last weekend, primarily motivated by two factors: she was seeing me without being able to bring anything homemade and, I suspect, that she was hungry when she went shopping. Oh, what a fortunate combination for my dorm room pantry!
After writing this entry I am still hungry, if not more so from all this talk of food. In fact, I think I’ll go find a snack and, hopefully, discover a slightly less trivial topic for next time!
