Street Food? Free Food? Yes please!
One of the hallmarks of a college student, as is the true stereotype, is our presence at most anything offering us free food. This was very visible last week at the Indian Student Association’s Indian Street Food Dinner, where many students waited in line for thirty minutes to an hour to get in the door! It was hosted in one half of our Multipurpose Room in our Damen Student Center. Although it cost money for anyone who wasn’t a current Loyola University Chicago student, it seemed as if most there were, in fact, students from all walks of life. Over 400 people RSVP’d on the facebook event they made, but it seemed many more went that had heard about it through word-of-mouth – the fastest way to hear about free food opportunities.
I arrived with some of my friends at about 6:50, hoping we would be relatively near the front of the line. Nope! The line stretched from the room’s entrance through the whole second floor of the student center, all the way down the stairs, and that’s where we waited. And waited. And waited. We finally got in around 7:45, and to be honest we were a little worried if there would be food left! But there was plenty. From what was labeled (I think) ‘Chicken 63’ to pani puri to naan and butter chicken, there was loads of food. Warm and delicious, we were worried our plates would be too weak to hold all of the food they piled on there. Even though the line was long and the room was crowded with people laughing, enjoying themselves, and gorging on excellent food, my friends and I were able to find space at a table to fit us all and enjoy the powerpoint going on about members of the Indian Student Association, watch the line shuffle past us, and chat easily. I wish I could show you a picture of the food I ate, but in truth, I was much too busy chowing down to think about pulling out my phone!
The food was absolutely excellent and totally worth the wait! I’m glad I went, not only for the free food but the chance to see the ISA at work and hang out with my friends. Loyola hopes to see more popular events like this from ISA, and not just because it was free food – we love it when organizations are able to get the student community together and enjoying ourselves!