Visnumaya waxes lyrical

Here is an account on how the GoodFoodClub went at Massey Uni on our first day…

Surprise! Surprise! we arrived on time. Ahead of time. We were ready to serve out by the time specified on the advertising, which is 11am. To be truthful, I wasn’t at all looking forward to this day. Considering the Nrsimha marathon has just started, there was already an increase in the
amount of service for the home team at Gaura Yoga (this is so we can have more book dist. on the street), so for myself and another to leave the GY base could result in a little chaos on our return. My presumptions were correct. There was alot of quick stern delegating to do before doors open at 6o’clock. Lucky the devotees are very co-operative. So often we here the
nectar is in selfless service.

We sent out an e-letter to about 100members, and had some trendy looking posters around the place “GFC does lunch!… etc.”. Biz started off slow until about 12:30. Lunch time. The menu was Satay Veg, North Indian Cabbage Salad (minus the turmeric because it looks a little sick with it), Appla and cinnamon Halava (which was a little too watery), and Cumin Rice. It was an
OK meal. We try to make the GF real nice, healthy, interesting but not too weird. For alot of eaters it is an introduction into vegetarianism, so we want to tantalize their tastebuds with something quite pleasant and visually attractive. Most people will taste with their eyes first.

A few people were pleased that we ‘were back’ from last year. And a lot were very keen to see us tomorrow.

The silver cart we serveout from is fairly styley. It is new, so looks very chrome. The bainmarie is supplied, and there is also a fridge, a refrigerated cabinet and a sink. It is lit up with lamps. We burn incense and Munt FM (the student radio station), blares out their jingles within the
compound. Without the tunes the atmosphere is rather stagnant, so in part it is good.

We sold 57 plates. We were there from 11am until 2pm. Any longer wouldn’t of been beneficial. By 2pm the place is empty. At the end it is always a pleasure to give away some prasad, so we did this for the last dregs. It made for some guaranteed customers the next day. And it was a great sight to see so many young people taking prasad before us.

Financially, yes, there was profit, but very small. Per day the cart costs $90. Minus that and other expenses, leftover is $130- and a huge pot of remnant halava. It is fortunate that devotees serve out of love and are satisfied with a dishing of halava at the end of the day as payment. Unless you are vegan of course, then well, you contemplate on compromising just this once, but decide against it, because you’re too fanatical.

So, we are there again tomorrow. I don’t really believe it yet, it seems rather surreal. I do wish that we can increase the dynamics of this extra curricular dimension of the GYC. I look forward to discussing the possibilities of the GFC with the management council. There needs to be some
delegation otherwise things will get slack. I know on my part it will at least, I need inspiration. It takes co-ordination for a small team to do things proficiently. And it will take some effort to develop the character of the GFC. We have just started. There is plenty of potential there. Uni students are the young generation we so much hanker for; aren’t they?