School Food

The last post on the subjects of both school and food:  The Self at school.

At lunch, students do not have the option of bringing a lunch.  They can go home, or eat at the Self which is what they call the cafeteria at my school.  You get a card that you pay for at the end of each trimester based on how many days you are at school.  They deduct field trips and days you are sick, an unpardoned absence is not deducted.

As you enter the self, you scan your card for a tray and collect utensils from bins.  You can then go get one side dish, one entree and a dessert.  You can also get two side dishes instead of an entree if it's something you don't like, say, for instance, potato puree and sausage that tastes like DEATH.  The side dish place is a salad bar, and is self serve.  The entree section is a counter where cooks serve you whatever is on the menu for that day.   There is usually more than one choice, although on Wednesdays not a lot of students eat at the self because school is over at 11 or 12, so there is usually not a lot of options.  At the dessert section there is also fresh fruit and sometimes cheese.  On the way out you can get napkins, a glass and bread.  You can also get condiments, more bread, and lettuce on the other side of the rotary door which separates the eating area from the food gathering area.  (Side note: the rotary door is not backpack friendly)  When you are done eating, you put your tray with your plates and utensils on a conveyor belt that goes back to the kitchen.  All of the dishes are ceramic, there is very little that goes in the garbage.

I'll post a picture on Monday or Tuesday.  The self is usually crowded and with all of the things you have to hold on to it's hard to take pictures.  Not that I ever remember to, I'm usually pretty hungry, they don't eat until noon or 1pm, which is normal I guess but not what I'm used to.

That's it for today.  Picture on Monday (I wrote this yesterday, I just forgot to send it)