Chow Hounding

Every fish lost weigh the first few months at A&M. Mealtime was extremely stressful, what with out other meal service duties, the requirement that we be able to swallow instantly at all times, and that we could only ask for food when we knew each food item's official Corps name before we could request it.

However, once the upper classmen left the table we were free to "chow hound". That meant we could get up, walk around, and pick up bowls of uneaten food from other unoccupied tables. We ate family style and zips often had their own tables and usually ordered far more food than they could possibly eat. The only condition on this "privilege" was that we had to keep our bib tucked under our chin as a big while we were "chow hounding".

We often found entire platters of meat, dessert and anything else we wanted to stuff on. At the end of my fish year I believe I had a net gain of 15 pounds.

Tom (TE) Schoolcraft