Finding Home in Food - Essay Example

Finding Home in Food Since my teenage years, Western food has been a source of great attraction and enjoyment to me. Fast food like burger and pizza had become my favorite since my teenage days. Eating pizza was one of the most pleasurable activities in my young days. I remember going to pizza joint near my school every weekend. Although it was not considered good by my family to have fast food, I used to love it. I was discouraged from going to these joints. However, I used to manage going there with my friends on weekends. My memories are filled with the fun and enjoyment that I have had while going to the fast food joints. I loved the cheese, different toppings and the starters that were all made in Western way. Going to pizza joints made me feel that I was ‘modern’ in my outlook. For me, eating fast food was like being a part of the ‘developed’ world. I used to look forward to going to pizza joints and enjoy the pizzas. So when I got a chance to travel to the United States, I thought that I was going to have the greatest time in my life. I knew that it is the country where burgers and pizzas are found in great varieties and sizes. Moreover, there was no one to stop me from having it. So I thought that my time in the United States will be filled with great entertainment and fun. I thought that I will not miss my home much. However, my journey to the United States proved my thinking completely wrong. As soon as I settled down with my friends, who were from my home country Saudi Arabia, I declared very loudly that I was going to have only burgers and pizzas from now on. My friends laughed and nodded. One of my friends smiled and said “Let’s see!” His attitude was as if he was challenging me. I said “Sure, no more home food.” This statement was a sign of accepting the challenge. So the fun began right from the day I came to the United States. We ordered large pizzas and Coca Cola. As soon as the pizza came, I attacked it. I was holding a can of Cola in one hand and a large piece of pizza in another hand. This was a fast food dream that I was living. I decided to make the most of it. This continued for next three to four days. I was having pizza and burger for every meal. My attraction towards fast food made me think that there is no greater pleasure in this world than being able to eat burgers and pizzas every day. I had thought that fast food is one thing that I cannot live without. Soon I realized that I was wrong. By the fifth day, I started remembering home food. My mind started dwelling on home made food and beverages. On that day, I told my friends that I will order the pizza. I took the number for nearby pizza joint and called them. I went outside my room to avoid my friends from listening to me. When I became sure that no one was listening, I asked the guy on the other end, “Do you have pizzas with Asian toppings?” The customer care guy gave a long “mmmmmmm” and said “No sir, we don’t.” I was quite disappointed and ordered the usual pizza. By this time, i.e. in just five to six days from the time I arrived, I had lost my enthusiasm towards fast food. I was craving for spices and variety in food. Even then I thought that maybe I am feeling home sick and hence, missing the food. I thought that if I have just one dish of Asian food, I will go back to the fast food with the same enthusiasm. However, my heart was saying something else. Fortunately, the confusion between the mind and the heart was cleared very soon. The next day, one of my distant relatives came to visit me. She brought a big Tiffin box full of Biryani, an Asian dish made of rice, chicken and spices, for me and my friends. She said she thought that home made food will make me feel at home. I said it is nothing like that, and that I am quite used to the Western food. My friends coughed to hide their laughter. After all, there was no strength in my statement. They had realized that I was craving for home made food now. However, as I did not want to lose the challenge, I tried my best to hide the truth. Deep inside, I was desperately waiting for my aunt to open the box and serve me what she had got. When it was time for dinner, she arranged everything on the table as it was done back home. We all sat together, arranged the plates and gathered the food on table. The moment she opened the lid of the Tiffin box for serving Biryani, the aroma of spices filled my nose completely. Tears came to my eyes. I instantly remembered home and suddenly felt extremely home sick. I wanted to run away to my home. My mind started flooding with memories of my family having food together, spending time with my mother in kitchen, watching my mother cook my favorite dishes and remembering her serving the food with love. I dived into Biryani instantly. I ate till my stomach was completely full. My aunt had got enough Biryani to set aside for next day, but it was destined to be finished. Late at night, when everyone was asleep, I went to the kitchen, opened the box, and finished every bit of the Biryani. Only after finishing off all the Biryani did I feel satisfied. I realized that my attraction for fast food was a temporary thing. Usually, at a young age, one feels attracted towards those things which are forbidden. Fast food was a forbidden thing. My elders used to advise me to eat healthy food and avoid fast food. I think the idea of revolting against my elders was one of the reasons for my attraction towards fast food. Good things and good advices in life are always taken for granted. It is only when you have to stay away from home that you realize the value of your home. Similarly, the importance and the deep emotional attachment with home food were revealed to me only when I was not able to have it. In a few days, I learnt how to cook. I bought all the ingredients needed for making Saudi Arabian food. I went to my aunt and learnt a few dishes like Biryani, chicken and Kebab from her. This was my way of finding home in food. Food is not just ‘food,’ but it is an emotional way of feeling at home. Food is my source of strength, and it keeps me connected with my family and home, even when I am hundreds of miles away from them. Read More