Yesterday, I gave a research presentation on the impact of urbanization on the foundation and development of eateries and a national cuisine in 17th-century Japan.
As I was standing in front of the class giving my little schpeel, some people had very amused looks on their faces, like "Hey, it's kinda cool that she's researching restaurants." Others had a "Seriously, is she really standing there talking about ... food?" expression.
The appearance of this latter group reminded me of my guidance counselor's face my senior year of high school when I told her that I wrote my Common App essay about why I love Anthony Bourdain. She seemed confused, baffled and, in the end, annoyed. I've seen this face countless times in my life when I tell people how important food is to me. I saw it freshman year when I was questioned about why I watch The Food Network all the time, and I witnessed it over Thanksgiving break when a family friend asked me why I take the time to write a column about food and our culture.
I told him that I do it for the astronauts.
Before you get that familiar look on your face, let me explain.
Last week, the astronauts of the space shuttle Endeavour enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, yams, stuffing and green beans about 220 miles above the Earth. Before the meals were launched into orbit, NASA gave a press conference in which reporters could talk to the astronauts and taste the food. Mike Schneider of the Associated Press described the irradiated turkey as "slightly stiffer than deli meat, like after it has been left in the refrigerator a week past its expiration date." (Think about that comparison the next time you want to complain about mom's slightly dry bird.) Endeavor Commander Christopher Ferguson said that the astronauts were thankful for the meal and that it gave them "a moment to pause and reflect on just how fortunate we are."
For the astronauts, Thanksgiving was a time of new culinary experiences and an opportunity to come together and reflect. Just the simple act of cooking and eating a comforting meal was enough to lift their spirits.
That's why I care. Food has the power to transform; it can change someone's outlook like it did on the Endeavour, and it can even completely change a society like it did in Japan. Food brings people together -- it is something that everyone has in common. It has certainly shaped me. Food is part of my social life, my family, my day-to-day routine and, now, even my academic endeavors.
The Food Network is a source of stability for me; the chefs use their menus to tell a story that I want to be a part of. My fondest memories involve food, like cooking with my grandmother after school or going into New York City with my friends to new restaurants. Ultimately, I care about food because I care about myself; it's who I am.
This is what I tell people like my guidance counselor or that family friend. Food has changed the way that I look at the world around me. It has given me mentors and role models. It has been a constant source of comfort and excitement in my life, like it was for the Endeavour astronauts over the holiday. It has been my inspiration. Although my life as a 21-year-old foodie may seem unconventional to some, to me, it would be most unconventional if food were not such an important aspect of my life.
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Caryn Horowitz is a junior majoring in history. She can be reached at Caryn.Horowitz@tufts.edu.
