(Written by a freshman at Macao Univeresity)

Eating is a form of communication between people.  The thoughtfulness that is put into every recipe is evident in the finished product as it is received in joy.   

            The hardships of daily life cause most people to pay scant attention to such things even though the person who prepares our food may be one of the most important persons in our lives.  I’m so fortunate that I learned to be appreciative at a very early age, and I’ve made it a point to keep that thought firmly in mind.

             My awareness came on an evening with heavy rain when I was 14.  I had been buffeted by winds as I ran on my way home from school, and when I got there, I found that I had left my key in my bedroom.  I could get no help from my parents, as they were both busy doctors, and the neighbors were strangers to me.  I was dripping wet, and the wind was still roaring.  Rain was attacking the windows, and I knew I couldn’t stay there, so without hesitation, I ran to my grandfather’s house – a place where I’d lived during my childhood. 

            I still have a memory of the warm feeling I had when I saw a light shining from his familiar window and the surprise in my grandfather’s eyes when I knocked on his door.  I immediately relaxed completely and nestled into the sofa like I’d done when I was a child.  I didn’t stay there long, however, for grandfather was doing something in the kitchen, and he asked me to join him there.

             I was so happy when I found that he was making my favorite casserole of eggplant, scrambled eggs and noodles.  At that moment, time seemed to flow back, and in my mind I was again in childhood and full of happiness.

Since that experience, that noodle dish -  made by my grandfather - has become my favorite food.  I was once afraid that I might lose the ability to have it in the future, so I decided to learn how to make it the way he did.  He taught me step-by-step – from the cutting of the eggplant, scrambling the eggs, and even boiling the noodles.  When I finished, the taste was very similar, but the feeling of happiness just wasn’t there.

             The mystery was only uncovered after some time had passed, as I’d had to use almost all my waking hours to study during my senior three year and had little time to spend with him.  That made every visit very, very special, and one time when I was there, I found myself thinking of how he was getting older.  I couldn’t keep my eyes off him as he cooked the eggplant, eggs and noodles.  I found tears welling up in my eyes.

             When he gave me my portion, I felt that it wasn’t just a normal bowl of food; unlimited love had been involved.

             Eat as much as you can while you still have the chance”, I said to myself, as I tried to keep the tears from falling into my bowl.