Challenge 4 (in class): The taste I still remember

52. The subject of food is never far from our minds here in College Admissions. It is a topic of serious conversation this year on campus, too, with the publication of a book called The Hungry Soul: Eating and the Perfecting of our Nature, by Leon Kass, M.D., a Chicago faculty member who teaches in the College. The book takes a philosophical look at what food, eating, and table manners have to tell us about our human estate. Compose an essay about a memorable meal you have eaten. We are especially interested in the details: the occasion, your company at this meal, its physical setting, the kinds of foods you ate, or their preparation. (University of Chicago)

In my school’s dormitory, there’s only one room for 6 people. Students who’ve stayed in the room said that the internet connection, the most important thing to be considered for room choice, was horrible. Despite this, I chose the glorious opportunity to room with four students in that very 6-people room, in 10^th grade 2^nd semester. Five of us were so different: one was Indian, one Bhutanese, one Thai, one Taiwanese, and one Korean.

At first, I worried if we could get along well. But after one fine day, I realized that my worries were not at all necessary. It was after our study hall time in dorms. There was no school the next day, so the five of us decided to share the food and junk we got from our homes. As much as we were different, the food was a variety. We had tuna from Thailand, egg and rice from India, soup from Taiwan, fish from Korea, and Hot sauce with chilly from Bhutan. The kitchen in dorms was so small that it was crowded with just the five of us. We had a crazy time there; students from other room came out to see what was happening and they found us with exploding food from the small pots and flying vegetables in that small, smelly kitchen. We took around an hour to set our meal due to lack of utensils and gas stove. The rice seemed to have too less water, the fish seemed to be soaking in chilly sauce, and the soup seemed to be just a plain egg in water. But we were starving and were ready to eat everything.


As we sat in front of our invented dishes, an announcement was made by our dorm parent that it was time to go to one's own room and clean. It was impossible for us to leave the food that we cooked for around one hour with our hungry stomachs. So the five of us went to the dorm parent and got a special permission to eat it in our lounge. 


All of us took a bite and then started hogging. I still remember the taste; it was amazing. It was something I haven't tasted anywhere ever before. Part of the reason may be the fact that these were our invented dishes but I believe the fact that I ate with these friends after a hungry hour of cooking and sharing fun together with them was the biggest reason. 

That day's feast