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Change 03/20/2010
 
Change is an invariable component in anyone’s life. There will always be an array of new people to meet, unfamiliar places to explore and strange challenges to overcome, but no matter what the location or surroundings are, there will always be food. From a tiny newborn consuming its mother’s milk in Russia to an old man in Vietnam chewing on bean curds. Humans need nutrition to survive, and food is the unique solution. Yet though this process is understood and practiced everyday, why it is a celebrated occurrence? Eating has been transformed from a normal to a revered event. Most people do it not just for the sake of subsistence but treat it like a cherished celebration with a host of traditions.        

 Like the rest of the world, India takes food very seriously. Festivals such as Ramadan are an opportunity to give thanks and also a chance to eat. Food is a central part of the celebrations bringing together family, friends and religion.       

 In North America every Autumn, Thanksgiving takes place. Marked as a public holiday in Canada, most families take the chance to gather round the dinner table and stuff themselves till their stretchy pants will extend no more. Though it is viewed as a chance to have a family gathering, the onus is on the food. Turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, pumpkin pie, gravy, beans, and apple pie are set out on the table in excess. Without the cooking it is hard to imagine Thanksgiving.       

 Even here in the small bubble of St Andrews food is looked on as a celebrated event. From such eating-orientated gatherings as the Scandinavian Society’s Crayfish party, to foodie clubs like the VegSoc, it’s an important part of our day. Even meals in halls are a celebration, a chance to hear about our friends’ day, and gossip about who got a little too drunk the night before. A meal is a social gathering that brings us together.       

 Food is more than just a necessity, it is an idolized affair. So why do we take the time and make the effort to carefully prepare our food, and deliberately choose with whom we will share the meal? Food has more than a nutritional value, it has an ability to bring people together, show us our similarities rather than our differences and give us that happy full feeling. 
 


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