this should probably be filed under "why i love my unisg classmates" which i probably should have started from the beginning of my blog.
a little background: in a recent whirlwind of a weekend trip to california to celebrate my sister's graduation from college, i encountered a bit of culture shock. in retrospect, it was welcomed. aside from the fact that i was ecstatic to see my family again - to have us all be together - and beamed a goofy smile whenever i thought about surprising my sister by arriving a day early - so proud of my little jessypoo - i was a little nervous going. not knowing what i'd feel about being back on american soil after four months in europe was a little daunting - especially since i've been adamant about not going there for our two month internship and seriously considering staying in europe after the program is over. i was thrilled to see and hug my parents, the surprise was successful, and i was finally able to personally congratulate my brother and beth on their engagement. i was spoiled in an american mall, popped keystone lights, tested and applied my recently acquired food-knowledge in delicious restaurants, was reminded of how cute american boys are, ate as many avocados as i could, drank a portsmouth-reminding-favorite hot n' dirty, ate an american-necessary bacon egg and cheese on a toasted fresh bagel, laughed with my family, ate sushi and filled up on scallops, and enjoyed the warm california weather. i was happy there. but then again, i can usually picture myself living wherever i am. i think i adapt well to new situations and places. i was sad to leave my family. but then again i knew i would be happy to return to our little bubble of colorno just as i always am. the 63 hours in california and the 37 hours traveling would soon seem like a blurry dream with tagged reality-reminders on facebook.
talking to my family, my sister's friends and their parents about italy and the program, i was able to describe, and clarify for myself, what i have been doing for the last four months. but the €20,000 question still arose, "what are you going to do with it when you graduate?" i shrug as i list the unlimited possibilities. so what really am i supposed to do for our two month internship? paolo looked at me as if i were crazy as i suggested working on a spicy pepper plantation in argentina, thailand or tunisia, traditional wild boar hunting at the borgo santo pietro in tuscany, making vodka in poland or new zealand, working at the boqueria market in barcelona, interning at the instituto espanol de gastronomia, or even mussel farming. mmmmussels. realistically, i'd love to do something with food photography and styling, working with compiling cookbooks and researching recipes. i've also always been interested in traveling, food writing, hospitality and tourism and thought maybe i could work an eco-slow-friendly hotel that promotes sustainable tourism.
throughout my long travels this weekend, i had plenty of time to read a book for homework, food rebellions, written by one of our visiting professors, eric holt-gimenez (co-written by raj pattel who's blog i've browsed thru before - interesting) it was confronting, informative, realistic and depressing - a recommended read. a compelling analysis and documentation of the global food crisis, it made me wonder what am i supposed to do with this food-related degree. how would food photography save the world? if i got a job at the UN or the World Bank, how assertive are my own opinions to make a difference or would i get sucked into the corporate hierarchy and be completely useless like the book claims the highly-structured organizations are, despite their should-be apparent influence in the world. there's something discouraging about participating to ultimately, perhaps, feel worthless, but confusing for not knowing what to do with such tremendous power with the ability to choose and influential, informative knowledge. as much as we have learned about the importance of the global food crisis and its detrimental effects on the world populations and environment, and as much as i would like to think that i could, or at least should, i can't save the world.
so, after a long discussion with a few classmates last night, sitting outside on a typical colorno warm mosquito-y summer night, sipping a cold, small glass of grappa and sharing a creamy gelato, my body high on overwhelming jet-lag and everyone still pumping from the excitement of the italy-paraguay tie, i'd like to share this quote i woke up to this morning from catherine, who writes, "the conversation tonight about doing the right sort of internship made me think about this quote i had read from, of all people, roger ebert, about how the best thing we can do is to make ourselves happy first and then other people. self serving perhaps, but i think he's right." i absolutely love it.
"I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world." - roger ebert.
No comments:
Post a Comment