New Streams of Life (3)
New Streams of Life (3)
I went to Plymouth Library today with my friend and his mother. It was a short ride and the air outside was bleak but quite refreshing. I find, after two years,
everything seems to become so small, my friend chatted with his mother. It is natural for him to have this feeling, after been in China two years, I guess. But
for me I don’t have anything to complain about. I love the miniature of the city centre, and I love the hilly turns around corners. With turns, there are always something to feast my eyes on.
On the way to the library, we went in a pasty shop and my friend’s mother bought us each a pasty. It was warm in my hand, and it tasted definitely gorgeous. Have been here around one week now, and gradually I have got some of my favourite
food collection. Pasty is one, crumpet is another. I don’t know why I love them
. Maybe all because the taste reminded me of some food my mother used to cook.
Chinese food is very different from British food, either in terms of taste or style, and I have to confess I prefer the latter to the former. My experiences in
the past and at present seem to indicate that people in England have more respect for food and husbandry they keep. Well, if I want to eat fish I certainly want my fish to taste like fish, my friend’s mother said at the dinner table the other day. To this I quite agree with her. In many people’s eyes, British food may seem too bland to savour. But I love the clear, simple taste of the food itself, and enjoy having it without been distracted by addtional, unnecessary so-called flavors.
I remember when I was in Shanghai in the past some two years, I seldom had the experience of going into a restaurant without feeling thirsty afterwards. The strong MSG, soy source, or whatever the taste it was, always made me loathe dining
out ever again. And somehow I couldn’t figure out alternatives either. But after I came here, I gradually realize that if you don’t like what restaurants serve you, you can boycott them. You could be in charge of what you will eat, and you don’t need to add abundant additives into your food, if you don’t wish to.
The other day I told my friend that it was a shame that I know nothing about the
diet here. Every day I just have what is served on the table by my friend’s mother. But the good thing is I haven’t had a single meal that I do not enjoy yet
. Sometimes looking through the garden, I felt I am a bit like those scamperingchickens in the garden. They came into my friend’s house at a young age, but now they are about two years old (quite old for a chicken I think). Still, they look healthy, happy, and carefree. I guess they may have felt the same as I am feeling: the freedom of being in the open air, and the freedom of being the way
you are, let it be in terms of food or any of other kinds.
January 29th, 2007
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