simple things that make me happy

In Green Hall, I share the spacious basement kitchen with nine other ladies in total. However, some of them are seldom seen in the kitchen. As for us the kitchen dwellers, we have formed a very strong bond over recipes, meal sharing, chips, desserts, or just having lighthearted chats while watching some comedies or romantic movies, e.g., Sweet Home Alabama or My Best Friend's wedding.

Green Hall will cease to be a grad dorm very soon, and undergrad will come and replace us. There goes our lovely kitchen and the friendship that has grown in the midst of garlic, curry, cumin, kecap manis (that's mine of course), ice cream, cakes, pies, wine, smoothies, etc etc etc.... I am pretty sad about it, honestly.

Now, everytime I feel bored with my study (it happens a lot), I can just go down to the basement kitchen and often I find some of the girls there. It's kinda refreshing to talk (esp. when it is over food/snacks/particularly desserts) even if just for a few minutes; although sometimes we flick over the TV channels and find something interesting to divert our attention from work.

I guess I should give an idea of how diverse we are. The six ladies who are normally spotted in the kitchen include: one Indonesian Chinese *me*, one Korean, one American, one Indian, one Chinese who cooks, and one Chinese who doesn't cook but always has a great stash of desserts (cakes/chocolates/pies) and... bottles of wines. Though strangely, she munches celery sticks as snacks *duh*.

We use to taste each other's food, exchange ingredients and utensils :). They were very amazed with my super efficient Indonesian fried rice. Actually I was too hungry to make anything fancy--it was 10.30 pm already, so I just threw some ingredients together and voila, i had a plate of nasi goreng for dinner (it smelt divine). The Chinese noodle soup, Korean bulgogi and other meats, the Indian curries (the best!! she's really good....)... have been part of my "struggle for survival" at MIT.

I have to admit that I didn't cook much at the beginning of the semester. The reason was classic: no time. Indeed I still have 24 hours per day now, but I think you can always make time if you want to (and set your mind into it). And... COOKING IS VERY RELAXING!! And the satisfaction you get from eating your own cooked food surpasses everything; although you also tend to eat double or triple your usual servings. The excitement you get from "devising" the experimental meal plan for tonight can keep you going sometimes (seriously...). For example, I can't wait until my first attempt of concocting Pad Thai tomorrow. Okay, the sauce is from "Thai Kitchen" but I am really not familiar with the ingredients (and especially where/how to get them in Boston) so the sauce is good for a start.

FYI, I am not an "instant sauce" or "ready-to-serve meal" person. I am against instant pasta sauce. My Bolognaise always has fresh tomatoes, meat, onions, etc.... I guess concocting them from scratch adds more fun to the whole process, no?

Also, with preparing your own food you become much more creative. You know what to make if you don't have much time (and they are still good). You can see what you have left in the fridge and make something good out of it. Sometimes I am amazed with what I can come up with haha =D

Since I decided to cook again (after having two super intensive weeks that caused pimples and neurotic abnormalcy), all my friends said I noticeably look happier and much more relaxed. Also, I haven't seen any decline in my quality of work :).