The Universal Language

Written by Katrina Liu

In my own home, food has always meant so much more than just a bite to eat. It’s a symbol of culture and values. It’s a way to show an appreciation towards others. When I have walked into other households, no matter what background the person may be, we can connect over the dinner table or over the stove and the steam rising from the pots and pans.

They say that food is the way to the heart. It acts as the single thread of connection between all cultures and beings. Everyone prepares food differently with distinct and subtle nuances, but even with all the contrasts, it is a universal language. Even when there’s a language barrier, food creates a connection and understanding unlike anything else.

A large portion of each culture is determined by their food and the way in which it is prepared. We display our unique cultures and upbringings proudly in the food we make, and we appreciate and acknowledge different cultures by eating the food that others create.

Everywhere you go, whether the next state over or an ocean away, you can understand a part of the culture by tasting their food and watching the way they prepare it in a way that’s so mechanical and routine for them but foreign to you.

Something that the four of us share in common is a love for all different kinds of food. Even with all the diverse flavors and ingredients, all food is made with love and heart. It’s food that people grow up on. It’s like a warm blanket, bringing you back to simpler times.

Food fills us up with happiness, love and joy. It’s perhaps the only thing in the world that all humans can connect with each other on.

Being food lovers, we wanted to spread a sense of joy during a world that is so uncertain, while also making our mark. As college students who are back in our hometowns for a long time, and among a pandemic, we want to recognize our privilege and use it in a way that is true to us. We know that our mark isn’t necessarily a large one, or one that will change the world overnight. But like all things in life, we must start somewhere.

What better way to help than in a form that inches its way to everyone’s hearts?