Egg in nature 🍳
When I think of things that represent my identity, I immediately think of eggs and nature. Why such an interesting combination, you may ask? First, I know how to cook dishes that contain mainly eggs. And second, I thrive in the outdoors. I love hiking, and running while exploring nature.
For many years, eating and cooking eggs have brought me great satisfaction. Setting eyes on the slowly-hardening, frizzling substance, I quake with excitement imagining proteins colliding with water molecules and solidifying into shapes. However, it isn’t just chemical processes that excite me about my all-time favorite food.
I discovered a message during several meals I spent trying to mince eggs into pieces. The scrambled eggs might look messy: they can be chopped, seasoned, or mixed with rice, but in the end, they are still... eggs. No matter what chemical processes have altered its chemistry, the final dish yet retains its eggy flavor and identity. Over the years, I begin seeing my own resemblance with eggs – in that we both retain our identities and characters no matter what. Despite my attempts to diversify the recipes by adding pickled fish, replacing fish sauce with ketchup, or stuffing eggs in bitter melon, no manipulations can alter the nature of the food.
Similarly, although I have assimilated into the culture in New England, and begun adopting new lifestyles and practices while at Harvard, I resolve to add more flavors, and more interesting things to myself, without losing sight of my identity, as someone who loves exploring and going on adventures. Just like how eggs can adopt different forms and shapes, I learned to be flexible in different circumstances and approach things from different perspectives.
Similarly, I also see part of myself in nature. Despite how the Earth has changed in the past decades, and what is going on in the current world with the pandemic, nature remains beautiful and breathtaking. In challenging times or after long periods of hard work, I resort to nature for inner peace and soul searching. I love being on little adventures during my time off from work, exploring new hiking trails, scenic mountains, and lakes.
Eggs and nature remind me that no matter how far I travel or what experiences I have, my identity is well-preserved, and my true “flavor” and inner peace remain unchanged.
