What you're describing is similar to how I felt (and still sometimes feel) about my move to Baltimore after living in NYC for over 7 years. The community I have here is very different than the one I would've had if I'd stayed (in many ways it's more diverse). The pandemic also made me deeply grateful for it.
I appreciated the perspective in this essay, especially the shift that happens when switching environments. I feel the same way about my move to a rural place. Thanks for sharing parts of your life with your readers!
I just want to let you know how much I enjoyed this column. Having moved from San Francisco in 2018, I went thru that same experience. I always went back to what my high school coach always told me when I could not afford the expensive equipment or clothes that some of my teamates could: "the equipment does not make the player".
After a few months of bitching and complaining about the lack of ingredients and great produce, I learned how to embrace what my beautiful, if complicated little big island has to offer. And like you, I savor and enjoy other foods when I travel.
I can so relate to this! I also live on an island (Bermuda) and while food prices are rising persistently, there's still bounty all around that people are just accustomed to overlooking. I have a bunch of local plantain that I had to cut down because the tree was getting weighed down and blocking my driveway (thank you for all the plantain recipes!), a neighbor gave me a bag full of local lemons and green papaya, there's wild mint growing in a field that I wouldn't have seen if I didn't stop and sit. It is essential that I change my food identity to be more than 'vegan' - soon I may just need to eat.
What you're describing is similar to how I felt (and still sometimes feel) about my move to Baltimore after living in NYC for over 7 years. The community I have here is very different than the one I would've had if I'd stayed (in many ways it's more diverse). The pandemic also made me deeply grateful for it.
I appreciated the perspective in this essay, especially the shift that happens when switching environments. I feel the same way about my move to a rural place. Thanks for sharing parts of your life with your readers!
Hi!!
I just want to let you know how much I enjoyed this column. Having moved from San Francisco in 2018, I went thru that same experience. I always went back to what my high school coach always told me when I could not afford the expensive equipment or clothes that some of my teamates could: "the equipment does not make the player".
After a few months of bitching and complaining about the lack of ingredients and great produce, I learned how to embrace what my beautiful, if complicated little big island has to offer. And like you, I savor and enjoy other foods when I travel.
Salud!
Ali
I love this! ❤️
I can so relate to this! I also live on an island (Bermuda) and while food prices are rising persistently, there's still bounty all around that people are just accustomed to overlooking. I have a bunch of local plantain that I had to cut down because the tree was getting weighed down and blocking my driveway (thank you for all the plantain recipes!), a neighbor gave me a bag full of local lemons and green papaya, there's wild mint growing in a field that I wouldn't have seen if I didn't stop and sit. It is essential that I change my food identity to be more than 'vegan' - soon I may just need to eat.
Wow, this is really incredible to hear. I'd love to hear more about it, honestly! What an experience.
There's so much to say - where to start?! But I will comment more often instead of just agreeing with what you write about in my head.
Hi, I’m curious, what about your farmer’s market disappoints folks? It sounds and looks great to me from your writing here and your IG posts.
They're accustomed to more selection and a bigger amount of stuff, it seems. It's certainly much smaller than the Union Square Greenmarket.