Eager to Gain Weight

 

China has always advocated for the concept that "Food is the first necessity of man". Since I set foot on this land on September 11, 2017, I have lost ten pounds. I look like a disaster. The reason is obvious. I'm not used to the diet in this country. However as a new immigrant, I have no choice but to adapt to it. If I can ignore the effects of the food preservation, adapt to the new environment and local tastes, I’ll be able to increase weight.

American ingredients are generally refrigerated, but only few are refrigerated in China, so I am not used to refrigerated food. Sometimes refrigeration can alter the taste of food and make it become less palatable. In the U.S, many foods are refrigerated in supermarkets, especially meat, which is maybe refrigerated for a few days. In China, people usually buy vegetables which are picked and meat slaughtered on the same day in farmers’ markets. Farmers’ markets are everywhere, even in big cities, so people are used to buying foods every day. In general, people will finish eating it that day. It’s hard to find farmers’ markets in the America or maybe they are far away from where I live. I know it’s important to take things as they come. Since this fact cannot be changed, I have had to use different cooking methods to make the food more delicious. When I cook now, I think about my mother who lives in China. Every day she goes to the market to buy fresh meat and vegetables and makes a good table of dishes, and then she is praised by the whole family. But it's just wishful thinking even if I am longing for it every day.

I don’t know much about the American geography and food culture, so I haven’t found many restaurants that suit me. For me as a new immigrant, when I am out, I can find many fast food restaurants on both sides of the road that are basically high-calorie, such as McDonald's, Dunking Donuts and Subway. Chicago has amazing restaurants that are not fast food, but I'm not familiar with these places so far, so I can't find a restaurant that suits me better. Therefore I need to go back to Chinatown to eat, so I waste a lot of time and I have been starving for a long time. The United States is an immigrant countries so people from different countries and nationalities have brought delicious and healthy food culture, so I need to explore the city and find them. In addition, the language barrier also affects my eating habits. When I eat in American restaurants, I don’t know how to describe or order food. Finally, I have to point awkwardly at the menu and say “I want this one, this one and that one”. I believe I can taste these food in the near future instead of fast food or Chinese food, then I won’t have to go hungry and I can fill up quickly and enjoy the delicious food.

 

 

The above two aspects are troubling for new immigrants, but I believe I have the confidence to overcome. It is just a matter of time. Though America has a variety of national cuisine, as a Chinese people living in China for more than thirty years, Chinese food is the first choice and I have a particular nostalgia for it, especially the Dim Sum culture. I come from Guangdong China. I like the Dim Sum culture, but even in Chinatown, it is not authentic. The taste is still a little different. In order to adapt to the local diet, the taste will change. There is less variety of Dim Sum in America and the taste is slightly sweet. It's hard for me to find a more authentic Dim Sum restaurant, even if the Dim Sum is well-cooked. If people go into the restaurant in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, to eat breakfast, they will feel they are eating into the gourmet paradise. The food is varied and dim sum is exquisite. I miss the food there very much, because it gave me an appetite. I believe that in the near future, the chefs here will be more and more outstanding, professional and make more authentic Dim Sum food. Then I will have a great feast. 

The difference between Chinese and American people's eating habits is a fact. I need to adapt to it. It is similar to the amphibians. Larvae live in water, and after metamorphosis, adults can adapt to land life. People who come from distant China to America are the same, and they encounter a lot of difficulties. Diet is one of the aspects that people should overcome and find better ways to adjust to. At last, not only will I need to gain weight, but I will look healthier.