Dear Readers,

    There is a legitimate reason for fattening oneself up upon returning to China. The indulgence of the taste buds and long hours spent melting oneself in gluttony is perfectly normal.

    You see, nothing in the United States holds a torch to the splendid wonders of authentic Chinese cuisine. I dare say the same can be said about the rest of the world.

    Thanksgiving was but a short while ago and Christmas is just around the corner. At the dining halls at Princeton (and the quaint suburban houses lining the streets in the town), turkey, ham, chicken, mashed potatoes and pies are all selling well.

    However, there is no need to be jealous or even wonder about what you are missing, because you are not missing out. Princetonians and the rest of the world are the ones who are missing out. I won’t elaborate on the pros of Chinese cuisine here, though there are many, but many of us abroad yearn to sit down to hot, savory homemade dishes of delightful sights and smells!

    Of course, the food is not the only attraction; the feeling of home, of togetherness, of speaking one’s mind in the most carefree manner… that is what is missing in the rest of the world.

    I don’t mean to sound nostalgic, but I take this opportunity to remind you all that the moment you step on that plane toward a new life, it is inevitable that you say goodbye to the one you once led.

    Be it physically moving away from home or metaphorically moving on, we can no longer revisit the street vendors for spicy tofu on our walks home from school. Like all the varieties of food they have abroad, it just doesn’t taste the same. So, take my advice, go back for seconds.

    Sincerely, Laiyin