Finding a Home in Eagle’s Nest
My first few weeks in college were more overwhelming than I expected. Everything felt different and distant from what I was accustomed to. New friends, new professors, new learning space, new country and new habits were some of the many things I had to face. Trying to fit into a new environment was hard and feeling like I belonged in such an immense campus was a challenge. I felt uneasy; a stranger between so many unfamiliar faces. Meal times were dreadful: I didn’t want to sit on my own or have to eat the unpleasant “grilled chicken breast with two sides” every time I went to Carney’s, the only dining hall I knew. I remember feeling so anxious about it that I would skip over meals to not have to go through the same feeling twice a day. It made campus life frightful, I couldn’t bear the idea of living through that for the next 4 years. I missed Home more than ever; being around people I know and love and enjoying food that epitomizes Brazil was one of my favorite things to do, and would now have to leave behind. However, the day I found out about Eagle’s Nest, things began to change.
To a newcomer, Eagle’s Nest might seem like the usual college dining hall. It lies inside the second floor of McElroy Commons and is open from 11 to 3.30pm for lunch on the weekdays. If you’re there in the morning or at night all you see is a dark and deserted room. But if you decide to sit there for a while, you might hear the chugging of working printers in the back, and the pulling of chairs around the tables, as students come by to print out and finish their work. The refrigerators and exhaust fans never stop, but when it’s closer to lunchtime you begin to hear the jingling of utensils, food processors blending and employees swiftly moving around to get the dishes prepared on time. The noises bleed off into the dining hall and become progressively louder as employers prepare to open the kitchen doors.
When the clock strikes 1pm, a multitude of people come together to form long lines towards the kitchen. Eagle’s Nest awakens. You can feel the way the crowd changes the atmosphere of the room: what was once stillness and quiet, filled only with far away clanking of dishes being prepared in the kitchen, becomes effervescent and loud. When students join each other in the lines you begin to hear chattering, buzzing and giggling. In just a few seconds, all you see is a sea of people eager to reach for their food. For a moment it feels like all the rush and hurriedness of campus life stops. None of my worries matter. Whenever I step into those lines I feel comfort and content. I’m not an outsider anymore, I am surrounded by students just like myself; each with their own background and experience but together for the same purpose: lunch in Eagle’s Nest.
I met some of my closest friends in that place. While I had seen a few of them around campus, it was only when we came to Eagle’s that our friendship began. We sat together for lunch not knowing much about each other and immediately clicked once we began to talk. So many things in common between us were brought up: we were all Latin Americans and shared a lot of the same values when it came to relationships, feelings and tastes. Eagle’s was a part of that too: the place we all enjoyed going for lunch, but most importantly, where we saw each other everyday. Amidst our busy, chaotic schedules, Eagle’s became our certainty, our guarantee of being together. Since our first day there, “Eagle’s for lunch” has become a staple in our agenda. The idea of sharing a delightful meal with friends I love reminded me of my culture in Brazil; coming together for long family meals was a strong part of my life growing up, and having that here in BC helped make me feel a little closer to home. However, although the people play a big part in making Eagle’s Nest my place of comfort, it’s the food that brings us there in the first place.
There is a lot to say about the meals in Eagle’s Nest. Each of the three kitchen stations offer a variety of food selections, appealing to the eye and captivating to the scent. In the center of Eagle’s kitchen, is the station I find most appetizing: the bowl station. As soon as I reach the end of that line, I’m faced with an array of vibrant colors, an exotic smell of vegetables and a delectable feeling of excitement to dive into my meal. With options that range from massaged softened kale, to mac and cheese topped with a fire roasted chicken, this station invites you to create a rich and decadent dish. A dish that is unique to each student in that line. I like to think that the epicures of food come to the bowl station, asking for every ingredient on the menu so as to design the most scrumptious meal, filled with flavour and style. I, however, come to that station for two specific ingredients: warm brown rice and cooked black beans. The mixture of textures between the crumbly grains and the creamy legumes reminds me of my mouth watering meals back in Brazil. Of course I wouldn’t go as far to say it tastes as good as what I grew up having, but it’s the closest thing I’ll have. It felt revolting the first time I realized the beans were served cold and prepared over a barbecue sauce. I mean, it felt wrong to Americanize such a popular Brazilian dish: the mouthwatering combination of the flavourful thick black beans stew with the soft and slightly sweet white rice is like no other. I couldn’t fathom to think of having dry, firm beans, but had to give it a try anyway. I was positively surprised. The combination was delightful: a fresh new way of serving a classic dish I was so used to having. The beans were soft and creamy and paired perfectly with the warmth of the rice. It was finally something that felt closer to home, a simple combination that brought me warmth and excitement for my new life here in America.
It might come as a surprise to give a college dining hall so much esteem. Calling it a Home may sound like an overstatement, but the feeling I get when I’m there is unlike any other I feel on campus. Before coming to Eagle’s I felt lost and misplaced, I couldn’t bear the idea of having to sit on my own and taste the rubbery chicken with flavorless sides twice a day. I now dream about my next lunchtime on campus when I’ll be savoring my bowl of rice and beans with whatever toppings look most decadent. I now dream about getting together with my closest friends and seeing an array of familiar faces around the dining hall. The liveliness of the room reminds me of the warmth and intimate feeling I get around my Brazilian family. The rice and beans take me back to my favorite meals and ignite wholesome memories. Connecting with people while enjoying food that brings me comfort helps make Eagle’s my favorite place to be. Amidst the hustle and bustle of campus life, I have found myself a place that offers me a taste of my life back from where I am from. Even though nothing will ever be the same, I feel lucky to have found a spot that makes Home feel closer than ever. And I can assure you that you’ll find yours too.
Digital Portfolio, First Year Writing Seminar 