Weeks ago, I went home to Monroe, Louisiana for the first substantial period of time since my twenty-four drive from my childhood home to my current home. I had the privilege of celebrating my brother’s graduation from high school and subsequently traveled to Philadelphia to celebrate my sister’s graduation from UPenn. “Is it fair to have that much joy in one family in a week,” someone remarked. We laughed because no comment (joking or not) could end our residency on Cloud 9.
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Just shy of two weeks later, I turned 27. Celebrating over a meal, first dessert, and then second dessert with my long-time best friend and almost birthday twin (@lfierstein530). Subsequently indulged in my first Indonesian meal with ten of the friends in Philadelphia (some new, many old) who I feel lucky to know and even more lucky to call my dearest friends.
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Witnessed my darling Krupa marry the love of her life and then spent 24 hours at the best old place of all. It’s weird (incredibly weird but in an amazing way) to be at your alma mater with all of your best friends; to dance until 2 AM; to sing our old favorite songs; to eat Halo Pub ice cream; to explore the building where we cried over organic chemistry problem sets; to have the in person conversations that make our phone conversations seem inconsequential.
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So now I’m 27: one week out from the end of intern year and one week out from the end of my first year as a physician. 26 brought me surmountable challenges and subsequent strength. 26 brought me a new home. 26 brought me a career that I am still (and hopefully will always be) excited to have.
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“What do you wish for this year?” someone asked. I hesitated in response to this question. In the past I had answers like: “I want to get into medical school” or “I want to match well this upcoming cycle” or something of the like. Delayed gratification was my mantra. I’ve become acutely aware of how important it is to make the moves to create the future one deserves, but to also do ourselves the favor of enjoying the time and space we occupy now.
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And so I answered: “I wish for more of this. Everything I’ve wanted, I already have.”
#ajibikecooks: plantain x mango salad, eba and ewedu, eba and stew, corn beef stew and potatoes, meat pies, spicy peanut crusted beef, and the key to every West African’s heart: plantain.
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Grateful to have elective time to recreate the photo-documented Nigerian dish I served for my 15 of my friends in New Orleans. Planning a repeat meal (perhaps better?) in a week.
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#cooking #nigerian #naijafood #foodporn #ethnic
