Feeling overwhelmed and burdened, I decided to go for a late night turtle walk nearby with a friend for some fresh air which I badly needed. We ended up at Mayon Restaurant in Deira, Dubai, UAE, a familiar haven of Filipino comfort foods.
The restaurant was filled with the warmth of camaraderie, and my friend's impromptu singing performance added to the lively atmosphere. I sang, too, like nobody was watching, as if I were not out-of-tune. It was good for my lungs. Stress reliever, too.
Our peaceful dining experience was interrupted by a group of networkers eager to share their business opportunities. While I appreciate their enthusiasm, it's disheartening to have a meal disrupted by sales pitches.
To find solace, I turned to our foods. I ordered mussels with butter and garlic which is good for my thyroid as a decade ago, I suffered from hypothyroidism. Mussels are rich sources of of selenium, iron and iodine, all nutrients essential for normal thyroid function and hormone production. Selenium is highly concentrated in the thyroid gland.
I missed calderetang Batangas but this one had extenders -- potatoes and carrots -- but yes, delicious. Beef contains no carbohydrate so it has no glycemic index and fits easily into a low glycemic diet.
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Avocado juice is packed with fiber and a mere 4 grams of carbohydrates. Unlike most fruits, avocados contain no naturally occurring sugar, making them a blood sugar-friendly choice.
With my health issues I am now choosy on what I eat and drink (except coffee -- I cannot totally avoid it, but just reduce the number of cups I take per day).
Foods and beverages have an incredible power to evoke emotions and transport us to different times and places.
I passionately moved backward to my memory lane, remembering all good days, all good days, my younger days -- with my mother cooking very delicious calderetang Batangas, mussels with soup and ginger, and preparing avocado with condensed milk to my delight.
As Winona LaDuke wisely said,
Food for us comes from our relatives, whether they have wings or fins or roots.That is how we consider food. Food has a culture. It has a history. It has a story. It has relationships.It is more than just sustenance; it's a cultural connection and a source of comfort.
It was almost midnight. The ambiance was good, cool and it was like we booked the whole place for us.
The hotel officer came, maybe for usual routine inspection. We always saw him on the lobby reception area before. When we went out, with a happy face he asked my friend if dancing and singing was finished. Oh, many Filipinos are known to love singing.
As the night drew to a close, a sense of indescribable loneliness washed over me. Being far away from my very sick mother is a constant ache, a reality many OFWs face. We often prioritize our daily struggles, putting our own well-being on hold. It's a reminder to cherish the present and find balance between our responsibilities and our emotional needs to safeguard our mental health.
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