Sharing food is by definition a community activity that
either brings people together or at least signifies an act of generosity
between people. This sense of community is increased when sharing food involves
eating it together. Last night an exec
board meeting turned into an impromptu strawberry cheesecake eating session.
Even on a campus with dining halls that are open until midnight the prospect of
food, particularly desserts, can be very exciting. I would argue, that more so then meals which
tends to be shared among the same group of people, an impromptu sharing of food
can bring together people who normally may not interact in social settings.
Additionally, this type of food can often feel personal since it is often “homemade”
or have a story behind it. In this case, the cheesecake was bought for a student
by her boyfriend’s parents when she first met them.
I agree with your point that food brings people that normally wouldn't interact together. I can't think of a bigger example then the Gandhi dinner that we participated in this year. This brought people from all different backgrounds to discuss ideals while enjoying delicious food. In addition to the Gandhi dinner I can think of many occasions in my past were food has brought people together. I also want to make the point that food can also bring people that know each other closer together. Last year our suite would do various things together one of which was a brunch. Each member of the suite was responsible for cooking something and at the end we all got together and enjoyed the meal on a long table. I think situations like this strengthen existing relationships.
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