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by Erlinda Geronimo Santos (Author)
FORK: An ODYSSEY is not just a travelogue. It's a memoir of the stomach, yes-but also of the spirit. It is a chronicle of coming-of-age by going away. I came home sunburnt in places no sunscreen reached, carrying too many scarves, one cracked teacup, and an enthusiastic belly. I also brought home a few new habits. Like sniffing my food before eating. And saying oishii instead of "yummy." I now inspect olives like I once did dates on a Friday night-suspicious but intrigued. Friends asked, "What was the best part of your trip?" I said, "The chewing." Because truthfully, it was never just about the scenery. It was the taste of the unfamiliar. The thrill of trying things I couldn't pronounce. The shame of dropping a snail, and the laughter that followed. The people-oh, the people-who fed me, teased me, taught me, and reminded me that the world is vast and kind and hungry. Yes, I flirted across time zones. I also cried over soup. I got lost, found myself, and ruined a souffle in Paris while pretending to be Julia Child. But most of all, I discovered something beautiful: that Hunger is not something to fear. It is proof you are alive. That you still want. That your story isn't over. So, I keep my fork. Because dessert is coming. And I plan to eat every glorious, messy, unforgettable bite. "They told me to pack light. I packed a fork, an open mind, and stretchy pants. I regret nothing." Sometimes, I think the countries leave something in you-crumbs of memory, splinters of conversation, the taste of a certain soup that will never be made the same way again. I came home heavier, yes-but not just in the way airport luggage scales measure. My fridge looks different now. My pantry, too. But more than that, my appetite had changed. For people. For moments. For noticing. I could no longer eat without wondering: who made this? Where did it come from? What were their feeling when they passed it from their hands to mine? Travel taught me that food is never just food. It's memory. A Protest. A Prayer. A kiss, a cure, a homecoming. There was no grand epiphany-no cinematic close-up of me at a cafe in Paris or swearing off fear forever. But in every awkward bite and surprising flavour, I found something steadier than certainty: taste. Taste for life. For risk. For belonging. And so, I keep my fork. Because I know there's more to come.
