From the moment I arrived in Chennai, food became part of almost everything I did. I noticed what people ate on the airplane, what I ate while traveling on buses and trains and how food fit into my daily routine as I went to school and spent time with friends. Food was not only something I ate at meals but something I carried with me and used to understand my surroundings.
Each day began with breakfast, often simple and filling, and continued with snacks from small shops or packaged foods I could carry while traveling. I tried chips with flavors I had never tasted before, fresh fruit prepared with spices and street foods served quickly to people on the move. Many meals were eaten with my hands, which helped me connect more closely to the food and the experience of eating it. Using my hands instead of utensils made me slow down and pay attention to texture, temperature and taste.
I also noticed how different places changed the way food was eaten. On airplanes and trains, meals were packed neatly into trays or containers. At restaurants, food was served on metal plates or banana leaves and shared across the table. At home or with friends, meals felt relaxed, often lasting longer than expected. These different settings showed me how food adapts to daily life in India.
Through these everyday food experiences, I began to understand how food reflects culture, environment and routine.
