Phew! What a whirlwind. I can't even begin to explain how stressful this week was. My practical exam consisted of the following three course menu:
A Mother's Day Brunch
Deep Fried Oysters with Wild Garlic Aioli & Radish Crudite
Bacon and Poached Egg Caesar Salad with Pickled Beets on Garlic Bruscetta
Rhubarb & Ginger Bakewell Tart with Softly Whipped Cream
Of course the stress wasn't just because of the practical exam (of which I chose oysters.. 12 of them.. and I didn't realize how long it took me to shuck them), it wasn't just because of the set of 3 exams during the Friday, I also decided to extend my visa to stay in Ireland another 5 weeks and had to absorb the emotional turmoil that plagued my indecisive self.
On the one hand, I knew that if I stayed I would get the benefit of attending a 2 week Business of Food course and more time to delve into the aspects of the food scene I didn't get to while on the course. Would I also sacrifice my relationship to stay longer? How would it affect my connections in Canada.. Did I even have money for this!? etc.
I had to wait until I finished writing the exam before I could quickly run out, catch a ride with my friend Eric from the course and get a lift to the closest down, Midleton so that I could beg the Immigration Officer to let me stay.
He did.
I quickly took a taxi back to the school, got dressed for our 'goodbye' party and the rest was history. 12 weeks of hard work and play.
Goodbye Ireland.
You've been so good to me the past 5 months. Somehow I've become more feisty and ambitious as well as open-hearted and generous. I've learned to laugh at my mistakes, not be ashamed dreaming big and met true mentors whom I can also call friends. All I can hope is to do you proud and help create a world where truly caring about food from soil to seed to the stove is no longer seen as elitist but a fundamental human right that can help heal and free human kind.
I'll miss you.
