The Runaway Cook

Yellows and golds fluttered in the foreground as smooth shimmering fabrics wrinkled to the whims of their masters. Fluid fingertips painted the edges to an antique photo come to life. As this scene moved across the red backdrop and one Malaysian dinner theater I couldn't help but love where I was and sink into the gentle hums and twangs that made these butterflies dance.

Tonight we through in towel and took a well deserved break from the clang of the kitchen. Instead of cooking for ourselves or wandering through the noisy streets of Kuala Lumper, we gussied up our exhausted bodies, painted our faces, and sprayed a homemade cocktail of perfume and bug spray. Night out on the town. . .CHECK- we are out of the kitchen. Culturally rich main attraction. . . CHECK. . . no double CHECK- Malaysian dancing.

You know, I can't remember if the chairs here were plush, if the cloth napkin was folded just right, I don't even remember everything I ate (which is a real shocker in my food-obsessed case), but what I do remember was the colors, sounds and movements that made my eyes as satisfied as my stomach.

The first dance performed was a welcoming dance, during which women carried large bouquets of gold roses. Golden roses are a traditional symbol of welcoming that is still observed today at large gatherings such as wedding, where you might seem a vase of them poised on a table. Other objects used in this evening's dances included large fabric fans and red lanterns, bells, and even bamboo.

What began as delicate flits of softness, gleams of glitter, and slow boys and spins, soon morphed into fast turns, cool moves, hooting and jumping. I think it's safe to say that Malaysia's varied cultures contributed more than just amazing foods.

This eclectic collection of dances caught everyone's fancy on one song or another. And by the end of the evening we were either moving a foot, finger or head to the melody, or all out dancing on the stage.

You read that right. These clever performers were able to con several of our own into doing the "tari bambu", or as you might know it, the jumping bamboo dance. Most of the class did well at jumping over the moving poles, To see a bunch of American college students try their hand. . . or should I say feet, at dancing Southeastern Asian dances and see the professionals show them up click this link Malaysian Dancing.

I think watching these guys dance was the highlight of my night. . . or well maybe it when the women ran and twirled their fans, or when they danced with the bells on their ankles. . . . or maybe it was when those Malaysian danced to that thumpin' music (giggles). . . whew, cummon! Focus Elizabeth!

Well I can't really pick, maybe you can watch for yourself and tell me which dance is your favorite.

I can’t believe that today was our last day here. It feels like just yesterday I had arrived in hot mess straight from Italy. Today, we are technically finished with our school program, and all I can think is how much I wish I could stop time or at least adjust it to be slow enough to be ready for the next second.

It rained this morning, so much so that they postponed our final examination until the rain slowed enough for us to walk in it. Unfortunately, most of the class was already on our way by the time this news of the delay got out. We were soaked to the bone. Surprisingly, both the identification and the written examination were both very easy to me. I knew nearly every answer on the written portion, there was only one question I wasn't positive about. AND get this! I knew all of the foods we needed to identify. I feel so proud. Sometimes learning all these new foods with completely different aromas, flavors, and uses can feel like trying to speak a new language. However, after a month of practicingthis food language, I wish that this test had been just a little more difficult. I really have learned so much here. I just can't believe that I can cook all these things now!

I have fallen for this place and part of me is sick to be nearing the end. Sometimes I think maybe I should have somehow failed the test so I would have to do this program all over again.

I could definitely deal with another night like our At-Sunrice BBQ. THis school sure does them right. Just as the day started to cool, our whole class filed into the bus for what everyone

had told us was going to be one of the best barbecues ever. . . It was. After about a 30 minute drive we arrived at the home of the At-Sunrice School's founder. This woman knows how to through a party. Her whole house opens up to become a fusion of indoors and outdoors. We ate loads of food, much of which was not Asian at all. The sweet offerings of potato salad and steak made us all feel like we just read a postcard from home. Who knew we had missed home so much.

After dinner every person there, which includes every faculty member of the school we had met, got onto the dance floor. I can't tell you how much fun it is to have about five different cultures on a small dance floor all teaching each other the silliest and "coolest" dance moves from home. If you run into me sometime, you have to ask me to demonstrate the Singaporean "math dance"- very cool ;)

I am sad to leave this place, even though I know we are coming back after a week. I guess I'm just a little sad to close this chapter . . . but excited for the new place and new things to learn.

This trip seems to be going much too quickly for me. As soon as I close my eyes at night they open to a world going 60 miles per hour faster than before. Our days here have been so full and so long, that I've had hardly any time to just exist without the pressure to experience and perform. I guess it makes those few moments, like that one in the photo to the left, extra special. . . Yeah, but I still wish that the massage on our schedule in the next couple days, was today.

At least we all can relax in the bus on our six hour trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia tomorrow. I really have been looking forward to just cuddling up with my blanket and snacking on some strange-but-good asian junk food. . . hmmm Malaysian customs, wonder what that'll be like.

I'll keep ya posted :)

Well everyone, this was my second-to-last, full weekend in the States, and between procrastinating studying for my four finals, cleaning, and preparing for my trip, I decided to trade in the books for my mile-high glossy, strappy black heels. Whoo! It was refreshingly sweet to taste some delicious food I didn’t have to make and dance away all the stress.

After a six-mile walk and a day full of trip preparations, I was exhausted! I jumped into the shower only to be shocked cold. Yes, hot water was out, again. This is an off and on occurrence that I see

m to be very good at hitting. After a quick cleanse, I gooped up the curls, primped the face, slathered on coconut scented lotion, spritzed my favorite perfume- Noir by Victo

ria’s Secret, slipped on a black top with flowing sleeves and lave panels, cuffed white shorts, and those amazing black heels.

Careful not to trip, I flew down the stairs, out the door and into a silver car

with another woman just as gussied up as myself. We found our way to one of her favorite spots, Cafe Nuovo. Just beyond the canal and behind glistening glass doors is a classy little place that serves one heck of a pear martini!

It was about 8:30 at this point and I wasn’t too hungry so I ordered the tuna capraccio appetizer. Tender blocks of rosy tuna socialized with cubes of golden beet, dressed with just enough vinegar and drizzled with basil oil. Crispy lemony brioche, red raspberries, croutons and two small scoops of beet sorbet finished the plate. I am a ice cream, sorbet, and sherbet fanatic, so I was hoping for quite a bit from this below-zero treat. I got what I wanted. It was delicious! Such a light pink color and sweet yet earthy flavor, I suspect that they added a little apple to the mix. The croutons weren’t quite my taste- I’d rather have had them a little spicy. Perhaps ginger and chili, since the plate already had sour, sweet, meaty, oily, and herbaceous flavors. Despite my little criticism it was still fantastic! I love raw fish especially tuna! The flesh is so mild and smooth. It’s meaty and doesn’t even resemble the flavor cooked tuna or fish for that matter. I would highly suggest trying tuna sashimi if you like meat at all. It is tender, blushing deliciousness.

After a quick bite of dessert, (rich white and milk chocolate mousse with espresso ice cream and fruit sauces- it wa

s tasty, but nothing spectacular. The ice cream was too icy and the molded chocolate pot it came in was a little rough around the edges) we headed out to find some good music and dance up a storm.

Sigh. . . escaping all this mess of books, notes, EuRail tickets, uniforms, and research made it possible for me to breathe again. I love exploring, new restaurants, new places to dance, new people, new experience, but sometimes the planning for this giant summer of exploring seems to be too much. I know I can make it. I can do this. I will do this! It’s just this prep-work that gets to me ahhh. Thank goodness for amazing friends, good food, and dancing!