When I think of Harvard, one of the first things that comes to my mind is our dining hall, or d-hall, culture. Asking a friend to “get a meal” is a social staple on campus. Wanting to make a new friend? Get a meal. Have to debrief a horrid test? Grab a meal. Going on a first date? Grab a meal. Well, that last one is a little unfavorable. Non-romance aside, eating with others at our dining halls is how I made some of my closest friends on campus.

I grew up thinking about meals as sustenance, not too much of a social thing. Of course, I’d eat lunch with my friends at high school, but it was different. At night, I’d eat with my family, or even go to my grandparent’s house and eat with cousins, aunties, uncles, everyone that I loved. Food is a very important part of my life and how I celebrate with others. One of the first things that I think of about home is the food and the social aspect of eating with others in Hawai’i.

Coming to Harvard, I didn’t know anyone. Figuring out the dining system and the social structure of being in Annenberg, Berg for for short, quickly became something on my mind. I still can recall what it was like in Annenberg those first few months of my first year. So many “Harvard introductions” were said during that time. Instantly, I felt like I knew everyone else in my class, even if that wasn't true. What stood out to me during those times were the people who were so welcoming. If I was eating alone, there would always be someone going up to me and asking “can I sit?”, and instantly we’d get into a good conversation. I would do the same as well, taking the initiative.

Being able to eat at Annenberg in my first year, I would look at the stained glass, in awe that I could eat in a place as beautiful as it. I am definitely grateful that I was able to get to know my fellow first years while eating there. Now, I know so many friends in so many different houses. My social life isn’t just limited to others in my house, but very interconnected with the rest of campus. It’s nice to have an outlet for when I want to make new friends, and go somewhere new. I have been able to eat in all of the other dining halls, taking in their atmosphere. Even though everyone is randomly placed into a house, they all have their own unique atmosphere.

Ultimately, I still go to the dining hall and plan meals with friends. Some of them, we’ve been doing that since our freshman year and are happy to keep our meal traditions across our years. It feels sentimental. I’m so happy that eating became such a social activity, and is such an identifiable quirk of Harvard.

I will definitely be leaving Harvard with such amazing memories of our dining hall culture. Who knew that it could have such an impact on my life?