It’s interesting what the heart longs for when far away from home. Past lovers, favorite foods, a drive down a familiar road… for me it’s my past career. At 23 I went to dinner at Asia de Cuba, a high end and hip long standing restaurant in West Hollywood nested on the bottom floor of the Mondrian Hotel. Dinner that night was filled with laughter and fabulous food and after we were done I sat on their beautiful patio with the lights of LA twinkling behind me and spoke with their Beverage Manager about his role in the restaurant- I thought to myself during that conversation that I wanted his job one day…. 6 months later I was Asia de Cuba’s Beverage Manager. I worked hard to get the job- I was young and inexperienced, but my heart was 100% in it and Jan the Food and Beverage Director saw in me the drive. He took a risk and gave me the position and with his guidance I soared. My time spent venturing within the lines of their Wine List and the walls of their Liquor room became the anchor of my career. I was around beautiful people and celebrations every night, I got to taste wine every Thursday when my vendors came in, I got to experiment with wine pairings, I had control on the Cocktail and Wine List, and my most favorite—I got to train my staff and be trained by them about the wine that we served. Until 27 when I came to Florida the Culinary and Beverage world was my world – I miss it. I will forever be thankful to Jan for taking the risk with me—to see past my youth, to see my passion.
During our first few weeks here there was a girl at the clinic that always caught my eye. She seemed to be involved in everything that happened at the center—from unloading the supplies to passing out the clothes that we brought- she was always there bossing people around and generally making my job easier. She spoke no English and I very little Creole but we formed a bond. Her name is Meyome. Language barriers were broken down little by little as we spent more time together I learned that Meyome was 20 and was living with her sister in one of the tents behind the clinic. She had been living with her mom and working before the earthquake, but her mother was crushed in the rubble and she lost her job. But here she was, still an amazing girl, still doing anything and everything she could to contribute to the world around her. In her I see me at 20. Young, ambitious, yearning to see more of the world and all that it has to offer. And yet she is in a place where poverty and access to work makes it almost an insurmountable task— this is my second heart break on this trip. By a fluke I was born into a family that would go to the ends of the earth to support and nurture me while in a country where anything is possible. In my early 20’s I got the idea that I wanted to go into a business that I had little idea about, and I did it. I see Meyome everyday teaching herself English, teaching me to cook, teaching me to do laundry by hand, tutoring the children at the center -anything to help others and herself. But where will this lead? I walked into one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles and started a career, where can she walk into? I would do anything to rescue her, to pull her into a life where opportunity is boundless. Where there is no rubble, no lost mothers and tents. I was told that there will be a time that you have to pull up the anchor and leave, but how, how can I leave a girl like this. I know that she will make the best of the situation at hand, I know that there are many people that have defied the odds and had wonderful lives. I understand the concept of “who am I to say what is best for her”. I don’t. But I do know that she loves the time she spends on the boat, she is interested in everything I do during the day… my computer, my blackberry…. And everyday she says. “Meyome alle avec Sky.” Meaning, Meyome goes with Sky. I swallow a lump in my throat sometimes as she giggles this.
One day soon I will lift our anchor and head west and it kills me. You cannot save everyone, but you cannot help but give your heart to some. Meyome has part of mine- always. For her I wish opportunity, a job where her brilliant mind is put to use, a man that loves her, a stand up shower, a new beautiful dress and pair of high heels— I taught her how to walk in them— and a life out of the rubble. I trust that she will make something amazing out of her life. I wish that I could do more—I can not. I can only give her my friendship, a bed with a mattress while she’s on the boat, one of my dresses that she loves, and the shared love and knowledge of cooking—the language of our connection. Meyome, thank you for the cooking lessons, the laughter, and making me see just how crazy lucky I am. What comes next?
