Walking in Two Worlds - this may seem trivial, but a great portion of the memories Chinese-Americans have about home are about the aromas, mainly from food. It's not been an issue until my living situation changed and I went from being a landlord to a tenant - and having landlords who were/are extremely sensitive to the smell of food. It is actually one of the most jarring changes to my lifestyle that I have foregone not just making certain dishes, but even foregoing using certain cooking techniques and even using certain spices in an effort to minimize smells in the kitchen.
I'm not starving or anything, but it's had an impact on my morale that I didn't recognize until today. I miss cooking and eating certain dishes I've eaten for decades. On the flip side, I'm probably eating healthier as a consequence, but there are just trade offs that just aren't worth it to one's soul.
