Free Lunch

According to conventional wisdom, there’s no such thing. This is true and not true. This four-day course for some 50 teachers didn’t cost them a penny. Well, they had to pay for their actual lunch, but this opportunity to satiate their appetite to become better teachers, better musicians and better humans was entirely free, courtesy of Tatui Conservatory. 

 

Given an earlier experience I had last year in the good ole U.S.A., I was worried about that. In that 7-day course that was free to the 38 students registered, only 2 came to every class and most to just a few. I concluded that without having to pay anything, people were not as invested in it and would be more casual about showing up. And that was true.

 

But not in Brazil. Almost everyone came for every session of the four days. What does that say about us Americans? That we think everything is due to us and we don’t have to even show up if we don’t feel like it? Or that our appetite is puny because we are told we’re already great and awesome when in fact we’re not even close? That we take opportunity for granted and don’t give it the true value it’s due? 

 

Well, maybe. But not so the Brazilians. But as I told them, the course was free, but they had to pay something. They “paid” by showing up, by paying attention, by bringing the whole of their mind, body and heart to each and every venture. They agreed without hesitation to sample all the dishes in each day’s smorgasbord of new foods and tastes and textures. They showed curiosity about how they might cook it in their own kitchen with their own spices and ingredients. Of course, they helped out cleaning up after each lunch and expressed sincere appreciation for the master chef. They stepped up whenever he (me) needed a sous chef to do something they could do better than him, helping make a delicious and nutritious meal yet more tasty and healthy. 

And none of it felt like a grand effort because it was all so much fun and the fellow diners were so convivial. It was a small price to pay for their free lunch, but I for one, appreciated all their sincere efforts. And am happy that it was open to everyone and no one was excluded because of financial limitations. 

 

I write this from the airport en route to Brasilia, leaving at 11:00 pm, arriving 12:30 in the morning and teaching from 9 to 5 the same day to 50 more people eager to partake of the meal. My own price to pay for offering the food that sustains, connects, brings pleasure to whoever shows up. 

 

So farewell to Tatui, a quaint small town with brutally bumpy roads, lovely plaza-parks, impressive restaurants and an amazing gelato place. (I had lime-basil). On to a city I’ve never been in, without the slightest idea of what to expect. Except for the people seated at the table eager and ready to enjoy the meal.