MIT Campus Dining recruited a group of students last fall to create short videos sharing their experiences as student diners, aiming to improve MIT's food services. One of the inaugural ambassadors, Michaela Brown, a biochemical engineering major from Jamaica, discussed her learning journey, adapting to dining-hall life, the joys of her mother's cooking, and her first experience of American Thanksgiving.
Q: How did you get involved in the Dining Ambassadors program?
A: Last October, my friend got a job, and I thought I needed one too. When I read the description, I thought, “This involves food, talking to people, and posting on Instagram? That’s literally what I do every day.” I wanted to contribute. The program aims to encourage students to use dining halls and identify genuine issues for improvement. The food at MIT is okay, but it can always be better. Plus, getting paid to eat and talk is a good deal.
Q: What did you eat growing up?
A: I love Jamaican food. On Sundays, we have a big dinner (well, my mom would cook; sometimes I help wash vegetables). She makes rice, peas, and vegetables with sauce, and either fried or stewed chicken. We often eat that on Sunday and maybe Monday too. During the week, we have flour dumplings, boiled green bananas, and lots of plantains. When my mom is on a health kick, she boils everything, but fried plantains are way better! She also makes ackee, our national dish, often served with saltfish or mackerel in coconut milk.
Q: What was your first project for the ambassadors program?
A: I made a video about Thanksgiving. I was excited because it was my first American Thanksgiving. As a kid in Jamaica, I saw it on TV. I wanted to show the experience from a fresh perspective, especially for students who don’t normally celebrate it. I brought friends along, and luckily everyone enjoyed the food. I wanted to highlight the Thanksgiving cuisine like mashed potatoes, turkey, jelly, and ham, as I thought New Vassar did it well.
Q: What have you done since then?
A: I usually take pictures in the dining hall and post them on Instagram. Another major event was the global Olympics, where each dining hall had a special theme. My favorite was Baker because I love their burgers. I told my friends they had to try it; many of the cooking staff are Haitian and know how food from Haiti and Jamaica should taste.
Q: Do you like to cook?
A: Not really. The summer before I came here, I intended to learn to cook, but I ended up hanging out with friends and volunteering instead. A few weeks ago, I tried making burritos, and it turned out well! It’s just hard to find the time.
Q: When you're posting, who do you imagine is looking at it?
A: My friends and my mom. I try to make sure my content is understandable because my Jamaican patois sometimes slips out. I also think about how the people I interview want to be represented since this isn't their job. I aim to make the experience enjoyable for them.
Q: What have you learned doing this work?
A: Approaching strangers to ask for permission to record is new to me. I’ve learned a lot about people. This job has prepared me for social interactions and dealing with those who might not want to talk, which is a valuable skill set I now have. I feel like a YouTuber!
Q: What dining stories do you want to tell next?
A: I’m not sure. Dining experiences differ for people. For me, sometimes eating is about gathering with others, but sometimes I prefer dining alone to unwind. Maybe I’ll do a day-in-my-life dining story next and go for breakfast at a dining hall, although it means waking up earlier, but I’m willing to try.