A few weeks ago Binu, a friend in the program, suggested I try a street vendor who sells b\u00fan th\u1ecbt n\u01b0\u1edbng<\/em> outside our dorm early in the morning. Eager to switch up my breakfast routine I wandered out of Bach Khoa early around 7:30am. I waited in line for a few minutes and when it came time for the vendor to make mine, she pulled out an old pair of kitchen scissors and went to work cutting lettuce and slicing spring rolls. Suddenly in a world full of unfamiliar utensils and food preparation methods, I felt at home standing on the street watching her skillfully use scissors to fill a to-go container with lettuce, herbs, and bean sprouts; then piling it high with rice noodles, fried spring rolls, grilled pork and finally garnishing it with pickled carrots, radish, and peanuts. This woman got it, she understood the importance of scissors and, just like that, I was hers and her delicious b\u00fan th\u1ecbt n\u01b0\u1edbng<\/em> was mine.<\/p>\n It is safe to say that kitchen scissors are a global phenomenon and each time I watch b\u00fan th\u1ecbt n\u01b0\u1edbng<\/em>\u00a0lady prepare food I am reminded of my own mother and her yellow and blue kitchen that greeted me each morning. To me, kitchen scissors are a consistent and peculiar reminder that people everywhere \u2013 \u00a0regardless of a million different factors like language, nationality, and religion \u2013 are really all just the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Since I was a little girl my mother has instilled in me the belief that kitchen scissors are one of god\u2019s many gifts to the earth. They are the kitchen\u2019s most essential tool. Need to cut Eggo waffles fast so you can feed your three children? Kitchen scissors. Need to cut a rack of ribs … <\/p>\n![\"B\u00fan](\"http:\/\/blogs.luc.edu\/goglobal\/files\/2016\/10\/20161023_3494-300x200.jpg\")