Recently, in a Table Topics session, the Topic Master asked me to pick a fruit from her bag. I touched a small but not smooth round ball and I took it.

It was like this.

Dear fellow members and distinguished guests:

This is a strange fruit, isn’t it?

It has strange name - kiwi. Its Chinese name is even stranger? Who knows?

Long long time ago, when I first had this fruit, I didn’t know how to eat it. It looks like a simple fruit: small, nestled within a fuzzy skin.

I touched it. It felt hairy. I bite the skin, and it tasted sour. But it started to burst with bright green flesh. I sucked juicy liquid from its fleesh. Wow, I felt a unique taste mixed with sweet and sour.

How you ever got that taste?

Later I learned that kiwi’s journey begins in the distant landscapes of China. In the early 20th century, the kiwi set sail on its first voyage to New Zealand.

When kiwi comes back to China with its strange name, I am almost afraid of this little strange fruit. However, packed with Vitamin C, dietary fiber, and antioxidants, the kiwi has proven itself to be a powerhouse of nutrition. It’s not just a fruit; it’s a testament to the bountiful gifts that nature has to offer.

Apart from its nutrition, the act of eating a kiwi for me is an experience that invites us to explore the unknown. At first glance, a kiwi is unassuming, its fuzzy brown exterior concealing the vibrant life within. I, as the first-time consumer might be wary, unsure of how to approach it. The exploration begins here.

When I bravely start the first bite, it is a rush of flavors – sweet, sour, and incredibly refreshing. It’s an exploration of taste, a journey into the unknown that rewards you with a delightful sensory experience.

Eating a kiwi is much like exploring the unknown - it involves curiosity, the willingness to try something new, and the joy of discovery. It shows us that the unknown is not something to fear but to embrace, for it holds the promise of new experiences, flavors, and understandings. It encourages us to venture into the unknown, to welcome change, to adapt, and to grow. Just as the kiwi transformed from an obscure Chinese berry into a globally celebrated fruit, we too can emerge from the realms of the unknown, stronger, more resilient, and more successful.

So, let’s take a leaf from the kiwi. Let’s embrace the unknown, venture out of our comfort zones, and savor the sweet taste of discovery. After all, exploration is the engine of progress, and every step into the unknown is a step towards growth.

Thank you.