I went back for a second helping of rice. The cafeteria worker, a beautiful young Mexican woman with full lips and doe eyes generously piled rice on the small plate. “People here are a little bit crazy. They think rice makes you fat. In my country, every night we eat rice, beans and cheese. Every single night.”

I smiled and thanked her.

As I was leaving I heard her mutter, “Maybe that’s why I’m a little bit fat. Hmm.”