A NYC trafficking survivor's journey to healing through cooking

The taste of a cherished recipe can offer solace, especially during challenging times. WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk has been talking with New Yorkers about their experiences in the kitchen and the recipes that provide a sense of comfort. Shandra Woworuntu lives in Astoria, Queens. She is a cooking instructor with the League of Kitchens.

The transcript of Shandra Woworuntu's story has been lightly edited for clarity.

 My name is Shandra Woworuntu and I live in Astoria, Queens, New York. I came from Indonesia. When you visit us, you will have a lot of food on the table, and you still have to take home the leftover food that they have. So, it's all about the food.

In 2001, I came to the United States for the job employment. But instead, I was kidnapped, and I was bought and sold in New York City and surrounding states. I didn't know that I was trafficked. What I knew was I was kidnapped, and I was abused physically, mentally, and sexually. When I escaped, I was in the shelter. I was out on the street, and I asked myself 'when or where can I eat Indonesian food.' So I try to manage by learning how to use the ingredients that were available in the local supermarket and create Indonesian food, even though I have to use substitute ingredients. But it made me happy because I can make yellow rice, I can make fried rice, I can make noodles, and many of them gave me satisfaction to fulfill my longing of traditional food.

Cooking the food should be with love, without love, it's anger. Right? When you are angry, your food will turn too spicy, or too salty, or too sour. So, you have to put your energy, your love, and your kindness into the food. So, cooking actually, is a part of a healing journey of my trauma.