EMBRACING OTHER CULTURES

NOT JUST BEING AMERICAN

  

             The U.S. is known as “the Melting Pot” of the world.  A country that has so many different nationalities living among another in which they come together to share each others’ culture.  It’s very important to embrace one another no matter what nationality you are.  The benefit is that you learn the values they have, foods, religion, and history.

             As we all know not everyone in America is an American.  If you come to New York City, then you will see other nationalities, such as, Asian, Indian, European, and West Indian etc…   Not just New York but other cities and states as well.

            New York is known for places to go, such as, Chinatown and Little Italy in Manhattan but other boroughs as well.  People go to these particular places to shop for foods, eat at restaurants, and to socialize.                       

            Yesterday, I took a trip into the city because I wanted to check out a Japanese grocery store.  I wanted to find out what products they have and what foods Japanese eat. Japan is one of the top countries in the world that lives over 90 years of age.  Did you know Japan has quite a lot of people living over 100 years of age?  Amazing right?

Makes you think what are we doing wrong in our diet.  I know environment contributes to the life span but most important the foods.  What foods? And how can we learn from it.

            As a child, my parents always went to the Asian stores in Chinatown to shop.  We used to go early Saturday mornings and traveled on the train for 45 min- 1 hr. to buy Thai foods and eat at Thai restaurants for lunch.   The streets were so packed and sidewalks filled with vendors.  The stores were jam packed with people and the foods hanging in the window, such as, duck and sausages.  The streets filled with noise and the people talking in their languages.  I considered myself lucky because I have the best of both worlds of having nationalities of Asian (Thai) and West Indian in my family.

            Imagine the foods and learning to cook it. And passing down the traditions and recipes to generation to generation.  That is why I feel that no one should deprive their family in venturing out to other ethnic places to eat, shop, and socialize.

            Therefore, do not just stick to the  “American foods” venture out and explore, open your palettes and your heart to different cultures.

            What I purchased?

Ø  Soba noodles (100% Buckwheat noodles)

Ø  Green tea

Ø  Seaweed 

The above are some of the foods Japanese likes to eat and drink.

The languages on some of the product labels were in Japanese and a little English.  One of the store employees helped me understand what type of seaweed and noodles I was purchasing.  Reading and understanding the labels on the foods is very important.  You have to know what you are purchasing and what kinds of ingredients are in it.  So you can avoid certain ones.  Educating yourself is the key.