english
Jihang wu
FYS127G
Prof. Martinez Earley,
Draft 1
24 Feb 2023
FYS127G Essay first draft
Food is important in human life because it provides nutrients. In return, nutrients provide energy for doing activities and the functioning of body parts and systems. There is a wide variation for example between the Chinese food culture and the American food culture. This article finds common themes, issues, and messages that relate to food and its purpose meaning, compares and contrasts them in the following texts; “Eating the Hyphen” by Lily Wong, “Home run” by Roy Ahn, and “Picky eater” by Julia Alvarez.
The three texts reveal the important relationship between food and identity. People living in various parts of the world have a culture of foods that they embrace. In “Eating the Hyphen” the writer reveals how food has an important relationship with identity. She does this by giving a description of her unusual way of eating traditional dumplings doing it with a fork, knife, and ketchup. And she does it she wonders about her ability to identify with the Chinese culture way of doing it. Even though she does not use the “proper way” of doing dumplings, she is happy about doing it the Chinese -American way. This is seen in the “Picky Eater” where the writer reveals states that'' sticking to a certain food simply because you grew up having such kind of meal limits one from exploring different tastes that they may end up liking''(Alvarez, 77). In “Home Run” the author shows how he will introduce his newborn child to Korean foods growing up. He states that in some way this will help him identify with his Korean culture.
The food we eat defines our culture. In the family food recipes are passed down from older relatives to younger generations. In the story “Picky Eater” the writer points out how foods outside her home were forbidden because they were considered to be unsafe.'' Julia grew up in the Dominican Republic at a time when there was high child mortality''(Alvarez, 76). This situation made her mother worry about what her children ate. Her mother reinforced healthy foods on her to grow up healthy with her family. The fact that the food we eat is passed down by our relatives is seen in the story “Home Run”. The writer reveals his mother’s Korean food recipes pointing out that his parents wanted him to identify with the Korean culture through the foods. He plans to pass them same to his son even though his wife is not Korean. In Wong’s essay “Eating the Hyphen” she points out that her perfect way of eating her dumplings should identify with the Chinese culture. This shows how food can be used by societies in retaining their culture and identity. Therefore, through generations foods are passed as a way of preserving culture.
Today we are living in a world with a cultural identity crisis. This happens when the codes of our cultural history clash with new codes of adopted culture. Cultural crises can always emerge from within or without a certain society affecting some members. This is seen in the story “Home Run” where a Korean family living in the United States starts embracing the American way of life. The author points out'' several instances where they have gone out with his friend among them are three Koreans but they all do not mind embracing the American culture''. (Ahn, 13). however, the author's mother is conservative and sticks to her Korean culture even after living in the United States for a long time.
In modern society, people tend to warrant and have values that are from their traditions but they at the same time consider free- choice. In “Eating the Hyphen” Wong states “become the hyphen between Chinese and American in [her] identity,” (Wong, 96). She values her culture but does not mind doing ketchup which is more of the American culture. In “Picky Eater” the author questions people limiting themselves to specific cultural foods as she did without exploring other foods which they can end up liking their new taste as well. Unlike the past generation, the author's mother did not like eating anything from the streets because she was very specific about what she ate. An individual’s choice of food in the modern days is highly influenced by individual factors like personal taste and preferences, mood, health status, personal income, knowledge, and requirements for special diets. These are changes being witnessed in the modern world that has embraced diversity.
Adapting to new culture and environment as an immigrant is not easy. The texts showcase immigrants from Asian countries struggles in adapting to the American way of life. In the story “Home Run” the family runs away from Korea during a war period and settles in the United States when the author was a child. The author's mother does not have many friends in her ''new world'' because of the cultural divide. She only have some friends who are members of the Korean church in the neighborhood. In the story “Picky Eater” Julia points out her struggles on her dinner dates with her husband. She wanted to meet him for the company but did not like the food. At the same time, she did not want to show her husband that she did not like the food. In the story "Eating the Hyphen" the writer tells of her struggles in sticking to her usual Chinese dumplings and embracing American dumplings (Wong, 93). This shows how changing her cultural practices to link up with changes in the new environment is such a huge struggle.Similarly, as an international student, I have the same problems with the different living environment，its brings me double pressure. My parents can't help me anything here. I need to make a very detailed plan for myself every day. My eating habits are not very suitable for American tastes. I can eat steak but I can't eat cheese. Cheese is too greasy for me to enjoy. However, people always adapt to the surrounding environment and pressure. Try to enjoy life and environment, and we will have a new feeling for it.
References
Alvarez, Julia. “Picky Eater” Penguin Putman Inc. New York 1998: 75-86.
Wong, Lily. “Eating The Hyphen.” Food Matters: a Bedford Spotlight Reader, Holly Bauer, 2nd ed., Bedford/St. Martin's, 2017.