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To make up for missed lectures I have asked the students to visit me in my office. It's good practice for them to speak and listen. I also encourage them to use translator apps in here if they are struggling. What they have to do, though, is read the English and help me pronounce the Japanese. This way it isn't just used as a shortcut.
One of my students just left and he is very interested in food. It seems many of them are. When he learned I like wasabi he was very surprised. He didn't think Americans would handle eating something that spicy.
He is in the smaller class and during our conversation it occurred to me that July 6 would be a good day to do American foods. It is a month away, which gives me time to find ingredients to prepare some dishes. It is also right after the Fourth, which means I can talk about that holiday. This is for the Intercultural Communication class - 11 students. With all my talk about food being an important way for people to understand each other, I feel rather foolish for not thinking of this until now. I should also think about how to do it for the larger (32 students) Comparative Cultures class.
What I'm going to try to do is make chili and hot dogs so they can try chili dogs. I'll hunt for some harder cheddar cheese that can be shredded. That may be the most difficult thing to find. I am also going to eat at a Mos Burger to see how different Japanese fast food burgers are compared to US versions. This student had never even seen a bacon cheese burger. I showed him a picture and he was shocked such a thing existed. They make the list. Apple pie (of course) will be served. I'd also like to make sour cream cookies. Even though they are less well-known, they are part of my life.
I can't promise anything in particular, but what suggestions do people back home have? If you were going to serve food to a foreigner who thinks giant hamburgers and fish-and-chips are all there is to American foods, what would you serve?
Leave a comment or send me a message with your thoughts.
not sure but maybe regional favorites. Hard to make all but food and regions are a reflection of the culture. When in Oklahoma we had cookout and one of the people your dad worked with was a Ponca Indian and she make a type of flatbread. Cajun style, New England seafood boil, midwestern corn. Veggie foil wrap. I know the ingredients may be difficult to find and your dad can give you tips on how to finesse the sour cream cookies!
ReplyDeleteFood is culture and the diversity is what the US has!
Jonas loves Mos Burger! It's a running joke in our family that when we ask him what he wants for dinner, he more often than not says Mos Burger.
ReplyDeleteThey should have cheese at Fuji Grand. I remember buying some small (but very expensive) blocks of cheddar. Your idea of chili dogs is a good one.