Everest English Blog

 Prompt Response: Food provides an anchor to individuals who feel caught between cultures because it connects directly to their childhood eating habits. Smell is the strongest gateway to memory of the five senses, so food can bring back those memories and feelings of childhood easily with the right meal. Therefore it allows people who feel lost to have a sense of home with food. In the Mississippi Delta film they blended fried rice with bacon. They took aspects of their ancestors' homeland and blended it with American culture to create this new feeling of home and belonging.  Summary: In class we answered various questions on writable about three different articles/videos about culture and food.  Reflection: Food is one of the easiest ways to feel better about oneself. It provides a gateway into childhood while also giving you the dopamine hit of eating. I believe food is a universal connector and as long as you have a meal that reminds you of home, you will never be lost...

 Prompt Response: The choice to serve leftover Chinese food signifies how there is no longer the same level of effort being put forth into food anymore. The author could have tried cooking herself, she could have tried to make Sancocho to show that their tradition of cooking is not dying off. I could have learned some of my mom’s recipes when she still cooked often. Though I didn’t, because at the time I had no desire to learn or carry on our tradition of food.  Summary: In class we read Lunch by Cristina Henriquez, then answered a short quiz about the passage with our classmates.  Reflection: You can always do more for others but you can’t change what’s already happened. Sometimes things fall apart whether you try to stop it or not. What’s important is to keep trying to improve day after day because you never know what you can save. 

 Prompt Response: When I was little I thought steaks and red meat were higher class meals that lower class people didn't get to eat like me. As I grew older I realized my parents didn't know how to buy red meat at lower prices. It wasn't due to our lower income at the time we just needed to get more creative. When I got older we found ways to have red meat, in particular we'd buy in bulk. This way we could get more food worth our buck.  Summary: In class we worked on our presentations for our food that connect to our culture slide show.  Reflection: One food isn't just meant for one people. Yes, it may have been created for a certain group, but food is universal. It's meant for all to enjoy regardless of who you.   

Prompt Response: Their food shows their history of the people who live in the community. The dishes are based on the practicality of what people had at the time and could share with one another. This led to many unique dishes and recipes that the people of New  Orleans still eat today. For example Yaramein was a poor man’s meal to eat on the way home from work to sober up for the night. This demonstrates how the food matches the need for the people, and shows the everlasting effect of food on its community.  Summary: In class we watched a documentary and answered questions about the documentary.  Reflection: Food is, I would say, crucial to a place and its culture. It provides an identity and history to what came before giving life to the place and community that now lives there. 

 Prompt Response: I think the burger is a must-have as a representation of my culture because of how it connects to both significant events and minor events. You can eat a burger just as a meal with friends or by yourself but it can also represent a large get together of people in celebration of America.  Summary: In class we discussed more about the connection between culture and food.  Reflection: I think the hamburger as an American meal has the ability to be both casual, and fancy. Thereby making it a great meal to represent America. There is so many things to do to a burger but all of them still are a burger. Burgers are patriotic. 

 Prompt Response: One of the most meaningful dishes to me is mushroom chicken. What made it special was the person who made it, which was my nana. My nana always made mushroom chicken when I came down to visit. No place, or person could replicate the way she made it. Now whenever I eat mushroom chicken I think of my nana and the peace I felt when I would go see her.  Summary: In class we went over how food and culture connect.  Reflection: I don't have a lot of meals that I hold dear to me besides mushroom chicken. Yes, I have food that connect with certain memories but I don't have that connection to food like most people. My nana as past which I think has also reinforced my love of her mushroom chicken and those memories making them even more sweet. 

 Prompt Response: Due to the multiple steps plus the stop and go method of writing for the essay allowed the finer details to be more filled in. The extra time and separating steps allowed for detail that could not have been present if it all was done in one shot.  Summary: In class we typed up our essays and submitted them. Reflection: I believe the trick to making a writing piece is writing and editing it in pieces. When you have multiple breaks you can see which pieces don't quite align. Thereby enhancing your paper.