Truong Essays

Truong's essay about her birthday party in her American classroom very much reminded me of the end of Bich's story. Later in life, Monique, like Bich, has gained a new perspective on the struggles of her childhood. She is able to recognize her own feelings as well as her mother's. As a child, she longed to fit in with the other kids in school, simply to blend into the crowd instead of stick out with no hope of ever really blending. She wanted her mother to give her the typical birthday celebration that would signify that she was one of the whole, and her mother's attempts at this largely failed in the mind of a young girl. The cake was beautiful, made with more skill than any other mother had attempted. Instead of pride, she is embarrassed at the attention that it brings. Just like Bich, her idea of fitting in and being American was tied to the processed, boxed, quintessential standard American diet. Both girls turned to food because that was the one thing they had control over and could change about themselves. Their skin and hair would never change, but they could fit in at meals. With time, Monique realized that her mother was trying her best. She too struggled to fit in and to watch her children's unhappiness. This cake was a sign of her effort, a success in her mind as a mother showcasing her skill and feeing prideful in the moment.

Day 3

I really enjoyed the format of class yesterday. Breaking this novel into short stories that stood out to us was a helpful way to analyze the author's intentions and experiences. In this reading, one scene that stood out to me was when Bich decided to eat the plum out of the tree. It was interesting to experience this moment in which she tries to connect with her religion in the only tangible way that she can think of. She had admired her grandmother's faith in Buddha and the way in which she meditated and gave offerings, but it was clear that Bich was somewhat lost in her own idea of faith. Wanting to be American and fit in with the others, she is teased and pressured to accept Christianity, but this pressure was conflicted by the ideals of her own family. Rosa and her grandmother are very clear about religion in the family, but Bich is largely confused. Stealing the plum in the Christian family's tree is an ultimate test for her. It signifies the limbo in which she lives, and her attempt at connection.

Day 2

This section of the book involved many situations in which Bich was forced to confront the realities of growing up and a loss of innocence through conflicting identities. In her relationship with her sisters, she is largely left out and put down coming to the conclusion that she would not fit in or be welcomed by them at any point soon. Chrissy begins to rebel while Anh follows and Bich suffers some of the repercussions. She sees her sisters fully embracing American culture in the form of clothes, make up, music and relationships, something she longs to do herself, but she is still constrained by Rosa's restrictions. She begins to find her own alternate reality in her books. She enjoys reading because she is able to live through the characters, particularly through the descriptions of the meals that she longs to have herself. I thought it was very interesting when she compared her own immigration experience to that of the Ingalls family from Little House on the Prairie. At first, she is comforted by the similarity between the two experiences. Someone else had encountered the same difficulty assimilating to American culture as her own family did, but there was hope because Ingalls family made it and became "fully american." However, as she grew older and experienced more of life as an "outsider" she found several flaws within their story involving racism and judgement. She realizes that the life of these characters were unobtainable due to her economic and social status within American society.

"Stealing Buddha's Dinner" day 1

The first part of this story to stand out to me was the mention of the discovery of the Vietnamese market. This immediately reminded me of "Tastes Like Cuba" where both immigrant families forced from their homes to the United States find excitement, comfort and hope in the discovery of a place to provide something familiar for their families. In this story, the market is also described as a meeting place for many Vietnamese Americans to meet and build a community. Secondly, I noticed a very clear distinction between gender roles within the family. The girls and women congregate in the kitchen, served the father's friends at parties, mentions of finding a husband were very frequent in casual conversation, and Rose was largely abandoned for becoming pregnant out of wedlock. The father and Rosa come into conflict over these roles as she is strong willed and plays the role of financial provider. It is clear that this family resists conformity to their new surroundings. As other families adopted "American" names and cuisine, Rosa largely rejects this movement and seeks to preserve their roots despite the discomfort of the children. I, myself, felt somewhat torn in this conflict. I understood Rosa's motives but I could relate to feeling like a outsider and in a state of "limbo" between two identities that the children were experiencing. I found it very charming and innocent that the narrator was so enthralled by ice cream. I thought it was interesting that she used the Vietnamese word for ice cream more often than the English. Something to special to and loved by her was so directly connected to what she had left behind.

"Roots"

This reading was particularly interesting to me. In my high school and even in my college history courses, the treatment of Japanese Americans during the war was largely overlooked or overshadowed by lessons involving foreign nations. This was interesting to analyze because it is almost considered human nature to  hide from or diminish our own mistakes. I found the comparison that the congressman made between those in internment camps and rape victims to be very eye opening. Society tends to turn on the victim as it seems simpler to place blame then to address a larger problem. Especially in a time of raging patriotism, I cannot imagine being the "other" so marginalized and physically segregated. I thought that the story involving the wife and husband in the internment camp was particularly touching as she described her confusion when she was forced into a camp even though she was an American citizen. There is something to be said for the inability to control the definition of one's own identity. This "limbo" or rejection is similar to other readings that we have read so far as minorities are confined to a small segment of society and never fully incorporated.

Villarosa and Maya Angelou

"Making Whoopi"
Honestly, I was only able to interpret this piece from a surface-level perspective. I thought that the meal and alcohol seemed as thought it was an outlet for Karen. In the moment, it relieved her anxiety in the situation and pretty much was used as the platform to introduce her desire to be with a woman. I thought it was interesting that the author's initial anxiety about her sexuality became the commonality in the situation. I honestly was somewhat confused on how to apply this reading. I couldn't tell if the author was offended by Karen's proposition or just simply taken aback and not attracted to her.

Maya Angelou:
I have always enjoyed Maya Angelou's writing. There is a certain level of comfort in reading her work. It flows smoothly, and you feel as if you can picture each situation she presents. I thought that these excerpts did a good job of portraying the conflicting roles that her heritage and skin tone play in the labels that society places on her and the pressures to be or "fit" into a certain mold. She is African, southern, black, and American. Especially when looking for a job, she is pressured to conform to a select few of the stereotypes associated with just one of these labels. The white man wants her to be the southern, black cook in the kitchen making soul food to ease his cravings. I really enjoyed the second excerpt with the battle between recipes which essentially use similar ingredients but are considered widely different by the two women based on their own backgrounds.

"Sugar", "Aubade: Some Peaches, After Storm", and "The Bean- Eaters"

This class, we are encouraged to think about he obvious level of metaphors in a poem and from there, take it step by step into the deeper meaning. I am actually very excited about taking this approach because I definitely struggle with poetry.

Aubade, Some Peaches, After Storm:
Taking the obvious approach, a storm rolls through a peach orchard and knocks many of the fruit off of the trees onto the soil. Depending on the state of ripeness, they can ripen too soon and their flesh become soggy and soft or they can remain stiff and spoil after skipping the edible stage. The peaches are dependent on some other saving them, without intervention, they are helpless.

The Bean Eaters:
I assumed that this poem was referring to an old couple in their home going about a rather monotonous day to day life with little stimulation. I almost got the idea that they were somewhat of hoarders towards the end? That may have something to do with the idea of the elderly collecting mementoes from the past. Beans are easy to cook, soft in texture, somewhat bland in taste and make for a very casual meal much like the couple's life.

Sugar
The opening scene of this poem at Angola struck a chord with me because, if the author is referring to the same place, Angola is the state penitentiary of Louisiana and I have visited this prison with my high school government class. The prison is still today partially self-sustainable, and prisoners farm the fields for crops used to feed the prison as well as sold to the public and suppliers. Watching the prisoners farm looked like a scene directly out of a movie involving slavery. Almost all of the prisoners in the field were black and the guards rode on horses with shot guns over their shoulders. Sugar cane is an abundant crop in Louisiana, and it is also heavily tied to the history of slavery in both North and South America. This poem was similar in content to others we have read as writers draw on this connection and the conflicting characteristics of sugar cane as it is so sweet and craved by so many but also so heavily tied to the past.

"Ode to Chicken", "Ode to Okra", "The Preserving"

I must admit, initially I thought it was almost silly to be reading a poem dedicated to praising chicken and okra individually, but the more I thought about it, the more these two foods make up such a staple in my life, especially chicken. I guess we tend to overlook the presence of a food such as chicken that completely surrounds our lives. Just about every restaurant in the US contains some chicken item on the menu. It is our go-to meat. I actually thought it was kind of funny in the beginning of "Ode to Chicken" when the author talks about all of the other, rather strange, meats that remind him of chicken. I could relate to this because there have been multiple times when I have tried strange dishes and in the end, I have always compared them to chicken. Alligator meat, turtle, and frog legs simply taste like chewier chicken. One part that I found interesting was when the author pointed out that chicken retains the name of the animal while pork and beef do not. He seems to have a sort of respect for this meat and illustrates it in this way.  "Ode to Okra" reminded me of my mother and stories from her childhood. She grew up in north Louisiana and okra was a staple in their diet. Okra has been very familiar to me from a young age as it is very commonly incorporated into Louisiana dishes, particularly gumbo (seafood, sausage, or turkey). I personally have eaten it in many forms: fried, stewed, pickled, etc. I found it interesting how Young characterized the okra with human like actions and adjectives to describe the form that the okra takes when cooked or handled in different ways: "turned belligerent and too tough when ignored....weep when stewed"

"Geese" and "Ghosts"

"Geese"
I actually found this piece somewhat hard to read. I felt as though there was no hope and the characters would be left in a constant state of deprivation and fight for survival. In her search for a job and the description of the positions available to and occupied by specific ethnicities, I was reminded of my time in Europe last semester. In Spain and many of the other places visited, I noticed that all people considered "black" were very much African. Their skin was very dark, and they were largely confined to the street market sector of business. I could probably count on one hand the number of African Americans or even lighter skinned Africans that I encountered in my time in Spain, so I could understand the description of her foreign status with regards to skin tone. One piece that I found interesting was the description of the attention received from the locals. If it was not a look of confusion or amusement as an exotic foreigner, she was approached by men in with sexual undertones. I was a little confused by the encounter with the roommate holding a knife to her throat in the middle of the night. I wasn't sure about the origin of this outburst but my only guess was some sort of PTSD or mental disturbance.

"Ghosts"
I really enjoyed this reading to the point that I didn't want to take my eyes from my computer screen. The pigeon seemed to be a metaphor that I could not quite understand, but its importance in the beginning of the story line and to the culture of these people kept re-appearing. I found it interesting that a family so removed from the violence and corruption of the gang world could be so intertwined in its workings through the restaurant and his work at the radio station. It seemed as though he had a connection with the members that ran deep on an intellectual and emotional level which is one that is rarely explored when dealing with this subject matter. I found it interesting that the neighborhood was known as Bel Air as that is the name of one of the fanciest neighborhoods in America.

Jeffers, Dove, and Clifton

"The Gospel of Barbecue"

As a whole, I really enjoyed this poem. Admittedly, there were a few parts that I wasn't able to clearly interpret (I don't pride myself on being a skilled poetry reader), but overall, I felt as thought it was a good read. The poem as a whole is pretty somber and has some images of violence, the screams of the hogs, whipping and starvation. I got the idea that maybe barbecue came out of the process of trying to make the leftover, spoiled meat more edible? I found it interesting that the wisdom is referred to as "gospel" because religion was very important to slave culture. 

"Parsley"

This reading confused me the most by far. I didn't feel as if I was able to interpret the metaphors and symbols such as the parrot, so I am curious to hear what is discussed in class. I will say that I thought it was interesting that the master's home was referred to as the "palace." I am used to calling the main home on land worked by slaves a plantation, so I think that this reference is meant to be a larger metaphor. "Palace" seems to conjure up feelings of honor and hierarchy. 

"Cutting Greens"

I felt as though the greens in her hand were trying to escape but she held them with a tight grip ready to be placed in the boiling pot. I liked the description of the contrast between the black cooking supplies and her own skin against the color of "life" in the greens. 

"More than Just the Big Piece of Chicken"

The first thing that came to mind when reading this piece is the Popeyes chicken commercial that quite often airs here in Georgia but rarely at home in New Orleans. The spokeswoman and main subject of the commercial is a black woman who speaks in traditional black dialect with the slight twang of a cajun accent. She describes the fried chicken as her own recipe spiced with cajun seasoning and fried to perfection. There have been many times watching this commercial that I am taken aback by the fact that such stereotypes (both of blacks and Louisiana) are so publicly used by such a big corporation. After reflecting on this I found it interesting that the reading mentioned blacks confirming and perpetuating such stereotypes as African Americans are, at least in New Orleans, the main customer base for the chain restaurant. The most interesting and informative part of the reading to me had to do with the bartering process involving chicken in the time of slavery. This was new information to me and I found it interesting to learn the association of thievery with this trade and how that perpetuated white supremacy over slaves.

"The Night Beans Talked to Old Bear"

I actually really enjoyed this piece. The language was light and had a good flow of storyline, and as I read, I was able to pick out deeper analogies and metaphors. I thought it was really interesting that the main character was named "Bear" and sort of slipped in and out of human and animal- like states. I noticed a lot of mention of the "standard american diet" we have discussed before with products such as spam and cheese on white bread, canned vegetables, whipped cream etc. This may have something to do with the government subsidized diet that native americans are used to on the reservation. Bear seemed to be developing a more sophisticated pallet and was somewhat nostalgic for the recipes of the past such as his mother's fresh bread. I thought that maybe because he was so hungry and dreaming of so much food he may have been experiencing a time of food shortage. He seems almost delirious at one point dreaming about the government using beans in times of war. There was a certain amount of violence associated with this picture of food that was a bit confusing to me. There were many mentions of stereotypical native american practices that stood out to me such as abuse of women and heavy drinking.

"Almost Soup"

Overall, I really enjoyed this piece; although at times, I was slightly confused. I thought it was kind of interesting that dog seemed to be an important part of the community's diet, but the young girl was unaware of this. I thought that this may have hinted at a possible food shortage that the elders may have been trying to compensate for, or it may have just been a sign of her innocence, as even today, I am slightly turned off of meals that involve lovable creatures such as duck and rabbit. The dog, as the narrator, was given a human-like understanding of the world knowing the importance of procreation, knowing the ins and outs of the community and even understanding the inevitability and fear of death. I thought that this characterization of the dog may have provided insight to the importance of nature and animals in this community. One part of the reading that confused me a bit had to do with the women beading and the story line involving the girl with the twin mothers and Rozin's debate over the sharing of bodies. Towards the end of the story, I was a little lost when the dog speaks about keeping Cally's spirit safe and then putting it back into her at the hospital. This could be completely wrong, but I thought that maybe because the dog was purely white and death was described as a black dog that the white dog may symbolize the keeper of spirit or life.

Nora Dauenhauer and Jim Northrup

"How to Make Good Baked Salmon from the River"
In this piece, I noticed several comparison of old tradition and new ways. It seemed as if the cook was reluctantly succumbing to a new kitchen setting. The environment had changed, now cooking on a stove instead of near the river, the ingredients had changed, fruit cocktail instead of mashed, fresh berries, as well as the process of sharing involving plastic utensils and plates. The cook seems somewhat nostalgic for the times when all elements of nature were involved in the cooking process. Birds, insects, fire, water and other animals were an essential and respected part of the preparation of the salmon. All were acknowledged and appreciated for the roles that they play in both nature and that very moment. However, in the city these elements are largely absent and the cook must rely more heavily on her own senses to supplement this loss. As in other readings, community seemed to be important to the cook and the meal itself. All who loved the food were welcome to share in the fish and ingredients may be borrowed from neighbors.

"Mahnomin"
I really enjoyed this poem even in its brevity. I can relate to the ritual of tradition and being able to connect to those who are known to have taken part in the same actions before you. The ricing process seems to link relatives as well as ancestors. Again, Nature plays a role in this process as the actions of the eagle and the sun are acknowledged and welcomed. I was a little curious if this piece was hinting at some sort of food scarcity in this winter as the author writes that rice accompanied most meals that season. Rice is very filling and is sometimes used to supplement when richer proteins or vegetables are scarce.

"Ricing Again"
This piece explored several similar overall themes and, obviously, actions as the previous poem. This reservation is obviously heavily depended on the ricing season and individuals work hard to make a living from this farming. I thought that the idea of having ricing partners was very interesting. It seemed as if Dolly had been assigned to him for the season. I was curious who was responsible for these set ups. I got the feeling that there was a strong bond formed between partners as each are equally responsible for the collection and for looking out for one another as Dolly did with his wallet.  Family and community is obviously highly valued as they all were willing to help each other as needed even in the competitive environment. The act of ricing seemed to be well respected and a learned technique emphasized in the community and deeply rooted in tradition. I also enjoyed the innocence that came with the boy noticing the beauty in his partner as well as her potential in the skill.

"Bush's Mourning Feast"

Honestly, I was a little bit confused reading this passage. From what I could understand, the narrator was addressing someone who had passed or had been taken away, possibly a child. Bush, the grandmother, cooked a ceremonial, traditional feast as a part of the mourning process. The community was invited and attended even though it was clear that they may not be accustomed to this tradition but they knew that it was important to her and they could relate to loss. I thought that this showed great insight into the values of community that are emphasized among this group. Spirituality plays a big role in Bush's grieving process as she offers up food to the spirits and gives away precious belongings as a way of redistributing or processing grief. By the end of the meal, it seems as if there was a mutual understanding between everyone at the feast. They then understood and respected the tradition that they had just been a part of and related to the grief that Bush was experiencing. There was a part in the reading that I had a particularly hard time understanding involving the mother of the child and Bush's effort to protect the child from the mother's "coldness" so I will be interested to see how our class discussion clears that up.

"Home Cooking"

In this piece, I noticed a great deal of connection between nature and nostalgia facilitated by the cooking process and the experience of being in the kitchen together with her grandmother. The grandmother described many memories involving the grandfather, his experience fishing and their relationship together while the granddaughter recalled her memories of playing outside as her grandmother looked on. The kitchen serves as a place for the two to gather and share. It conjures up old memories and connections between the two creating a special moment of reflection. Nature is described with several human qualities. It is obvious that the narrator and the grandmother both appreciate the connection between human life and natural phenomenons as one. The trees are described as breathing, their heart beats under the land, and the mountain is described as a lover. She recognizes the science behind the volcano from her teacher but she is able to see and appreciate both the spiritual and the physical. I enjoyed how the narrator drifted in and out of dream states as she cooked describing these mystical thoughts but snapping back to reality as something calls her attention. Dreams are obviously significant and important to her.

"In 1864" and "How to Make Good Chili Stew"

These two poems took on two very different forms but interestingly covered similar content. Reading "How to Make Good Chili Stew"I did not feel as dark and saddened as I did reading "In 1864". Food shortage is a central theme to the recipe, but there seemed to be an overall sense of gratitude for once knowing the taste of the missing ingredients and an ability to make due with what was had. With each step in the recipe, the cook instructs followers to appreciate sensory details smelling the ingredients, listening to the individual sounds that each step contributes to the harmony of the whole process. I thought that the instructions were actually somewhat beautiful in the attention paid to the little things having to do with cooking. A sense of spirituality is brought into the cooking process paying attention to the earth, wind, and the sun as they all contribute to the dish. Community is also a big theme towards the end of the poem when you are instructed to invite those you see around to dine with you. 

As for "In 1864," terrible subject matter is covered as the Native Americans are not only uprooted from their land but their entire sense of livelihood and in some cases actual lives are taken. They do not know how to move on from the loss of their sheep and land as this comprised a large part of their lifestyle. A sense of community is also seen in their efforts to get through the march together with a common goal of first survival and second rebuilding. The soldiers seem to manipulate the importance of community as they force Natives to leave behind the elderly and those who cannot keep up. This seems to be a way of further breaking down the tribe. The man remembering these horrors in the car with his daughter does seem to exhibit some sort of hope in what he will tell his daughter of their new life one day, making the new bread and the velvet shirts for the men. 

"You're Not the Indian I Had in Mind"

I found a lot of similarities to other stories we have read regarding the idea of identity in this story. The indian man struggles with his own understanding of his heritage and balancing that with an outsiders view of the "typical indian". He admits to having conformed to that image growing longer hair and wearing a fringed pouch, but he is well aware of the fact that a majority of indians, including himself, do not conform to this almost constructed image. This somewhat reminded me of the reading containing the recipes written in the language of the stereotypical black woman in the kitchen. This image was meant to appeal to the outsider, and variation was uncomfortable and somewhat unacceptable. The narrator is aware of the fact that conforming to this image makes it almost easier for him to be accepted into society and social standards. I found it interesting that the man moved across the world to New Zealand and Australia, and there, he faced another uphill conflict of defining his identity against that of the stereotypical indian from India and further the image of "cowboys and indians." Admitedly, I know very little, besides major historical context, when it comes to Native American culture, and I recognize that I have often fallen into these sterotypes, but I am very interested in learning more about the differing cultures, their traditions, and their integration into today's society.

"Tastes Like Cuba"

It was very clear throughout this entire reading that food defined identity for this Cuban family struggling through the uncomfortable process of exile. In the beginning of the reading, food was described with great, almost seductive detail to the point that I felt like I could almost taste the meals being made. It is obvious that a meals contents were just as important and just as appreciated as the act of the meal gathering a family or community together. Both aspects were equally enjoyed and equally emphasized. Fun fact: I spent last semester studying abroad in Spain, so the descriptions of traditional Spanish food such as Serrano ham, manchego cheese, and croquetas were very familiar to me, and I could relate to their importance in their diet. I thought it was interesting that with the move to America the author chose to stress the difference in food as opposed to other lifestyle changes. The family experienced a massive change from rich to poor, from Spanish to English, and a difference in surroundings, but the food was the biggest obstacle to be faced. The mother seemed to take this change the hardest of all of the family members, and I think this could have been because providing an enjoyable, Cuban meal each day was a large part of her identity as a mother, and she struggled with the fact that she could not provide that comfort and familiarity for her kids in this situation. This contrasted with the father's role as a provider and his struggle with the fact that he could not immediately afford to allow his wife to shop at any grocery store around town in search of these ingredients. Once the Grand Central Market was discovered, there seemed to be new life in the family. It was a symbol of hope and comfort that had been all but lost in the move.

Junot Diaz "Aguantando"

I noticed that food played a very descriptive role in the beginning of the story. It serves as an obvious symbol of economic hardship as everything is boiled, meats are a luxury, and the act of putting food on the table is characterized as a constant worry or strain on the family. I thought it was particularly interesting when it was mentioned that the kids had to skip meals in order to afford worm medicine. This presents a complex in which food is life sustaining, but it is the first to be sacrificed when other things threaten that life. Told from the perspective of the child, the story presents a sort of understanding innocence and childish hope when it comes to the father. The boy is not necessarily resentful himself of the father's absence and he dreams of their perfect reunion, but at the same time, he is aware of the way in which his absence adds to his family's struggle and the way that his resent him. The boy is aware of the family's economic situation, but he still describes his life with great exuberance through a lens that only a naive child could as he spends his time playing games and climbing trees which may serve as a form of escape for him. I was a little confused by the plotline of the interaction with the stranger smoking the cigaret who seems to get startled or scared and walk away after his mother tells him that they are visiting her husband's parents. At first I thought that this might actually be the father, but I am still confused by the role that he played in the story.

Corazon's Cafe by Judith Cofer

I assumed that this story line followed that of the woman described in the poem from the "Latin Deli" collection that we read for class yesterday. I appreciated that the short story gave more background to the subjects and the deli itself exploring the way in which the owners and the neighborhood interacted to build and grow the store. I noticed a lot of attention given to gender roles in Corazon's story from the very beginning of her life. Corazon's relationship with Manuel's mother was one of tradition and gave insight into her heritage as she cared for her in her poor health and learned domestic skills in the home and kitchen. She is meant to serve her elders and her husband, although they seem to have a mutualistic understanding of the fact that they consider themselves to be a more equal partnership than others. She has a similar understanding with Innocencia of the role that gender plays in their relationship due to their different backgrounds. I particularly liked the story line containing Innocencia because I thought it gave a more personal and relatable depiction of two foreigners struggling to establish themselves in a foreign setting and simultaneously holding on to their idea of "home" and tradition through the food and the store.

Cofer selections from "The Latin Deli"

In my own life, the grocery store, particularly the smaller neighborhood style specialty stores, has always been a hub for socialization. It is rare that I do not run into someone familiar to me or a good friend while running errands here, and my experience is always marked by some sort of conversation with either a stranger or an acquaintance. The deli in this poem is described similarly, but this neighborhood is populated by immigrants, particularly of Hispanic decent. I think it is pretty well known that food is a tool that brings people and communities together. I liked the idea of recounting this union from the store clerk's perspective as they are regular observers of conversation and interaction. Through the dialog described, it seems as if these customers are united both geographically (as they frequent the same store) and culturally. They share in a longing to return home and a struggle through economic hardship. The store clerk seems to be aware and understanding of the fact that her store provides a bit of a "return home" for her customers as they relive memories through products and retell stories and this brings her satisfaction and comfort.
The poem "Nothing Wasted" particularly stood out to me. It is very important to the mother that, through every move, she brings with her a semblence of life and familiarity in the form of her gardens. Maybe she strives to make her child (and herself) more comfortable in each new home. Although the garden must start anew in each place, just as the family must, one thing remains constant in the jar with the avocado pit. This was interesting to me because it is common to start the growth of an avocado plant in this way but it eventually grows into a larger, more stable tree. This might symbolize her desire to eventually put down more deep seeded roots in their lives. The part about the egg breaking in the cage and her disposing of it so casually into the garden combined with the title of the poem may have something to do with the family's struggle to make ends meet (everything is used, nothing is wasted) or also the idea that with an end something begins again (the egg giving nourishment to the soil and new life).

Gary Soto Readings

To start, I really enjoyed the short story "Like Mexicans". I liked how Soto brought the characters from innocent, literal understanding of life through complicated adulthood. I found the relationship between the narrator and his best friend to be very relatable. At a young age, we all tend to see the world through a simplistic filter. We are taught to believe certain things that dictate our lives and we tend not to question or analyze these teachings. The narrator is told to marry a Mexican girl and his friend is to marry an Okie. Both boys accept that this is normal because those are their respective "people" but it does not interfere with their relationship. As for the food, the narrator describes all of the differences between the boys and their lifestyles, the orange seems to be the unifying factor, the only similarity between the two. His mother seems to be over occupied or exhausted by cooking, giving insight to the family dynamic. As the narrator grows up, ethnicity begins to confuse him as he struggles to realize that he and his true love are not united by culture but rather by economic status, and he soon realizes that this was clear to others as well. The sushi makes him slightly uncomfortable, it is no longer a unifying factor, and it is the "poorness" of the family that allows him to settle in. Honestly, I was a little confused about the cat story line, so I would like to see how others interpreted their meaning.
As for the poetry, admittedly, I was never really taught how to read/ interpret poetry, at least in a classroom setting, but I did enjoy these poems as well. My favorite was "Oranges" because of the delightful innocence of the young boy and his first big interaction with the girl he likes. Money again plays a large role in the comfort of the relationship, but it is the treats that bring both characters joy. "Salt" similarly used food as a way to express financial status. Lastly, "The Estonian Comes to Dinner" was also kind of confusing for me, but what I gathered (which may be completely wrong) is that the narrator is dreaming of a time of endless food which evokes pleasure and happiness, but in reality, food is scarce and unavailable evoking sadness and disappointment and this comparison of fantasy and reality signifies a time of financial hardship.

Wallach and Salazar

Wallach's piece relating food tradition and transformation to cultural stereotypes and thinking opened my eyes to many aspects of American society I had not previously recognized. Yes, I know that the Mexican and Chinese food that I regularly eat cannot be considered remotely authentic, but I had not realized the implications of such a hybrid in terms of cultural hierarchy. This was the first time I had been made aware of some of the historical aspects of the evolution of cuisine from foreign cultures within America, and I was actually very taken aback that the way in which immigrants were manipulated both physically and culturally into conforming to American society's wants and needs. I have never considered food to be an indication of what Wallach refers to as "imperialism" but this reading certainly brought my attention to it. The fact that foreign cuisines were so heavily criticized before conforming to both the image and the palate of America is pure evidence of the superiority complex occurring among these cultures. It almost seems as if American society feared the unknown until an "upper hand" was established and inferiority was enforced on the unknown. Food is a staple, comfort, and large part of identity for any culture and its diminish, conformity, or acceptance as a means of societal survival is an indication of cultural relationships.
As for the Salazar reading, I must admit, I was a little overwhelmed by all of the cultural comparisons and relationships being described, but the point that I found most interesting was that the piece did not take the approach of comparing "white" to "the other" but rather gave me a historical and cultural insight on the relationships between all of the minorities that are often grouped as one.

"Unpacking the Backpack of White Privilege"

Most of the points made in this reading are ones that I have actively debated, discussed, and analyzed both in the classroom and in more casual conversation, and I must say, I agree with the vast majority of  them. The author brings up valid, often undeniable points regarding American society and the privileges and/or disadvantages that all citizens face. I think it is important to stress the fact that this analysis is inclusive of all races, ethnicities, genders etc because it is often that I find myself and friends taking the approach of looking from "inside" to the "outside" comparing "us" to the "other." This reading brought up a point that I have mostly overlooked: "whiteness" is a race. It is not the baseline from which all else should be compared or critiqued. Rather, it is one of the many. Others should not be expected or encouraged to "catch up" to us but a larger, all encompassing change of society is needed. I recognize that been taught, not necissarly directly, but through societal norms to largely ignore or overlook the privileges that have been granted to me based on my race. I do agree with the author that recognition of this problem is only the first step. I found this reading particularly relatable especially through the use of specific examples in the form of the list that highlight this the difference in advantage that penetrates all aspects of daily life.