Speaking a foreign language can have a number of pros. For example, if I own a restaurant and someone comes in who is more fluent in Spanish than English then I could help them get whatever it is that they are wanting. In my current college classes, because I am still a senior, I don't have to be at the high school anymore. However, I am currently taking 5 classes at SGSC and it can be very overwhelming at times. Outside of school, my interests consist of hunting, playing video games, playing baseball, and watching football. If I had to send the world one message it would be to never give up. No matter what this life throws at you, it's yours, live it fully. Don't let anyone bring you down or tell you that you can't achieve your goals and so much more. This is image is portraying that anything holding you back can be broken and you can prevail and do great things. Thank you. 

 

  All schools that I have attended have been in the United States. I have learned a little bit of Spanish and French. As I learned the different languages it became interesting. My hobbies are texting, cooking, work and school. I don't like to be bored or to not have anything to do. If I was to send a message to my friends and family to show a picture of me and my puppy. Not too long ago, I lost a lot of friends, cousin, uncle and grandpa. So my love show towards my puppy meant a lot.

This is Troy Polamalu. He is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame following his retirement in 2015. He grew up in a not-great situation and even left to live with his aunt and uncle at the age of eight. No matter how he struggled growing up he stayed consistent in his work ethic allowing him to be one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. 

 Having the knowledge of knowing how to speak or write in a foreign language provides better career choices. A multilingual ability is a competitive edge in today's world. Language learning helps develop strong cognitive skills, such as a better concept formation, mental flexibility, multitasking, listening skills and problem-solving, in addition to improving social interaction and encouraging connection between peers. This also Increases networking skills, opening to a culture allows you to be more flexible and appreciative of other people's opinions and actions. As a result, if you are multilingual, you have the advantage of seeing the world from different viewpoints, enhancing your ability to communicate in today's globally connected world.  

I like my current college classes that I am enrolled in, and I really like how broad the class subjects are. I have learned that college is a lot different than my small town’s high school and that I do not have someone constantly reminding me on due dates and being consistent motivation for me, so that is one inevitable thing that I dislike, though I have grown to manage my time and grow motivation, therefore this first semester is a huge learning experience for me and has set me up for my future college experiences.  

My interest includes traveling, playing video games, watching movies, and playing airsoft. Whenever I am of a free schedule with no work or assignments from school, me and my girlfriend are always finding a new place to go to and a new series or movie to binge.  

I would try and encourage people to focus on their core internal values, and to live for them, and not the life that other people want them to live and ask everyone to take a step back and look at the world and just think about just how outstanding it really is. In the least cheesiest way possible, the image that I would show the world would be a picture of my girlfriend so everyone could see her beauty because I genuinely believe am the luckiest man alive to be able to see her every day.  

If I could show everyone in the world a picture it would be this halo painting that my girlfriend made me, and I know I sound like such a simp, but it really means a lot to me. 

Outside of school, I like to do many things. I like going to shop with friends and hanging out. I also like going to visit my niece in my free time. When I am home, I like organizing and cleaning around the house. Another thing that I like to do is play the piano. I have played the piano for eleven years now. 

Honestly if I could say one thing to this world it would be, "Jesus is coming back, and if you are left behind, all hope is lost for you. Eternity is too long to be wrong. Get right now or get left behind."

This is the picture I would send out. To let everyone know that Jesus Christ has come to seek and to save those who are lost. 

This picture of a blind piano player (cannot be attached) is important to me because it shows true courage and bravery. As a piano player, I know it is hard to know what key to hit at certain times, but this blind man had enough bravery that he pushed through and mastered playing the piano blind. It shows me that even when we think something is impossible, we can look around and see that we can do anything we put our minds to. 

Technology affects our interpersonal relations and cultures because we are able to expand both using technology. For example, without having to leave the comfort of your home, you can communicate with others who are thousands of miles away and form interpersonal relationships with them. Culture can also be expanded in the sense that it is easier to share the different aspects of your culture with the rest of the world without having to be in the same physical location. Because of the ease of communication between others, technology has made it easier for many to be bold behind a screen and hide from immediate repercussions for their actions. For example, various social media  applications on cellphones have become an increasingly popular place for bullying to occur. Because these trolls can hide behind a screen, they suddenly find the courage to display violent and rude behavior. In addition to this, because technology makes it so easy for individuals to communicate with each other while still avoiding actual physical interactions, many individuals begin to lose basic social communication skills and social cues that are only displayed during face to face interactions, such as a eagerness, apprehension, or confusion. Unfortunately, technology also has another aspect that makes it hard for some. Technology can be seen as a discrimination factor. For example, due to the increasing shift of things being moved from paper to online, there are many who can not afford the technology to keep up with the shift. For example, if someone wants to apply for a job , more often than not, applications are online. But if someone does not have access to the appropriate technology to submit their application, they will not be able to receive employment. In this situation, technology is a discriminating factor between the poor and the privileged. Because of the imperfection of technology as seen in the previous example, technology can never grow to be more common than human interactions and work. I personally do not think that technology will ever be able to advance to the degree where human manual labor will be replaced with technology. Robots can never be better than human beings on principal due to the fact that they are created by humans who aren’t perfect and therefore are not capable of producing something perfect. There will always be a need for a human to control, repair, or monitor a piece of machinery in order to complete tasks. 

      I believe that technology plays a big role in social isolation because it is a lot easier to send a text or get on a phone call with someone than to stand face to face with someone and start a conversation. Technology controls our emotions if we were to be sent back to the stone age majority of the world including me would go insane. When it comes to technology it is really our way of life and it is discriminative against the poor and rich. The more money you have means the more technology you have access to and the better technology you will have access too but the opposite for those who are poor. When it comes to expensive things like machinery and robots I feel as if they are taking jobs away from people in a world right now where there are not enough people working as it is. There are already assembly lines that are completely robotic and the only human there is the one who just makes sure they are properly working which takes away many jobs for the people.

Technology can also contribute to social isolation being that it can cause behaviors such as people can not resist being on their phones . It also can lead a lot of miscommunication being that people can misread something or take something that was said in a completely wrong way. This can cause separation and confusion leading to loneliness. I don't see technology as a discrimination factor because all people use it and the simple fact you can not judge what you do not see, and their are some that can simply lie about themselves and their lives on the network making everything look and seems to be perfect. Machines and Robots are taking some part in replacing humans such as self check outs in grocery stores, and the automatic serves you speak to on the phone. In this sense this left a lot of people without jobs. I honestly do not believe robots will ever be better than human beings due to the fact that they do not have feelings nor emotions that us humans can express.  

In the country of Brazil there are many traditions that the citizens value. One I found interesting is called "having a saideira" before leaving the bar. A saideira just means one last drink. In America, when we're ready to leave the bar, we just pick up the tab, but in Brazil it is tradition to order one last saideira and the bill before leaving.  

This tradition influenced my life because, when we meet it gives us a chance to be around my family. We talk about how school is going, how sports is going, and just how life been treating us. It really gives us time to appreciate my uncle and how he used to all bring us together. The dinner shows me the importance of family and to still celebrate my uncle's life.

A tradition in a foreign country is how French people drink tea from a cereal bowl, during breakfast only. They do this with coffee or tea because, they also eat baguette or tartine. Tartine is just a fancy word for bread with jam spread on it.. They use a cereal bowl because its easier to dip the tartine.

This tradition as I said earlier isn't something huge. It doesn't take really anything to do, but it has influenced me so much. It has shown me happiness when I have felt far from it. It has shown me how to love the people that I want in my life. It has influenced me to realize how important family will always be. I hope to one day whenever I have a family of my own pass down this tradition. I would hope it will show them everything it has shown me.

A tradition from the Maasai tribe in Africa is spitting as a form of greeting. They will spit as saying hello. Another way they will use this action is with a new born. When a baby is born, men will spit on the baby as a way to protect them from evil spirits. Although it seems a little gross, I think it is cool how differently this action can be interpreted. 

This has influenced my life for the better. At first it was just a day at church where I could play games and be with my friends. Today, it is one of the most important days for my family. Even more now that both of my grandparents are deceased. It was my grandparent’s favorite day of the year. To see their family, help out within the church and show our pride made them happy. Since they are no longer with us, we get together so that we can celebrate our “mother” and make her proud. It makes us smile to even have our church ask “my family” to help just like my grandparents did so many years ago. One of my most favorite parts is reading the story to my children and then watching the movie so they can see why it is such a beautiful day.

              

Every country in the world has traditions they value or that they pass onto their families. An example of a tradition that is has been transmitted orally in Hinduism is that rain on your wedding day is considered lucky. Its considered lucky because when people get married it is said that the wedding couple are tying the knot. Well, if it rains the knot will get wet making it impossible to untie the knot. In other words, no divorce. Traditions are important and its what shapes families into what they are and how they raise their families.

            It takes a very patient human being to hunt and fish. It is a whole lot of waiting and hoping that you would catch or kill. I always enjoyed the time us three spent together doing these activities. We would sit for hours in a deer stand just waiting on our game to walk out into our scope. Reflecting to these moments, I realize that it has influenced my life in a couple of ways. One, it taught me that there was life outside of a phone or tv. Those few hours that I would spend in the woods or out by the pond allowed me to embrace nature and “disconnect” from the rest of the world. In addition to this, it taught me how to hunt and fish for my own food, and when we ate, I knew that our work and patience had paid off, because we were able to feed our families. Lastly, since my papa’s passing, I have held these memories so close to my heart, hoping that I will be able to cherish these moments in the future with a family of my own. 

            One of my favorite foreign traditions from another country is Cinco de Mayo. This Mexican holiday is celebrated on May 5^th every year. Celebration on this day is dedicated to remembering the Mexican army’s victory over France during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862. The Mexican army was smaller, poorer, and less resourced and trained than the French. However, Mexico won the battle against France at the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. As Hispanic, Latino, and Mexican individuals have migrated throughout the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become a very popular celebration in our country, originating from the foreign country of Mexico.  

 

Family is something extremely important to me, and something that I hold dear. To me the concept of family is just being around people that you love, and where you are also loved. Whether this is with blood relatives or friends, family can be either. Today I believe that the importance of family is kind of pushed to the side. It is not as important to most people as it once was. This could be due to our rapid technological advancement, or even just a lack of time. Some of the family values that mean the most to me is kindness, mutual respect, and thankfulness. My mom has always taught me and my sister to treat others the way that you would want to be treated, and to be thankful for what you do have because it could always be worst. In the situation of mutual respect, even though me and my sister are the kids of the family we show respect to our mom, and she also respects us. I hope to hold these same values and eventually pass then down to my own kids one day. In my opinion they are a great foundation for a happy family, but also good for building respectful children. My mom is the most important member of our family. She as a single mother is the strongest person I have ever met, and I have nothing but love and respect for her. One thing that I have learned from her is resilience. No matter what life throws in her path she never quits and continues to look ahead.  I believe multicultural families are great and have a lot of benefits. They teach people about diversity and how just because you might not think the exact same way, you can still love and respect that person. I did not grow up in a multicultural family, but I do believe that I still learned important values within my own family. Looking at some family values in Hispanic culture, there are a couple ways that they differ from common American culture. One being in Hispanic culture it is more common to have a close relationship with all family not just immediate family. I feel like this is a huge advantage and something all families should try to incorporate. Hispanic families also tend to be stricter that traditional American families. This could be an advantage and disadvantage, because while it should raise more respectful kids it could also strain a relationship. One other thing that is big in Hispanic culture is gender roles, which in my opinion is a disadvantage. Placing people into a role strictly because of gender is a good way to become complacent. Stepping outside of the norms is what pushes people to become great.                       

2) Upload a picture of your family or of a model family you look up to.

 

3) What are the family values that your family holds dear? My family is of Catholic faith and our values are in line with our faith. However, the Catholic Church is strict in areas of marriage and a few other areas that my family is not 100% in line with. Overall we value family and commitment to one another and respect for each other and others.

 

4) What family values would you like to pass on to your children? I would like to pass these same values to my children.  Specifically a respect for others and an understanding that just because someone does not agree with you does not mean you show disrespect.  Instead listen to understand a different perspective or view.

  

5) Who is the most important person in your family and why? What did you learn from this person? My mom :-)  She has a great appreciation for others and is always volunteering within the community.  She has compassion for others and is always the first to offer to help. The greatest lesson I have learned from her is to put others first and to get to know a person from the inside out & not judge them on appearance or others impression.

 

6) What do you think of multi-cultural families? I think multi-cultural families are wonderful.  To experience more than one culture and celebrate multiple holiday traditions brings excitement to each holiday.  Aside from traditions the different foods and learning a second language would be great.

 

7) Have you grown up in a family that is culturally mixed? If yes/no, how has this impacted your upbringing? How are (multi)cultural traditions preserved in your family?  Yes I have.  MY father’s family is from Cuba and my mom is Irish-American.  I have heard stories of discrimination from my father and his parents from his childhood, specifically when his parents immigrated to the US.  There are a few traditions that have been preserved, but my favorite celebration of each is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  The Cuban culture has a huge celebration Christmas Eve and the Irish tradition is Christmas Day.  Family gathers both days and feasts on foods from each culture while sharing family stories.

 

8) Research family values in one culture different from yours and discuss their advantages and disadvantages, using specific details.  

I choose to research Canadian Culture.  It is a mixture of French, British and American.  Americans tend to be more social and patriotic than Canadians. In addition, Canada has two languages, specific to regions, English and French.  Canadians and Americans value family, but a major difference is family leave after the birth/adoption of a child.  In Canada they are allowed a 18 months and in the US it is only 3 months, but often return early. In addition to the 18 months mothers can also take off 12 weeks prior to birth. While both value family, clearly Canada has a greater focus on younger years as well as the bond between mother and child.

The schools in Canada are all equal.  Culturally they value education and fund it differently so that no one school has a better quality education than another.  This is in stark contrast to the US where the household income of an area is directly proportional to the quality of the education.  A system like Canada’s could solve many of the issues in our education system as well as many of the issues of inequality, which many say is a direct result of the lack of a quality education.

2) A picture of my family is above. Here is my mom, me, my husband, and my dad.

3) Some family values out family hold dear  are honesty, kindness, forgiveness, accountability, and helping others in any ways we can.

4) The family values I would like to pass down to my children are all of the above.

5) My mom is the most important person in our family because she is always patient and understanding. She is the peace maker and is always there to help when anyone calls. She has been through a lot and is so strong. From her I have learned to be patient and kind to everyone no matter what, be strong and courageous, and always give things time before forming an opinion because you may not know the whole story.

6) I think multicultural families are beautiful and that if people would take a lesson from these types of relationships and take time to get to know someone before judging them, there would be a lot less hate in the world.

7) No, I did not grow up in a multicultural family.

8) The culture I decided to research is the Irish. Some values that are important to them are their Catholic faith, the father being the bread winner while the mother stays home taking care of the home and children, and allowing their children lots of freedom to be wild and explore. I believe some disadvantage of this lifestyle would be the lack of freedom due to their strict religious views as well as their thoughts on gender roles within the family. Some advantages are allowing their children to roam and experience the world first hand without restrictions.  

2) 

3) A few family values that we hold dear is spending quality time together, going to church, and always being there for each other. 

4) I would like to pass on to my children what my parents have instilled in me, that family is everything. Even when you feel you have no one and nothing in this world, you will always have family as a constant to fall back on. 

5) The most important person in my family is my mother. She is the nurturer and she always knows the exact answer to any problem. No matter what is going on in my life or my siblings' lives, we know that we can turn to her to make it all better and be a constant source of comfort. Without her, we would all fall apart. 

6) I think that multi-cultural families are very interesting. To be able to learn about a culture that is different from yours from someone you love is an incredible thing that should be celebrated. 

7) My family is not culturally mixed, but we were brought up to appreciate and respect all cultures. 

8) One example of a differing family value is that, in China, each couple is only allowed to have one child due to the economy. An advantage to this is that the cost is cut in families, as their is only one child to care for. A disadvantage to this is that some couples may wish for more children but would not be allowed to have them. 

I would personally define family as a collective of people with close relationship ties either through blood or emotional connection. The role of a family in society is to ensure that no person is left alone and has access to proper physical and emotional resources to ensure wellbeing. 

2) Upload a picture of your family or of a model family you look up to.

(they did what was best for their relationship and their children and I respect that)

3) What are the family values that your family holds dear?

This may be unorthodox, but in my family we cut out the people who are wrong to us, regardless of blood. And as family we respect when a family member has been forced to cut someone out. My mother and I both cut all ties with our respective abusers. It didn’t matter that they were family; it mattered that we did what we had to do.

4) What family values would you like to pass on to your children?  

To never feel like you have to sacrifice yourself and your boundaries for someone because they are family. Children shouldn’t be forced to allow great aunts hugs and kisses if they aren’t comfortable with that; they shouldn’t have to tolerate ignorance and emotional abuse just because “that’s how that family member is.” I want my children to know that they are entitled to their own autonomy. 

5) Who is the most important person in your family and why? What did you learn from this person?

My significant other is the most important person in my family. We both come from homes with a lot of baggage and have been able to work through that together and be understanding when the other reacts a certain way because of those backgrounds. 

6) What do you think of multi-cultural families?

It’s impressive how parents can come together and incorporate both of their cultures into their children’s lives.

7) Have you grown up in a family that is culturally mixed? If yes/no, how has this impacted your upbringing? How are (multi)cultural traditions preserved in your family?

My family doesn’t really have much culture on either side. When my grandparents immigrated here they married other Americans and assimilated. The only tradition we really have is big Sunday dinners at my grandmothers now. 

8) Research family values in one culture different from yours and discuss their advantages and disadvantages, using specific details.  

Greek families have pride and dignity over last names and their associated reputations. Similarly, having grown up in a small town, most families are known by last name. When people ask who my kin are, I tell them my stepfather is a Mims and they almost always know who I’m referring to. However, Greek families take insult to the individual as insult to the family name and each member is required to hold the name in good standing. We are not as strict in that regard. Greek elders are regarded with heavier weight and parents are more controlling over adult children. In my family, once you’re on your own, your decisions are your own. That’s not to say you can’t consult for advice, just no one else is going to choose for you. 

 

 

Work ethic is very important to my family. Everyone before me has worked hard to get where they are today. They worked hard to provide for their families. Being dependable is another big one. My family relies On each other for emotional, financial and companionship support. I would like to past down my work ethic to my children. I work extremely hard in everything I do. I get up at 5:30 every morning to go to work before I go to school in the afternoons. I give a 100 percent in school and my job. I also want my kids to know they can fall back on their family for help. 

My dad is the most important person in my family. He is the rock of our family; he keeps the peace between all of us. My dad has always put us above everything else. I learned that no matter what happens he will always be here for us and He will always provided for us. I’ve learned from him that no matter what you have to protect your family and do what is best for them. 

I think multi-cultural families can face difficulties, but they are often more well-rounded than someone that was born in a single-cultural family. No I have not grown up in a family that is culturally mixed. I feel as if often times, I was raised to look at certain things in a negative way as someone in a multicultural family would not. It also affected my beliefs of right and wrong. Our Traditions are passed down by telling each child that is born about them and also practicing them in our homes. 

There are so many cultures around the world, but the Arab culture has always fascinated me. The Loyalty, dignity, generosity, self-respect, and pride are all important family values to the Arab culture. These qualities don’t differ much from my culture but some things like Individualism vs. Collectivism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance Are completely opposite. Americans are more likely to believe in individualism, which means they take care of themselves while Arabs believe in collectivism, which makes them very loyal to their entire community. Arabs are okay with a big power distance, they are okay with being placed in a hierarchy, but Americans are not. Arabs go along with traditions and do not stray away from them making them high on uncertainty avoidance. Americans are more open to new things so they are on the lower end of uncertainty avoidance. I feel as if one disadvantage of the Arabic culture is that many people around the world look down on them for Supposedly being uncivilized. Also one disadvantage is that they are looked at like terrorist. An advantage is that it is a well known culture and that their strength comes from family and honor. 

 

FOR THE SAUCE: 

12-14 Cabbage Leaves softened in boiling water, core removed 

 

 
FOR THE SAUCE: 

FOR THE CABBAGE: 

FOR THE FILLING: 

TO BAKE: 

SLOW COOKER: 

Spray the inside of the crock pot with cooking spray.  Lay down some cabbage leaves.  Top with sauce.  Place cabbage rolls on top.  Seal the lid and cook on low 6- 8 hours, checking at 6 hours. 

This has always been a childhood favorite meal of mine. I remember always looking forward to helping make this meal. I’m not sure where my Grandma got the recipe for stuffed cabbage, the thought is that she was looking for new ways to cook cabbage, as my family grew a lot of the foods that we ate. Upon more research it seems that stuffed cabbage is a traditional Jewish dish. This makes sense to me as my family came from Russia and are Jewish. 

This is a very healthy dish it is packed with lots of nutritional values. For one cabbage contains small amounts of fiber but an abundance of micronutrients; vitamin C, vitamin K, and polyphenols with antioxidative properties. Also consuming cabbage roughly 5 times a week can help prevent some of the following health issues; protect against cholesterol from clogging arteries, lower inflammation and can prevent heart disease, help protect against cancer, lessens the risk of developing diabetes and can help protect your eyes from muscular degeneration.   

Cabbage is also an economically less costly, you can buy a head of cabbage and it keep for weeks in the fridge and get several uses out of one head depending on the amount used. According to the USDA cabbage is the second most economical veggie. This dish is cost efficient because you can really play around with the ingredients for the stuffing and make it your own. It’s a simple meal that can produce a large amount of food, plus you can freeze the left overs and really enjoy several meals out of one batch. The ingredients used don’t cost much either the most expensive thing would really be the meat.  

I think this dish communicates that the many different cultures that created their own variation were simply looking at ways to one create a family gathering. Because this meal takes time, it takes hours to fill and roll each leaf. So back in the old days when it was created it was during times when families really pitched in to help with meals, but also that because cabbage is an easy veggie to grow and cost efficient you play around with different ways to prepare it and make complete meals.  

I believe that food can unite different cultures. In my opinion food is a great way to break the barrier of cultures. It’s kind of like breaking bread with strangers and food is a common ground for everyone and with that it allows people to open up and be willing to get to know others.  

When you look at history and a time that food played a big role you can look at the French Revolution. During the French Revolution the poor people experienced high taxes on bread and salt. The aristocracy were not affected by this tax, but when you look at history you see that the poor people spent most of their income on bread and when the tax was increased it caused a bigger problem for the poor. They could no longer afford bread and salt. The bread was the major food group that people ate back during these times. At one point in history there is a saying believed to be said by Marie Antoinette, queen of France at the time, when she is told the people have no bread. She says “so let them eat cake.” This along with other issues during this time period help contribute to the beheading of Queen Antionette.  

3. Baked Spaghetti Casserole gives maintainable energy from the pasta. Pasta is cholesterol-free, which means that Baked Spaghetti Casserole is good for the heart. Ground beef gives a good source of protein. Whole-wheat pasta, which is the kind of pasta I use in my dish, has many vitamins, fiber, and minerals. 

4. Baked Spaghetti Casserole is easy to make and is inexpensive. The most expensive part of making Baked Spaghetti Casserole would be buying the ground beef. Baked Spaghetti Casserole feeds more people without having to speed a ton of money. As I said earlier, Baked Spaghetti Casserole is very filling because it is made with pasta; which contains carbs. 

5. Spaghetti originates from Italy. Italy is known for making all different types of pasta recipes. There are many different types of pasta noodles. Pasta noodles consist of different shapes and sizes. With this being said, pasta is delicately made. It is no easy task and it is time-consuming. This says a lot about Italian culture. Italian culture takes pride in its food. 

6. Food brings people together. Every night when my family sits down to eat supper, we all communicate about the events throughout the day. We laugh with each other, learn life lessons, and enjoy the same food. It brings us together, just like food brings people of other cultures together. When one culture enjoys another culture’s food, it creates a sense of appreciation for that culture. When one culture appreciates the other, it brings them together. Another thing, if cultures share food together, it also creates trust. In other words, if I eat another culture’s food it means that I am trusting that culture. What we put in our bodies is very important, and if the wrong thing is put into one’s body it can result in death. Trust unites cultures together. Sharing food creates trust; that is why food unites different cultures.

7. School lunch is an example of a social equalizer. Everyone that is enrolled at a school is offered food. Food cannot be denied to a student that is enrolled at a school. The food is also distributed equally. No one gets more or less food than the other. Everyone also gets the same food choices, so the quality of the food is the same. At Coffee High school, the high school I attend, lunch is free. Therefore, no one pays more or less than the other for the food. School lunch also brings people together. During lunchtime at school, students enjoy the same food and enjoy each other’s company. This is why I say that school lunch is a social equalizer. 

8. One instance when food played a decisive role in history is when the Plymouth Colonists and the Wampanoag came together and had a feast. This is known as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in history. This feast brought the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag tribe together.  Because of this event, we now celebrate Thanksgiving every year. This is just one instance where food played a decisive role in history.

            My stew is made of a recipe that is composed of apices, vegetables, and thick sauce. More specifically, below are what I incorporate in making my stew.

Mushrooms

8 small chopped potatoes

Tomato

1 onion

Salt

Carrots 

Milk

Garlic

Pepper

Assorted spices and herbs 

Picture of the stew 

 

The potatoes will provide the fiber that helps lose weight, thereby preventing diseases by ensuring sugar levels and cholesterol are kept in control. The tomatoes and vegetables have ample amounts of vitamin C, and A. Vitamin A provides antioxidants and keeps the neurological system healthy. Vitamin C improves the immunity of the body. 

            The recipe has a myriad of economic benefits. Most of the ingredients of the recipe are readily available, and one can grow in the backyard. It, therefore, saves one from the transport cost. Secondly, they are cheap, and one does not have to part colossal amount to obtain them.

The recipe communicates a culture of vegetarians. Indeed, almost all the ingredients point to a vegetarian. 

            Cooking and subsequently eating together bring families and friends together. Indeed food can also bring strangers together just because they like a particular food; they will be meeting to share a meal. Moreover, one type of food consumed in a given part of the world is most likely consumed elsewhere, and this will definitely bring them together at some point. 

Circumstances where Food is a Social Equalizer

            The street food or those served at the hotels is a social equalizer. As long as the food is prepared well and tasty, people from different social classes, races, gender, political affiliation, among others, will converge together in a given place to consume the food. 

            In Brazil, it was claimed that vinegar could be used to make bombs. Therefore, there was a crackdown for anyone in possession. However, after arresting a man in possession of a vinegar bottle, the police realized it neutralizes the effects of the teargas leading to The Vinegar Movement. The uprising got focused on other things, including political accountability in the country. 

The first step is to pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and use a damp cloth to wipe the mushrooms clean. The stems are removed and the caps set aside in a medium casserole and coarsely chopped. A large skillet should be heated to a medium temperature, kitchen shears used for snipping bacon into bite-sized pieces into the skillet. Leave it to cook for between 3 and 4 minutes until fat renders. Most of the fat is drained, only allowing 2 teaspoons, onion is added, and cooked for 3 minutes. After this, the chopped mushroom stems are added and cooked for 1 minute.  The stuffed mushroom is removed from heat to cool for some minutes.  Stir parsley, crumbled Oregon Blue cheese, and panko, mixing until they are well combined. Each mushroom is then stuffed with an equal volume or amount of stuffing.  The stuffing should be baked in a casserole dish of medium size for between 15 and 18 minutes until the mushrooms have been cooked into a golden brown topping. The resulting stuffing is served immediately. Enjoy!

            This is an organic food with nutritional benefits as healthy, with no additives, and naturally prepared.

            The recipe is prepared from organic farming and organic ingredients support beneficial insects including ladybugs and insects. Organic farms are economical because they support the on-farm natural predator population and avoid biodiversity loss (Chiang and Ru-Shuo 5).  The recipe is also simple and does not include ingredients that would mean more costs for preparation. The time for preparation is also short; hence, saves energy costs or expenditure.

            The culture is mindful of organic foods and healthy nutrition. They support organic ingredients and farming. Besides, it shows how the people are environmentally conscious by promoting eco-friendly farming and food production or preparation

            Food unites different cultures since it is one of the practical ways of experiencing cultures. People eat and share foods from a different culture to have a feeling of how and what the culture perceives of food. 

            During events like Thanksgiving, weddings, social events, and parties provide opportunities to experiment and share different food elements. Hence, food becomes a social equalizer in such a situation.

            The Indian sweets, according to Hindu culture contain milk, sugar, and ghee as ingredients in mithais considered by this society as ‘sattvic’ meaning ‘pure’ and possibly eaten by everyone including vegetarians and spiritual leads (Bagchi and Yashpal 243). Since they have pure ingredients, the mithai serve a religious significance by being offered to gods, always distributed to temple devotees.  Sweets have historically been used in Indian rituals, going down to the ancient times, thereby finding relevance in every positive and binding people as a social equalizer. The sweets are ever-present in Indian religious functions like Diwali.

Works Cited

Chiang, Chin-I., and Ru-Shuo Sheu. "How the sustainability of your recipes?." International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science vol. 22, no. 1, 2020, pp.1-10

Bagchi, Tilak, and Yashpal Baranda. "Celebration of Diwali Festival in Some Bhil Villages of Udaipur, Rajasthan." Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India 67.2 (2018): 239-251.

 

This picture does not belong to me, but this is as close to mine as I can find on the web. The benefit of this dish is a good amount of protein, some dairy, vegetables, and grain from the cornbread. It is all in one meal.  The economic value of this recipe is that it will feed over thirty people. The only process is warming the meal, which uses less electricity than cooking a complete meal on the stove. This way, leftovers can save money because a person will not need to buy more food for another dinner. The economy is suffering from food shortages because of laborers to continue growing the economy. Due to covid shutting companies down and some people not wanting to work anymore due to free handouts, this dish is an excellent option for food conservation. Cornbread dressing is a West African dish also known to the Africans as “kusha.” It was brought over with the captive Africans and added too with turkey from the land of America. This dish communicates family and togetherness in Black families as they pass down the recipe through generation. The motherland was unreachable, but family is the key to making a home wherever the family lies. Different cultures come together on the same day with different but similar food to unite every one of diverse backgrounds. Food can join people despite their wealthy status, like weddings, dinner events, fundraisers, etc. Food is a universal key to love. Sitting down sharing a meal with someone is the way to getting to know others. Coming together sharing a meal with different people is a social equalizer within itself.  During this time, we all will consume the same foods equally. No one is better than the next.

The way I have seen food make a very decisive decision in history would be the slaves and how they evolved the food given and their cultural foods. During the 1600s, slavery began to be expected in America because the inhabitants decided it would be better to have someone else do the labor that was not considered “people,” but property. The slaves were given parts of undesirable animals, wild animals, fish, and self-grown vegetables. Their culture was a place where food was full of flavor, and they brought some vegetables with them, like okra. Not even the inedible would stop the slaves from nourishments. This era is when “Soul Food” was created. Everything was cooked with love and from the soul to keep them strong. The slave owners and other people of different races did notice the different foods, crossing the racial boundaries and extending to all people who love soul food. Now Soul Food is not just for “black people” but all people. When you go to soul food restaurants, very diverse people enjoy what once was considered trash to the slave from the slave owners. Food is the result of social togetherness. My dish is a versatile dish of love and Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

References:

My favorite dish is cuy asado and is roasted guinea pig. It can be found in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. The dish is typically served with potatoes and an assortment of different vegetables. Cuy asado is very healthy, due to its low fat content and that it is high in protein. I would say that cuy asado is financially reasonable, as guinea pigs are inexpensive, and by eating native food in the countries, it helps boost the economy. I believe that the recipe does an excellent job of showing the history of the Peruvian culture, as it is considered a staple food in the country. A statement on the subject of Cuy states “ the guinea pig, or cuy, was an important source of protein for the Incas. Guinea pigs were kept as domesticated animals by the Incas and are still consumed throughout Peru today.” When tourist come to Peru, a lot of them try cuy asado, and I feel that it unites cultures in that aspect. Food can be a social equalizer not only by bringing cultures together, but allows an opportunity to socialize and for people to come together over.

The Great Hunger, also known as Irish Potato Famine, took place throughout Ireland in the year 1845. A fungus substance named Phytophthora infestans  had spread rapidly throughout Ireland and had ruined over one half of the potato crop of the year 1845, and continued for the next 7 years. Since the potato was the staple food of Ireland, the ruined crop had catastrophic affects on the people of Ireland. The famine had caused over 1 million deaths and another million to leave their country as refugees. Many religious groups helped through the famine, and an excerpt on the subject states “ The Church of Ireland provided many soup kitchens, but there were accusations that some of these only gave assistance to those who agreed to convert to Protestantism. One group that was particularly active was the Quaker Community. Ireland’s small Quaker community provided a large amount of relief and many praised their efforts and they saved countless of lives.” The aid given by the Church of Ireland and by the Quakers led many people to convert or join the religious groups. The famine also brought about a mass immigration, with many Irish refugees coming to America. The Irish Potato Famine has had many effects on the people of Ireland, and some can still be seen to this day.

Resources:

Contribution, G., Daisy, & Cooper, C. (2020, December 13). The Great Irish Potato Famine. History Cooperative. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://historycooperative.org/the-irish-famine/.

Wh. (2018, October 28). Inca Food – What did the Incas Eat? World History. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://worldhistory.us/latin-american-history/inca-food-what-did-the-incas-eat.php.

2)

 

3) Jalebi is a "rich source of carbohydrates and energy," due to the amount of fats and sugars it contains.

4) Jalebi is a dessert meant for event so during these important events the economy gets a quick boost due to the sales of this treat and also its ingredients.

5) What this dish conveys about Indian culture is that, Indian culture is very visually pleasing to the eye and very colorful. Also, Jalebi shows how innovative Indians are when it comes to creating dishes that don't contain any meat.

6) Food unites people of different cultures because food allows them to experience something that is a true neutral and which doesn't pick sides. Food is something that truly anyone can enjoy and it can bring people closer.

7) Food can be a social equalizer when it is offered as a peace offering, such as during weddings when two families come together or when political figures meet to settle turbulence.

8) One example of food playing a decisive role in history would be the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Tea Party took place on December 16, 1773 in Boston, Massachusetts and was a political event that kicked off the American Revolution. The colonist understood that England was not for their best interests and were punished by the Tea Act, which taxed there tea. The act of throwing tea into the harbor symbolized the colonist standing up for themselves and due to the important of this food, history was made.

 

 

Loaded potato soup has always been my favorite dish my mother has made. It has always been a quick, easy and cheap dish to make for our large family. This has always been my go to dish due to the fact that it isn’t one of those recipes with a long ingredient list. The basics for this dish includes the following: potatoes, heavy cream, bacon and, of course, a few other spices.

Although this dish is mostly made of potatoes which has always been known to be an unhealthy choice for us, this dish has more health benefits than you think. Potatoes actually help with our bone health! Potatoes contain iron, calcium ,and zinc that is needed to support healthy bone health. Surprisingly, they also help lower blood pressure. Baked potatoes, such as the ones in this dish, are low in sodium making them an ideal choice if you are wanting a potato-based dish. One of the most surprising benefits of potatoes is they help fight cancer due to one key ingredient in them, folate. Folate helps in the reporting of cells which helps prevent mutations in DNA leading to a cancer cell.

Not only does this dish have great health benefits, it also has great economic advantages. Most people just see potatoes as something we consume almost every day, but there is more to it. In an article which explained the economical benefits of potatoes, it was said that “ In 2020, the values of U.S potato production surpassed $3.9 billon, while supporting thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly.”(NPC 1) Potatoes bring in billions of dollars every year.

The origin of this dish is not as amazing as the soup is. The soup was first created and served to a royal boutique in Peru around 1589. The soup was first prepared with the leaves and stems included in the soup, which were poisonous. This led to everyone at the gathering getting food poisoning.After this happened the soup was perfected and used during a famine. The soup was used because it was a filler. It took small amounts to feed a larger number of people, while keeping them full. This dish was created to help feed people during hard times.

For centuries people have been gathering around tables to come together to take part in meal time. Meals help us come together and show others our different cultures and heritage.In all parts of the world people come together to eat. It's actually one of the most commuel things people do all around the world. Food also helps us carry on from generation to generation.Have that favorite dish in your family? Was it passed on to you, or will you continue to pass it on? This helps us all come together and set all our differences to the side and have a meal together. 

While now we believe potatoes are crucial products , this crop was ever more important to people in the 1700s. While there were numerous famines in history, this one in particular was the famine in France of 1785. This crop helped fight starvation and lead to different uses for potatoes.

Wadsworth, Edie. “Loaded Potato Soup.” Life{in}Grace, edited by Jenna Laible, 2014. https://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2014/10/loaded-potato-soup/. 

Ware , Megan. “Potatoes: Health Benefits, Nutrients, Recipe Tips, and Risks.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 13 Oct. 2017, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280579#10_possible_health_benefits. 

Ifoodtv. “About Potato Soup.” Ifood.tv, 2021, https://ifood.tv/soup/potato-soup/about. 

This proverb is special to me because I have a whole village of people supporting my dreams of becoming a doctor. With the help of family and friends' support, love, and experiences every day, I am driven to be the best version of myself, and that is everything I could ask for.

A prime example of this proverb is with the famous retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; he had a small village of people raising, supporting, and pushing him to be great because they knew he had the potential to be amazing. With the support he received, he became the first person to successfully separate conjoined twins at the head on September 7, 1987. 

Love.  To be able to live a healthy lifestyle in any form you must first love yourself enough to know that you deserve it and that you need it.  You also need to love yourself so that you are more understanding of what it is to truly love others.  Loving and caring for others is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle.   As humans we crave love, intimacy and a connection with others.  It puts a smile on our face, butterfly's in our stomach and hope in our heart.Having healthy relationships allow us to grow as a person and allows us to invest into others to help see them prosper as well.  It really is a beautiful thing.

Nature. It is simply the best medicine there is.  From eating healthy fresh foods to being outdoors nature has a way of healing and soothing your mind, body and soul.  Fresh natural foods give our bodies the nutrients we need to thrive, grow, and ward of disease.  Being in nature allows our bodies to process Vitamin D and just all around boost your mood. Laying in the grass, walking barefoot, swimming in natural waterways, hiking and simply listening to the sounds of nature have a way of clearing your mind, releasing the burdens of stress and grounding you. 

Two years ago, my sister passed away. My world crumbled. For a long time my physical, emotional and mental health struggled.  Finally one day I woke up and had the feeling that i just needed to get away so I done just that.  I took my camping gear and went camping for a few days. I hiked, kayaked, napped on the sandbar and in the grass.  I layed in my hammock and let the wind rock me.  I basked in the sun thinking of nothing more than just how good the heat felt on my face.  I screamed at the night and let it know just how I felt.  For the first time in a year the noise from everyday life didn't stop me from feeling and processing and just being in my emotions.  I rested. I renewed myself. I forgave myself. And I focused on loving myself again so I would be able to love others again.  When I packed my bags for the journey home a peace consumed me physically, emotionally and mentally.  I was finally ready to enjoy my life again. Nature allowed me peace to process and it gave me the comfort to just be.  A healthy lifestyle I will meet your emotional, physical and mental needs.

              I remember a time when having a purpose is what I needed, and what help through a dark time in my life. I had no sense of direction and didn’t really know why I was here or what I was good for. I became depressed at that time, and during the midst of that I found out I was pregnant and had a baby boy. That changed everything for me. I knew he was a blessing from God, and I found some purpose in being his mom. I also found direction after that. I knew God had me here for a reason, just like my son was here for a reason.

Work Cited

Gillette, Tina. “Finding Purpose Later in Life: Seniors and A Sense of Meaning.” Senior Home Care of Tucson, https://seniorhomecareoftucson.com/seniors-sense-of-meaning/.

Leonard, Barb PhD, RN, PNP. Kreitzer, Mary Jo RN, PhD. “Why Is Life Purpose Important?” University of Minnesota, https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/why-life-purpose-important.

Seppala, Emma PhD. “Connectedness & Health: The Science of Social Connection.” Standford Medicine, http://ccare.stanford.edu/uncategorized/connectedness-health-the-science-of-social-connection-infographic/.

2. 

3. The scenery and the fried green tomatoes at The Whistlestop Cafe are the two things that make this town my favorite place to visit. The scenery itself just reminds you of the old days when the only things that truly mattered were a good life of enjoying the outdoors and good food. Nowadays everything is all about who can outdo the other, or electronics. This town reminds you of the stories that grandma and grandpa use to tell us about the life they had growing up. Good home-cooked meals are made from scratch rather than processed foods most people prepare in our generation. If good food and beautiful scenery is something like as a person, this is the place you should go. 

4. Juliette, Ga. has received a great deal of economic damage due to Covid-19 within the past year. One of the main reasons behind this is that with Covid-19 hitting as hard as it has, and it limiting so many things that we use to do in our daily lives, tourist is one of the biggest reasons why this town has always had such a good economic impact with tourist being limited to travels it made a drastic change. (https://www.bestneighborhood.org). 

I pick up trash from the ground where ever I go and try to reduce travel with a car.

3) Why do you think environmental awareness is important?

It is important to conserve our environment so that our offspring can enjoy it as we do.

Environmental awareness is important because without a clean environment we are doomed. Looking at posts all over social media and the news we are noticing that humans have affected the world in an unpleasant way, such as pollution. Pollution is causing global warming that is affecting temperature even in the coldest countries.  

I use long-lasting light bulbs, reuse supermarket bags as trash bags, recycle plastic and cans, reuse plastic containers instead of tossing them away, and use bamboo toilet paper. I also reuse batteries from work, (these batteries are only used a bit then thrown away because you have to have fresh batteries for every new patient).

For a variety of reasons, environmental awareness is critical. First and foremost, it benefits the environment by lowering the quantity of garbage we generate and dispose of. Second, it contributes to the preservation of our planet's natural beauty and biodiversity by avoiding the construction of constructions such as buildings and highways in sensitive areas. Finally, it contributes to ecosystem preservation by avoiding the introduction of dangerous compounds into the environment, such as pollution.

My family and I put used plastic water bottles into a container to reuse. We don't leave the lights or television on when we are not using them. 

We are on track of ruining our planet, and we have no where else to go. If we want our kids and grand kids to live a happy, fulfilled life, then we need to take action on saving our planet. If you ignore what is happening to our planet, you are apart of the problem. 

2) What words or actions of this historical figure do you find relevant for your own life and thinking and why? Obama stated, “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” I admire this quote because everything in life is not all about money. It is people in this world who actually need help and people willing to help them without asking for anything. I feel like you will always receive a blessing helping others out regardless of the time or money. I relate to this quote in many different ways because that's just the kind of person I am.

3) Would this person be needed to hold a position in our society today? In which role and why or why not? In my opinion, he still holds a position in our society today. As the very first black president, that was different for African-American people. They have never had one of their kind over the entire country. I feel it is different for us because we were not used to that as African-Americans. It is still shocking to us today.

2) The quote that I find still relevant today is: “For in a democracy, every citizen, regardless of his interest in politics, ‘hold office’; every one of us is in a position of responsibility; and, in the final analysis, the kind of government we get depends upon how we fulfill those responsibilities. We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and deserve.”  This quote holds a firm place in my heart because I feel that the right to vote is a privilege in today's world. Countries around the world are being stripped away of their basic human rights daily, and to ensure this doesn't happen to us in the United States we need to vote in politicians and leaders who will stand up for us. John F. Kennedy made it care that what happens in the United States democracy is based on who the citizens vote in office; we can see that truth still today when you look at the politicians who hold office and what they are doing during their reign.

3) Yes, this person would need to hold a position in our society today. I believe John F. Kennedy would be a great president at this time in our life. With Russia invading Ukraine, I feel that JDK would do his best to keep the peace around the world. He would be concerned about our troops heading overseas to fight because he was once in the same shoes when he was in the United States Navy. JFK would look out for our military and do his best to keep world peace. 

World Literature II - South Georgia State College, Douglas, GA, USA

2) What words or actions of this historical figure do you find relevant for your own life and thinking and why? Rosa Parks greatly impacted my life and the lesson I have learned from her was to not settle for less. She implemented in me to not conform to others' liking and to always stand up for what I believe in and what is right. Because I am an African American woman, I must try my hardest to fulfill my role and represent my community. Parks truly demonstrates that by her actions. Even though she was arrested, that didn’t stop her from making the change that would rightfully change history forever. I will forever be grateful for Rosa Park paving the way for me to be where I am today. I can not be discriminated against due to my skin color anymore, and it is because of her and many others. 

 

3) Would this person be needed to hold a position in our society today? In which role and why or why not? If Rosa Parks were still living, I strongly believe that she would need to hold the position of being a political representative for the state of Alabama. I believe she would rightfully fulfill her position to advocate for women and African Americans. She would also make sure that no biased decisions or laws would be implemented without proper vote and agreement amongst the Board. The state of Alabama would be more united with each other and having a diverse political board allows for all voices of the community, state, and nation to be heard.