Having two different cultures (that of my family and that of the society I live in) always makes holiday gatherings full of different kinds of food. I like to think that the two epicurean traditions can coexist well and not lead to some dichotomy in holiday celebration-ism.
This year, I experienced the phenomenon twice: once on Christmas Eve at home with my paternal grandparents (who are in town for a family friend's funeral) and then on Christmas Day in Sacramento with my maternal grandparents. For me, the holidays are not complete without turkey, a honey baked ham, and sparkling apple cider. For both sets of grandparents, any meal is not complete without tons of Chinese dishes. This leads to a dinner that seems like a hodge podge of food (hoards of food), but always ends up with satiated stomachs. Furthermore, there is always a heaping portion of love all around that reminds us why family comprises one of the strongest parts of our identities.
I have to admit, the meeting of two cultures, two minds, two hearts, or whatever it may be, always leads to the possibility of cacophony and discord. Nonetheless, we should be willing to take the chance to meld things together, to find out whether two things can converge and form a fit. Some of the best things in life would not exist if we did not take the chance to experiment and put together two seemingly dissimilar elements. From peanut butter and banana sandwiches to jean jackets and leg warmers, taking risks really allows for the opportunity that something great can emerge, or at least we can get a laugh out of our attempt.
The only issue . . . taking chances.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment