Ahn’s writing gives a close
description of how food is a big part of life due to the cultural significance
it carries. Coming to the United States
from Korea was undoubtedly tough due to the cultural changes. Aside from the language barrier there are
many other things that would make life tough.
These may be looked on as smaller or less important, but in reality they
can be just as big, and carry even more significance. The two cultures were constantly contrasted
while he grew up. His mother made meals
from back home and spoke in their original language, while his father tried
harder to assimilate to the American culture.
While being distance from his home culture and birth land, Roy Ahn is
brought back into the culture and lifestyle through food. Food is something that uses almost all of the
senses. The eater tastes it, smells it,
feels it with their tongue, and gets to look at it before they dig in. The active use of such senses is sure to
bring back memories. Ahn’s writing
definitely had a stronger cultural significance but Nicholson’s also tied
memories to food. Nicholson’s writing
used the memories of food and the senses it triggers to talk about the memories
of his mother and what she ate. In both
stories food has a strong connection to the author’s heritage. Food helps them remember who they are, and
where exactly they come from.
Reading
these didn’t really make me think of my connection to food, but they did make me
realize how and maybe why food can bring up so many memories. Use of the senses can help trigger strong
memories. When I eat certain things I
always think of past times when I enjoyed them with friends or family. Lasagna makes me think of having dinner at my
grandparents house with my uncle visiting from California. Having a burrito always makes me think of my
friend Alex and the many times we chowed down on Mexican food together after
skiing in the winter or long boarding in the summer. Food helps tie yourself to who you are and
where you come from, just as these two stories showed me.
