When worlds of taste collide and form a whole new cusine

Here is an interesting article from PRI--Public Radio International about unlikely blends of cuisine--Peruvian  Chinese and Peruvian Japanese. The resulting new cuisines even have new names! chifa is the Peruvian and Chinese blend and nikkei is the Peruvian Japanese mix. This would have surprised me a lot more had I not taken US Ethnic History class and read the chapter about Chinese and Japanese immigration. The article says that Chinese started immigrating to Peru in the late 1850s and early 1860s. Food writer Steve  Dolinsky comments, "The Chinese came here to work the plantations, build railroads, tap rubber trees, and they stayed, and they created their own cuisine based on what was available locally."

Japanese immigrants who came to Peru to work in the 1890s created nikkei. "Many of those immigrants stayed, married Peruvians, and longed for the tastes of home."
Mitsuhara Tsumura, owner of a top 10 ranked restaurant in Latin America said to Dolinsky, "Peru is like a sponge, instead of rejecting other cultures, we have made them ours." It is amazing how cultures influence each other. It is almost impossible to be unchanged by contact with other cultures. Even our taste buds change!

http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-09-05/immigration-fuels-hot-asian-fusion-food-scene-lima

Outstanding Americans by Choice

The United States recognizes the achievements of naturalized citizens who have made great contributions to the their communities and to the United States. These citizens are often asked to speak at naturalization oath ceremonies. They inspire other immigrants to believe that it is possible to achieve the "American Dream". This dream differs from person to person. Judging from the variety of fields of expertise and service represented, it is obvious that the sky is the limit when hard work, discipline, responsibility and the support of others are all combined. According to the USCIS website, "Through civic participation, professional achievement, and responsible citizenship, recipients of this honor have demonstrated their commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans." Here is a link to the website. http://www.uscis.gov/news/outstanding-americans-choice/2014-outstanding-american-choice-recipients

 
 

Define American

Last month I first heard of Jose Antonio Vargas, an undocumented immigrant who came to the U.S from the Philippines when he was 12. His story is moving and inspiring. Vargas produced and directed the CNN film "Documented". When I first saw him on TV it was hard to believe his predicament. He came across right away as a bright, articulate, sincere and responsible young man with a lot of potential --potential for not just himself but the United States as well.

He may not look like an undocumented person but he speaks on behalf of all the undocumented. In an interview with CNN entitle, "What it's like to be Undocumented" Vargas asks,  "What do you want to do with me?" What do you want to do with us? How do you define American?" On behalf of 11 million undocumented immigrants like me -- many of us Americans in all but papers -- I asked those questions to the Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2013, nearly two years after I publicly outed myself as an undocumented immigrant in The New York Times Magazine."

In July he posted a tweet showing his passport from the Philippines and his pocket copy of the US Constitutions as the only security identification he has. He considers himself one of the most privileged undocumented people. Vargas unselfishly traveled to Texas earlier in the summer to visit those who had recently crossed the border. Today he a Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist and uses his influence to raise awareness of the plight of undocumented immigrants in the US. In the earlier mentioned interview, speaking of Vargas' documentary, the CNN host rightly validates his contribution to America in concluding, "It is an American Story!" Below is a 5min video of Vargas' story.

 



 

 

 

The Best of all Worlds

Our first task in approaching another people, another culture, another religion, is to take off our shoes, for the place we are approaching is holy. Else we may find ourselves treading on another’s dreams; more serious still, we may forget that God was there before our arrival, and will continue to be there after we are gone. The first time I saw this anonymous quote was on a beautiful poster hanging on the wall of a high school class. I tried to memorize and unpack it because I knew it was a gold mine of wisdom which if lived could bring about greater peace, respect, justice and freedom between peoples. Over the years I have encountered these words again both on paper and within the context of reality of everyday encounters—life. This truth has often guided my journey of discovery, understanding and acceptance of the different peoples and cultures I encounter. They have also challenged me to open my mind and heart to receive the unique beauty and wonder of each.

I imagine the same challenge of understanding and accepting the different peoples with whom we share this great land must have made the early settlers feel threatened to some extent by anyone who was not like them or who did not vote according to their criteria. Diversity can be a threat but it is also a gift. I was reminded of this last week when I ran into a lady who came to the U.S from Italy decades ago with her family. She was only a little girl when she got here. Referring to English she said, "I hated the language at first!" She did eventually learn English and today speaks it very well. I wonder if her resistance was prompted by the expectation to speak English in school and other places. Though not the official language of the U.S, it is hard to be successful in the U.S without knowing English. After being assimilated into the culture and ways of the United States, the lady was able to conclude with much thoughtfulness," Everyone has something to offer us. Maybe this is why we were made so different--that we can learn from each other and depend on each other." Each migrant group brought along distinct traits --industriousness, efficiency, drive for success and the rich cultural heritage of the native land. By allowing ourselves to be enriched by this breathtaking wealth of cultures, we can get the best of all worlds!