Is cultural influence reciprocal?
As 2009 begins many reflect on what has happened this past year. I’ve read many reflections, updates from last year’s resolutions, countless thoughts on World events, and some have jotted down a list of the places that they traveled to in 2008.
I had the privilege of traveling to many places inside of the United States over the last year. Something that I always find fascinating is that, even though I didn’t leave the country, I have experienced many different cultures. Every city I’ve been to felt very much American yet each had their own history, traditions, and of course food woven into their cultural tapestries.
Being that I’ve lived on the east coast of North America, both northern and southern, for my entire life no other city “feels like America” to me more than New York City. Whenever I travel I feel as though New York City is my barometer for how much a particular area “feels like America” to me. I expect those of you from other parts of the country can relate.
This past year I found myself in close-to-home areas like Philadelphia, New York City, the Finger Lakes region in New York, and even small towns that don’t register on Google Maps unless you zoom way, way in. You know, until all you can see are blocky images of what should be trees. I also visited Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and the island of Oahu, Hawai’i. In each of these places I never felt as though I left the United States — though I knew that I wasn’t home.
During a recent trip to NYC I had lunch with a few friends at Thai Basil, a restaurant no wider than a large hallway, on 9th Ave. and W 56th St. The food was extremely good and the tea service was a welcomed warm-up from walking the windy streets in midtown Manhattan. In Philadelphia I chose Pat’s over Gino’s every single time. Visiting my brother’s family in North Carolina resulted in my having the very best onion soup of my life during a day trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains. In Las Vegas, of all places, I had an incredible italian meal with some friends from all over the world. In Hawai’i, between the Luau on the beach and the highly Japanese-influenced culture of Waikiki, I managed to scarf down a delicious Puka Dog (pictured) in the very same place that Anthony Bourdain did in the Hawaii episode of No Reservations.
No matter where I traveled this year the culture was always slightly different, being influenced by innumerable factors. I wonder though, does the various cultures that make up the America that I know ever end up influencing the very cultures from which they all originated? This country is incredibly young after all. A new year has begun and I’m very much looking forward to doing some traveling outside of the United States. Maybe I’ll be able to answer this question myself by the time the next year rolls around.
On Monday a new season of No Reservations is starting that will take us, by way of the magic of television, to Mexico. When I first saw the promotional videos for this season and saw that the first episode was Mexico, I immediately wondered how much Mexico “feels like America”. Being one of only two of our mainland neighbors Mexico is about as close as you can get geographically without actually being in the United States. I’ve been to Texas. I’ve seen the influence that Mexico has had on the culture there (Not that it hasn’t had a major influence all over our country.) On Monday, while I’m watching the season premier and eating a gordita filled with some sorta of greasy meat (thanks to my newly-married friend Josue Salazar for the suggestion), that is what I’ll be looking for. Is the influence reciprocal? Is it even palpable? Will Anthony even mention it? I’m excited to find out.
The rest of this season will bring us to Venice, Washington, D.C., the Azores, Chicago, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. For posterity I’m going to say that I’m most looking forward to the Venice and Sri Lanka episodes. How has Sri Lanka recovered from the Tsunami in late-2004? It seems so long ago now. Was the No Reservations crew drowned in Venice?! All these questions, and more I’m sure, will be answered in the latest season of No Reservations.
Season 5: Episode 1 – Mexico! (travelchannel)
5 Comments
It’s a funny thing; leaving the country and experiencing a culture almost entirely through food. After returning from Jordan, I had even more to watch for in No Reservations than before. It reminds me of Jordan more than ever now: to see the connection people have to food in other countries that I feel is mostly lacking in America. Glad to see you haven’t lost touch, though.
Great post and boy were those Puka dogs good! Can’t wait for the new season of NR!
I understand what you talking about and it’s awesome to experience other cultures. Though in US those are already mixed “inland”, but of course you can always feel the differences about daily life and habits. But what is really enriching is visit other countries and feel their living there locally. I’ve visit some places in US, mainly most of all California, Nevada and Florida. But I got the opportunity of live also in Portugal, Spain and France. Besides those I also visit England (only London so far), Ireland (Dublin), Italy (Rome), Monaco, North of Africa, Cape Verde islands, Russia (Moscow) and China. But there’s a lot more of world there to discover and I can’t wait for the next trip. I think knowing other countries, other people (because at the end, it’s all about the people), other cultures, other geographies.. there’s no better way to open our minds. ^__^
Great article Colin. I really like your perspective and there’s not doubt that food is an important gateway to getting to know another culture.
I’ve been fortunate in my life to have traveled to several different places around the world. Mexico, England, France, Germany, Belgium, China, the Philippines…
Of all the foreign countries I’ve been to, I spent the most time in the Philippines.(Nearly two years)So I’m excited to see that episode of No Reservations. I’m interested to see what he’ll be trying and hoping for balut. (I also voted for balut on Eat Weird)
I believe that cultural reciprocity is absolutely real. Whether from first hand introduction or commercial proliferation, I have seen just as much U.S. cultural influence in all the countries I have visited as I see from other cultures in my everyday life here in Arizona.
I believe these cross-cultural connections are a starting point for people from around the world to get to know each other. A common ground to build on and learn about one another. And what better way to learn and grow together than through food.
What I find incredibly interesting is how many cultures around the world are influenced by “the american” culture. From the food industry to the service industry, the United States have made a big impact on the world as a whole.
It always interests me how you can feel your culture in another country though.. It’s all so relative. I like asking people what they think of as their home food (and i’ve been lucky enough to be in many countries this past year) and I’ve found that many times the food is all the same and it really didn’t originate where you think it did, and that it’s just as big in other cultures as it may be for your own and that people relate to it just like you do.
Good post and good to hear you tried out las gorditas.
P.S: NYC is still on my list of places to experience, luckily I’m way closer now (in toronto) than I used to be. I’ll also have to look into “No Reservations”. Never seen it still.
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