Stephanie Ho

Colegio Franklin D. Roosevelt

Lima, Peru

South America

Virtual High School

www.govhs.org

April 5, 2008

The Diversity of Food

          This is self implied: we all need food to survive. At the beginning of time, food was merely an essential tool in survival. But over the years, humans have learned to not only use food as a key component which keeps them alive and healthy, but as something to enjoy and appreciate. Food tends to characterize a group or society. Likewise, food also serves as a connection between people, a foundation upon which people may build connections.

          The general characteristics of food and the little details all involve diversity in food. The differences in preferences, tastes and ingredients represent the diversity of different places in the world. In Peru, for example, ingredients revolve around potatoes and hot peppers. On the other hand, Taiwan the food is generally under the category of seafood. The difference is due to the geographic location. You can’t get anymore opposite with a country in South America and one in the Pacific. When I travel, the menu is as follows: dine on chorizos and breakfast on fried dumplings. On an airline like China Airlines, Western and Chinese cuisine is offered simultaneously in all cabins. This is another way diversity of food is clearly exposed to people.

          The food itself and the way it is viewed as a part of everyday life are also dissimilar. In Peru, people share more of an open love for food and cooking and the little things in preparing the food. They also enjoy experimenting new things in cooking and trying exotic tastes. In Taiwan, the preparation of food is very traditionalistic, as are the dishes. Throughout big cities, the foreign restaurants almost never mingle with the local food stands. New types of food or drinks are often trendy in Taiwan, but don’t last as long as the traditional fares. In both places though, a person experiences diversity and culture through the food. The best food is often located at interesting venues in different countries.

          When it comes to food, I’ll be straightforward with you: being in the middle of two different societies can be more of a benefit than a drawback because of the diverse options you will have. Perhaps international students who often have to live in different places are used to this more than people who stay in one place for a longer period of time. One definite advantage of being an international student is the vast number of opportunities to try new types of cuisine. For example, at a buffet in Peru, not only Peruvian cuisine is served. There is also sushi and Chinese food included. A buffet perhaps is the most common venue where a variety of ethnic food is served. As an appetizer you can start on Peruvian ceviche (marinated fish with lemon), then move on to an entrée such as fried rice, which Peruvians love, with lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with French fries). For dessert, chefs are often fond of making Italian pastries such as tiramisu. In one meal alone you can travel around the world, making buffets my favorite type of meal. (This is saying a lot because I am considered as a very picky eater.) I am often mesmerized by the vast diversity presented before my eyes and am known to wander around the tables in any buffet for 20 minutes before filling my plate.

          How does food connect people together? I don’t often consider food and people in the same thought category, but I do have some answers. Literally, the preparation and consuming of food itself involves the interaction between many people. Furthermore, meals are often used as chances for people to bond and make business deals, among other things. Often when someone meets a new person they tend to ask what food their new acquaintance enjoys and if they find similarities they share a connection already. At my school the National Honor Society hosts an annual International Food Day. This event shows that the passion students may share for food brings them together as well. Since the time when people worked together to obtain food many years ago, food began to be something that brought a community closer and implemented essential cooperation.

           While there are numerous differences in food and tastes, there is no doubt that the diversity is a good thing. There are so many options and not enough time to try them all! The prospect of unknown delights existing out there can is very tempting. The idea of the many choices is enough for a person to bridge the gap between different nationalities and make new friends through the mutual enjoyment of food.