Today being my sixth day in Taiwan, I can tell you it didn't take that long to actually see the importance of food in the Taiwanese culture, or more than that, the importance of sharing food with others.
By the first night we all went out to one of Pingtung's night markets. To compare, a night market is like a combination between a circus, shopping mall, and a blocked up LA highway (except one lane and with scooters moving in all directions). These markets are a maze of back alleys off the main roads. You will see a family of 4 riding on one scooter, smell a variety of new smells (some pleasant and some. . . questionable), and find almost anything you can imagine to eat. If you think going out to a club or going to a shopping center is stimulating or a lot to handle. Just imagine going to what I just described on jet lag.
On top of that, the Taiwanese students were (still are) so excited to show us their country and their culture that they would take us from one place to the next. The idea is you don't have one meal . . . oh no! You go from place to place to eat different specialty dishes. Midway through I was so full, but since my new friends were so excited (just as much or more as I was) I mustered up the strength to continue. Eventually some of the other Americans and I decided to start splitting each dish. By the end of it all, you end up eating a smorgasbord of appetizers and only spend $5-$7 (of which we didn't even pay that much because they were buying most of the food for us). To list of a few of the things we ate: Fried rice dumplings, cinnamon & garlic beef, chicken rice, shaved ice with red beans and fruit, and the delicacy pig blood cake (you can also get duck blood or chicken blood cake). Yea, I said pig blood cake. To be honest, if you didn't know what it was you'd probably like it. When you find out it what it is, it makes it hard to register/accept the idea that you actually put it in your mouth and chew. That being said, being in someone Else's country you have to have tolerance and have an open mind when it comes to food. For I feel the same etiquette goes in America . . . when you have people over want them to enjoy what you have prepared for them. No different when you go to someone's house for dinner, you eat what the host has prepared for you to be polite.
The idea about sharing food (or eating together) is so powerful. I mean think about it. What do we do when we first see someone we have not seen in awhile? We go get food. What do we do when we have celebrations? We share food. What do we do when we go on a date? Well, we eat food at some point.
Most of the time, eating is complimented with all types of conversations that can help bring people together. I mean why do you think there is a saying "a family that eats together, stays together." Yet, more so than that, the sharing of food allows two people to share the same experience of all the senses at once (seeing the food, hearing the surroundings and cooking, smelling and tasting the oils and spices, and feeling the different temperatures and textures of the dishes). This sensation elicits all types of emotions and really requires no words because it really does not need any. It is something two people who do not share the same language, the same ideology, the same religion, etc can experience and communicate the same thing . . . like a universal unspoken language. Additionally, this universal language is the same everywhere. Anywhere you go, I feel like the instinctive way to express our gratitude, our greetings, and our good-byes by eating together.
For me, I can say that eating has been the one thing that has allowed me to get to know other people here in the easiest way (Americans and Taiwanese). Here in Taiwan you eat out for every meal (I mean hello we are college students). This gives you 3 guaranteed chances to invite someone new to eat with you, three chances to befriend new people, and three chances to get to know someone better. That being said, I have found that you have to try everything once (I mean most of the menus are in Chinese, so I am at the trust and mercy of my Chinese speaking friends), even the stuff that is "different." For the most part, the Taiwanese try to bring us to places they think we could like, and for the most part I let me roommate order for me (1. I can't read the menu 2. b/c I don't want my American idea of what is normal to guard me from a good experience). More than that, it has established a sense of trust and respect for one another.
With all that said, so far I have found that food (especially the different foods) is one thing that has better filled the gap between our two cultures. It has been a quick way to give us something to laugh about, something to like/dislike together, and something to share . . . which is an experience and a universal unspoken language.
Dude, I'm so glad you got a blog, and your food experiences sound crazy epic. I wish I was there as it all sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteYou're definitely right about food and eating together being so personal. A lot of recent studies have found that families who eat together more frequently tend to be closer, and I think the fact Jesus ate meals with so many people shows that the ritual is timeless.