Thai and Its Ties!

Thai and Its Ties!

Growing up in a household where both of my parents value their own culture forced me to adapt equally to both cultures. My mother was born in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand; and my father from Georgia brought not only two different cultures together but two diverse types of foods during the holidays. Both sides of my parents’ family are very close and respect one another culture and are both excepted at family dinners. I find myself exploring and enjoying my mother’s culture but not excluding my fathers. Being half Thai and half black taught me to be open minded about different foods, ranging from the normal mainstream of American culture to exotic culture such as Japanese.

Thailand is located south of Asian connected to the Indian Ocean. With its unique combination of sweet, spicy, sour or salty taste, it is something I yearn for and a daily. I believe that if it wasn’t for my mother who introduced new and extravagant food to me I would not be open minded as I am now to new foods. In the film (A World of Foods) that we recently watch I remember them talking about the smell of foods may turn people away. I agree that certain cultures do compose of intense or mild food smells. the Thai culture is one that some may have to get use to, it may not be the overall finally creation of the food but just the ingredients that are added into the lovely meal. I always will love southern food but will always prefer Thai food over anything food in the world! What is culture? We’ll culture to me consist of a person’s belief, religion, but the most visual characteristic that stands out would be "food". Every culture can be depicted by their food for the most part. When someone asks me what exactly culture is, the first thing that would come to mind would be food.

The normal breakfast foods consist of pancakes, eggs, bacon or sausage, grits, etc. My mother and father are completely opposite and it put me in a situation where I had to choose which route to follow while growing up. My Mother would make my father the normal Americanized breakfast which he craved and which he was raised upon as a child. When relating breakfast with me, I tend to eat Full course Thai meals for breakfast. A typical breakfast for my mother and I would consist of rice, fried eggs; portraying an omelet, spicy stir fry with an abundance of red and green peppers. The funny thing was that this meal was common among my mother’s cultural and side of her family, and I just happen to pick it up as well. Till this day I find myself neglecting the classic American food and craving more towards Thai food.

I remember as a young boy I would follow and want to do everything that my mom would do; maybe you can say I was a mama’s boy. I love food so much that I learned how to cook, I wouldn’t call myself a chef or anything but I do believe that I have skills. Ever time my mom would cook something I would be right there all up in the pan. I can truly say that my mother ways and her cultural rubbed off on me. I love Thai food so much that I have to make a home cook meal or dine out at a Thai restaurant here in Bellingham.

I eat, sleep, and find myself thinking of Thai food now that my mother is thousands of miles away. Breakfast is not the same without my mother’s home cook breakfast which would wake me up every morning, with the smell of cooked rice and hot peppers. I was very happy when I found an Asian market right here in Bellingham which I go to weekly. Now that I found a place where it reminds me my mother’s cooking, I can follow in here footsteps of cooking.

　

　

Recommended Books to read about Thai Culture:

 Benedict, Paul K. Austro-Thai Language and Culture: with a Glossary of Roots. New Haven, Conn.: HRAF, 1975. Print.

 Southeast Asian American Food Habits. Washington]: Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 1980. Print.