Here’s another piece from Riverside, California, this time from Leyna, a college student.

Food Connections

Food plays a crucial and irreplaceable role in my life that extends past my need for survival. While food may be temporary, the meaning it holds goes beyond its physical and physiological characteristics. I grew up in a Vietnamese-American household which usually meant eating pho or rice in the morning and then grabbing a quick meal at McDonald’s after a long day of school, on a lucky day of course. This combination of different foods from different backgrounds pushed me to appreciate both the cultures I was able to be exposed to and allowed me to extend something as simple as my everyday conversations to a more interesting level. This food experience exposed me to a lifestyle that many throughout the world do not have the luxury to obtain and realizing that has only deepened my appreciation for the role food plays in my life.

As I grew up, I began to realize that I leaned toward and preferred eating more Vietnamese and Southeastern Asian foods more than American foods. Pho always sounded more appetizing than a burger and fries any day. While I identify as both Vietnamese and American, eating more of the former has been like a connection to place I am an ocean away from. Pertaining to my own Vietnamese identity, eating Vietnamese foods, in my mind, helps keep the culture alive in a society and world that emphasizes the “American way.” In most areas, a McDonalds or American diner can be found around every corner but an ethnic restaurant may be miles away or heavily altered away from authenticity. By eating and educating myself on more Asian foods, I hope to pass this food down to my kids and all future generations. Learning and hearing about food in a textbook can never compare to the actual experience of indulging yourself in a plate of food. I am fortunate enough to live in an area where Vietnamese culture is second only to Vietnam itself.  Through food, I have been able to converse with my grandparents and elders more and bond with them through cooking meals from their home country. My mom and I have try new Vietnamese and other Southeastern places in hopes to find inspiration for our next dish at home. My friends and I test each other on who can eat the “weirdest” foods not seen in American dishes. In a sense, food has also been a social tie as much as a culture tie. The ability food has to bring people together, connect two polar opposite cultures, and best of all strengthen family lines is why its role is so crucial and irreplaceable in my life.

My relationship to food is one I clearly hold dear. Food is not just part of a meal I have to eat, it is the center of every social gathering and the reason my family is as close as we are. My Vietnamese identity has only grown stronger as more food my from culture enters my diet.