What We Value For the next three slides please observe what you consider a valued quality or not in the profile

Thailand (Kayan Tribe) Age: 60 Occupation: housewife/mother Marital status: Married She has been adding neck rings since she was twelve

Mauritania Age: 29 Occupation: Pharmacist Marital status: Divorced She is 5’9” and she likes kids

Western Sahara: Some tribes in North Africa Age : 22 Occupation: Model Marital status: single She is 100 pounds & she goes to the gym everyday

Thailand (Kayan Tribe) In Thailand & most of the Asian countries, being old is considered a positive quality- With age comes wisdom Women in Kayan Tribe are expected to help their families in the fields- Being just a housewife is not preferred In a social community, being married is important Elongated necks are considered an ideal beauty- Most girls start to add neck rings at the age of two

Mauritania The majority of the women are seeking college degrees- However, there are still some occupations that are not preferred Being divorced gives women chance of marrying again- They are considered more experienced on marital issues While wanting to have kids is a quality many men seek in women, being 5’ 9” is not

Western Sahara: Some tribes in North Africa While being young & beautiful are preferred qualities, being thin is not There are many tribes who prefer women to be thick- evidence of affluence Many tribes force-feed their girls to raise their potential for marriage

In Conclusion Qualities & values differ across cultures What you might consider a plus, others might try to avoid A good teacher must be aware of her/his students’ cultural preferred qualities And remember, perceptions vary within the culture itself

What We Eat http://menzelphoto.photoshelter.com/gallery/Hungry-Planet-Family-Food-Portraits/G0000zmgWvU6SiKM/C0000k7JgEHhEq0w

Diffusion of Culture & Food

Folk Food Habits Derive from the Environment “Among the connections that tie (people) to a certain environment, one of the most tenacious is food supply…. Which experience has shown to be best suited to human needs in a given climate” ~ Geographer Vidal de la Blache

People adapt their food preferences to conditions in the environment. Ex: Soybeans in Asia Ex: Italy’s Quick Frying Foods Ex: Northern Europe’s slow cooking Soybeans in Asia are toxic in the raw- so they derived foods from soybeans like bean sprouts, soy sauce and bean curd In Italy fuel shortages led to preferences for quick frying foods In Northern Europe an abundant fuel supply and cold temperatures led to slow cooked stews over fires which also provided heat for the homes.

Terroir ■Contribution of a location’s distinctive physical features & the way food tastes Impact of a local environment on food taste Ex: Soil, climate, and other physical features impact the taste of wine

Food habits are strongly influenced by cultural traditions What is eaten establishes one’s social, religious, & cultural membership Food habits often continue as the last hold out of folk customs in a particular region

Food Attractions & Taboos Folk Customs: everything in nature carries a signature, or distinctive characteristic based on its appearance & natural properties So, people may desire or avoid certain food based on perceived benefits or harms

Food Attractions mandrake Abipone Indians eat jaguars & bulls to make them strong, swift & brave The mandrake, native to Mediterranean areas, was supposed to enhance lovemaking, due to its shape. mandrake

Taboos Ainus in Japan avoid eating otters because they are believed to be forgetful Europeans blamed potatoes (first edible plant from tubers) for typhoid & tuberculosis or because they looked like human deformities caused by leprosy

Taboos The Bible is full of Food Taboos Ancient Hebrews prohibited from eating animals that had hooves & fish that lacked fins or scales (No Pigs) Developed into the Kosher Laws observed by some Jews today Quick Guide to Kosher: Meat cannot be eaten with dairy. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains (called “parve,” or neutral) can be eaten with either meat or dairy. Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. Certain animals (e.g. pigs) may not be eaten at all. Of the animals that may be eaten, they must be killed in accordance with Jewish law.

Kosher Laws Video: What kinds of Cultural Elements do you notice?

Taboos Muslims don’t eat pork Hindu’s are against eating cows

American Taboos Avoid eating insects, despite their nutritional value Unlike in Thailand where water bugs are deep fried as a snack! YUM! Most Americans don’t know that canned mushrooms & tomato paste have insects in them… SHHHH!

Bugs You can Eat!!! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/bugs-you-can-eat.html

Food & Drink in America Formal Regionalization of popular culture is revealed by what foods & beverages are consumed Ex: Most beer consumption occurs in the west, except for Mormon Utah

Southern Foods Grits, BBQ Pork & Beef, Fried Chicken & Hamburgers

Northern Foods Pizza & Submarine Sandwiches Partly because of the amount of Italian immigrants who settled in the North Pizza did not diffuse to the south until the 1950’s

Fast Foods Importance varies greatly in the US Most- American South Least- Northeast Why do you think this might be so?

Irish People Taste American Snacks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vjd4YtAImM