A Bit of a Culture Shock

Everyone has their own way to celebrate New Year's, and this year I did something a little different. My friend's husband is Japanese, and he decided to show me how the Japanese celebrate New Year's. It turned out that they eat a lot of food with names that I can't pronounce. Most of them involve fish, and have a texture similar to rubber.

My friend was sweet knowing how white I am, and made kielbasas, and let me use chopsticks with what I like to call "training wheels." Last time I used chopsticks my friend spent almost the whole meal laughing at my vain attempt to use chopsticks.

I was the only one there with the "training wheels." Everyone else was familiar enough with Asian cuisine that they knew what to do with the chopsticks. My experience with Asian food is basically Panda Express. I made it through the whole night with my chopsticks, so I would call it a success.

The various foods I tried for New Year's.

Each of the foods had an importance in bringing in the New year. I don't usually associate a lot of symbolism with the foods that I eat, so it was a little different  when I was given rules of how to eat the New Year's feast. For instance there are beans that have to be eaten only in odd numbers, or you will not have luck for the new year, or that every room has to have mochi and an orange in it for good luck in the New Year.

My family doesn't even watch the ball drop for the New year, so it was a little different to participate in a New Year's celebration that had so much symbolism and meaning behind it. I like seeing how different cultures are. It may not be a huge difference, but learning the little things about different cultures will help to bring the world a little closer together.

#ShortStories #Learning #CultureShock #BringingTheWorldALittleCloser

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