the yuck face

I’ve seen it so many times when an American is offered foreign food, or when someone mentions something they don’t like.  Look, everyone has a right to dislike something, and I know to a certain extent it’s a reaction.  But, it’s rude to make the yuck face period, and as an adult you should practice self-control and not do it, especially around strangers or when you are in a foreign country.  I felt embarrassed so many times in Japan when an American colleague would make the yuck face at someone who offered them something different and refused to try.  So immature and wrong.  It’s fine to say no to an offer of food, but I think it’s rude to make the face.  To me, the face says, “Gross! I can’t believe you eat that shit!”

Self-centered as many Americans are, they seem to think it’s the food’s fault when they don’t like the taste.   The fact that many people like the foods you dislikes means that it’s something about YOU that doesn’t mix with the food.   Honestly, I think it’s a result of bad parenting.  Parents need to expose kids to lots of different foods and cultures, and teach kids to be polite when they come across food they don’t like.  Of course, your food habits are often inherited from your parents, and if they were eating nothing but hot dogs and hamburgers and crap food, you probably weren’t exposed to various flavors, and have a retarded palate. Yes, your tongue is retarded.  I remember seeing a documentary on Marilyn Manson going to Tokyo.  He went searching for a McDonald’s because he didn’t want to try anything new.  Unbelievable considering all the great food that is in Tokyo.  For a guy who wants to be outrageous and cutting edge, his eating habits were so tame and backward.

As a rule, I think you should try everything before you reject it.  There’s some great foods out there.  I found a delicious salumi deli that made great beef tongue salami sandwiches.  Blood sausage, sea urchin, octopus, fishheads, intestines, chicken feet, etc…  Learn to love it.  If you can’t, just smile and say no thanks.

so good

Call me lucky or unaware, but in my experience growing up, I never encountered domestic violence whether it was at home or at friend’s houses.  I never saw it, and I never heard any stories about it.  My parents weren’t very social, but I had lots of different friends, but I never heard about abuse.  But,  when I asked a friend of mine, he told me story after story after story!  I was shocked.

I’ve known the guy for several years, and he never told me about this stuff before.  It was astonishing to hear just how often it happened in his community.  Wives getting beat up, girlfriends getting kicked in the stomach in public, women with bruises and black eyes.

I want to know if it’s common in your community.  Have you or your parents been abused?  Have you seen friends get abused?

I know traditional Asian culture is chauvinistic, and some men would devalue their wives and treat them badly.  Some immigrants will bring this sort of backward thinking with them to the US.  It must be very hard for a kid growing up in the states in a situation of domestic violence.  It would be hard to adjust to a new environment when you lacked stability in the home.  It would be very lonely I’m sure.

Greed spills over

Have you seen Whale Wars, the TV show?  It sensationalizes the situation and makes Japanese whalers seem like demons.  I’m not saying  it’s right for Japanese to overfish whales or any other resources from the sea.   You have to be responsible, and not wipe out animals.  But, just as the Native Americans revere and respect what they kill and eat, so do the Japanese.  They really do respect what they catch, and eat with respect and thanks.  In Japan, they say ‘Itadakimasu’ before they eat a meal.  It means ‘I am receiving’, and thanks both the farmers/fishermen who brought the catch, as well as meaning that they are receiving the soul of the animal/plant.  Shinto belief is that all things in nature have a soul.

Now, compare that to what the greedy American corporation has done in the Gulf.  They have spilled thousands of barrels of oil into the ocean, killing EVERYTHING in that area: plants, animals, fish, and the environment.  Just imagine how long it will take the environment to recuperate.  Imagine the millions and billions of fish and plants that have died, including birds from the sky.  The ocean and the air are one.  What is ironic is that these oil companies weren’t interested in the ocean at all.  They were only interested in oil and money.

Again, I’m not saying the whalers are right, but I do believe that it’s much more overblown than what these bastards in the Gulf have done.

whale wars

It cracks me up every time I think about it.  My buddy from Oklahoma and I went to get a quick bite before a concert, and found a teriyaki joint.  His girlfriend was also with us.  After I order my meal, he orders for himself, after which he bows to the Asian guy at the register and says, ‘arigatou gozaimasu’.  Being Japanese, I could tell that the man was definitely not Japanese, and he wasn’t pleased.   Probably Korean.  Even my friend’s  girlfriend felt embarrassed.   It cracked me up, and I still bring it up to this day.  Ah, bless his white soul…