(4) You are what you eat: On the outside looking Indian

(4)

On the outside I look like a white Canadian with her white race family. But when we eat authentic Indian cuisine, my family and I become connoisseurs of India’s finest foods. We become part of a bigger picture. All of the sudden our white race becomes blurred and European ethnicity is disregarded. Our appearance in an Indian restaurant is replaced by ideas of acceptance and willingness to participate in a culture that is clearly different from our own, thereby individualizing our conformity to Indian culture. We join a new network of ethnic possibility. A simple Indian restaurant transforms to symbolize a perception of India’s art, elegance, and cultivation. By partaking in India’s symbolism, my family and I are assigned new characterizations that disregard stereotypical “white” uncultured identity. Alternatively, ideas of ignorance and lack of acceptance are thrown out the window. We enter India’s world of cultural practice and tradition followed during a meal.

Walking into this restaurant had a unique feel to it. We were helped by a kind waitress, whom led us to a table for six. My experience was paradoxical. Even though we stood out like sore thumbs, I felt a sense of connectivity and continuity. While walking past all the families eating at their tables and enjoying their meals I could not help but notice the racial difference. We were the only “white” family in the entire restaurant. Next, I inevitably noticed a language difference. It sounded quick, short and to the point type of speech, not at all like what my sisters seemed to be chatting on and on about unknowingly. The smell of spices filled my nose and made all of our mouths water. Embarrassingly, my dad even felt the need to point and ask the waitress what entrees the other families ordered. The dishes were unique in the sense that you order an entrée to share rather than everyone ordering their own meal plate. It reminded me of dinners at home where you pass around the same plates and bowls of different courses of the meal. Sharing. Something that my brother has always found difficult to do. Then we ordered what the waitress interestingly considered standard Indian dishes such as; butter chicken, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, pakora (fried vegetable) , kaali daal (black lentils) and of course plenty of naan bread. When we received our dishes my dad was worried that we didn’t order enough, however the concept of dipping our naan bread into all of the rich saucy dishes was surprisingly very filling. I looked around at other tables and noticed that most were eating without utensils and using their naan bread and other cracker type foods to scoop up the main dishes. The only time I actually saw someone use a fork and knife was when they were cutting or splitting up portions for everyone at the table. Strange. When I pointed out the lack of cutlery usage we all felt the need and curiosity to participate in this authentic practice. We did our best. Old habits die hard though. I occasionally reverted back to fork, knife and spoon, wondering how odd we looked to everyone else.

Then the connectedness and continuity dawned on me as the family beside us was celebrating what I thought was a birthday. We were here to celebrate a special occasion just like the other family. Yes our skin is different, and we don’t know how to eat this food, and the spiciness made me drink a total of 8 glasses of water, the music was odd, yet when I looked around we were out to have dinner just like any other family in the restaurant. My mom was telling my younger brother and sister to eat their vegetables just like every other mother. My younger brother and sister were also rolling their eyes just like any other kid in the restaurant. My dad was enjoying his food, also attempting to support what my mom was saying but also half distracted in a conversation with me. My mom busy reprimanding my brother to finish his food and stop being “uncultured”, being told to use his manners. All these aspects are universal. People are just people, and food brings people together.