Interview/Cultural Tradition Assignment
Interview Assignment – attach this to your submitted assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to give you knowledge about two other food cultures, and also to provide you with some insight into the acculturation process.
You will interview two people using the questions provided below. To the best of your ability, record their answers word for word. (in other words, write in the first person)
Afterward, type up their numbered answers. You do not have to retype the questions. In addition, for each interview subject, in an essay of at least 300 words, you will describe the similarities and differences between their diet and your own, focusing particularly on their diets prior to their a
ival in the USA.
Obviously in the age of Covid, it is not expected that these are in-person interviews, although they can be. They can be done via phone (talking, not texting), facetime, zoom, etc. The person does not have to live locally. They just need to be living in the United States.
Criteria for your interview subjects. If your subjects do not meet these criteria your assignment may lose a significant number of points.
· Must be an immigrant to the USA, and have emigrated at the age of 25 or older
· They still have a clear memory of their food habits from before they emigrated
· They should be interested in food and culture and willing to give you detailed answers, not
ief*
· They should be able to answer every question**
· They cannot be related to you (but can be an in-law if they are from another culture)
· They cannot be from a culture that is the same as your own
· They can’t be from a culture that you have a lot of familiarity with
· They can’t be from the country you are doing your presentation on
· Your subjects should be from two different countries
· You cannot interview someone from this class
* It is your responsibility to draw them out if they are giving answers that are very short. Any dishes they name should be described, if those dishes are unfamiliar in the Bay Area
** If they can’t answer every question, then you will need to pick someone else to interview
Interview Questions
1. How do we know each other?
2. What year did you immigrate to the United States, and from what country?
3. How old were you at the time?
4. Did any family members emigrate with you?
5. Did you live in a city, small town, or rural area in your former country?
These next questions have to do with the dietary practices of the country you emigrated from:
6. What are the common starches eaten in your culture?
7. What are the main meats or other high protein foods eaten in your culture?
8. What are the common fruits and vegetables in your culture? (list at least 4 of each)
9. What are the main ingredients used to add flavor to dishes? (he
s, spices, sauces)
10. What is a major holiday cele
ated in your country, and what kinds of foods did your family eat on this day? Is there any symbolic reason those foods are chosen?
11. Is there a food that is commonly eaten that may seem unusual for a visiting American tourist?
12. Describe one of your favorite dishes.
13. How often did you eat out? Was it at a sit down restaurant? Food truck? Fast food?
These next questions have to do with your diet since you have moved to the United States
14. How has the experience of immigration to the United States changed your diet? Provide a detailed answer, including specific reasons for the change. (ie, ingredients not available; less time to cook, etc)
15. How has the American culture influenced your cultural habits and traditions? How often do you eat food that you consider “American” food, as opposed to the food of your own culture?
16. Can you tell me any new foods you have tried since coming to the USA that you have particularly liked or disliked? (answer for both)
17. Was there anything about American food culture that surprised you when you first a
ived?
18. Please explain any differences you have noticed in food values/food attitudes in USA compared to your country of origin.
19. Is there any dish you miss from your home country?