Ramen makes the world go round

After I got through reading both articles, I sat thinking if something linked these two pieces other than the significance of food. A rather stereotypical thought jumped right into my head: The inmates use Ramen and Ramen is kind of Asian right? Okay, but in all seriousness, there are many other things that connect these readings. Mainly the sense of community food can provide, especially certain kinds of food and meals that are shared. Breaking bread is a very communal thing, it builds relationships. First dates usually involve dinner, friends grab coffee, and families sit down together. If you stop to think about it, people rarely eat with strangers, and when we do, it can illicit an uncomfortable feeling. The same thing can happen with what you are eating. We all have favorite meals for a reason; they are familiar and have some significance for us. This trait of sharing traditional meals with friends creates community.

In O‘Donnell’s article, there were many communities formed in Shenzhen by how different classes viewed food. Old Shenzhener’s, with their deep socialistic values, saw food as a way to relate to their country. They felt pride in creating something new when eating communally at stalls in the growing city and a similar pride was also felt when sacrificing for the greater good as well. Citizens relinquished their rations and took up lower work orders for the greater development of China. Instead of rice and wheat, they would get corn meal. This was felt throughout that generation. The New Shenzener’s are a product of the modern age of choice. They are connected by the sense of a right to eat where and what you want. It is a personal goal, not a communal one. On a broader scale, food used to symbolize a lot more in China. What you ate said a lot about where you came from and what your status was. How well each citizen ate was used to gauge the success of the country. Food in this article became very political.

In Cate’s article, she observed how food built community in a county jail. I really like the comment she made about how spread gave the inmates a little bit of control in their lives. And it’s so true. When everything is determined for you – what you wear, when you eat, etc. – it’s liberating to have control even over the smallest of things. Making spreads therefore builds a sense of camaraderie. Being able to cook something and sit down with others to share it is a very human experience. I also like how Cate included who the inmates usually eat their spread with. Many of her sources said they either split everything evenly (the cost and the food) but even more said whoever is hungry is welcome. Eating becomes a unifying experience.