1. What We Value
For the next three slides please observe what you consider a valued quality or not in the profile

2. Thailand (Kayan Tribe)
Age: 60
Occupation: housewife/mother
Marital status: Married
She has been adding neck rings since she was twelve

3. Mauritania Age: 29 Occupation: Pharmacist Marital status: Divorced
She is 5’9” and she likes kids

4. Western Sahara: Some tribes in North Africa
Age : 22
Occupation: Model
Marital status: single
She is 100 pounds & she goes to the gym everyday

5. Thailand (Kayan Tribe)
In Thailand & most of the Asian countries, being old is considered a positive quality- With age comes wisdom
Women in Kayan Tribe are expected to help their families in the fields- Being just a housewife is not preferred
In a social community, being married is important
Elongated necks are considered an ideal beauty- Most girls start to add neck rings at the age of two

6. Mauritania
The majority of the women are seeking college degrees- However, there are still some occupations that are not preferred
Being divorced gives women chance of marrying again- They are considered more experienced on marital issues
While wanting to have kids is a quality many men seek in women, being 5’ 9” is not

7. Western Sahara: Some tribes in North Africa
While being young & beautiful are preferred qualities, being thin is not
There are many tribes who prefer women to be thick- evidence of affluence
Many tribes force-feed their girls to raise their potential for marriage

8. In Conclusion
Qualities & values differ across cultures
What you might consider a plus, others might try to avoid
A good teacher must be aware of her/his students’ cultural preferred qualities
And remember, perceptions vary within the culture itself

9. What We Eat

10. Diffusion of Culture & Food

11. Folk Food Habits Derive from the Environment
“Among the connections that tie (people) to a certain environment, one of the most tenacious is food supply…. Which experience has shown to be best suited to human needs in a given climate” ~ Geographer Vidal de la Blache

12. People adapt their food preferences to conditions in the environment.
Ex: Soybeans in Asia
Ex: Italy’s Quick Frying Foods
Ex: Northern Europe’s slow cooking
Soybeans in Asia are toxic in the raw- so they derived foods from soybeans like bean sprouts, soy sauce and bean curd
In Italy fuel shortages led to preferences for quick frying foods
In Northern Europe an abundant fuel supply and cold temperatures led to slow cooked stews over fires which also provided heat for the homes.

13. Terroir
■Contribution of a location’s distinctive physical features & the way food tastes
Impact of a local environment on food taste
Ex: Soil, climate, and other physical features impact the taste of wine

14. Food habits are strongly influenced by cultural traditions
What is eaten establishes one’s social, religious, & cultural membership
Food habits often continue as the last hold out of folk customs in a particular region

15. Food Attractions & Taboos
Folk Customs: everything in nature carries a signature, or distinctive characteristic based on its appearance & natural properties
So, people may desire or avoid certain food based on perceived benefits or harms

16. Food Attractions mandrake
Abipone Indians eat jaguars & bulls to make them strong, swift & brave
The mandrake, native to Mediterranean areas, was supposed to enhance lovemaking, due to its shape.
mandrake

17. Taboos
Ainus in Japan avoid eating otters because they are believed to be forgetful
Europeans blamed potatoes (first edible plant from tubers) for typhoid & tuberculosis or because they looked like human deformities caused by leprosy

18. Taboos The Bible is full of Food Taboos
Ancient Hebrews prohibited from eating animals that had hooves & fish that lacked fins or scales (No Pigs)
Developed into the Kosher Laws observed by some Jews today
Quick Guide to Kosher:
Meat cannot be eaten with dairy.
Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains (called “parve,” or neutral) can be eaten with either meat or dairy.
Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa.
Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food.
Certain animals (e.g. pigs) may not be eaten at all.
Of the animals that may be eaten, they must be killed in accordance with Jewish law.

19. Kosher Laws Video: What kinds of Cultural Elements do you notice?

20. Taboos
Muslims don’t eat pork
Hindu’s are against eating cows

21. American Taboos Avoid eating insects, despite their nutritional value
Unlike in Thailand where water bugs are deep fried as a snack! YUM!
Most Americans don’t know that canned mushrooms & tomato paste have insects in them… SHHHH!

22. Bugs You can Eat!!!

23. Food & Drink in America
Formal Regionalization of popular culture is revealed by what foods & beverages are consumed
Ex: Most beer consumption occurs in the west, except for Mormon Utah

24. Southern Foods
Grits, BBQ Pork & Beef, Fried Chicken & Hamburgers

25. Northern Foods Pizza & Submarine Sandwiches
Partly because of the amount of Italian immigrants who settled in the North
Pizza did not diffuse to the south until the 1950’s

26. Fast Foods Importance varies greatly in the US Most- American South
Least- Northeast
Why do you think this might be so?

27. Irish People Taste American Snacks