"Have you tried the local filter coffee", asked another diplomat's wife.
"You mean you get coffee in India?", asked the first.
"Of course you do. It is not quite expresso, but it is quite good."
She looked doubtful, but the other one persisted. "You really should try it. You may like it."
"I'm not too adventurous", the first confessed.
I was amazed? Is there much point in living in a different country, if you carry your own world with you?
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20 comments:
That would be one of the great advantages of living in a different country, trying new things. I might have to have my 'old' coffee too, but I would definitely try new as well.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
He, he, he, I grew up in the UK but now live in the US. Whilst I've tried to embrace new things there's just a few British items that I can't live without (HP Sauce, Gravy and Baked Beans). There are a lot of foods that I really miss but unfortunately they don't transport well.
Rayna - What an effective way to talk about experiencing different cultures! I don't see the point, either, of being in a different place if one isn't open to new things. Your story reminds me of a trip my husband and I once took to Mexico. On the way back to the airport at the end of our trip, I overheard another person on the bus complain loudly to his companion about the country, mostly because you couldn't get his particular brand of beer there. As he was an American, It made me feel very embarrassed - *cringe*.
And of course you're right-- there is no point! Stay home! Don't go to other countries and spend the whole time expecting other people to give you French Fries that taste like McDonald's.
haha! So true! When I first moved to Greece, I got so annoyed with all the foreigners I knew because all they'd talk about was what they missed from back home, and why what they had there was better than here, etc. Believe me, there was a lot of teeth gritting going down on my part!
Ah. Well - I agree that it is silly of her never to try something new, but sometimes those few, prized items you bring from home is the only cure for homesickness. And no one can enjoy a foreign country if they only long to the one they left!
Oh silly me! All this time I've been enjoying things the wrong way round. You take home with you when you go and then bring things home hat you want to try. Do I have it right now? LOL
Every place has it's own special something to miss, but many people can't get out of their comfort zone to try new things. Did you know most people live within 50 miles of where they were born?
I agree completely! Live a little, grow. And Indian coffee is supposed to be quite good, yes? :D
Good point. It's embarrassing to me that American tourists have such a bad reputation, thinking that all foreigners should speak English to make things more convenient for them. Stay home if you're not going to try to experience the actual culture! As I'm half European, I feel I have the right to say that ;-) I've never had Indian coffee, but my high school friend, whose parents were 1st generation immigrants, made THE best tea. Simmered with secret spices, just the right amount of milk. Heaven in a cup. Her mother would send me home with a bag of the spices pre-mixed. My version was never as good as hers, served with love.
@ Mason- I would like to give the local thing a try, even if I stick to my home brand for comfort.
@ Dyche- missing food is fine. The tastes we grew up with, we always crave for. But not trying something new?
@ Margot- ridiculous, isn't it? Even if that is the only beer he likes, would he die without it for a few days? I think it is pointless to travel if you don't gain experiences.
@ Danette- precisely. And even Happy Meals taste different in different countries.
@ Jessica- that is cringe worthy. It is perhaps different if you are there on work, but not if you choose to move there.
@ Cruella- that I totally understand. Comfort food is one thing we all crave.
@ Mary- now you get it! Never too late to learn.
@ Carolyn- really? But I have no right to comment- till my grandfather's time, the family had squatted on the same plot of land from the time they shed their tails and came down from trees.
@ Leigh- it is perhaps an acquired taste, because it is drip rather than percolated, but give it a try and hate it if you wish.
@ Tina- the secret ingredient, apart from love, may well be the fact that when Indians brew tea, they boil the concoction for a few minutes after putting in the water and leaves.
And this lady was British, unless I am mistaken.
Part of the thrill is to try the local flavors. Boy, she is missing out.
Absolutely not! You miss half of the cultural experience if you don't try the local food and drink (although, I gotta say I never grew fond of those tiny octopus thingies in a pizza or salad with fruits de mer).
I'll try new cusine, but it is nice to have familiar food available, too.
A very apposite story for your blog's name! I'm sure you do coffee rings from all sorts of coffees :)
Since we have 3 kids, I try to bring foreign cultures to them. Every week we attempt to pick a new country, then we pick different traditional recipes. So far we have done around 38 different countries. The kids don't like everything but at least they are trying.
I've enjoyed many tastes in many countries, and am fine with almost any kind of vegetarian food. Although there are some places which are a bit difficult for a vegetarian, I've never had to go hungry yet:)
@ Holly- she is, isn't she? She may not like it, but then she may. I would rather have one cup I don't like than risk losing a new experience.
@ Patricia- not growing fond of something means you tried it and didn't like it. Fair enough in my books.
@ Alex- totally. There is something about the food you grew up with.
@ Niranjana- yes and no. The very strong coffee I rarely have more than once.
@ kmckendry- that is such a fantastic idea. I am not sure if my culinary skills can keep up, but that is a fantastic way to get the kids to experiment.
@ dipali- being a vegetarian in some countries could be rather difficult, yes. But if nothing else, there is always bread.
aah! now thats interesting. As you say, I prefer to use what I get where I live, but my mom and mom-in-law still collect huge amounts of stuff when they go south. thats really interesting, considering that neither of them have actually lived there, but still believe that for the real thing, one has to go only there!
@ Anu- interesting that you should say that. Because so many people just hoard stuff from the place they are most comfortable with, even if they left years back.
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