CULTURE AND CUISINE

The French author Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin once wrote, “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” Put more simply this means “You are what you eat.” Most people today relate this saying to healthy eating. However, Brillat-Savarin was actually referring to our personality, character, and culture.

Certainly in many ways this seems to be true. Chinese cuisine is a case in point. Prior to coming to China, my only experience with Chinese Cooking was in America, with Chinese food that had been changed to suit American tastes. For example, America’s most popular Chinese dish is General Tso’s chicken, which consists of fried chicken covered in a Sweetsauce, flavoured with hot red peppers. This is probably not an authentic Chinese recipe, however, so it can not tell us much about the Chinese. On the other hand, it does tell us a lot about Americans. It tells us, for example, that Americans love bold, simple flavors. And, since the dish was also invented recently, it tells us that Americans are not afraid to try new foods.

Later, I had a chance to experience authentic Chinese food by coming to China. When my family And I had just arrived in China, we went looking for a good place to eat in Beijing. A Sichuan restaurant had been recommended to us by a friend, and finally we found it. Tired, hungry, and not knowing a word of Chinese, we had no idea how to order, so the chef just began filling our table. With the best food we had eaten. With this, we had the pleasure of experiencing an entirely new taste: Sichuan peppercorns. The food was wonderful and different, but what was even more important was the friendship offered us.

We soon moved to Shandong Province in the eastern part of North China. My favourite dish there was boiled dumplings served with vinegar. I observed that family is important to people there. I have become a favourite traditional dish of the people in North China, where making dumplings has always been a family affair with everyone from the youngest to the oldest joining in to help. Later, I learnt that the most famous food in Shandong is pancake rolls stuffed with sliced Chinese green onions.

Then we moved to northern Xinjiang. Some of our friends were Kazak and Inner Mongolian.These groups traditionally wandered the open range on horses. As a result, their traditional foods are what you can cook over an open fire usually boiled or roasted meat, such as lamb kebab.

Our travels then took us to South China, and then onto central China. In each place we went, we experienced wonderful local dishes from Gungdong’s elegant dim sum -small servings of food in bamboo steamers to the exceptional stewed noodles in Henan. Everywhere, The food was as varied as the people. However, one thing is always true: Through food, Chinese people everywhere show friendship and kindness.

At a minimum, the kinds of food local people consume tell us what they grow in their region, what kinds of lives they lead, and what they like and do not like. Could we also say, for example, that those who like bold flavors are bold themselves? Or, that those who like spicy food tend to have a hot temper? Maybe. Maybe not. What we can say, however, is that culture and cuisine go hand in hand, and if you do not experience one, you can never really know the other.

【推荐3】It is awkward（令人尴尬的）when everyone around you bursts out laughing at a joke that you do not find funny, especially if it's a joke told in a foreign language.

While Chinese students find it easy to adapt to a foreign lifestyle, socializing with locals is much harder, according to a recent study. Researchers looked at how well Chinese students made themselves a part of communities across the world. Of all the activities they struggled with, understanding jokes was considered the toughest.

Most of the time, jokes are funny only for people who share a common cultural background or are aware of humor in the same way.

Being able to understand local jokes can help students feel a sense of belonging. But even without the ability to understand jokes, students should not feel any less confident about themselves.

"It's OK if you don't get the jokes. Don't doubt yourself because in most time, it is not a problem of language ability but a matter of the known and unknown, "said Christine Han, who was once an overseas student and is now an Australian permanent resident.

Australia is ready-made for jokes, thanks to its history as a colony for prisoners, its unusual accent, the inner bush country and its strange food. However, to most Chinese overseas students, understanding jokes about sports is the biggest headache. Sport is an important part of Australian national identity.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 16percent（3. 3 million）of the population aged 15 years and over watched Australian football in 2010. About 9 percent（1. 9 million）attended a rugby league game.

British actor and comedian Simon Pegg discussed the differences between British and American sense of humor in a column of The Guardian. He believes that while Brits use irony（反语）on a daily basis, the Americans do not see the point of using it so frequently . He wrote, "British jokes, on the other hand, tend to be more subtle with a dark or sarcastic（讽刺的）undertone while the American jokes are more obvious and forward, a bit like Americans themselves. "

【推荐1】Short Story Contest

Want to See Your Story Published in Writers’ Forum?

Three great prizes every issue

1st £ 300       2nd £ 150       3rd £ 100

· All types of stories are welcome, be it comedy, romance, literary in the tail, horror SF etc

· Stories must be between 1000 and 3000 words

· Entry fee is £ 6 or just £ 3 for subscribers

If your story is placed you will be notified and we will ask you to send a photo of yourself and a brief biography via email.

Optional Feedback for Just £ 5

Our judge Lorraine Mace can provide a page of personalised critique(评论)to help you improve your writing. The fee is just £ 5. You will receive feedback by email if you enter online or please include a stamped addressed envelope if you are entering by post.

All entries must be original and previously unpublished—this includes in newspapers, magazines, books and on websites. Publication on private online forums that are password-protected and in private letters and emails does not count.

To Enter Online

Entering online is the easiest and greenest option. Please choose one of the following links to be taken to the secure Select website to pay by card:

· Subscriber entry(£ 3)

· Subscriber entry with critique(£ 8)

· Non-subscriber entry(£ 6)

· Non-subscriber entry with critique(£ 11)

To enter, send an email with your story attached as a word-compatible(可共用的)file(. doc or . docx or. rtf). At the start, give your name, address, phone number, email address, story title and wordcount. The address to send your entry to is: storycomp@ writers-forum. com

Your entry will be forwarded to the judges as soon as all fees due have been paid and your subscriber, status has been confirmed. To subscribe, now please click here.

【推荐2】French Courses for Juniors & Teens in France

Atoll Juniors is situated in Nice and offers top quality French learning programs. Our language immersion (沉浸) programs for juniors and teens (9-17 years old ) take place in Antibes, Cannes, Biarritz, Nice, Paris, and Provence. We believe in making class a fun place so we learn songs, jokes, and talk about daily routines, cinema, etc. Our lessons are grouped depending on the level. We determine this on the first day with a placement test.

The 4 levels are

※ Beginner

※ Elementary: A1+A2

※ Intermediate: B1+B2

※Advanced: C1+C2

as determined by the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference.

We believe in the best technology for learning so our rooms are equipped with audio (音频的) and video equipment. Each student's progress will carefully be evaluated and noted on the individual certificate of as8cssment. Our cases have 15 students at most.

Programs:

Full Immersion French Program; Standard French Language Lessons; Intensive French Courses; DELF for Juniors.

Full Immersion:

Immersion with a host family is available in Antibes, Cannes and Biarritz. To stay with a family is to gain an understanding of France from the inside. You will be in a comfortable home and often sharing the everyday life of your hosts, sometimes even taking part in their family activities. Naturally, you will also attend lessons and take part in all the student activities and short journeys.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is also available on campus (校园) in Antibes, Biarritz, Nice and Paris. Each room is equipped to accommodate 2 to 4 students. It has good light and is enjoyable to spend time in. You will benefit from a private storage space ( locks for sale on campus). Each room also has a bathroom, either private or shared on the corridor (走廊), depending on the campus.

【推荐3】Are you interested both in camp and music? Maybe the MSU Community Music School is a better place for you to go! It offers different music camps this summer!

Rock Camp

June 23-27, 2014

$220

It is held for middle and high school students who have some experience playing their instruments (guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard). Bands will be coached by members of The Outer Vibe.

At camp, students will form and work in their own bands based on musical interest and skill level. They will learn songs in preparation for an end-of-camp rock concert at The Loft on June 27!

Band Camp

July 14-18, 2014

$215

It’s a camp for middle school students who have completed at least one year of instrumental study. This camp provides students with an opportunity to perform with other talented students, and receive class about musical skills. Then a concert for parents and friends will be held on July 18 at Fairchild Theatre.

Musical Theatre Camp

July 14-25, 2014

$300 for Grades 9-12

$220 for Grades 2-8

This camp is held for elementary, middle and high school students. Campers in grades 9-12 will spend the full two weeks developing skills including voice development, dancing, and prop (道具) design. Campers in grades 2-8 will join them in the second week, and the camp will give a final performance featuring scenes and songs from many popular musicals.

Beginning Strings (弦乐器) Camp

August 4-8, 2014

$185

This camp will introduce violins, violas and cellos (中提琴和大提琴) to children ages 6-12. It will give the students lessons by professional string teachers, along with singing and music theory games. Instruments are provided by CMS through a donation by Marshall Music Co. for students who do not have one. At the end of the camp, there will be a final performance to show what the students have learned.