Food: Caucasian-American and Indian-American

This entry gave me the munchies. Seriously. One of the most best things about cross-cultural studies is learning about different dishes! As someone who was raised on Mexican food, I'm gonna admit that I think American food is pretty yummy.

Prepare for an image-heavy post!

Caucasian-American

Who does the cooking? It can vary from family to family, naturally. Some families have all home-cooked meals, while others do nothing but order out or reheat. There are happy mediums out there, too. Men, women, and children can have a hand in the cooking, if there are home-cooked meals. I think that's sweet. :)

Do children have to help out in the kitchen? They can help wash the dishes, set the table and such, but the focus isn't so much on helping out with the cooking itself. Helping out with the cooking is more of a treat than a requirement. Again, this is sweet!

Alcohol is an iffy subject. Some families are okay with it, while others will hear nothing of it. The on-and-off strictness of this is particular to American culture, I believe. I think it's interesting, actually.

Not all families cook, so learning how to do it isn't exclusive to the home. There are TONS of cookbooks about, and now they're really apparent on the internet, too. In more traditionalist families, there tends to be a couple of inherited recipes, however. They can be typical dishes with a twist.

Caucasian-Americans use the typical fork, knife, and spoon! Isn't that a surprise? ;)

Okay, now on to the pictures!

Breakfast



Eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast... Looks like a pretty typical American breakfast to me! The sunny-side-up eggs actually look kinda cute. Is it just me?







Oh, oatmeal. When I was younger, my mom tried to Americanize our food a little. I remember thinking that oatmeal was puke and would throw a fit if she tried to feed it to me. I wonder what it tastes like...








Cereal! This is something I love. Although the U.S. doesn't have my favorite brand of cereal, (Choco-crispies) I bow down in gratitude to Cocoa Puffs and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.






Waffles! There are a variety of waffles - chocolate chip, pecan, bluberry, etc. - but all of them are pretty great, in my opinion. Its greatest competition is the soft, fluffy pancake.








Lunch


Sandwiches galore! Plenty of lunch meat and cheese to vary this meal.








Pretty convenient to find a picture with both a soup and a salad. This is another common lunch meal. :) Not too many lunch dishes in particular, really.










Dinner

It's chicken soup! This is one of the most globally well-known American/European dishes. My family is from the northern part of Mexico, and this is a popular "foreign" dish over there. I don't like it all that much, but the picture makes it look extra-appetizing...(especially now that it's frigid!)






I picked this picture because it looks like a Krabby Patty. ...Hey, it's a funny show.

Anyway, the hamburger! I bet you knew this was coming. It's a pretty typical American dish, after all. Catch it at any fast-food restaurant, backyard barbecue, and basically any other non-snobby sit-down restaurant. I think people assume that this is all Caucasian-Americans eat. Very unfortunate - not to mention inaccurate!




Ribs! I tried these for the first time not that long ago. I'm not big on meat, but these are pretty good! They're known for their sweet, barbecue taste.










Hey, it's macaroni and cheese! Easy Mac has made
this a popular choice among kids, busy parents, and poor college kids. And Olive Garden gets a kick out of serving it to you and calling it "cuisine." ;)









Isn't the American flag in the background convincing enough? ;) It's fried chicken! These can be spicy, medium, or suited to us pansies who can't handle the heat (I put my family to shame).












...Aahhh, it looks so yummy. Spaghetti and meatballs! Look to lasagna, ravioli, ziti, and other pastas for similar flavoring. Mm, basil and parmesan. You may have angry, rancid breath afterward, but it's WORTH IT.


There are too many American dinner dishes for me to go on. I think I've teased you all (and myself!) enough. :)


Side Dishes

Mashed potatoes, biscuits, french fries, green beans - all pretty common Caucasian-American side dishes. Add in a couple of others, like carrots, salad, peaches, etc.






















Desserts

















Lots of goodies! Brownies, cheesecake, ice-cream sundae, apple pie, and chocolate chip cookies! These are all pretty quintessential American desserts. Enjoy each of these with a nice glass of milk - except for the ice-cream, naturally.

Drinks

I'm gonna let you guys use your imaginations here. Common drinks are: Carbonated beverages of any kind, (Coke, Sprite, Root Beer, etc.) lemonade, sweet tea (pure love), Kool-Aid, milk, and water.

Indian-American

Indian-American food isn't all curry and spices! I was surprised to see that Indian food provides much variety, and that's just counting breakfast. ;)

Breakfast

Aloo Poha - a breakfast dish including beaten rice, potatoes, onions, peanuts, and chilies. Not what I'd eat for breakfast, but I'm not going to knock it until I try it. ;)








Besan Roti - Looks like pancakes, huh? It's equal parts wheat flour and graham flour, mixed with enough water to make it into a dough. It's sometimes served with butter and top and as a side to vegetables. It looks yummy to me!



Paneer sandwich - you can tell by looking at it, pretty much. Toasted wheat bread, tomatoes, cottage cheese, lettuce, green chilies, red pepper, and salt to your personal tastes. It's breakfast!












Not to be confused with the Besan Roti, it's Thepla (or Methi Thepla)! They look like colorful tortillas to me, so I like them already.





Lunch/Dinner
This dish is called a chicken bon bon. Sounds tasty, huh? It's a sesame chicken dish with cucumbers and ginger to complement the meat.






This is a dish called Urad Daal. Just think of it as a vegetable soup with some ginger, chili, and lots of cloves/leaves inside. Healthy!






This is called "hyderabadi biryani." It's a vegetable and rice dish - full of starch and happiness!









Mattar Paneer - this is another vegetable soup type, except that it isn't broth your food is soaking in. It's yogurt. Isn't that interesting? ;)





Side Dishes

I've been looking these up, and I noticed that these are somewhat Americanized, the salad recipes especially! Now, I don't know what chutney is at all, but Indian side dishes are very chutney-based! Here are some pictures.
Bengali tomato chutney!

















Cranberry chutney just to the left and coconut chutney on the far left.






This is Boondi Raita.

It's yogurt with cumin and chilies! It's fried, too.







Desserts

Doodh Pak - this is almonds, pistachios, raisins, sugar, saffron, and cardamom powder. It doesn't look too bad!







Besan Ladoo - flour, sugar, pistachios, almonds, and cashews! Nut varieties seem to be a favorite in Indian desserts.









The last one is Gujiya. It looks JUST like a Latino dish! The cover is mostly flour, and the inside is our favorite - almonds, raisins, and coconuts. ;)







Drinks

Again, I'm going to let you guys use your imaginations (I'm running out of space for pictures; the page is stretching on and on and on...). Indian drinks are typically shakes, sharbats, or teas - chocolate shakes, pineapple shakes, pistachio shakes, spiced tea, gulab sharbat, etc., etc. These can be found on Google. =)

There are MANY more dishes to look at, so if you're interested, a simple Google search for "typical Indian breakfast/lunch/dinner" will work. I don't know if you guys noticed, but Indian cuisine is very much suited toward vegetarianism. If you're a vegetarian, or you need to cook for someone who is a vegetarian, try Indian recipes. You're sure to find a good one that you/they have never had before!

As for the other questions, traditionalist Indian-American families eat home-cooked meals almost every night without fail.

Whether the child has to help in the cooking varies from family to family, but typically it is the mother who takes over and asks for her daughter's(s') help if anyone at all. In cases of house parties, her husband is considered the host, and he is the one who begins eating and sets the example for the guests.

Men do not learn how to cook - traditionally, anyway. Daughters learn how to cook by helping her mother/grandmother in the kitchen. Her ability to cook can be a great source of pride in the family.

As for cutlery, this is perhaps the most interesting one. Food is considered divine, needing to be enjoyed with touch, taste, and smell. Traditionalist Indian-Americans eat with their right hand alone, being sure to wash very thoroughly before eating. It is considered highly unsanitary to have fingernails, and no one is to share food unless they are married.

Lastly, drinking in traditionalist Indian-American families is very rare. This is because India has the lowest alcohol consumption per capita across the globe. So, drinking under 21 is not necessarily an issue. Drinking any more than a glass is a bigger problem.

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I hope you guys liked this post! It's colorful and full of tasty treats. =) I'm going to do two more cultures of food, but I don't have the room in this entry. I'll be doing another Food entry within the next couple of days. Look for it!

--Bianka

Dating/Marriage

Ahh, dating. It's definitely something us young'uns can relate to. Marriage...maybe not so much. This is probably the most variant topic I've covered so far, and it may continue to be until I do the Family topic. Let's get on with it! :)

Dating & Marriage

Alright, now I definitely learned a lot about some cultures with this one. I also learned that maybe I'm more familiar with Caucasian-American culture than I thought. That's a good thing. ;)

Caucasian-American

One word: lenient. Okay, okay, maybe that's too strong of a word. Of all the cultures I've looked into, though, this is the most hands-off one. This is especially notable in the "recently immigrated from Europe" subgroup. I'm going to combine all the regional ones this time, however.

1. Let's say that you're living under your parents' roof, and you've met someone you really want to date. Do you have to ask your parents' permission?

Okay, now this one definitely varied by region. My Southern respondents had to ask permission - most of them, anyway - (how sweet!) while the Northern and "Recently Immigrated from Europe" outright refused. One even claimed that she had control over her parents' knowledge of these affairs: "I refuse to let my parents have a say in that kind of thing." Woooow...what luxury! (This is me being biased, naturally)

2. Same premise, except this time, do you have to ask your potential boyfriend/girlfriend's PARENTS if you can date their son/daughter? Does your potential boyfriend/girlfriend have to ask for your parents' permission?

I put this one in here for the sake of being fair to both sexes. No one had to ask permission, not even the gentlemen! One said, "...we're all adults now. Parents don't dictate their children's love lives, they never really did..." Now that is definitely a culturally variant issue. I'll elaborate later.

3. When you go/went on dates, do/did you have a chaperone?

Two respondents admitted that they had to have chaperones. I was expecting this to be a zero, actually. Interesting. ;)

4. Would cohabitation before marriage even be an option for you and your partner? (Well, without your parents/other family members exploding from rage).

Hmm...this was a bit of a split. The recently immigrated respondents were like, "well, if we felt like it, of course." Some Southern respondents said it was a definite no, while the other Southern respondents and most of the Northern ones said they would only if they were engaged (or long-term). Only the European respondents were gung-ho about it all; the others were pretty skeptical.

5. You and your partner have just eaten a lovely dinner. Who pays for it? Or who had to cook it?

This one was somewhat mixed. A few like to switch off, but mostly it's the guy who will pay and the girl who'll cook. Some said they'd like to cook with their partner instead, which I think is sweet!

6. Does your ideal partner have to get along with your family (your parents, specifically)?

This one was almost a unanimous "yes," with my European immigrants as the only "no"s. Overall, though, the main requirement is respect. I can definitely agree with that!

7. As a teenager, did you have a dating age restriction? (For example, some parents don't allow their daughters to date until 16.)

Most of my respondents DID have a dating age restriction - well, the girls, anyway. 15-16 year-old was the average age requirement. Guys didn't have an issue, and that's pretty consistent in other cultures, too. Boo!

8. Is there a limit to how far apart in age you are from your partner?

As long as it's legal, or below 18 with only a 5 year difference, all is well. That was unanimous!

9. Is there a certain age (or range) in which your family expect you to be married?

Nope, not a one. Well, my male participants felt a little from their mothers, ("I want to see my grandbabies before I die!") but it wasn't strong enough to force them into anything. This is a good thing. :)

10. Let's say you and your partner are getting married. Do the two of you (and your families) only pay for certain things, or is it an even split?

Oh, wow. I've heard different things for this. One way, the wife's family pays for the wedding, and the husband's family pays for the honeymoon. Unless the wedding is super-cheap or the honeymoon is AMAZING, that's kind of a rip-off. ;) In other situations, the wife's family pays for the wedding, and the husband's family pays for the rehearsal. I hadn't heard that before. Interesting! Only a few respondents split the cost evenly, with one just eloping. Huh. I wonder if eloping is common in the U.S.! I hadn't looked into it.

11. Is divorce an option for you (without being shunned by the family)?

A few respondents were against divorce, be it from their family's opinions or their own. Others said it was something they'd rather avoid, but they would go through with it if it came down to that. My friendly European immigrant respondents said that divorce was a "perfectly viable option."

Mexican-American

Compared to the previous one, this one will seem pretty strict! Take a look. :)

1. Let's say that you're living under your parents' roof, and you've met someone you really want to date. Do you have to ask your parents' permission?

Definitely! This doesn't really apply to me anymore, but Mexican parents are VERY strict. You want to date that cute guy? You're going to have to go through me first. I hope you've talked about him several times before, been his friend for a while, or that he has a good social reputation. If not, it's a definite no. And you can't ask twice!

This doesn't apply quite the same for boys, however. They don't have to ask permission, but they do have to bring the girl around the house. If the mom doesn't approve, then good luck with that.

2. Same premise, except this time, do you have to ask your potential boyfriend/girlfriend's PARENTS if you can date their son/daughter? Does your potential boyfriend/girlfriend have to ask for your parents' permission?

In Mexican families, the potential boyfriend MUST ask the girl's parents for permission to date their daughter. My current boyfriend got interrogated for six hours before he got permission back when I was a teen. He came in with flowers for my mom and cookies for my dad. What a trooper! The boy before him asked my father all casually, and my dad gave him a blunt, "no." Looking back, it's kind of funny. ;)

3. When you go/went on dates, do/did you have a chaperone?

This one could definitely vary. Back in Mexico, you need a chaperone. It could be your younger sibling or neighborhood kids, but no way are you and your partner going anywhere alone. Fortunately, my parents Americanized their stance on this, and I never had a chaperone. Phew! Other kids of Mexican immigrants might not be so lucky.

4. Would cohabitation before marriage even be an option for you and your partner? (Well, without your parents/other family members exploding from rage).

This is definitely not an option, even if you're engaged or really long-term. It's sinful and all that happy stuff. My parents agree, and I'm neutral.

5. You and your partner have just eaten a lovely dinner. Who pays for it? Or who had to cook it?

Well, in Mexico, you eat in the vast majority of nights. Only the lady cooks. When you two go out to a restaurant--or, more often, a food stand--the guy always pays. Here in the U.S., a Mexican couple would follow this trend, more than likely. The man pays when you go out, and the lady takes care of the cooking. There's no "splitting" the bill or helping with the cooking. This doesn't reflect my own beliefs, but I guess I've been a bit Americanzed.

6. Does your ideal partner have to get along with your family?

Yes, absolutely. They don't have to be best friends, but the parents must adore the boyfriend/girlfriend. Boyfriends/girlfriends are pretty much part of the family right away, so this approval comes with plenty of good things (free food, free favors, lots of gifts, etc). I remember my brother's girlfriend once calling my dad and saying that her car was broken down. My dad went out and fixed it right there on the spot! That's what it's about.

7. As a teenager, do/did you have a dating age restriction? (For example, some parents don't allow their daughters to date until 16.)

In Mexico, dating happens at a really young age. Some of my little cousins already have long-term relationships at 14 years old. My parents started dating at 12 and 14. In the U.S., it really depends on the parents and the reason why you immigrated. If the family immigrated for work/money, then it's okay to date and get married at a young age. If the family immigrated for school, you'd better concentrate on school and be the very best. Dating and marriage can always wait.

8. Is there a limit to how far apart in age you are from your partner?

I wouldn't say so, no. My uncle is 48, and his wife is 26. My maternal grandparents were 11 years apart. Older men, younger women and vice versa, all is good. It's still much more common for the men to be older, though.

9. Is there a certain age (or range) in which your family expect you to be married?

If I was still in Mexico, I'd be expired goods, haha. If you have the money, you go to university, graduate, then get married. Graduation age is around 21. If you don't have the money, you get married between 16-19. Parents expect grandkids pretty quickly - lots and lots of grandkids. But, hey, they'll help out a lot!

10. Let's say you and your partner are getting married. Do the two of you (and your families) only pay for certain things, or is it an even split?

In Mexico, it's an even split for the wedding, usually. Honeymoons are rare, but they're more common nowadays than they were a generation or two ago. It's an effort of the families as a whole, too. "Hey, I know a guy that has horses. If I paint something for him, he'll let me borrow horses for you and your wife to ride in on." It's a collectivistic culture, after all. I think it's sweet. =)

11. Is divorce an option for you? Is it acceptable in your family?

It's definitely not acceptable in the Mexican culture. In extreme circumstances such as domestic violence and adultery, it may be acceptable, but even still some families don't agree with it. It's kind of sad. Contemporary Mexico, however, is beginning to divorce much more often than before. I imagine Mexico is becoming more Westernized in that sense. It's interesting to see cultures change over time!

Asian-American

Since I didn't get to personally interview anyone, this won't be written as the above section. All of this is from previous research that I've read up on - based on India's dating/marriage ideals. Very interesting stuff, I assure you! And quite the contrast from Caucasian-American ideals. ;)

Many of the above questions would be repetitive for potential Indian-American respondents. Why's that? It's because the parents of both bride and groom are the ones who control the union. Dating? No such thing. Mates are found through personal ads in local newspapers. Look, here's a clipping that I've written out:

Brahmin parents seeking alliance from Hindu, never-married, accomplished professional, 28-34, for their fair and attractive daughter 27/5'3"/115lbs. Respond with biodata and recent photo.

Obviously, this process can't quite be equaled within the U.S. However, children of Indian immigrants may have to go through their parents in order to be married; at the very least, their prospective spouse must be approved by the family. Respect alone doesn't quite cut it.

From personal experience, I can say that it's hard to get others to understand how much control parents can have over their children's lives. In cultures like these, parents can control everything from birth until death, especially considering that divorce is absolutely forbidden. Imagine the struggles of these kids! They're American, but they don't have the same freedom of choice as their Caucasian-American counterparts,

Now, before passing judgment on this system, remember that this is deeply engrained into the culture. Marriage isn't seen as love and unicorns and butterflies - it's convenient . Why do they get married? According to Cross-Cultural Psychology research, Indians get married (and stay married) to/for...

1. Produce children
2. Provide a stable environment for children
3. Economic stability
4. Spiritual growth
5. Social status
6. Love and companionship (with an emphasis on companionship. Less love and more being friends)
7. Convenience

Chinese-American, Korean-American, and Japanese-American immigrants would be somewhat similar to this. However, there's such a high variance among these groups as to their level of Americanization. Marrying outside of their race, however, is a big issue among the traditionalist families - one that other Asian-Americans tend to share.

Overall...

Dating/Marriage ideals vary based on culture, naturally. It may be more generalizable than I've stated, though. Individualistic cultures (US, UK, Australia) and collectivistic cultures (Mexico, China, Iran) view dating/marriage differently enough from one another that broad research may be conducted.

Western/Individualistic viewpoints on marriage:
-free choice based on mutual love and affection
-individual choice
-union between two individuals

Non-Western/collectivistic viewpoints on marriage:
-union between two families, clans, tribes, etc.
-Family's needs, wishes, and interests are important in decisions.
-Friendship and caring for one another may be more important than attraction and mutual love in a marriage.

For more information, go to the Kennesaw State University web site, click on the Library link, and head to electronic journals. PsycINFO is a great place to look for Psych articles. There are journals specifically for studies based in cross-cultural examinations like these. Fascinating! ;)

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Whew, that was long! So, what did you guys think? Interesting? Just take it all with a grain of salt. We're all living and breathing people, and we're very similar as a whole. Culture can make great differences, though, and it's interesting to see how I might think one day and you might think another. It's something to understand and appreciate, I think. =)

Next is the entry on FOOD! Expect pictures - yummy, yummy pictures.

Food

Hey, guys! Now with Thanksgiving coming up, I figured it was a good time to ask the food questions already. Well...not that everyone celebrates Thanksgiving, but we all enjoy some yummy cooking every once in a while. =)

Warning: answering these questions may make you very, very hungry!

1. You're having dinner with your family! Is it a home-cooked meal?

2. Name some of your favorite dinner dishes--home-cooked only, please.

3. What do you typically eat for breakfast? Just name some of your usual breakfast meals.

4. What about your lunch meals? Do they differ from your dinner dishes?

5. As a child, did you have to help out in the kitchen?

6. Did you drink anything with your meals? If so, what?
This could be alcohol, water, milk, Kool-Aid, a soft drink, etc.

7. In your family, is it acceptable to drink alcohol? Is it acceptable to drink it before 21? If so, how old is old enough?

8. After dinner, do you usually eat dessert? If so, what is a typical dessert dish?

9. What utensils do you use to eat?
Example: some Asian families only use chopsticks.

10. How did you learn how to cook (if you know)? Are there any recipes that are passed down in your family?

11. Name some typical side dishes.
Example: corn, rice, baked potato, etc.

-- --

That's all I have! Please answer these questions so that I may write a blog about cultural differences in food. =) I'll probably be doing a bit of research in addition to the answers I get. Speaking of which, the dating/marriage post is on the way! I recently did some research on dating traditions among Middle Eastern Asian cultures, and I thought it was really interesting. I'll see if I can get enough information to share with you all.

Also, I just wanted to give an update about my boyfriend. He's still in the hospital because he caught a bad case of pneumonia. =( It's really not good, considering he's trying to recover from a heart attack and is coughing badly. Fortunately, they did a lot of E.K.G.s and such, and he has very minimal heart damage. As long as he goes to rehab and takes his medicine, he should be able to make a full recovery in a few months.

Hooray! Thank you all for your kind wishes. =)

--Bianka

Superstitions

Who would've thought that we'd be hit SO hard with the flu season this year? It seems to get worse every season. But don't fret, everyone. Our grandmothers know JUST the thing to cure our sicknesses.

Superstitions

Okay, so my own cultural background had me prepared for much more weirdness than I encountered. I guess my family's really as strange as they seem...? Anyway, let's begin!

Caucasian-American

This is definitely the most variant of all the ethnic groups I managed to interview. I noticed that it really depends on the region of the United States, the religious values of the family, and if the family recently immigrated from Europe (first or second generation).

Southern

Bless their hearts! Of all the Caucasian-American respondents, this one had the most particular remedies.

Are there any items/occurrences that bring you luck? Any that bring you bad luck?

Praying brings good luck. "Prayer can frighten away demons, dontcha know?" says Rachel of Alabama.

Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is supposed to bring good luck.

You're feeling sick with a _________ (cold, flu, stomachache, etc.). What is/are the first thing(s) your mom/dad/other relative reached for?

The most popular answers...

--Chicken soup

--Popsicles

--Resting

--Water

(No one said "medicine"!)

You have the hiccups. How do you cure them?

Take three sips of water very slowly. Or scare them away!

You have money. Is there anything in particular that you must do to ensure its safety?

Eat collard greens on New Year's Day for financial luck. Otherwise, just put it in the bank.

It's a baby/pregnancy! Is there anything in particular you must/must not do for s/he to be happy, healthy, or anything else? This is in regards to expecting mommies, families, friends, and passersby.

Don't watch scary movies! It will "mark" the baby.

Northern

Maybe it was the Italian background, but my Northern responders were hilarious (please note that I'm saying this as someone's who's part Italian). *insert lots of panic*

Are there any items/occurrences that bring you luck? Any that bring you bad luck?

Ladders, mirrors, and black cats should be avoided. All of them, at all times. Mirrors reveal the inner self, after all!

When your right palm itches, it means you'll be receiving money, only if you don't scratch it. However, if your left palm itches, you'll be losing money.

If you find a penny face-up on the ground, keep it, and it'll bring you luck. If you find a penny tails-up on the ground, give it to someone else and give them luck.

You're feeling sick with a _________ (cold, flu, stomachache, etc.). What is/are the first thing(s) your mom/dad/other relative reached for?

Vicks. Vicks cures everything. I could take a bath in that stuff. Advil works, too!

For stomachaches, take Pepto-Bismol and curl into the fetal position.

You have the hiccups. How do you cure them?

Close your eyes and concentrate on breathing. Or have someone scare you.

You have money. Is there anything in particular that you must do to ensure its safety?

If I have money, I can't brag about it or tell others that I have a lot. I'll lose the money if I do!

It's a baby/pregnancy! Is there anything in particular you must/must not do for s/he to be happy, healthy, or anything else? This is in regards to expecting mommies, families, friends, and passersby.

The expecting mother needs to eat liver and vegetables. It's good to sing to the unborn baby, too.

Recently Immigrated from Europe

Are there any items/occurrences that bring you luck? Any that bring you bad luck?

Not a single of these respondents believed in luck. In fact, one of them said, "I'll walk under a ladder all day, inside my house--with an umbrella open...[and] a black cat hanging in front of my face, tied upside down by its tail. And nothing'll happen." Pretty specific, huh?

You're feeling sick with a _________ (cold, flu, stomachache, etc.). What is/are the first thing(s) your mom/dad/other relative reached for?

Again, these respondents were pretty much of one mind. Every one of said they took medicine and left it at that. No crazy home remedies? For shame. ;)

You have the hiccups. How do you cure them?

There were only two cures among this group: holding your breath or waiting it out.

You have money. Is there anything in particular that you must do to ensure its safety?

Put money in your wallet and leave the rest in the bank. Limit the money in your wallet, though. Credit owns all.

It's a baby/pregnancy! Is there anything in particular you must/must not do for s/he to be happy, healthy, or anything else? This is in regards to expecting mommies, families, friends, and passersby.

Just do as the doctor says.

-- --

Is that interesting to any of you? Inaccurate, perhaps? There are bound to be discrepancies because of the small sample size, so please speak up if you disagree with anything. =)

Personally, I liked learning about Caucasian-American superstitions! I'll be the first to admit that I wish I was more knowledgeable of this ethnic group. I think the "recently immigrated from Europe" group was the most surprising to me. I don't know if I could just wait out the hiccups. When I get them, I'm desperate to lose them. So uncomfortable! The other options seemed very...straightforward. I wouldn't go so far as to adopt the cultural values, but I can understand them now. Hooray, knowledge!

Hispanic-American

This time around, the vast majority of my respondents were Caucasian-American. I'm hoping that the next few cycles will feature other ethnic groups as well. If I can't find any willing participants of other ethnic groups, I'll find ways to research it. As a Psychology major, I have my research sources. ;) Haha.

Anyway, here's my time to shine! Prepare for weirdness, courtesy of my Mexican-American culture.

Are there any items/occurrences that bring you luck? Any that bring you bad luck?

--If a black cat crosses your path, stick your tongue out at it in rapid succession. This will negate its bad luck. (No, seriously).

--Dropping a utensil on the floor means you'll get bad company. Tap it on the floor four times to reverse it.

--If you point at a rainbow, you'll get a stye. I think that counts as bad luck.

--If you watch a dog do his business, you'll get a stye. As a child, I was a little afraid of dogs--for this reason, haha.

--Tuesday the 13th of any month is super-unlucky!

--I have TONS more, but I'll stop there!

You're feeling sick with a _________ (cold, flu, stomachache, etc.). What is/are the first thing(s) your mom/dad/other relative reached for?

--If you feel a cold coming on, GARGLE WITH MOUTHWASH. If you're already sick, gargling with mouthwash can help shorten the sickness or at least provide temporary relief.

--When I got stomachaches, my mom would rub my stomach really hard. It never made me feel better, but she swore by it, haha.

--If you have a consistent sickness for a long time, have someone crack an egg into a cup and say the Creed several times. Then the person should put the glass under your bed. By the next morning, the person should feel a little better--if not completely. I wouldn't do it, but it's another thing my family believes in.

--Boil some water and then add lemon while it's still bubbling. Let it cool a little before drinking it. This should alleviate a stomachache.

--Boil some water with carrots. Add potatoes. Mash it all together. This sounds really nasty, but if you drink this concoction before going out on a hot day, you won't get dehydrated.

You have the hiccups. How do you cure them?

--Stare at someone directly in the face, and you'll lose your hiccups in no time. Distraction works well. It's REALLY, REALLY awkward, but it works. ;)

--Fill a glass with water. Instead of drinking it upwards, (craning your head back) drink it downwards, being sure not to spill it. Concentrating on doing this will both distract you from your hiccups and from breathing. Hiccups gone!

You have money. Is there anything in particular that you must do to ensure its safety?

--Never put your purse on the ground. That means you'll lose all of your money!
--When going out, always pack some extra cash in hard-to-reach places. Try the inside of your shoe but not inside of your sock.

It's a baby/pregnancy! Is there anything in particular you must/must not do for s/he to be happy, healthy, or anything else? This is in regards to expecting mommies, families, friends, and passersby.

--If you stare at a baby, you MUST touch it. Otherwise, you'll give them "mal de ojo," and the baby will be restless and not able to sleep. Touching the baby ensures him/her that you mean no harm.

-- --

How was that? Interesting at all? Totally weird? Honestly, after reading a bunch of Caucasian-American responses, I feel really weird. But now that you're familiar with some Hispanic superstitions, try and work that knowledge into conversations. Let people know, but do it without judgment. It's okay not to agree with these cultural values, but it's more important to understand them and work from there. That's what this blog is for, anyway--understanding.

The next blog will be about dating and marriage. From the responses I've received so far, (on here and other areas. Thank you guys so much for your answers, by the way!) this one will probably be of more interest to us all. :)

Be on the look-out for more questions. The next sections will be on food, holidays, family, school, and discipline.

Dating/Marriage

With my parents' 28th wedding anniversary coming up, I thought it would be appropriate to ask the next set of questions on dating/marriage. There are a lot more questions this time, but these are fun and easy to answer. :)

1. Let's say that you're living under your parents' roof, and you've met someone you really want to date. Do you have to ask your parents' permission?

2. Same premise, except this time, do you have to ask your potential boyfriend/girlfriend's PARENTS if you can date their son/daughter? Does your potential boyfriend/girlfriend have to ask for your parents' permission?

3. When you go/went on dates, do/did you have a chaperone?

4. Would cohabitation before marriage even be an option for you and your partner? (Well, without your parents/other family members exploding from rage).

5. You and your partner have just eaten a lovely dinner. Who pays for it? Or who had to cook it?

6. Does your ideal partner have to get along with your family (your parents, specifically)?

7. As a teenager, did you have a dating age restriction? (For example, some parents don't allow their daughters to date until 16.)

8. Is there a limit to how far apart in age you are from your partner?

9. Is there a certain age (or range) in which your family expect you to be married?

10. Let's say you and your partner are getting married. Do the two of you (and your families) only pay for certain things, or is it an even split?

11. Is divorce an option for you (without being shunned by the family)?

There! If you could, please answer these questions so that I may write a post about cultural differences in dating and marriage! As always, I'll be getting outside sources to answer these questions as well. I already have responses from the previous set of questions, so I'll be trying to write that post soon.

As a side note, I just wanted to ask you all to please keep my boyfriend, Joseph Whiting, in your thoughts and/or prayers. He had a heart attack on Thursday, the 5th of November, and will be in the hospital until further notice. I'd really appreciate it!