A MEMORY OF FOOD TASTES BETWEEN CULTURES 1980

I am trying to finish off my thoughts and memories of Canada and the introduction of my new family to a new country. For Deysi, this came with a complete change from the way of life that she (they) had known previously. Our baby (Ron) was just newly arrived, and although showing signs of her father’s brilliance, did not have much basis for knowing the differences. She was aware of a sudden change though and did realize that her bevy of attendants (Deysi’s family) were no longer hovering over her and caring for her every whim. Deysi, on the other hand, was well aware of differences in life and bravely accepted the new without complaint or question.

She did confide in me though (on the promise of death if I divulged any of our conversation) some of the things that were painfully different. The memory of these things remains fresh to this day. Food, of course was a biggy. At home in Peru there was refrigeration but it was not meant as a storage unit for excess purchases and left overs. Each and every day Deysi’s mom, dad, or brother made an early trip to the fresh market(s) to purchase veggies, meat/poultry or fish, and bread in quantities sufficient for that day. No left overs and everything FRESH.

Now, her arrival in Canada and how things changed. Some of her early taste experiences made me laugh, because, they were so very true. A short list went something like this; MacDonald’s to her tasted like cardboard, she could only eat the fish sandwich. Frozen vegetables were entirely tasteless and foreign to her palate. Upon seeing Brussel Sprouts, at my mom’s for the first time, she told me “EEEUUUUU” we don’t eat these things we feed them to the pigs. She tried our favourite root beer and stated that it tasted like cough syrup. When offered sushi she said “you gotta be kidding, right”? When our friends served her deer she said I’ve finally had a good piece of beef in this country. And the list went on.

This for my ears only, she never, ever said anything negative about what she was offered to eat. Just smiled gulped it down and complimented whoever prepared it.