Interview Reflection

For this assignment I chose to interview my friend Maharani in the 4 -week Astro Physics program. I introduced her to our inquiry and her first response was “oh thats so cool, I wish I had a blog!” 

Here are the questions: 

* What do you think about the inquiry, food and identity?

* What are some dishes that come to mind when you think about your own food and identity?

*How would you define food and identity?

She became quite interested in the inquiry and began to look through all the previous blog posts. I explained to her that my posts all had to do with my identity and how this blog has allowed me to explore other cultures as well. She shared that food is a part of identity because its what shapes your pallet and what you grew up eating, which is different for everyone. 

Maharani added to the discussion sharing her own experiences with food and her identity. I had the pleasure of being introduced to some of the dishes from her own culture.  Sate Ayam and Soto Betawi are the dishes that she loves most. Sate Ayam is seasoned, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce and Soto Betawi, a "hearty beef soup consisting of chunks of meat that are simmered in a coconut milk broth." "Sate Ayam is my favorite street food to get when in Indonesia, Im actually going there in August for vacation." She also mentioned how she connects Soto Betawi which she associates with "eating at meals with her family and being able to bond with them."

Based off of her own experiences, Maharani defined food and identity by saying  "Food is key to our sense of identity. The way a region of country eats helps mark its diversity." 

Overall, this interview helped me learn a lot from my friend I thought I knew a lot about. I wish that I had asked sooner about all the dishes fro her culture. This interview has opened my eyes to a new culture whose food I would love to try and explore.