by Dorothy England
This picture
shows the
Entrance
to Chinatown
Wednesday, October 21st, Mr. Krogmen's Asian Studies class ventured out for the day to Boston, Mass. After an hour and a half of the highway and other vehicles as the only things in sight, the Twinkie bus finally came to a stop in a huge parking lot only blocks away from their destination: Chinatown. The class's first stop was a little grocery store where live eels and almost 2 feet long fish swam around and elaborately long bamboo shoots sprouted from brown bins. It was a strange experience the white students discovered; trying to understand the Chinese labels and ingredients made it hard to figure out exactly what the class needed. It was also different being the minority where Chinese and Asian costumers clearly dominated the aisles.
That was nothing when the class went to the restaurant Hi La Moon for lunch. It was as if it was a class of aliens as vs. a class of American teenagers; which technically, as opposed to being Chinese or Asian, they were. The other patrons looked up at this class of white, curious teens, wondering what exactly they were doing there, invading their territory. It was awkward but after a collective slew of friendly 'Ni Haos" (Chinese for 'hello'), the tense shoulders relaxed and smiles, which are universal for acceptance or kindness broke out.
Stu Mosseau even commented when walking around that he felt as if everyone was looking at him. It was a new experience but fun at the same time. Josie Therrien also mentioned that she felt like a minority, similar to an alien, but she liked the food which was unusual to what she typically ate. This unusual food included tripe which is cow's stomach and even chicken feet which grossed out most of the other class mates but some were brave to try it.
Overall the experience was very enlightening and informative, not only on what Chinese culture is like but also it gave insight on what's it's like to be the different one, the odd one out.
