SYRIAN COOKING CLASS

During this Syrian cooking class during afternoon activity time, Yaman taught us how to make Middle Eastern foods, including tabouli and hummus.   I found this cooking class to be very informative. Of course I have tried tabouli before, and hummus is a staple in my daily diet, but learning the ingredients and understanding the process behind making it was interesting.  I had never really considered the cultural aspect of the food as well, and learning to cook the food from Yaman, who has that type of connection when making it was a really unique experience. Although I couldn’t come at the very beginning, I still got to see her make some of the food, which felt like watching a Food Network cooking show, which I thought was really fun.  
Yaman’s experiences were very interesting.  I felt well prepared to hear her story after our class of preparation, but there were some aspects that I didn’t expect.  For example, I had no idea about the fear many immigrants faced when it comes to transportation. It takes a long time to learn how to drive, and because the public transportation system is so different here than it is in other parts of the world, many immigrants, specifically women, avoid it altogether.  Yaman made the choice, however, to brave the bus, as she wanted her children to be able to go to school, and she herself was also trying to get an education in the United States. Once she talked about this, I wasn’t entirely surprised, but it never naturally occured to me how so many simple things in the United States are a lot harder and scarier for other people, who are still trying to adjust to a brand new world.
I feel that cooking and talking with Yaman allowed me to see a different side of her  culture. Before the event, I knew the factual information about immigrating, Syria, the conflicts going on in the Middle East and basic life there, but through this experience I was able to gain insight on a more personal level.  By putting the facts and the opinions and experiences together, I have a much fuller view of one of many lifestyles nearly opposite of mine.