Meal time behavioral cultural differences Essay

Burping and slurping at the dinner card, how disgusting? In our grow such behaviors arent acceptable along with eating with our hands or even eating nutrient off the floor after we take aim dropped it. more to my surprise, after doing some research, all of those unacceptable behaviors that we have grown up to avoid at the dinner table are accepted by varied cultures around the world. Everyone is different, especially our cultures. I mainly dis covered that what we fancy acceptable in our culture as wakeless mealtime behaviors is disrespectful in other cultures.Also, what we find rude other cultures find acceptable at the dining table. In Muslim cultures, instead of using utensils they use their right hand to eat food. The reason out behind them using their right hand is that they generally use their left hand for hygiene purposes. Muslims consider their left hand unclean when it comes to eating. In America, we pose teaching our children how to use utensils as early as 12 months old. Yes, we do have foods in Ameri elicit that are made to be eaten with our hands, but for those foods that arent finger foods, we are to use good manners and use our utensils.Also in Muslim cultures, if someone drops bread on the floor all they have to do is pick it up, kiss the bread, and raise it to his or her forehead before putting the bread back on their plate. Muslims consider this action a home of respect for their food and the hard work that went into making it. Dropping food on the floor is an automatic trip to the trashcan with the food that fell. We, Americans, know the dirt and germs that cover floors, so when food touches the ground we do not put it back on our plates, but simply make a trip to the trashcan.In Asian countries, eating all the food on your plate is a sign of disrespect host. The host thinks that they didnt feed you enough. Napier-Fitzpatrick says, Theyll keep refilling it, and if they run out, theyll be upset that they didnt have enough food f or you. In order to avoid showing disrespect to your host, Asians usually leave a small fortune of food on his or her plate to show that he or she is full and that they appreciate the hosts generosity.In American, a lot of parents endeavour to encourage their children to eat everything on their plate, although it is okay if a child doesnt. As adults in America, when we eat everything on our plate, it is a sign of respect to the host, saying that we enjoyed the food given to us. Also, you may not refill your own glass. If you are thirsty and want to drink, you must refill another persons glass at the table and how they show the generosity to you. Speaking of seconds, in Chile taking a second helping is offensive to the host and you must wait to be offered more food. Refills and second helpings in America is simply just a sign of a person still being hungry or thirsty. in that respect is no disrespect in Americans wanting seconds or any type of process in receiving seconds. Ethiopi ans have a customs called gursha, hand- victuals each other. They say this tradition shows hospitality to build trust and social bonds between one another between those who are sharing their food. Not only do Americans make received we use our utensils while eating, but if we were to feed another person at our table, we would be sure to use a utensil to do so. Our thoughts on feeding ourselves or even one another with our hands is simple, its unsanitary.In Japan and China, slurping your noodles shows the host your appreciation for the meal they have served you. The host takes slurping as a compliment. Also in China and Taiwan, a small burp at the end of a meal shows the host that you have eaten well and they take that as a compliment. In America, if someone made noises at the table with their food, they would be asked to stop because it shows bad manners at the table. Burping at the table is to a fault found to be disrespectful because once again it shows bad manners. Meal timing in America is also very different to other countries.high noon is when other countries have their main meal for the day. Americans have their main meal after their workday. We call our evening meal dinner, this word signifies a midday meal in other countries. Our main meal is usually served around 6pm, while in other countries such as Spain they eat their supper around 10pm. Also, Americans have a meal that we call brunch, a meal between breakfast and lunch, a foreign visitor would think of this meal timing baffling. at that place are some(prenominal) differences between our culture and other cultures around the world on what we consider good and bad table manners. Seems as though what we find as good manners arent good in other countries and vice versa with bad manners. Although we may not find certain behaviors good manners, doesnt mean we cant learn and teach these behaviors to our classrooms. It is very important for teachers to teach these different cultural meal time behavior s because its very important for children to know close other cultures other than their own, and also because we dont want children to be considered disrespectful if they ever encounter such cultures.The best way for children to learn these different cultures is to talk about them and even practice them. I would make a lesson plan all about good table manners and bad table manners. Teaching our children about other cultures is very important, but we also need to be sure they know our good and bad table manners first. There are several ways to approach on how to incorporate other cultures. During my circle time, I would start by doing only one culture per day.The things to plow during our circle time would be to state the culture we are discussing, ask the children what they know about that culture, ask the children what they want to know about that culture (for come along discussions on other days), and then fall apart the children about the culture, while giving them time to re spond on what their thoughts were. Just telling children about culture isnt enough they need to attend it themselves. During meal times, breakfast, snack, and lunch, I would allow my classroom to partake in the new cultural behaviors that they learned about.It is also important to let the children reflect on what they have learned about hearing about the culture and physically being able to experience the culture. It is very important for children to experience the different cultures of children that are in the same classroom as them. The best way to do that is to allow the child of a different culture to tell his friends about himself and culture. This way the children get a firsthand experience. Including the childs parents and allowing them to come into the classroom and interact with the children while teaching about their culture is a great way to include families into the classroom.When teaching children about different cultures, teachers need to be sure that we include all c hildren of all different cultures, along with their families, and to make sure we do it in a respectable manner. Works Cited Dining Customs of Different Cultures. Familyeducation. com. 5 Oct. 2014 http//life. familyeducation. com/cross-cultural-relations/behavior/48976. html Dining Manners well-nigh the World. Parents. com. 5 Oct. 2014 http//www. parents. com/kids/responsibility/manners/dining-manners-around-the-wor ld.