Jardine 1: Perspective

I am learning to more fully appreciate the perspective other cultures offer. I say this with a smile. With the world becoming so small, it is quite entertaining to see its clash of culture. And there is also much to be truly appreciated.

Coming from the culture I do, for example, I would never think to put barbeque sauce in my Minestrone. However, for someone who is going strictly off of scents, with no cultural "norms" to direct them, this is a perfectly legitimate taste experiment.

I may raise my eyebrows, but I come to realize, there's nothing to say that can't be done but my cultural precedence.


A day after the Hot Cross Bun incident, I found myself in the kitchen with the flatmate I offended. (Being me) I apologized to her for throwing away the bread and at this she started to tear up and gave me large, tight hug.

I had no idea that something I saw as so small and insignificant could be such a huge matter to someone else.

Now, I wasn't raised to waste, but as I have gotten older, I have had the freedom and luxury to be "choosy" - in everything. And, living in the United States, where even the homeless have their choice of meals, I never realized what a privilege this really is. It's easy to forget how the rest (or even some rest) of the world live.

Don't worry, I don't have a link to a charity organization. But, amidst the chaos of globalization - the confusion, the newness, the barbeque sauce in the minestrone - I think it is to be appreciated that globalization also brings us to realize our shared humanity, our shared sentiments.


I understood my flatmates feelings even though I did not share them on that particular subject.

This is sweet and to be valued. But I cannot leave on this humanistic note. Yes, we are all humans, and largely I think we should have that perspective, leading to care and concern for our fellow men. But the current conflict in the world would show we also have deep-rooted (and real, I think) values that bring us into deep, and painful conflict. I do not know that we will always get to be sweet and wonderful. Things are not always as easy as hot cross buns.

Finding the balance of love and a firm stand is hard.