I recall some years ago when we first went to the States for further studies.  We came to know some nice people, generous, loving and caring, ready to help.  Among those nice people there were a few folks who had some presumptions of us who came from the Orient; and people outside of America and Europe are often stereotyped as “the Third World”. One of these nice folks was our neighbor.

One evening common friends between us invited our family and our neighbor to go over to their house for dinner.  We had a great time chatting and eating.  At certain point of that wonderful evening, I think it was when we were each enjoying our steak, while slicing her steak our neighbor remarked casually but surely,

“This is quite different from what Joe (my English name) and Serena (my wife’s English name) have been doing for their meal at home.”

“How is it different?” The host asked.  Before I really knew what she was getting at, she went on to explain assertively,

“Well, they usually cut the meat into very small pieces, unlike our big portion.  Do you know why?” She looked at the hosts seriously and almost immediately offered her answer as assuredly,

“Back home they don’t have refrigerator to keep the left over.  To make sure no meat is left or all meat would be consumed, they cook very small portion of meat. That’s why they cut it into small pieces.”

I must confess that I learnt something from her answer, but I am not sure if that really explains Chinese cooking pattern.  As far as I know she has not taken any Chinese cooking class, neither has she been keen on Chinese culture.  In fact, before we met she did not have a Chinese friend.  All she knew about Chinese people was from the characters in TV or motion pictures.  But one thing is sure; she considers Chinese people as part of the Third World.  More importantly she has a view of what Third World is like: rather primitive, simple… you see? Presumption.

But is presumption the problem of certain part of the world only?  Several years ago there is a story shared among the sea of web.  I guess many of us have read it or some versions of it already.  According to this story, the United Nations sends out a question or a thought for children in different parts of the world to discuss and interact: “PLEASE SHARE YOUR OWN THOUGHT CONCERNING THE ADEQUACY OF FOOD SUPPLY IN OTHER NATIONS.”  Now the quiz was sent out, but the result has not been satisfactory because,

Children in Africa do not know “adequacy of food supply”;

Children in the US do not know “other nations”;

Children in Latin America do not know “please”;

Children in Asia do not know “their own thought”.