Truth in Television; Middle Easterners + food = cultural version of superglue.
Though if you drop an American and a Middle Easterner into a shared social interaction without prior cultural experience, the different food rituals will usually stress everyone out, with the American feeling pressured and the Middle Easterner feeling rejected. Yes, the 'sad puppy look' does transfer across cultures. (Don't worry, I can now identify that specific problem, and have better responses than 'be confused, be very confused.')
I think a healthy perspective is to offer, but not take it personally if the other person isn't interested, and in time you will get used to each others' differences, rather than getting stressed whenever someone doesn't follow the script exactly. And pay attention to likes and dislikes - people are more likely to do new/unfamiliar stuff with you if you remember what they do/don't like.
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dancing_serpent
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2023-02-20 06:31 pm (UTC)Though if you drop an American and a Middle Easterner into a shared social interaction without prior cultural experience, the different food rituals will usually stress everyone out, with the American feeling pressured and the Middle Easterner feeling rejected. Yes, the 'sad puppy look' does transfer across cultures. (Don't worry, I can now identify that specific problem, and have better responses than 'be confused, be very confused.')
I think a healthy perspective is to offer, but not take it personally if the other person isn't interested, and in time you will get used to each others' differences, rather than getting stressed whenever someone doesn't follow the script exactly. And pay attention to likes and dislikes -
people are more likely to do new/unfamiliar stuff with you if you remember what they do/don't like.