Week 3

Task 7: 

Why we eat what we eat?

Try a new food. Choose a food that is not familiar to you or that you have not tasted before. After eating this food consider and discuss:
• What happened and how did you feel?
• From a sociological perspective, consider the main influences on why you eat what you eat and how this:
o may have influenced the fact you have not eaten this food before
o influences your usual eating choices
Reflect upon how these personal influences may impact and influence your future role as nutrition professional.

A: I recently went to an authentic Indian restaurant near Clayton station with a few friends. I've had Indian cuisine at friends’ houses before, but this is the first time eating out at an authentic Indian restaurant. This is a very special experience to me; the interior is decorated with many special Indian traditional decorations, there are pictures of Buddha’s hanging around the walls, and also a big Buddha statue near the counter. I could smell the spices as soon as I entered the shop. We ordered lamb rogan josh, butter chicken, chicken masala and garlic naan. The curries were served in little pots, which I've never seen before. The curries weren't as spicy as I expected, and they were very fragrant, and the spices remain in your mouth for quite a long time. 

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There are many factors that influence what we eat. First and the most important factor are the peer influence and culture influence.  Our culture background determines what we eat most of the time. For example, family and friends are the two main factors that influence our eating pattern. My entire family is Chinese, and most of my friends are also Chinese. My parents cook Chinese food at home, and when I go out with friends our first choice is always Chinese food. I Don't have many Indian friends; I think that is why I've never eaten Indian food in restaurants.

http://getthatindia.com.au/communities/2/004/010/625/372/images/4570327802.jpg

 As a nutritionist professional, we’ll get to deal with patients from all kinds of backgrounds. Being able to experience different cuisines, traditions and lifestyles of different cultures is very important. We’ll be able to understand our clients better, and know why they do/eat certain things, and what ingredients they use in the cuisine, and how it affects the health and well-being of our clients.

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Task 8:

Write a 300 word summary of your experience at the GUSTO exhibition or on your food tour at one of the Melbourne markets. 
Select a particular aspect of interest for you to discuss in the context of how eating and drinking has developed in Melbourne (or Victoria or more broadly in Australia). Why did this aspect particularly resonate with you?

A: The experience at Queen Victoria market is very exciting and interesting; this was the first time being here.  There are many stalls in the market, selling all kinds of different stuff. When we arrived at the market, we went straight towards the Deli section, which we had to fill in the worksheets. We saw many stalls selling many varieties of cheese, I was very fascinated by the varieties of cheese there are in the market, I never knew there are so many varieties, and they can complement different kinds of foods to bring out the full flavour of the cheese. There are also many stalls selling preserved meat like salami, bacon, preserved fish, and all different kind of sausages. We also found a stall selling African foods, including buffalo meat, all kind of beans and lentils. I have never seen African food around Melbourne. Then we went over to the fruit and vegetable section of the market, there we found many interesting fruits that I've never seen before. We tried out some mangosteen, which is a South East Asian fruit, typically found in the Philippines and Indonesia; it had a sweet and sour taste. Despite the good taste, it was also very pricey; we bought 1 for $2. We also saw many other weird fruits, like dragon fruit and ranbutan, which I've never seen before.

Migrants have changed the way of eating in Melbourne, especially the Mediterranean and Asian population. From the Deli section we can see many influences by the Italian and French population. The Italians brought salami, and many different kinds of sausages with them, and The French brought in all kinds of Cheese and Wine making. The Asian population brought with them their fruits and vegetables, and also many cooking methods. The multiculturalism in Australia and especially Melbourne has influenced the culinary culture. As I migrant from China, when I see people eating Chinese food, or Asian food, I feel very proud that many people like our culture and food. 

Task 9: 

Use two different models of your choice to reflect on the same experience. 
Examples of experiences:
-a disagreement or misunderstanding with friend or family,
inability to complete an assignment or piece of work
-positive experience- something that worked well
-something that occurred that took you by surprise 
Which model / tool enabled you to reflect more critically on the situation / action?
How did the model/ tool assist you to develop an understanding of the situation?

A: Gibbs frame work for reflection:

Stage 1: description of the event

I fell asleep once in one of the maths classes in high school, my teacher told me to stand up in front of the whole class, and let me stand there for the whole time, until class finished.

Stage 2: feelings and thoughts

I was very embarrassed and ashamed; it destroyed my dignity as a student and as a person. I felt like crying after the class finished, my classmates and friends were very supportive and comforted me.

Stage 3: Evaluation

Sleeping in class is my fault, but the teacher shouldn’t have done that to me. She could’ve approached me in a better way. Maybe talk to me after class, or tell someone besides me to wake me up quietly.

Stage 4: analysis

I was the one at fault for sleeping in class, but she should’ve treated me better, or more professional. Maybe she treated me like this to keep her authority as a teacher, and also to show other students what they’d get if they didn’t pay attention or fell asleep.

Stage 5: conclusion

In conclusion, I felt very bad afterwards. She should’ve been more professional.

Stage 6: action plan

Sleep earlier and never let her catch me sleeping again in her class. Do a time schedule, and follow it strictly, and never cram study sessions, allow time to spread out for projects and assignments. Talk to the teacher, and tell her she made me feel uncomfortable, and it’d be great if she treated me better, and be more empathetic. I could also tell my parents, and let them talk to the teacher. 

John’s model

Step 1: description of experience

I fell asleep once in my maths class and the teacher told me to stand up in front of the whole class for a whole period. I was really upset and embarrassed.

Step 2: reflection

I was trying to listen in class, but I was very tired on that day for some reason, and couldn’t help myself and fell asleep. There are many consequences for not listening in class, I might have missed out on important information the teacher was trying to tell us, and also might have disturbed other students. If I didn’t do good in the math test, my parents would be very upset and disappointed. I was very upset and embarrassed when she told me to stand up in front of the whole class, it hurt my dignity and pride as a student. The teacher would be very annoyed, as I slept in her class, and maybe she thought her class was boring, and maybe she was upset too. I know she might have been upset by the way she talked to me. She said “is my class that boring?”

Step 3: influencing factors

I was very tired on that day. I think it was because I was rushing and cramming for an assignment the day before, and stayed up till very late.

Step 4: alternative strategy

I could’ve dealt with this situation better by telling my friend sitting next to me to wake me up whenever I fall asleep, pinch me on my thigh, and not make it too obvious. I should’ve made a time schedule and stick with it to prevent procrastination and last minute work. Bringing some mint to class will also help. The consequences of these choices, would result in a more energetic and productive student.

Step 5: learning

I was very upset and embarrassed. However I learned that it was partly my fault for falling asleep and I should pay attention in class, and maybe prepare something that would prevent me from falling asleep, maybe bring some mint to class. 

For this situation I think the John’s model worked better for me, as it allow me to think about many different aspects including how the other person felt, and why they felt this way.