Last Saturday my husband and I sponsored a BBQ for my students in Brighton. My husband spent the week leading up to the BBQ making home made ice cream and preparing BBQ ribs. He got up at 5:00 a.m. Saturday morning and put the ribs on the smoker so that they would be ready by 2:00 in the afternoon. We really wanted this to be a special day.
We laughed at ourselves after the BBQ. We were so 'self impressed' over preparing such a delicacy as a treat for my students and their families. But, as we were all sitting down to eat, my husband noticed most of our guests trying to cut the ribs with their knives and wondering exactly what they had on their plates. Looking back it reminds me of my travels around the world and having some hosts in China so proud to serve me chicken feet and fish head soup (literally - a fish head in the soup bowl). I asked some of my students if they eat BBQ normally and they all said "not really".
So, lesson learned. What we consider 'normal' and 'special' others are wondering what we see in it. Looking back we should have thought of this. But, on the other hand, hopefully our guests were happy to experience some of the American culture. (And didn't laugh too much at us later...better yet, got a fun chuckle out of us...)
Overall, it was a great day. Almost all my students and their families came. It was wonderful to meet the spouses and children of these special people I spend two evenings a week with. And, it was great to see how proud these families are of their loved ones over their progress acquiring the English language.
Thank you goes to my awesome husband and also to my wonderful daughter (step) and her boyfriend (who came and helped as well). It was great to have them share in the experience and have my students meet my family too.
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