文化认同:印度咖喱or美国三明治?
As I unzipped my lunchbox, the whole place was turned into a spicy curry (咖喱) dream. I immediately hid it under my seat, hoping no one would take notice.
Mom had really outdone herself with masala — our family’s all-time favorite dish back in India. But today, it wasn’t just about me and my lunch. A warm smile on his face, Ricky invited me, a new transfer student from India to New York city, for lunch.
“Ava, come sit here!” Ricky called out, gesturing towards a vacant seat.
As I made my way over, memories of those awkward lunchtimes when I studied in Kansas, one of the most conservative states, flooded back. I could still recall how everyone would wrinkle their noses and stare curiously when I unpacked my Indian food. It always made me feel like an outsider, like I didn’t belong.
Therefore, before my first day in this school, I had demanded my mom pack “normal” western-style food for me. I still remembered the look on her face upon hearing it, as she signed in disappointment and confusion,“ Isn’t there a moment when you feel proud of your origin ” That was hurting, but not more hurting than others’ giggles and whispers. Honestly, long queues were common in Indian restaurants in New York city, a cultural melting pot, but I wouldn’t take that risk.
Unfortunately, this morning, Mom had forgotten to make sandwich or any “normal” food, so I had to bring leftovers from our dinner. At the thought of the possible oh-no-second (社死), I felt like being thrown into darkness.
However, before I came back to reality, Ricky noticed my sneaking (躲躲藏藏). “What do you have for lunch ” he asked, his eyes twinkling with interest. I tried to brush it off (搪塞), claiming I wasn’t hungry. But Ricky wouldn’t let it go, and before I could protest, he had the lid of my lunchbox open and I prepared myself for such familiar responses as “Ew” or “What is that ”
注意:1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
However, I did not get what I was expecting.
After school, I found Mom preparing sandwich for tomorrow.
【文本理解】
当我打开午餐盒时,整个地方都变成了一个辛辣的咖喱梦。我立刻把它藏在了座位下面,希望没有人会注意到。
妈妈真的超越了自己,用香料制作了我们家在印度最喜欢的菜肴。但今天,不仅仅是我和我的午餐。瑞奇脸上带着温暖的微笑,邀请我这个从印度转学到纽约市的新生一起吃午饭。
“Ava,过来坐这里!”瑞奇叫道,示意着一个空座位。
当我走过去的时候,那些在堪萨斯州求学时的尴尬午餐时间的回忆涌上心头。我仍然记得每当我打开印度食物时,每个人都会皱着鼻子好奇地盯着我。这总是让我感觉像一个局外人,好像我不属于这里。
因此,在我来到这所学校的第一天之前,我要求妈妈给我打包“正常”的西式食物。我仍然记得她听到这个要求时脸上的表情,她失望和困惑地签字说:“难道你从来没有为自己的起源感到自豪的时刻吗?”那很伤人,但并不比其他人的咯咯笑声和耳语更伤人。老实说,在纽约市这个文化大熔炉中,印度餐馆里常常排长队,但我不愿冒这个风险。
不幸的是,今天早上,妈妈忘了做三明治或任何“正常”的食物,所以我不得不带上我们晚饭的剩菜。一想到可能发生的不妙时刻,我感觉自己被扔进了黑暗之中。
然而,在我回到现实之前,瑞奇注意到了我的躲躲藏藏。“你中午吃什么?”他问道,眼睛闪烁着兴趣。我试图搪塞过去,声称我不饿。但瑞奇不肯罢休,在我来得及抗议之前,他已经打开了我的午餐盒盖子,而我则为那些熟悉的回应做好了准备,比如“呃”或“那是什么?”
【文本解读】
Ava是一名从印度前往美国读书的转学生。因为担心妈妈给自己准备的印度午饭会引来同学异样的眼光,她一直要求妈妈给她做常见的白人饭。有一天妈妈忘记准备午饭,她被迫带着传统的印度食物前往学校。
【建议主题】文化自信cultural confidence,自我认同self-identity,身份认同identity affirmation
【关键词】 embrace my identity, share my culture, be proud of my origin / roots
【情节构建】
1. 续写第一段:①Ricky对于我午餐的正面评价/喜欢;②我的反应&情绪变化:沮丧到开心;③我开始接受我的身份(为后文铺垫)。
2. 续写第二段:①回家后与妈妈的交流;②妈妈对于我的转变感到欣慰;③ 我不再为印度餐感到难堪/升华主旨。
范文赏析:
However, I did not get what I was expecting. Ricky took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and savored the aroma of the masala. No stares or whispers, there were interest and appreciation. With a broad smile, he still couldn’t believe that my mum made masala for lunch. Before I could make a response, he blurted out:“ I could be dying of envy! You know what, last Sunday, my parents and I queued up for three hours in harsh cold in fifth Avenue for the new India restaurant”. He switched my lunchbox with his and enjoyed every bite, nodding his head in approval. It was a welcome change from the stares and whispers I had grown accustomed to.
After school, I found Mom preparing sandwich for tomorrow. I came over and pleaded if I could have palak paneer in my lunchbox, which made her a bit confused. The next moment I shared with her my encounter with Ricky and how he had enjoyed my Indian food. “I'm glad he liked it,” A gentle smile danced around the corners of her mouth. “And I'm even happier that you're starting to feel proud of your roots.” She paused and stared at me seriously. I nodded, feeling a sense of confidence wash over me: our culture, our traditions, and our food were all a part of who we were. Mom's words and Ricky’s reaction equipped me with the courage to embrace my identity and share my culture with others.
情节构建脚手架:
【Ricky的反应】
1. Instead of wrinkling his nose or jumping away from my lunch box, Ricky let out an awful exclaim, eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement.
2. Ricky flared his eyelashes with apparent awe and his jaw dropped, rejoicing at the masala as if it were his favorite.
【我回家看到妈妈做饭的反应】
1. The bread was baked to golden brown perfection, the chicken was fried to be crisp and the vegetable were chopped carefully. Confronted with these western style food, I took a deep breath.
2. I stepped back and forth outside the kitchen, Ricky's words flooding back into my memory.
3. The slices of sandwiched were like a spear, piercing my heart.
4. I sneaked up her busy figure in kitchen, hugged her tightly and blurted out my encounter in my first-day lunch.
5. At that moment, a wave of regret mingled with shame surged through my whole body.
【文章主旨 / 感悟】
Everyone should take the appropriate attitude towards their origin when staying in another country: embrace the new while maintain the old. Thanks for mom and Ricky, I didn’t lose the real self halfway.
2. Taking pride in my origin, I reclaimed my sense of belonging.
3. Finally I could give no heed to those critical eyesight, embarking on a new journey as an Indian and real me.
4. The curry finally carried me to reconnect with my cultural roots.
5. I realized it was my Indian origin that rendered me uniqueness and added irreplaceable color to my life.
6. I could feel my zealous heart pounding for my roots. The next day, I was at the dining hall, eating masala and chatting happily, for the soul savoring solitude in an exotic country finally gained pride in his own origin.
学生习作:
However, I did not get what I was expecting. Instead, what greeted me was purely words of appreciation and excitement from Ricky's curved lips, which undoubtedly soothed me with ease. “Delicious curry! May I savor a dip of it ” Ricky asked sincerely, and I nodded immediately as if wanting to share a hidden treasure with others. Honestly, I did have no doubt about the delicious taste in my hometown’s dish, which soon was confirmed by Ricky’s look overwhelmed with happiness and satisfaction. Therefore, with a new-found courage, I joined in others’ lunch time with Ricky, shared the curry, and received many favors beyond my anticipation.
After school, I found Mom preparing sandwich for tomorrow's lunch. No sooner had Mom uttered her first word than I broke the silence: “Mom, your curry is really wonderful!” And I explained what had happened as an unexpected gift falling on me. Upon hearing that, Mom sighed in relief, and both of us exclaimed to be an honest supporter tor our origin. Staring at the sandwich, which was no longer needed as my worries faded away, I begged that I would take our family's all-time favorite dish as lunch and share it with Ricky and other classmates. From then on, the curry in my lunch box became a pride, reminding me to take roots in my origin.