Food Exchange and Urban Tribes

Imagine the picture of "The First Thanksgiving" - where a large feast is set before the participants, on neutral soil, and the Native Americans bring their food items to the table and the Pilgrims bring theirs. The great exchange of food takes place and (as the myth goes) friendships are formed.

Now I know the difficulty that insues in history as a result of these two parties meeting and befriending, but I am amazed at how similar an exchange takes place in my life a few times a week.

We have moved into a suburban neighborhood, where theoretically we are supposed to keep to our own spaces, keep our distance, and really not know one another. However, our neighborhood is filled with people who have more or less come to this new land from different nations - and so a great food exchange has begun.

We had our neighbor from Korea over the other day to celebrate her birthday and to sit around the table and get to know one another. Two days later, she took Mikaela and I (and her daughter) out to lunch and another day after that traditional Korean food was handed to me on my doorstep with a huge "thank you".

I just got back from another neighbor's house. She is an elderly German lady and I hadn't seen her in a few days so I went to check on her. I was invited in for conversation, to see pictures of our family and then was sent on my way with delicious pastries and cakes that had been baked this morning. More food exchange.

And then there are our neighbors from Mexico. Their little boy comes and plays at our house after school if they are not home, and so, in gratitude we receive packages of food at least 2 times a week. Not only that, we were invited to their house on Labor Day for dinner - an event which suspiciously probably looked a lot like the gather that first Thanksgiving. People from different cultures bringing their different foods to the table, trying ineptly to communicate with one another, but grateful for other human beings to befriend.

So hurray! for the exchanging of food as it brings our little secluded life into the lives of others in our community or cul-de-sac. May we form new urban (or suburban) tribes full of colors, languages, and great food!