Buzzfeed Video Reflections

I watched the videos titled, Mexican People Try Taco Bell For the First Time and Chinese People Try Panda Express For the First Time. In both videos, the people had many different reactions to each of the dishes they tried, but had the same overall reaction about the food in general. Most of the people were surprised that the food was not like authentic Mexican or Chinese food. While some of the dishes supposedly originated in those countries, the people tasting the food said that the meal did not look or taste like the authentic version. Some of the dishes served have no ties to where they “supposedly” originated. A few of the people tasting the food enjoyed these dishes, but said that they are definitely not Mexican or Chinese. In Mexican People Try Taco Bell For the First Time, when asked if they would return to Taco Bell, everyone said that they would not.

While not too surprising that food from these fast food restaurants are not authentic to their country of origin, it does reflect that American people can be ignorant about other cultures and customs. Many people believe that Americans know less about other counties than people living in other countries know about America. These videos reflect this prediction.

It is hard though, to realize that these restaurants do not serve authentic Chinese and Mexican foods, when many people—including myself—have never been to either China or Mexico. For me, Taco Bell and Panda Express is the closest I have come to eating authentic Mexican and Chinese food, which is disappointing, because I know that these restaurants do not offer a correct representation of food from those countries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo59LlkTDe4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWSOiZrs3oA

Cox Hall

As I walked into Cox Hall on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, I was immediately hit with the sound of hundreds of people in conversation, and the smell of various kinds of lunch food. Since the dining hall serves everything from tacos to coffee, the cavernous room has a refreshingly unique smell that is inviting and makes my stomach growl. With tall windows covering one side of the building, Cox is open, light, and inviting, even during the lunch rush.

I went around 12:30, which was the main cause for the long lines and lack of seating. After waiting about 10 minutes to pay for my food, I walked out into the dining area with wide eyes. Every table in Cox is a long rectangle that fits 8 people. Being just one person, I felt awkward sitting alone at a table meant for 8. Cox is the perfect place to go with a large group of friends because of the long tables, but might not be the best place to sit and eat your meal if you are there alone like I was. That said, I sat at the end of one long table—that already had a few other people sitting at it—just lucky to have gotten a seat during the lunch rush.

One of the most alluring aspects of Cox is the variety of food that it offers, serving tacos, salads, sushi, coffee, Indian Curry, pizza, wraps, etc. With such a large variety of food and prices, it is easy to see why so many Emory students enjoy the food there. It is a nice change from the monotonous meals at the Dobbs University Center (DUC).

Emory students like to eat at Cox for many reasons. Freshman Brittany Calkins says that Cox is her favorite place to eat on campus. “I love the Chick Pea Curry at the Indian place. It reminds me of home,” she said.

While Cox is admired for the variety and taste of its food, there is a major downside to eating at Cox Hall: using Dooley Dollars. “My least favorite part of Cox is that you have to use Dooley Dollars instead of meal swipes,” Calkins said. Especially for freshman, who are required to purchase the unlimited meal swipe plan for the Dobbs University Center, having to spend the precious and very limited Dooley Dollars can be a disincentive to eating there.
Overall, Cox is a great place to eat a couple times a week, but not too often if you don’t want to blow your Dooley Dollar budget.

Class Dinner Party

Class Dinner Party: Tacos

Chips - $7.12

Salsa - $2.89

2 bowls - $6.39 each

Taco shells - $1.52

Tortillas - $2.89

6 Chicken breast - $6.82

Beans (canned) - $2.89

Cheese - $3.99

Lettuce - $2.50

Guacamole - $2.29

5 bowls - $6.39 each

Pan – $13.41

Cookie Dough – $10.09

Baking sheet - $13.75

Spatula - $4.67

16 plates - $3.28

16 forks - $6.00

Napkins – free from the DUC

Total price - $126.43

            I am choosing this meal because it is relatively easy to prepare, and everyone likes tacos.

I am going to go to Earth Fair, the grocery store in Emory Point, so I don’t have to pay for Uber. I’m guessing that with the walk, the whole trip will take me about an hour and a half. I am going to cook the chicken breast and bake the cookies in the Raoul kitchen. That is also where I will put all the taco ingredients into bowls and prepare the chips and salsa for an appetizer. I am not going to prepare all of the tacos so that everyone can make their tacos just how they want them to be.

I am going to have the party in the lounge in my hall (Raoul 2^nd floor), which would be free. I am going to make a Facebook group for our class and sent the invites that way. When everyone gets there, we will have our appetizer of chips and salsa, then our dinner of tacos, then we will have our freshly baked cookies.