Food & Culture

On this episode, I chat with a woman who grew up in Bolivia to a Chinese father and Bolivian mother. We talk about food, culture, and learning the German language.

English Level: B1 🇧🇴🇨🇦

Show Notes:

Introduction (0:21)
Learning German (2:42)
Growing up in a Chinese home in Bolivia (7:26)
Laura’s dad’s restaurant (9:30)
What was it like for you to grow up in Bolivia with a Chinese father? (11:26)
Did you feel as much pressure from your Bolivian mother to perform well in school? (15:07)
Were there cultural clashes because of the differences between your parents? (16:54)
Have you checked out German food culture? (18:26)
What do you cook when you start to miss home? (20:11)
Can you tell me about your mom’s cooking? (24:06)
Can you tell us about the work you do? (28:59)

Vocabulary Words:

Immerse (verb): involve oneself deeply in a particular activity.
Ashamed (adj.): embarrassed or guilty because of one’s actions, characteristics, or associations.
Appreciation (noun): recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.
Preface (noun): a preliminary explanation.
Clash (noun): an incompatibility leading to disagreement.
Peer (noun): a person of the same age, status, or ability as another specified person.
Nostalgic (adj.): feeling happy and also slightly sad when you think about things that happened in the past.

Phrases to Remember:

throw into something: To put someone or something suddenly or forcefully into some condition, position, or activity.
comfort food: food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically having a high sugar or carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking.
hustle and bustle: A large amount of activity and work, usually in a noisy surrounding.
come out of your shell: to become less shy, and more talkative and friendly.
extracurricular activities: A range of activities organized outside of the regular school day, curriculum or course intended to meet learners’ interests.