Reflection Paper Chicago Culture

Growing up in Chicago has provided numerous opportunities to engage with multiple ethnic cultures and customs through food, music and numerous social interactions. Those various ethnic cultures have also coalesced into a cultural kaleidoscope that has fundamentally shaped the culture of the metropolis and the way that I digest the sociocultural norms of my hometown. Therefore, when someone [myself included] identifies ‘Chicago culture,’ we are essentially referencing a geographical culture and societal descriptor of the space birthed from ethnic traditions and practices. This lens of understanding my hometown prompted me to engage with the Big E, one of the largest state fairs in the nation, held in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Arriving at the gate, my first reaction was one of pure shock for various reasons. First, the volume of attendees at the Big E was significantly larger than I anticipated. By my estimation, I surmised that there were at least one thousand people of various …show more content…
As I approached, the stench of tzatziki sauce, warm pita bread and charcoal blasted through my nose. Immediately following, a middle-age man said loudly, “How can I help you?” to which I replied, “I’d like a gyro with extra onions please.” He began making my food before saying, “That’s how you have to do it…with the onions, the sauce…the works,” as he laughed and smiled. We continued our exchange with me sharing that I was from Chicago and had ridiculously high standards for food. His response was, “We are based in Boston, but ya know, Chicago is where all of this started…that’s the best food in the world!” This time I smiled feeling as though this gentleman not only praised my beloved hometown, but he also managed to redeem the Big E in my slightly tainted