How is generosity expressed across cultures?

Two friends, one from Puerto Rico and the other from Portugal helped with anecdotal research on this inquiry. My entering assumption for the most common response to the inquiry was going to be food. David, from Puerto Rico, confirmed my assumption that an abundance of food was integral to his cultural. Food would be a major part of any celebration with a focus on the quantity available. No one goes home hungry.

During dinner, my friend from Portugal, Jose, agreed that food was a primary way to be generous in the country of his birth. The conversation turned to the second most common way the Portuguese are generous. He explained that his countrymen are quick to go out of the way to serve and offer assistance where it is needed. If you need a ride or some service, the default answer is to provide services until the job is done; getting you to your destination or completing a repair. For Jose, seeing someone down on their luck and in need of help will inspire offering something out of his grocery bag without thinking twice.

These conversations allowed excellent discussions and insight into these cultures from an angle I had not considered before and refreshed my appreciation for those lands beyond my immediate State borders. Asking this question allows the individual from another area to expound on the details of their heritage on a positive topic. In some cases, cultures are known for only one element of their history. Just as you and I have many different facets, cultures are not one one-dimensional nor one historical event. Get out there and engage with those around you; it's a brave new world, experience it!

Going Further: What has been your experience with generosity from other parts of the world? How has this shaped your view of the people? How have you encountered cultural generosity in unexpected ways? What culture are you interested in experiencing?

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How do you use food to build relationships?

Food is a necessity of life and can be used to build memories, traditions and close business deals. The memories of summer picnics filled with grilled burgers, watermelon and corn on the cob are essential to a proper summer get-together in the U.S. Food traditions are rooted in religious and cultural celebrations throughout the world, each bringing a rich history to each meal. Within many cultures, the business meeting is a formality leading to the food and drink at a restaurant where the real negotiations and decisions are made in the wee hours of the morning. 

You have developed your practices of family dinners, coffee with friends and dinner with the in-laws that reinforce the foundations of your relational networks. In what ways are you intentional about the particulars of meal food selection, location and how it will foster relationships? Too often, I use efficiency to drive my decisions and merely consume the meal and miss the opportunity to be present, taste the food and enjoy those at the table. 

We are a species of connection and have developed a buzzing world of activity where information is infinite and attention and connection are commodities. Three times a day an opportunity for connection is available if you choose to be intentional through the need to break bread. The good news is that no matter your history, you have the chance with your very next meal; make the most of it.

Going Further: What traditions do you celebrate that have food as a major component? How was food a part of your relationships while growing up? How can you take advantage of meals to make connections with others? Who can you share a meal with this week?