A Trip to an Afghan Restaurant

Students love going on field trips. In addition, these outings are especially beneficial, since they allow students to have fun while providing them the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom.

Connecting to Literature

During marking period 4, Ms. Zaidi’s AP English Literature class read author Khaled Hooseini’s The Kite Runner  while exploring the essential question “Is there a way to be good again?” Set in Afghanistan and the United States between the 1960s and early 2000s, the novel  tells of the friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant at a pivotal stage of the country’s history. It explores brotherhood, betrayal,  and how a person can become moral once more. The story provided the class with a glimpse into Afghan culture, especially its food, a topic which was especially intriguing for students. So, to allow her students to experience Afghan cuisine hands on—especially since it was such an important topic in the novel—Ms. Zaidi took them on a trip to an Afghan restaurant.

The Trip

On Friday March 17th, Ms. Zaidi and her group of students journeyed to the Shukriya Indian Spice and Afghan Grill on Hillside Avenue. The trip provided them a glimpse of Afghan society prior to the Taliban’s takeover, particularly as it relates to the country’s food. Mrs. Zaidi stated that the book mentions the cooking of kabobs in the streets, and how people were able to break bread together before the Taliban. Thanks to her initiative, her students were able to have a similar experience. 

Brianna Singh, a member of the class, recalls that upon arriving at the restaurant, they were enveloped in an enticing aroma of spices and foods. She also referenced that the book expresses how spices were important to the Afghan food culture, so students were able to make connections and have a deeper understanding of the text.  Aliyah Maliq, another student recalls that while at the restaurant they also watched a video about Afghanistan’s history, and how it came to be the country it is today. Based on the menu, they concluded that Afghan cuisine was mostly made up of meals that included lamb, beef and chicken. However, for those who don’t eat meat, the restaurant also offers a variety of vegetarian-friendly options.

The Takeaway

As Ms. Zaidi sees it, this trip allowed students to get to know each other better outside of the classroom. “Being able to have a meal together, and have different experiences one-on-one is a good way to get to know someone, ” Ms. Zaidi said. She believes the students also learned that if there is a conflict they should “sit down, eat together and talk it through.” She also stated that after the trip, classes were more productive and the vibe of the classroom was more positive.

Looking Ahead

Ms. Zaidi also mentioned that she tried to get a trip going for students studying this unit in the past, but due to COVID 19 restrictions, she resorted to bringing the food to the classroom instead. However, going forward she hopes to continue making this outing a part of the Kite Runner unit.