In an inspiring move to bring literature to life, English teacher Ms. Zaidi has once again taken the senior class on an unforgettable culinary journey. After reading Khaled Hosseini’s acclaimed novel, “The Kite Runner,” Ms. Zaidi felt it was a “common sense thing” to provide students with a deeper understanding of Afghan culture. So this year on February 10th, during period 4, Ms. Zaidi organized a visit to an authentic Afghan café, called “Qahwah House,” an experience that was both educational and enriching.
About the Text
Ms. Zaidi’s passion for teaching extends beyond the classroom. She believes in providing her students with immersive experiences that complement their academic learning. “Reading ‘The Kite Runner’ which is based in Afghanistan, is more than just understanding the plot and characters; it’s about gaining insight into the traditions, cuisine and exploring different parts of the world and a different culture,” Ms. Zaidi explained. “I wanted my students to get an understanding that when we get to know one another, or when we have a place where we can actually talk to one another, we can find out that we have more things in common and fewer things that set us apart.” She believes that when we develop that understanding, we can coexist and have less conflict in the world.
Learning From Literature
The novel “The Kite Runner” emphasizes eating together, maintaining hospitality and treating each other with care. The novel also has scenes in which characters sit together, talk over the food sharing laughter and joy, and solve issues with peace and tranquility. When we communicate with each other, we discover more common ground than differences, and by embracing this understanding, we can live together in harmony and reduce conflict. Additionally, going on a trip, ordering food by yourself and paying for it helps make students more independent. Afghan culture also features the Dastarkhwan, a piece of clothing they place on the ground to sit and eat on. This is a part of the South Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, to invite people over for food, provide them with proper hospitality, and make sure they are fed and taken care of. In this culture, sharing food also creates community, and is a gesture of showing and spreading love.
Reflecting On The Trip
Senior Ranaa Hassan expressed that the restaurant portrays the history and geography of Afghanistan very well, just like it did in the novel. She said the employees were very welcoming, making it an example of how diverse culture, a comforting blend of spices and a great mixture of generosity can have an amazing impact on relationships.
Kristina Williams, a senior, said that the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Central Asian countries have a great influence on the food of Afghan cuisine. The great mixture of the spices and comforting feeling that it brings reflects the country’s trade connections and diverse cultural history. The hospitality brings people together, shows generosity and provides the comfort of home. Even the environment of the restaurant and choices of décor beautifully portrayed the history and culture of Afghanistan. Additionally, The warmth of employees and the facilities provided to the students, like discounts and free treats, really reflected how guests are treated. Senior Jabari Peter Hymen said the cultural aspects really stuck out to him, portraying how much the Afghan people value their culture, beliefs and values.
Enjoying Nature
The students were also taken to a nearby park, where the seniors explored nature, fresh air and relived their educational stress with the amazing view that allowed them to spend a few moments with their friends, enjoying togetherness and fun. This part of the trip helped create small cherish able memories and unforgettable cultural experiences for them. And according to Ms. Zaidi, the students could focus better on their classes after this trip.
Overall, this trip has highlighted many different aspects of Afghan culture, like the generosity of the community and how they treat each other with love and care, bringing everyone together and valuing how much eating together means. Such trips introduce the students to a whole new culture that teaches them new things and that was the whole point of Ms. Zaidi organizing this event. She said that in Afghanistan, whenever there is conflict they would sit at the tea house over some tea or food and solve the matter with peace. This shows that wars or violence are not necessary to solve conflicts but through peace and calm state of mind, being together and maintaining harmony, we can clear things out too.
Looking Ahead
Ms. Zaidi also looks forward to taking the students on a similar excursion next year, introducing them to a culture where you don’t let guests leave without being fed. She believes bringing people together helps us realize the significance of sharing a meal and how we should appreciate each other. Which is why she is always willing to expose students to Afghan culture each year during the “The Kite Runner” unit.