Family Chef Buddhi and Todd discuss who cooks in their family. 1 Buddhi: Can you tell me about general roles in America? Is it that women do cooking or the men help out or how is it done? 2 Todd: I think it's changed a lot over the years. It s similar to what you said in your country. America's probably maybe one of the leading countries in trying to make it more equal, so yeah, so now it's... the men are supposed to help cook and clean and stuff. But actually what I find interesting is that over time I think people still settle into their old habits. I think that young couples start off that the husbands gonna cook and he's gonna help clean but as they get older naturally it does seem like women revert to more care-taking roles and men kind of get lazy I think. You know. Although, I have to say, growing up my step-father was pretty amazing. He was really good at cooking and he cooked a lot and he actually used to get home before my 3 4 mother. She also worked. So he would do the most of the cooking, and he was actually the better cook, but my mom's a good cook too. Buddhi: So looking at him, did you ever want to learn cooking and did you ever think like, "OK, when I grow up I'll always help whoever was around." Todd: No, it was actually... I'm quite ashamed. I never did really learn cooking from him or my mother, so they never really showed me, so even to this day I'm a pretty terrible cook. So what about you? Did your mother show you how to cook? Buddhi: She did, it's just that I didn't learn and my brother ended up learning all the cooking and he's a very good cook right now, 5 and it makes me be very ashamed of myself, but... Todd: So wait a minute. Wait a minute. Your mom actually took the time to show you how to cook, and you say you still can't cook? Buddhi: Yes!!!! Todd: Why? What happened? Buddhi: I don't know. I don't know. Sri Lankan cooking is so difficult and it takes... it s really time consuming, but I wouldn't want to say that out too loud cause there are some like many good cooks as well, it's just that I'm not good at it, but... I mean, I'm not that bad. It's just that my food doesn't turn out to be as good as my mom's. Todd: Right.
Summarize Take notes as you listen or read the interview on the left side of the paper. Then write complete sentences to summarize the story in your own words. The first one is done. Part 1: In the US, try to be equal husband say heʼs gonna cook over time, women take over Part 2: Toddʼs stepfather, amazing good cook, came home early mom is good, but dad is better Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Todd says that in the US, men and women try to be equal and share responsibilities. He says that at the beginning of the marriage this usually works, but over time men become more and more lazy and the women naturally take over more of the housework.
Start a Conversation: ANSWERS Match the following questions with the responses. 1. Who cooks in your family? 3 We almost never ate out, but on our birthdays, we would order pizza. 2. Did you learn how to cook from your 5 I make great pancakes. mom? 3. How many days a month did you eat out at restaurants as a kid? 4 My mom cooks well but she only know how to make a few things. 4. Is your mom a good cook? 2 I was too lazy to learn when I was a kid. I took cooking classes as an adult. 5. What is your specialty? What can you cook really well? 6. Have you ever had food from Sri Lanka? 6 I think I did once. Isnʼt it kind of spicy like Indian food? 7 I like to do it when I feel like doing it but I donʼt like to do it when I have to do it. 7. Do you like cooking? 10 I donʼt have time to prepare a lot of food in the morning. 8. Do you eat a lot of healthy food? 9 Iʼm really good at finding discounts so I only spend about $50 a week. 9. How much do you spend a week on 1 I do. groceries? 10. Do you usually eat a big breakfast? 8 I eat a lot of healthy food, but I also eat a lot of sweets.
Keep the Conversation Going Keep the conversations going and then ask a follow up questions. A: Do you think men and women should do equal amounts of housework? B: Youʼll probably disagree, but I think women like housework more than men, so they should do most of it. A: I agree/disagree completely because (Write a question here)? _ A: Is your mom a good cook? B: My mom burns everything, but my dad worked as a chef for 20 years. A: Wow, he must be a great cook. My parents
Start a Conversation: ANSWERS Match the following questions with the responses. 1. Who cooks in your family? 3 We almost never ate out, but on our birthdays, we would order pizza. 2. Did you learn how to cook from your 5 I make great pancakes. mom? 3. How many days a month did you eat out at restaurants as a kid? 4 My mom cooks well but she only know how to make a few things. 4. Is your mom a good cook? 2 I was too lazy to learn when I was a kid. I took cooking classes as an adult. 5. What is your specialty? What can you cook really well? 6. Have you ever had food from Sri Lanka? 6 I think I did once. Isnʼt it kind of spicy like Indian food? 7 I like to do it when I feel like doing it but I donʼt like to do it when I have to do it. 7. Do you like cooking? 10 I donʼt have time to prepare a lot of food in the morning. 8. Do you eat a lot of healthy food? 9 Iʼm really good at finding discounts so I only spend about $50 a week. 9. How much do you spend a week on 1 I do. groceries? 10. Do you usually eat a big breakfast? 8 I eat a lot of healthy food, but I also eat a lot of sweets.