I set out to start a food blog with the aim of deepening my ESL students' experience with the English language, their life in Toronto, with other people, and essentially, themselves. I believe that food has a special power to bring people together. Perhaps because food has many spiritual, religious, cultural and personal meanings across many countries. As Thomas Moore, a former Catholic monk, wrote in Food for the Soul: "Religions say that, when you eat certain foods, God dwells within you. The ancient Greeks called it omophagia, eating the god. Christians eat bread and drink wine, knowing that mysteriously, sacramentally, this special food will fill their souls with the divine. The Jewish Seder, the Sikh gurdwara, and Islam’s celebration of the Prophet’s birthday involve food and feasting. By connecting food and ritual so closely, religions show that food has a profound capacity for meaning and for fostering community." In this regard, I would like food to have a deeper meaning for my students. I want food to be a vehicle that connects my students with the English language and the community where they reside now. I wish for them to look at food as a vibrant reminder of their time in Toronto. For adventures in life and food go hand in hand.
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