UNIT 9: TRAVELING AND CULTURE
My name‿ is Hassan,│ and‿ I learned to cook│ because‿ I lef(t) home‿ at‿ eighteen‿ an(d) missed my mother's food. The firs(t) year was‿ a disaster;│ the secon(d) one,│ I could make four dishes. Now I cook for ten people‿ every Sunday.
My kitchen‿ is‿ international. From my Indian neighbour‿ I learned‿ a curry recipe with‿ eight spices,│ and‿ I make‿ it‿ every month. My wife's speciality is‿ Italian:│ her pasta is simple‿ an(d) perfect,│ an(d) she says the best‿ ingredient‿ is time. On Fridays,│ we often‿ order street food from‿ a place near‿ our building. It‿ is cheap,│ it‿ is fast,│ an(d) their seasoning‿ is betterbe-der than‿ in mos(t) restaurants. My son‿ is vegetarian,│ so we have learned to cook with beans,│ tofu,│ and‿ a lot ofa lotta vegetables.
Not‿ everything‿ is‿ an‿ immediate success. When‿ I was‿ in Bangkok,│ I tried‿ insects. It took me three attempts,│ but‿ in the end‿ I acquired‿ a taste for them. If you want towanna understand‿ a country,│ do not visit‿ its museums first. Sit down,│ order the local speciality,│ and‿ ask the waiter what he eats‿ at home. That conversation teaches you more than‿ a guidebook.