Salad Bowl vs. Melting Pot (沙拉拼盤 v.s 大鎔爐)

First of all, this is not about teaching you how to cook. (Although I am good at that, according to my husband :> ) This is not a recipe article, but some thoughts I had last week.

I had an interview last week. It is a 2nd-run interview, so the focus is not so much skill/experience related, more on the personnel. The first question they asked me is how did you experiece the cultural difference when first time came to States. I found this is a very interesting question when "foreigners" try to evaluate you. When you try to melt into their space, studying in the same program, working in the same environment, sharing the same benefit, and enjoying the same life, this must be something to encounter.

Long long time ago we called States is a melting pot, 民族大鎔爐. But these days we don’t hear that very often, instead "salad bowl" is the term to describe this country. The difference between these two is, the first one every element is melted into a new creation, but for the later one, Salad Bowl, is more like each individual keeps its own uniqueness.

In Salad bowl, grilled chicken tastes like grilled chicken, onion tastes like onions, lettuce tastes like lettuce. Each keeps its own originality. When you order a good salad you will have a great taste of the combination.

Living in this country, most of the time I carry my originality- from my accent, from the cooking style, from the home decoration, and from the networking preference (像是去中國城). I cannot guarantee I always see the welcome face when live a life here, but it is a fair country by following the rules.
People respect your originality and uniqueness if you respect their living style and rules.

So, I am fine with rushing across the crossroad in Shanghai, I will remember to open my sunblock umbrella before walk across the crossroad in Taipei, and I will smile to the drivers when walk across the road in Texas, just so thanks for the stop and yield. Can I say I am adoptable to the multiculture?

But, I am not any more eating spicy food to release the frustrations but drink beers for the relaxation when feel upset. This is one adoptable.
I still not like order salad for the appetizer; I like to order hot soup before the meal. This is one not adoptable.
Well, if you go into details on the questins" the impression of the multiculture," there is always some melting and no melting thing going on.