27 Oct Edit grammar and wording to make it sound better

Edit grammar and wording to make it sound better:

I tilt my head upwards and look at the dimly lit sky as the sinking sun reflects off the skyscrapers that tower over me, making me feel ever so small. The bustle of the market fills my senses; the intoxicating blend of aromas of far-flung foods and the crackle and sizzle of the food being cooked, the shouts and negotiations in a language far different from my own, and the scooters and cars honking on the streets. Strings of white lights flickered all over the market, with brightly colored shops packed side by side. People were selling food I never thought to eat: octopus on a stick, live bug kebab, frog legs, and more. Japan could not have been more different from my home in Arizona – I was in another world, and I loved it.

When I visit a new country, I travel through my senses, especially through the taste buds that give passage to the glorious flavors and explosions of rich varieties of food. With each trip, I connect with the people and culture through their local cuisine; even if we don’t speak the same language or fully understand each other’s cultures, we share a love of eating. I learn so much about a culture from the food they eat, as every country has unique dishes, special to their location. Experiencing this helped me develop a better understanding of a world outside my own.

In Africa, tribes hunted, gathered, grew, and traded food on the Serengeti to survive; there was no McDonald’s to walk to and order the not-so-chicken nuggets. In China, chopsticks were used to eat everything, and my discovery of dumplings, a pocket of goodness made through a lengthy and complicated process, taught me to appreciate the significance of Chinese history in their current culinary traditions. The chopsticks I had the dumplings with are round on the eating end which symbolizes heaven, and the other end is square which symbolizes earth, the dumplings are told to resemble Chinese silver ingots (wealth), and there is an old legend that says the more dumplings you eat during New Year celebrations, the more money you will make that year. I choked on the smoke in Egyptian hookah restaurants, and I found that the smokey flavor of tarb, grilled kofta wrapped in lamb fat, was a better use of smoke. Hookah in these restaurants is more than an entertaining social activity or a relaxation technique, it’s a way that family and friends in the Egyptian culture provide hospitality and strengthen bonds with one another, it centers around conversations and provides a means of connection among those participating. In Greece, the servers shouted as they set a piece of cheese on fire and brought the gooey goodness to my table smiling while explaining how the family that owns the restaurant likes the cheese to be eaten. This taught me how family is a core value in Greece, how they are proud of their culture and traditions, and how a meal with friends or family is a lot more than just food, it is also a way to share the dishes and enjoy other people’s company.

While the traditions and flavors varied, I observed how happy the people serving the food seemed to be as they shared their culture with a willing stranger, eagerly explaining each dish and sharing its significance to their homeland. I especially love eating at family-owned restaurants, where recipes have often been passed on for generations and the food is inextricably connected to their traditions, community, and heritage. The stories made the meal taste that much better.

Eating the delicacies of different countries has led me to celebrate the similarities and differences among global citizens. My travels have taught me about humanity while giving me a sense of appreciation, respect, and understanding for the starkly different ways people live and the mores they live by. Coming from a homogeneous Scottsdale bubble, I still find myself yearning for more in the world, seeking the restaurants similar to the ones I had dined at during my travels and wanting to learn more about the current state of affairs between different countries and how it will affect the future. Understanding the monarchy of Great Britain and how its rule has changed with modern society, sovereignty acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride while giving a sense of stability in the government, allowing the government to be long lasting. How other countries do not have the same rights I may have, like in Afghanistan where women aren’t allowed to drive or get a proper education. Global warming and how the polar bears I want to see in Antarctica are going to avoid extinction on the melting ice caps by the time I can get there to see them. These travels have expanded my worldview and taught me valuable lessons that have shaped my character.