Document Type

Honors Thesis

Major

Anthropology

Advisor(s)

Daniel Sandweiss

Committee Members

Melissa Ladenheim, Ellie Markovitch

Graduation Year

May 2024

Publication Date

Spring 5-2024

Abstract

International students often travel thousands of miles to attend the University of Maine. Foodways become a way to sustain one’s communal and self-identity. Food is more than nourishment: certain dishes also tell stories and become building blocks for conversation. Here, I focus on how international students use food as a vehicle to build community and understand the role of food to comfort and engage individuals. I also consider access to culturally significant ingredients, as the greater Orono/Bangor area lacks markets and stores that carry certain products. Through interviews, individuals shared their foodways and experiences as international graduate students at the University of Maine. My findings show that international graduate students utilize food to maintain cultural identity, but barriers such as time, energy, and access to ingredients and transportation inhibit how often these students can engage in these cultural practices.These findings also bring cultural awareness and transmission of culture to the University of Maine campus.

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