I am the first generation to be raised in America. Every birthday, my parents have celebrated with Chinese food at decent Chinese restaurants. Even at home, every meal is somehow Chinese-ified, such as elbow macaroni with corn and ham in chicken broth soup. While my brother and I have of course enjoyed the bounty of cuisines in the San Francisco Bay Area, my parents have stayed steadfast in their Chinese and/or occasional American restaurant chain (e.g., Denny’s, McDonald’s) food of choice. One year, my mother surprised me though. She ate Thai food for her birthday, Indian food for my brother’s birthday, and RAW FOOD for my birthday. Raw food!!! She did not like it, but she ate every bit of it to show respect for me. What a sport! :-)