Thank you Rick!! I know that I am nervous when someone comes in to my Kitchen on a night when the food from their culture is being served. So far, the response has been supportive and positive. With music and words it is a bit more complicated, but the willingness to learn about what you are doing, the background of the song, the pronunciation, and the situation (were you invited? Is it expected that you will play and sing songs from the culture? etc) all combine to make this more complex communication (more so than sushi, bindetek, dolmas, samosas, tortillas and gnocchi) possible too.

Now I just got back from a Jay Unger/Molly Mason concert tonight, and they do a medly of Civil War songs, including Dixie, Year of Jubilo, etc. I think that there are places where those don't go over so well, and I know that my Georgian relatives wouuld skin me alive and serve me over grits should I sing Marching Through Georgia. It'd be just plain rude.

Susan