13, 14, and 57

     What I found interesting in chapter 13 was how fast food, like McDonalds, has integrated into Hong Kong.  When McDonalds first came to Hong Kong, older generations were hesitant in eating it, as it had not been the usual type of meal they were used to.  However, this quickly changed, as more recent generations in Hong Kong began to embrace the establishment as sort of a second home.  Americans in general certainly embrace the more recent generation, as McDonalds has become partly a social portal in a a lot of circumstances. 

    Chapter 14 explains the connections between the village of Miraflores and Boston.  I particularly like the fact that people in both these places are able to stay so connected with each other.  They're able to retain major parts of their culture, while still being able to adapt well to the new cultural and physical environment.  Information in Boston by way of Miraflorenos also travels rather quickly, good or bad, and creates an increased sense of community.  Unlike most other places in the U.S., migrants from Miraflores are able to keep their cultural connection strong post-move.

    Chapter 57 focuses on how religion is constantly changing and spreading, with activities such as yoga and meditation being heavily affected.  There are certainly positives and negatives to this.  Older practices can often become less-practiced if not enough people in a newer generation are willing to follow it.  However, the increasing change and evolving of these practices does a good job at helping younger generations practice, and eventually teach generations after them how to follow it.  Evolving of old practices increases appeal, but can sometimes cause it to stray too far away from what it meant in the first place.