I just feel bored right now, so I am writing an entry for fun.

People always say that America is the land of opportunities, a melting pot where people of any race creed or religion can co-exist and live the American dream together.

I have always wondered how true is this statement.

Being physically in America pretty much explains the above mentioned statement. Perhaps being in a multi-cultural society in Singapore has made me take societal co-existence for granted. Perhaps I just expect more from a multi-cultural society.

Whites, blacks, Asians, etc. They can have a meal together, talk about football together, play frisbee together. But at the end of the day, their interactions are just limited to this. Explain Asian food to white people, and frankly they wldn't give a damn. Expound the beauty of traditional African music to Hispanics, and they would rather continue munching on their burritos.

At the end of the day, people still agglutinate according to race. People say skin color does not matter in today's societies. How do you define "matter"? It may not be a marker for racial marginalization anymore, not because people overlook it, but because people think it's not fair. Deep down, skin color still brings about an intrinsic affinity for "like" people, I believe.

It may just be semantics, maybe as trivial as it can get - but i believe that ignoring skin color because you have to and not because you choose to are two vastly different things. Having to eat MacDonald's and choosing to eat MacDonald's are different, don't you think?

Skin colors aside, I do not believe America is truly a melting pot. Pour some crude oil, some water and some oil into a pot. Wait long enough and look from the top. The solution looks pretty homogeneous doesn't it?

But is that misleading? Upon closer scrutiny, you will realize the solution still comprises 3 phases. 3 distinct phases.

It seems like everyone in America eats sandwiches and burgers and fries and donuts and the likes *insert high-carbo food* Mainstream food? I beg to differ. People eat it not because they like it, but because it is just so common. My African-American labmate Ada told me about her disdain for the "typical" American food. To be honest, I was surprised to hear her say that.

Anyway I have to end this entry abruptly cos I am leaving for some seafood at Legal Seafood soon (not that there are illegal seafood). Probably having some clam chowder or lobster or some self-proclaimed Boston food. Try asking Ada if she thinks clam chowder is great.

Just some food for thought